"Devon, remember what I told you about picking fights," I reminded my son firmly as I knelt in front of him because I knew how much of a troublemaker he was. His dark eyes were so much like mine but held a mischievous glint as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Beside him was his twin—Diana, trying to fasten the straps on her tiny backpack with her tongue poking out in concentration. She looked up at me, her eyes wide and full of innocent excitement as she spoke.
"Mommy, we will be good!" Diana promised, her curls bouncing as she nodded fervently.
"That’s what you said last time," I reminded them, eyeing Devon especially. He had a habit of protecting his sister, even when she did not need it, which had led to a few incidents in the past. "And no running too far in the park. Stay close, and listen to Annie,” I said.
Devon puffed out his chest. "I will protect Diana," he declared, and for a moment, I could not help but smile. He might only be five, but his instincts were strong, too strong for his age. It was something I tried not to dwell on.
I sighed, running a hand through Devon’s unruly hair. "I know you will, but listen to Annie, okay?" My gaze softened as I turned to their human nanny, Annie, who was watching our interaction with a patient smile. Her presence was helpful in taking care of the kids, even if it made me nervous that she was not a werewolf. She had proven herself reliable time and time again, and the twins adored her.
"Don’t worry, Samantha," Annie said, adjusting Diana’s backpack straps. "We will have a great time, won’t we?"
Diana clapped her hands, her face lighting up. "Yes! We will be perfect little angels!" Her words made Annie chuckle, and I tried to ease the tension knotted in my chest. Diana’s enthusiasm had a way of brightening even the worrying moments. But I could not shake the uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. They were still so young, but I knew well enough that age did not always matter when it came to getting their own wolves and shifting. I could only hope that whatever instincts they had—whatever potential they had not yet tapped into—would stay dormant, at least for a little longer.
"Okay," I exhaled, more to myself than anyone else. "Annie has my number if there is any trouble. And you two," I added, my voice stern but loving to my twins, "behave."
With final kisses pressed to their cheeks, I turned to leave. The moment I stepped outside, the crisp autumn air bit at my skin, making me pull my jacket tighter around me. The leaves crunched underfoot as I walked down the front steps, and there he was — Killian.
Killian was leaning against the sleek black SUV, arms crossed over his chest, exuding the effortless confidence of a true Alpha. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and his lips curved into a teasing grin.
"Samantha," he drawled, "took you long enough. I was beginning to think you had changed your mind about spending the weekend with me."
I rolled my eyes but could not help the smile that tugged at my lips. "Dream on, Killian," I replied, climbing into the passenger seat as he held the door open. Killian was hard to ignore—he was a huge guy, broad-shouldered and tall, with a presence that demanded attention. His dark hair was always a bit unruly, a perfect contrast to his sharp jawline and intense green eyes. His left arm was covered in a sleeve tattoo, the ink swirling down his arm in an intricate design—black lines, shaded geometric patterns, and symbols that I could not fully make sense of but seemed to tell a story of strength and loyalty. The tattoo only accentuated the muscle in his arm, making him look even more intimidating.
His smile was cocky, yet somehow it made me feel comfortable, like I could trust him with anything. Even though his flirtatious comments always kept me on my toes. Since the day I ran away from Silver Crescent Pack, he had always been by my side, helping and supporting me in any way he could, until I became his right-hand woman in his pack—Moonstone. In all the years we were together, we had been inseparable in our work. He was a great partner and Alpha.
Killian rounded the car and slid into the driver’s seat, the vehicle roaring to life as he pulled away from my home. We drove in a comfortable silence for a while, the cityscape giving way to rolling fields and thick forests. My mind wandered back to the twins, a pang of worry gnawing at me. Would they really be okay without me? It was not just the typical concern of a mother; it was something deeper, something instinctual.
Killian glanced over, his sharp eyes taking in my expression as if he could read my mind. "They’ll be fine," he assured, his tone surprisingly gentle. "Annie’s good at what she does."
I knew he was right, but it did not stop the concern twisting in my gut. "I know," I murmured, pressing my hands together to still their fidgeting. "It’s just... they are my world, you know?" I said.
His gaze softened briefly, and he nodded. "Yeah, I get it. But you have raised them well, Samantha. They are tougher than they look."
The rest of the drive passed quickly, and soon we arrived at the meeting venue, a grand estate tucked deep within a neutral territory. Representatives from various packs had already gathered, and the air was already buzzing with anticipation and the low hum of conversations around.
Killian led the way, his hand resting casually on the small of my back, a gesture that made my heart beat faster. Not from attraction, but from the sense of security he provided. It was easy to forget my past when he was near, but today, that illusion shattered all too quickly.
I scanned the list of attending packs on the invitation, my eyes skimming over the names until one in particular made my breath catch: Silver Crescent Pack. My vision blurred for a moment, and my body went cold. It had been six years since I’d left, and I had done everything I could to distance myself from that part of my life. But now, here it was, staring me in the face.
"Samantha?" Killian’s voice pulled me back to the present, his brows knitted in concern. "You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost."
I tried to swallow, but my throat felt tight. "I’m fine," I lied, plastering on a smile that felt all wrong. And before I could say anything else, the crowd parted, and there he was, revealing the man I escaped from.
Time seemed to slow as our eyes met. He looked almost the same—commanding, with that same sharp jaw and piercing eyes. But there was something different about him now, something harder, as if the years had carved out pieces of him.
He stopped in his tracks when he saw me, and his gaze flicked to Killian beside me, then back to me. His frown deepened, and the tension between us was almost suffocating. I gripped the invitation letter tighter, crumpling the paper in the process as I tried to steady myself and not cower under his intense stare.
I had run so far. I had hidden so well.
And yet, as Dominic’s eyes fixed on mine, unyielding and full of questions, the terrifying realization struck like lightning: nowhere had ever truly been far enough.