Chapter 44 DANE I … might ? I said .


    The words sounded choked .


    She nodded .


    Then she took my hand and tugged me toward the table .


    Something gripped my heart when she put her hand in mine and led me to the table .


    Something fierce and proud and stronger than Id ever felt in my life .


    I had held them earlier , when I pulled them from the house .


    But there hadnt been time .


    It was life or death , and I was worried about Piper .


    Now , there was nothing to distract me from these two except Margie putting a donut and milk in front of me , too .


    As if I was also four , and not the billionaire Alpha of a massive pack .


    Margie , I said .


    I wasnt sure if I was saying her name in warning , or in helplessness .


    I didnt know what to do with two four year old children .


    Shes right , the old cook said .


    Have a donut .


    I sat across from them , really taking them in for the first time .


    There was no way to stop seeing it , now that I looked .


    Auroras Chapter 44 wide eyes in the girls face .


    My frown on the boys .


    2/7 She wouldnt say it , and I was still waiting for the results toe back on the samples Piper brought me , but they were mine .


    I knew more deeply than Id ever known anything in my life .


    Youre … Seraphina , I said to the girl .


    Then I turned to her brother .


    And youre Tristan .


    Seraphina nodded .


    Tristan whispered loudly , We arent supposed to tell him .


    Then he turned narrowed eyes on me again .


    What arent you supposed to tell ? I asked .


    I couldnt help the slight smile that crept over my face .


    Instead of answering , he glowered .


    You said mean words to our mommy .


    At the mention of Aurora , my smile faded .


    They were mine .


    Shed kept them from me .


    I should be enraged .


    But I couldnt stop thinking about what shed said to me .


    I would never subject a child to the treatment you gave me for the three years we we years we were married .


    A Chapter 44 So many people thought I was … what had Aurora said ? Honorable .


    Except her .


    With her , Id given into the darkness .


    Allowed myself to be a monster to her , because I thought she was a monster , loo .


    3/7 I shouldnt be surprised that she had kept them , and kept them .


    from me .


    If I thought someone might treat my children the way I treated her for those years , Id keep them away , too .


    Still , looking at them , at how old they were , thinking of what Id missed , I couldnt stop the rage .


    She was afraid Id take her children , was she ? Maybe she should be .


    After all , her pack had taken my parents .


    Does your mother know where you are ? I asked the sugar covered twins .


    She thinks were napping , Tristan said .


    She needs to rest .


    A wry smile curved one corner of my mouth .


    Come on , I said to the kids .


    Were going on a walk .


    I think we have some things to talk about .


    ***** AURORA A Chapter 44 4/7 Once Danes beta , Archer , showed us to our rooms , and the children were asleep , I paced .


    I was back in Blue Ridge .


    Granted , I wasnt stuck in the city penthouse like I had been before .


    But I was back , nheless .


    Except this time , I was a guest , and Dane was engaged to Evelyn ..


    I couldnt tell how that made me feel .


    Aside from that , I couldnt stop thinking about the shadows .


    As the mansion had crumbled around us , theyd gone right for Piper , just like I watched them go for Connall .


    I thought I was going to have to fight them as the house crumbled around us .


    But when I got near them , the amulet at my throat glowed , and theyd turned transparent , like normal shadows , and just … fallen away .


    Why ? I wasnt the chosen .


    The ceremony made that clear .


    It had to be that the amulet had power all on its own .


    There was no way I was giving it up , now .


    Because one thing was clear : Danes family was being targeted .


    First his grandfather , now his sister .


    Was Dane next ? Were the twins ? I grabbed the journal off the shelf and carefully turned through its pages .


    The new one was carefully glued back in .


    Two were Chapter 44 still missing .


    What did they say ? What came next ? 5/7 Because now that we knew who the key was Evelyn , apparently we needed to push forward on our search for the relic .


    I needed to , especially .


    Because the ceremony hadnt brought my wolf back , but … might it ? From what wed read , the thing we were searching for was a pure source of magic .


    Enough that unlocking it would bring magic back to the world .


    Wolves , witches , and the like wouldnt have to hide in fear of being hunted by humans anymore .


    We could just exist .


    Surely , something like that would be strong enough to bring back my wolf .


    Then I could have everything .


    Stay Luna heir .


    If I was a leader of a pack in my own right , Dane couldnt take my children .


    Because theyd be my heirs , and he already had another one on the way .


    I moved to put the journal back on my bedside table .


    Id pulled it from the rubble , and it was battered and torn in several ces .


    As I did , the back cover shifted .


    I opened it to see if it was damaged .


    The paper pasted to it had peeled free .


    Beneath it , several symbols glowed .


    Chapter 44 The top ones caught my eye .


    6/7 Chosen , one of the symbols said .


    And then a line down , from the prison gates , the shadows will rise … Then there were others I couldnt read , and then , … Her chosen Three .


    I sat down hard on my bed as more symbols became clear , my heart beating in my throat .


    Wed been wrong .


    Wed been wrong about everything .


    ***** I stumbled out of the house to find Dane .


    I didnt care how angry he was , we had to talk .


    We had to figure this out .


    I found him outside .


    He was ying with the twins .


    Tristan .


    Seraphina , I gasped .


    I thought you were asleep ! Were ying , Seraphina said .


    She handed me a crown of woven clover flowers .


    For you , mommy ! Look , he has a bracelet ! Sure enough , there was a bracelet of clover flowers on Danes wrist .


    I met his eyes , saw his set jaw , and everything else was driven Chapter 44 from my mind .


    7/7 He stood , then pulled me away , just far enough that the children .


    couldnt hear .


    There was a look in his eyes like Id never seen before .


    sa Dane … No.


    Youve had five years to speak , Aurora .


    To tell me who they were .


    I couldnt- His face twisted into a snarl .


    No more excuses! Those children are mine .


    Mine , no matter what you say .


    You took them from me , and now Im taking them back .


    They arent going anywhere .


    Ever .


    You , though ? You can stay or go .


    Its your choice .