Julian’s POV
Sunshine bathed the adow as I watched Theo chase after a butterfly that danced just beyond his reach. Elena trailed behind her brother, her delighted giggles filling the air. This felt perfect, like everything was exactly as it should be. Almost everything. Seraphina should have been here with us, but exhaustion had claid her after so many sleepless nights. She needed the rest.
"Daddy, look what I found!" Elena’s voice bubbled with excitent as she cupped her tiny hands around a brilliant red beetle.
My chest tightened with warmth. "That’s beautiful, princess." These monts were everything to . My children had beco my entire universe, especially now that I knew Elena was truly mine by blood. The fear that haunted my sleepless nights whispered that soday she might learn the truth and turn away from forever.
Theo bounded back toward us, breathing hard from his chase. "Can we play soccer now, Dad?" His eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"In a minute, son." I ruffled his dark hair, so much like my own. "There’s sothing important we need to talk about first."
The soft grass cushioned us as I settled down, pulling Theo onto my lap while Elena curled against my side. Theo tilted his head, his expression serious and questioning in that endearing way children manage.
"Theo, you’ve noticed there are many wolves in our community, haven’t you?" I kept my tone gentle, asured.
He nodded eagerly. "Lots and lots of them."
A soft chuckle escaped . "We’re very special, both of you. We’re part of sothing ancient that makes us different from the humans you knew before coming here."
His eyes grew wide with wonder. Having spent most of his young life in the human world, this revelation would change everything for him.
"We are werewolves," I explained carefully, studying his reaction. "This ans we can transform into powerful wolves. Not ordinary wolves, but our wolf selves. It connects us to our pack, like an enormous, devoted family. It grants us heightened senses and an unbreakable drive to protect those we love."
Fear flickered briefly across his features, quickly replaced by fascination. "You can actually turn into a wolf?"
"Yes." I smiled at his amazent. "We retain our intelligence and consciousness even in wolf form. It’s part of our heritage, a gift passed down through generations."
Elena bounced excitedly. "Daddy’s wolf is so fluffy!"
Theo’s eyes widened even further. "Could you change right now?"
I studied his face, seeing curiosity battling nervousness. I wanted him to understand, not fear what we were. "Would you like to see?"
My brave boy nodded without hesitation.
I gently set Theo down and rose to my feet. Elena, knowing what was coming, stepped back with anticipation dancing in her eyes. I closed my eyes and surrendered to the transformation. Power surged through as bones shifted and elongated, skin thickening into dense fur. Within seconds, I stood before them in my wolf form.
Theo gasped, frozen in place with eyes like saucers. My wolf towered over him, even on all fours. Pure awe painted his entire face.
"Papa wolf," he whispered, wonder coloring every syllable.
Elena was already racing toward . She knew this wolf intimately, had ridden on my back and nestled into my fur countless tis. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around my neck, her small fingers disappearing into my thick coat.
"You’re here!" she giggled, pressing her cheek against my muzzle.
I nuzzled her gently, a low rumble of contentnt vibrating in my chest. Theo watched Elena’s comfort and slowly stepped forward, then another step. His hand reached out tentatively, fingertips barely grazing my side. My fur was warm and soft beneath his touch. When he looked up at my wolf eyes, I whimpered softly, reassuring him that I was still his father.
Finally, he smiled that brilliant, joyful grin and began petting , running his fingers through my fur. He giggled when I licked his hand gently. For several precious minutes, I rolled in the grass with them, letting them climb onto my back, playfully nudging them with my nose. Their laughter was the most beautiful sound in existence.
Then I shifted back to human form.
"That was incredible!" Theo exclaid, practically vibrating with excitent.
"It truly is," I agreed, pulling him into a tight embrace. "And soday, when you’re older, you’ll experience that power yourself."
"Can we play soccer now?" Elena asked, already sprinting toward the goal cones I’d arranged. I loved how quickly her attention shifted from one thing to another. Anger could consu her one mont, and seconds later she’d be completely absorbed in sothing new.
I didn’t know whether she inherited this trait from Seraphina or , but recognizing any similarity between us filled a void I’d carried for too long.
"Absolutely!" I grabbed the soccer ball, and soon we were a whirlwind of shouts and laughter. I deliberately let them score goal after goal, my heart soaring with their happiness. I would do anything to ensure my children remained this joyful.
We were deep in an intense match, Elena bravely defending the goal while Theo attempted to dribble past , when I spotted them approaching across the pack grounds.
My parents.
They walked with their usual regal composure, and I hadn’t seen them in weeks. My feelings toward them had grown complicated over recent months, particularly after discovering what my father had done. But that wasn’t the source of the cold dread settling in my stomach. It was their companion.
Roxanne.
My smile died instantly. My stomach twisted into knots as pure disgust flooded my veins. I was genuinely happy to see my parents, but Roxanne’s presence made my blood freeze. Her perfectly styled hair, her deceptively innocent dress, the way she moved as if she owned everything around her. I despised her with every fiber of my being.
I had deliberately brought Elena outside while Roxanne was still sleeping to avoid exactly this encounter.
Elena spotted her grandparents and squealed with delight. "Grandma! Grandpa!" She abandoned her position to sprint toward them. My mother swept her up, covering her with kisses while my father patted her head with gentle affection.
I forced myself to approach them, plastering a tight smile across my face. I embraced my mother genuinely, then gave my father a firm pat on the back.
"Julian, son," my father said warmly. "Good to see you."
"You too." I hugged them again, deliberately ignoring the woman beside them.
"Theo," I called, beckoning him over. He approached shyly, partially hiding behind my leg.
"Mom, Dad, et Theo."
My mother’s expression softened imdiately. "Oh, Theo! It’s wonderful to finally et you, sweetheart!" She reached out, gently touching his cheek. "You look exactly like your father did as a boy."
My father nodded approvingly. "Indeed he does. Welco to our pack, son."
Theo managed a small, shy smile. That’s when I noticed Roxanne staring at him with narrowed eyes, undisguised disdain twisting her features. It wasn’t just my imagination. Theo sensed it too, flinching and gripping my pants leg tighter.
Rage boiled in my veins. How dare she? I scooped Theo up imdiately, holding him protectively against my chest, shielding him from her poisonous glare.
"Roxanne," I said, my voice carefully controlled despite the fury burning inside . "What brings you here?"
She smiled that calculated, empty smile I’d seen countless tis. "Julian," she purred, stepping closer. "I wanted to spend quality ti with you and Elena. Like a real family."
The audacity of those words after she’d destroyed my family and kept my daughter from her true mother made my stomach churn.
"What a thoughtful idea, Roxanne," I lied smoothly. "But right now, I’d like to catch up with my parents. It’s been too long."
Her smile tightened. "We’ve all missed you, Julian." She directed this comnt toward my mother, trying to make it sound like I’d been neglecting them.
But she ant nothing to , so I owed her nothing.
My mother imdiately responded to the manipulation. "Yes, Julian, why haven’t you been spending more ti with Elena? Roxanne ntioned you’ve been so busy with Theo that you’re forgetting your little girl."
I recognized Roxanne’s ga instantly, using my mother to manufacture guilt. But I wouldn’t take the bait. "Mom, I spend plenty of ti with Elena." I fixed Roxanne with a challenging stare. "Actually, Roxanne, I think spending ti together is an excellent idea. Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight?"
The words tasted like poison, but I forced them out. Dinner with her? I wanted to run screaming in the opposite direction. I loathed her with every cell in my body. But I had to play her ga, pretend for Elena’s sake. If I could convince her I wanted this happy family charade, she’d have no reason to fight . Not yet.
"That sounds lovely, Julian," she said, her smile faltering slightly at my unexpected agreent.
"Perfect," I replied, waves of revulsion crashing over . "Tonight it is. It’ll be delightful." I held Theo tighter, feeling his small weight grounding . Tonight, I would endure her presence. Tonight, I would play this role perfectly. For my daughter, and for Seraphina.
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