"Then she's been raising werewolf children alone, without a pack, without guidance, for four years." Marcus's voice was grim. "That's dangerous. For them and for everyone around them. Untrained wolves are unpredictable. Untrained hybrids—"
"I know." Kael ran a hand through his hair. "I need to see them. Just see them. Make sure they're safe."
"Then do it carefully. Don't scare them."
Kael nodded. But as he left the penthouse, his wolf was already planning.
Our mate. Our cubs. Ours.
Across the city, Lyla was having a very different morning.
"Luna, put your shoes on. Leo, stop reading and eat your cereal. We're going to be late for school."
"I don't wanna go to school." Luna flopped onto the floor dramatically, her limbs splayed out like a starfish. "School is boring. The kids don't understand me."
"School is where you learn things."
"I already know things. I know how to make bad men sleep. I know how to talk to wolves. That's more useful than numbers."
Lyla closed her eyes. Counted to ten. "We don't talk about that, remember? That's our secret. It's very important that we don't tell anyone about the wolves or the sleeping."
"But why?"
"Because some people wouldn't understand. They might be scared. And we don't want to scare people, do we?"
Luna considered this, her small face serious. "What about Daddy? Would he be scared?"
The question hit Lyla like a punch. She'd been avoiding thinking about Kael all night. About those golden eyes that looked through her like she was a stranger. About the way her heart had stopped when she saw him, and the way it had shattered when he didn't recognize her.
"I don't know, baby. I don't know anything about him."
"He's not scared." Leo appeared in the kitchen doorway, still in his pajamas. "He's confused. There's a difference."
"How do you know that?"
Leo touched his temple. "I can feel him. He's thinking about us right now. He wants to come here, but his friend said no."
Lyla's heart hammered. "His friend?"
"The big scarred one. Marcus. He's telling Daddy to be careful. He says Daddy will scare us if he comes too fast."
"Daddy?"
Leo nodded. "That's what he is. He just doesn't know it yet. His wolf knows, but his head is confused. He thinks we're human. He doesn't know about the moon."
Before Lyla could respond, a knock sounded at the door.
She froze. Visitors never came this early. Friends called first. Delivery people left packages downstairs. The knock came again, harder this time, insistent.
"Mommy?" Luna's voice was small. "There's a wolf outside."
"What?"
"In the hall. A big gray wolf. He's waiting."
Lyla moved to the door, heart pounding. She peered through the peephole.
The hallway was empty.
But at the far end, near the elevator, a shadow moved. Too large for a dog. Too graceful for anything wild. It turned. Looked directly at her door. Golden eyes glowed in the dim light.
Then it was gone.
Lyla stumbled back, hand over her mouth. Those eyes. She knew those eyes.
Kael.
"Mommy?" Leo tugged her sleeve. "The wolf says not to be scared. He says he's protecting us. He says Daddy sent him but Daddy doesn't know he sent him. The wolf comes when Daddy is asleep. Daddy's wolf wants to be near us."
"That doesn't make sense."
"Wolves are confusing." Leo shrugged. "Can I have more cereal?"
Lyla laughed weakly. "Sure, baby. Sure."
She spent the rest of the day jumping at shadows, checking the windows, watching the street below. The gray wolf appeared twice more—once in the park across the street, once on the rooftop of the building next door. Always watching. Always waiting.
When she picked up the twins from daycare, Luna tugged her hand.
"The wolf is still there, Mommy. Behind the blue car. He's watching the school."
Lyla looked. Saw nothing. But she felt it—a presence, warm and protective, watching over them.
That night, she dreamed of golden eyes and a voice that whispered, I'm coming. Wait for me.
She woke with tears on her face and a howl echoing in the distance.