AVERY

The cold wind stung my face as I stepped off the last bus into the heart of a sprawling city. A new world stretched out before me, its skyline glimmering like a promise of anonymity. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t a Holloway, a mate, or a wolf. Here, I was nobody, and I clung to that anonymity like a lifeline.

The decision to come to the human world wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. Tobias, my father, and the entire werewolf world would be looking for me, though I doubted they’d think to look here. It had been weeks since I severed my bond with Tobias and left the Red Hollow Pack, and I had ensured that no trace of me remained.

Finding my footing among humans took time. I rented a small, rundown apartment under a fake name, purchased with the little money I had managed to steal from Tobias before I left. With my altered ID, I managed to secure a job as a cleaner in a local cafeteria. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was honest work, and it gave me the stability I needed to begin anew.

Mia, one of the baristas, was the first to welcome me. “You’re a mystery, you know that?” she said one afternoon as we cleaned the tables together. Her easy smile and kind eyes made me feel lighter, even if I never fully let my guard down.

“I like it that way,” I replied softly.

Mia laughed. “Fair enough. But if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here.”

The days passed slowly, and I sank into a routine. I cleaned, worked, and kept to myself. The dull ache of my severed bond still lingered, but I buried it deep, focusing on survival. My wolf, however, was restless. She reminded me often that Tobias and his men were likely scouring the werewolf world for me, but I refused to let fear dictate my life.

Weeks turned into months, and as my belly swelled, I started to feel the tiniest flickers of joy. The twins were my only family now. Their kicks reminded me that despite the pain and betrayal, I had something precious to protect.

One evening, Mia and I sat on the café’s back steps after closing. She offered me a steaming cup of tea and tilted her head. “So, any big plans for the future?”

I hesitated, unsure how to answer. “I’m just taking things one day at a time,” I said finally.

Mia nodded, her gaze thoughtful. “Well, you’ve got grit. I like that about you.”

I smiled faintly, touched by her words. But the truth was, my future was far from certain.

The final weeks of my pregnancy were the hardest. My body ached constantly, and my wolf grew more restless with each passing day. I stayed indoors as much as possible, knowing the full moon would soon bring a heightened risk of being discovered. My instincts whispered that danger was closing in, but I ignored them, too tired to care.

Then, the night of the full moon arrived.

The pain came suddenly, sharp and relentless, as labor began. Alone in my tiny apartment, I struggled through the hours, my wolf lending her strength when I thought I couldn’t continue. By the time the first cry echoed through the room, tears streamed down my face.

Cairo. My eldest. He had a fierce cry, his dark hair already thick and wild. Minutes later, his twin followed. Caelum was quieter, but his presence felt just as powerful, his eyes shimmering with an otherworldly light.

I held them close, their tiny bodies fitting perfectly against mine. “Cairo, Caelum,” I whispered. “You’re everything to me now.”

The exhaustion hit me like a tidal wave, but I fought to stay awake, my wolf growling low with unease. Still, the pull of sleep was too strong. I curled protectively around my newborns, letting my guard drop for just a moment.

When I woke, the apartment was eerily silent.

My heart stopped as I reached for the bassinet. It was empty.

“Cairo? Caelum?” I called out, my voice breaking.

Cairo and Caelum were gone.

The scent of wolves lingered in the air, faint but unmistakable. Panic surged through me as my wolf howled in despair. They’d found me.

For a moment, I was paralyzed. Tobias? My father? Had they sent someone to take the prophecy’s children? Or was it something—or someone—else entirely?

My mind raced as I stumbled to my feet, scanning the room for clues. A single thought burned through my fear, igniting a resolve I didn’t know I had.

No one was taking my children.

I grabbed the dagger I kept hidden beneath my mattress and stormed out of the apartment, my wolf snarling with rage. Whoever had taken them would pay, and I wouldn’t stop until Cairo and Caelum were safe in my arms again.

As the full moon hung heavy in the sky, I swore to myself that no force in this world—human or wolf—would keep me from my children.

The city stretched out before me, a labyrinth of shadows and danger. But I would find them. And when I did, the world would know what happens when a mother is pushed too far.

AVERY

The ache in my body from the delivery was nothing compared to the agony in my heart. My babies—Cairo and Caelum—were gone, stolen from me. I couldn’t rest, not when every moment they were out of my reach felt like a dagger twisting deeper into my soul.

For days, I scoured the city streets, searching for any trace of them. My wolf, though weakened, pushed me forward. But the human world offered no answers, and deep down, I knew the truth: Tobias or my father had them. My twins weren’t here—they were somewhere in the werewolf world.

I couldn’t hide any longer.

The journey back to the world I’d fled nearly a year ago was excruciating. My body screamed for rest, and my wolf growled at my recklessness, but I ignored both. Every step closer to the Gray Moonstone Pack fueled my determination. Tobias had to answer for what he’d done, and I was prepared to face whatever awaited me.

As I approached the pack’s territory, the sound of laughter and music filled the air. A celebration? My stomach churned with unease. The scent of roasted meat and burning wood mingled with the familiar tang of wolves, pulling me closer.

The sight that greeted me as I stepped into the village square made my blood run cold. The entire pack had gathered, their attention fixed on the center stage. Tobias stood tall, his expression smug, holding a small bundle in his arms. Beside him, Ashley beamed, clutching another bundle close to her chest.

My twins.

Even from this distance, I recognized them. Their scent, their tiny features—they were mine.

My heart thundered as I pushed through the crowd, drawing stares and whispers. My presence was like a scar across the perfect picture Tobias and Ashley were trying to paint.

“Tobias!” I shouted, my voice raw with anger and desperation. “Give me back my children!”

The crowd parted, gasping as they turned to see me. Tobias froze, his face draining of color as he locked eyes with me. For a brief moment, the confident Alpha was gone, replaced by a man caught in a lie.

“Avery?” His voice was barely above a whisper.

Ashley, ever the actress, clutched Caelum tighter and put on a mask of surprise. “Avery? What are you doing here?”

I stepped forward, my chest heaving. “Don’t pretend you don’t know! Those are my children!” My voice broke, but I refused to falter. “I carried them, I gave birth to them—they’re mine!”

The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, uncertainty rippling through them.

Ashley’s eyes widened, but she quickly composed herself. “You must be mistaken,” she said sweetly, though her voice trembled. “These are my sons. Tobias and I—”

“Lies!” I screamed, cutting her off. “You’re a liar, Ashley, and you’ve always been one!”

The tension in the square was palpable. Tobias stepped forward, his grip tightening on Cairo. “Avery,” he said, his voice low and threatening, “this is not the place for your delusions.”

“Delusions?” I spat, my fists clenched at my sides. “You think I don’t know my own children? You think I don’t remember the pain of bringing them into this world?”

A sharp laugh erupted from the crowd, and I turned to see my father, Henry Holloway, striding toward me. His presence silenced the murmurs, his aura commanding as always.

“You dare show your face here?” he snarled. Before I could react, his hand struck my cheek, sending me stumbling to the ground.

Pain radiated through my face, but I refused to let it stop me. I pushed myself up, glaring at him through the tears that blurred my vision. “They’re mine,” I said again, my voice cracking. “Please, don’t let them grow up believing lies.”

Lucas, my eldest brother, stood beside our father, his expression hard. “You should have stayed gone, Avery,” he said coldly.

The guards moved in then, grabbing my arms and hauling me back despite my struggles. “No!” I screamed, thrashing against their grip. “Let me go! Tobias, don’t do this!”

Tobias looked away, avoiding my gaze, while Ashley smirked triumphantly. My father stepped closer, his voice a low growl. “You will never lay claim to those boys. They are better off without you.”

“No!” My voice broke as I was dragged away, my wolf howling in anguish. My heart shattered as I caught one last glimpse of my twins, their small forms held by the people who had stolen everything from me.

The guards shoved me out of the council hall and into the dirt outside. My knees hit the ground, but I barely felt the pain. All I could feel was the emptiness inside me, the bond with my children calling out like a beacon.

The door slammed shut behind me, cutting me off from the life I had created.

I sat there, trembling with fury and despair. But as the tears streaked down my face, a new determination burned in my chest. They had taken everything from me—my freedom, my dignity, my children.

But they had underestimated me.

I stood, wiping the dirt from my hands. The moon hung high above, its silver glow igniting the fire within me.

If they thought this was the end, they were wrong. If Tobias, Ashley, and my father thought they could take my children and strip me of everything I had left, they were gravely mistaken.

And if I wanted my twins back, I needed power, I needed allies, and I needed someone who despised Tobias as much as I did.

The name came to me like a whisper carried on the wind. Asher Duskbane.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. My heart pounded as the weight of my decision sank in. Seeking out Asher Duskbane was dangerous—his pack was infamous for their brutal ways and loyalty to no one but themselves. But if there was even a chance that he would help me, I had to take it.