Chapter 179
The morning was quiet, more peaceful than usual, but there was a weight in the air that made me uneasy. I had spent the entire night with the twins, feeling their soft breaths and hearing the gentle rise and fall of their chests as they slept peacefully in my arms. The bonds we shared were undeniable—these two tiny beings held my heart in a way I never thought possible. But it wasn’t just their innocence and love that kept me up at night. It was the danger, the growing threat I could feel surrounding them, even though no one spoke of it out loud.
I spent most of my time trying to keep them safe. Jake and I had our differences, but one thing I was sure of was that he cared for them. The issue wasn’t his love for them—it was the ever-present doubt that clouded his judgment. He didn’t trust me fully, nor did he trust the visions I had seen in my dreams. Those dreams, those warnings, they weren’t just random—they were real.
Today, however, I was trying to push those thoughts aside, trying to focus on the moment I had. Sophie had suggested I take some time for myself, and as much as I hated the idea of leaving the twins behind, I knew I needed to. Being a mother, especially to twins, was exhausting. And I couldn’t keep up the facade of strength if I wasn’t mentally prepared.
I walked out to the garden, the sun peeking over the horizon, casting soft rays of light onto the flowers that bloomed brightly around the edges. I took in a deep breath, the smell of the fresh air calming my nerves, even if just for a moment.
But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him—Jake. He wasn’t far away, standing by the fountain near the trees, his broad shoulders tense and his brow furrowed. He looked like he was lost in thought, as though the weight of the world rested on him. And maybe, just maybe, it did. He had his pack to worry about, the security of his people, the pressure of leadership that came with his title. But it wasn’t just that. It was the weight of his emotions, the struggle inside him to fully trust me.
I stood there for a moment, watching him. Our connection, the bond between us, was still so new, so raw. But I had always known that nothing between us would come easily. The moment I arrived, things changed for both of us. And while I had hoped for more understanding, more warmth, I knew deep down that the road ahead would be anything but smooth.
I couldn’t ignore it—the attraction, the pull between us. But I also couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. Something he wasn’t ready to admit. I wasn’t sure if it was fear, guilt, or just the weight of the responsibility he felt. But every time I thought we might be moving closer, something always seemed to push us apart.
He didn’t see me right away, lost in his thoughts, but when he did, his eyes softened just the slightest bit. My heart fluttered in my chest, and I found myself walking towards him, my feet moving almost of their own accord.
“Ayla,” he said, his voice low, almost like he hadn’t expected to see me there. But there was something else in his tone—something more vulnerable than I had heard before. “Are you alright?”
I nodded, smiling softly, trying to push the unease from my mind. “Just needed a little time to think.”
He studied me for a long moment, and I felt as though he were seeing right through me. But instead of responding, he stepped closer, and for a brief second, I could feel the pull again, that magnetic connection between us. My breath caught in my throat as his warmth reached me.
“I get it,” he said, his voice rough but sincere. “You deserve time to yourself. You’ve been through a lot.” He looked away for a moment, as though trying to hide whatever emotions were playing across his face. “But you know you can always talk to me, right?”
I wasn’t sure what I expected from him—comfort? A deeper connection? But as I looked at him now, I realized how much of a façade I had been putting up, how much I had been hiding, even from myself. The reality was, I had no idea what was going on with us. I didn’t know what I was supposed to feel or how to act anymore.
“I don’t need you to fix anything, Jake,” I said, the words coming out a bit more harshly than I intended. “I just need... I just need to know that we’re on the same side.”
He didn’t say anything at first, just looked at me with those intense eyes of his, as if he was trying to figure out what I meant. “I know we’re on the same side. But it doesn’t feel that way sometimes, does it?”
My chest tightened. It was as if he had just given voice to the words I had been avoiding, the ones I hadn’t wanted to acknowledge. He was right—we were both trying to figure out where we fit, but it wasn’t easy. He was the Alpha, the leader, and I was just... me. Trying to keep the twins safe, trying to prove that I was more than just a mate. Trying to convince myself that we could work through this.
“We have to keep going, Jake,” I whispered, my voice catching. “For them. For the twins.”
He nodded, though I could see the struggle in his eyes. “I know. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect them.”
Just then, the sound of footsteps broke the tension, and we both turned to see Sophie and Fatima coming our way. Sophie grinned when she saw me, and I felt a flush creep up my neck. She had always been able to read me too easily.
“So, how’s our favorite couple doing?” Sophie asked, her voice teasing, but there was affection behind it too.
I shot her a look, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration. “We’re fine,” I said, though the words felt hollow even to my own ears.
Fatima smirked, nudging Sophie. “Yeah, they’re fine. Just standing there, staring at each other. All that tension—someone better do something about it.”
I rolled my eyes, but deep down, the teasing wasn’t helping. If anything, it made the whole situation feel more complicated than it needed to be.
“You know,” Sophie continued, still smirking, “You two are like a bad rom-com. Someone needs to just kiss already.”
I nearly choked, my face burning with embarrassment. Jake, however, looked unbothered, his usual stoic expression not giving away anything.
“I’m fine,” I muttered, feeling awkward under the weight of their teasing. “The twins are fine.”
Sophie’s teasing smile faded slightly at the mention of the twins. “Are you still feeling... that thing?” she asked quietly, glancing at Jake, who stiffened slightly.
I nodded, though I didn’t want to speak of it too much. I didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but I also couldn’t ignore the fear that gripped me every time I thought about the future.
“I’m still seeing things,” I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. “The twins... I don’t know why, but I can’t shake the feeling that something is coming for them.”
Sophie’s face turned serious, and Fatima’s eyes narrowed. “We’re with you,” Fatima said firmly. “We’ll protect them. We’ll protect you.”
Jake remained quiet, but I could feel the weight of his gaze on me. There was something unsaid between us, something we both knew but weren’t ready to acknowledge.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
