Kieran's POV
"Mama, why are we going to Great-Grandpa's house instead of home?"
Storm's question came from the backseat, innocent and confused. My four-year-old was too smart for his own good sometimes.
"Because Mama needs help," I answered, trying to keep my voice steady. "And Great-Grandpa gives the best hugs."
"Better than Papa Darius's hugs?" Sage asked, still sniffling from her earlier crying.
"Different hugs," Darius said gently from the driver's seat. He reached over and squeezed my hand. "Both good."
But nothing felt good right now. My hands wouldn't stop shaking. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ashton's face when Storm asked why he smelled like him. The shock. The realization. The desperate hope.
I hated that hope most of all.
My phone buzzed again. Another news alert. Another message. The video I'd released an hour ago was spreading like wildfire across the internet. Good. Let it burn. Let Ashton's reputation turn to ash just like mine did five years ago.
"We're here," Darius announced, pulling through the massive gates of Vale Estate.
The twins pressed their faces to the windows, their earlier fear forgotten. They loved Grandpa Theron's house with its big gardens and secret rooms. To them, this was just another fun visit.
They had no idea their whole world was about to explode.
Grandpa was waiting on the front steps before we even parked. Seventy years old with silver hair and violet eyes that missed nothing, he looked like an Omega from a fairytale. Powerful. Elegant. Everything I wanted to be when I grew up.
"Great-Grandpa!" Storm and Sage scrambled out of the car, running to him.
He caught them both, hugging them tight. "My little stars! Let me look at you. Did you grow since last week?"
"I did!" Sage announced. "Mama measured me. I'm this much taller!" She held up her fingers, showing a gap that was definitely not accurate.
"Incredible," Grandpa said seriously. "At this rate, you'll be taller than me by next month."
The twins giggled, their fear from the airport already fading. Children were lucky like that. They could move on so quickly from scary things.
I wished I could do the same.
"Go play in the garden," Grandpa told them. "But stay where we can see you through the window."
"Can we climb the big tree?" Storm asked hopefully.
"Only the low branches. And Sage, you help your brother, alright?"
They ran off, holding hands. My chest ached watching them. So innocent. So happy. And I was about to drag them into a war.
"Inside," Grandpa said quietly. "Now."
We moved to his study. I collapsed on the couch, suddenly exhausted. Darius sat beside me, arm around my shoulders. Grandpa poured three glasses of water and settled into his chair.
"Tell me everything," he commanded.
So I did. The airport. Ashton's flowers. Storm's question about the smell. Sage saying she hated him. Darius punching him. And finally, my decision to release the hospital photo and file the lawsuit.
When I finished, Grandpa was quiet for a long moment.
"You declared war," he finally said.
"He deserves it." My voice came out harsh. "He destroyed me, Grandpa. He humiliated me in front of everyone. And he did it while I was pregnant with his children. Why should he get to just walk back into our lives like nothing happened?"
"I'm not saying he doesn't deserve consequences." Grandpa's voice was gentle. "I'm saying war has casualties. And I'm worried you and the twins will be caught in the crossfire."
"The lawsuit protects us," I argued. "It shows everyone what kind of Alpha he really is."
"It also confirms the twins are his," Darius said quietly. "Kieran, once that DNA test happens in court—and it will happen—Ashton will have legal rights. Visitation. Maybe even partial custody."
My stomach dropped. "No. No, I won't let him near them."
"You might not have a choice." Grandpa leaned forward. "Legally, he's their father. Five years of absence doesn't erase that. And now that the world knows about them, now that you've made this public, he can't back down. His pride won't let him."
"I don't care about his pride!"
"But you should care about the twins," Grandpa said firmly. "What happens when they're old enough to understand? When they see the news stories and videos? When they learn their Mama publicly destroyed their biological father?"
His words hit like a slap. "I'm protecting them—"
"You're hurting him," Grandpa interrupted. "There's a difference. Protection would be setting boundaries, getting lawyers, quietly establishing custody agreements. What you did? That was revenge. And revenge always costs more than you expect."
Tears burned my eyes. "You didn't see his face. You didn't hear what he said to me five years ago. He called our love inappropriate. He called me an embarrassment. And I was pregnant, Grandpa. Six weeks pregnant and so scared, and he just... threw me away."
Darius pulled me closer. "You have every right to be angry."
"But anger can't raise children," Grandpa said softly. "Fear can't either. And right now, you're acting from both. I understand why. But Storm and Sage need you thinking clearly, not emotionally."
"So what do I do?" My voice broke. "Just let Ashton back in? Pretend everything's fine?"
"No." Grandpa's violet eyes were fierce. "You set terms. Clear boundaries. You control the situation instead of letting your rage control you. Because right now, you've given Ashton exactly what he needs—a public reason to fight for his children. The whole world is watching. If he backs down now, he looks like a coward. So he'll fight. And fights get ugly."
My phone buzzed. I ignored it.
It buzzed again. And again.
"You should check that," Darius said quietly.
I pulled out my phone. Fifteen missed calls. Forty-three text messages. And one that made my blood run cold.
Unknown number: "The DNA test will prove they're mine. And when it does, I'm taking you to court for full custody. You've proven you're unstable—releasing private photos, filing frivolous lawsuits, using our children as weapons. No judge will let you keep them after this. You wanted war? You got it. -Ashton"
My hands started shaking so badly I dropped the phone.
"What?" Darius grabbed it, read the message. His face went pale. "He can't—"
"He can," Grandpa said grimly. "He's right. By making this public, by releasing that hospital photo without the twins' consent, by filing such a large lawsuit... Kieran, you've given his lawyers ammunition. They can argue you're emotionally unstable. That you're using the children as revenge tools."
"But he abandoned us!" I was crying now. "He left me alone and pregnant!"
"And that will matter in court. But so will this." Grandpa gestured to my phone. "You need better lawyers than his. Immediately."
Another text came through. This time from a number I recognized—Lyanna Cross.
"You made a mistake going public, little Omega. My son might be weak, but I'm not. If you think you can keep my grandchildren from me, you're wrong. I destroyed you once. I'll do it again. And this time, I'll take those precious babies with me. See you in court. -L.C."
The room spun. Lyanna. The woman who'd orchestrated my destruction. Who'd threatened my family. Who'd forced me to disappear.
She was coming for my children.
"Mama!" Storm's voice came from the garden. "Mama, come quick!"
We all rushed to the window. Storm and Sage were standing by the tree, pointing at something.
No. Someone.
A woman stood at the edge of the property, beyond the gates. Even from here, I could see her perfectly styled hair, her expensive clothes, her cold smile.
Lyanna Cross had found us.
And she was watching my children play.