Calvin’s POV
"Alpha, there’s an attorney here to see you."
Learning that Evelyn was truly pursuing custody through legal channels made my mood darken considerably. Cold fury settled in my eyes as I analyzed the situation, my mind already calculating several moves ahead.
My fingers, which had broken that pen earlier, ford a loose fist as I tapped the desk, breaking the silence that had fallen over my office.
I turned to Zeon, my Beta. "Do I need to spell it out for you? And get that trending story removed imdiately. It’s garbage. I don’t want to see anything like it again."
"Right away, Alpha!" Zeon’s mind-link projected his anxiety as he hurried to follow orders.
I leaned back in my chair, my gaze falling on the family portrait on my desk - taken the year the twins were born. Six years it had sat there, never moved.
My expression revealed nothing of the turmoil beneath. Cyra was restless, pacing within , unsettled by the threat to our family structure, to our pups.
Evelyn’s POV
I had just returned from eting with the attorney, dressed in a simple but elegant white silk dress paired with silver heels. My hair fell in loose waves around my shoulders.
As I stepped out of the car, I noticed a familiar black Maybach parked outside my ho. There was no driver visible, and the partition between front and back seats was raised, making it impossible to see if anyone was inside.
My heart rate quickened slightly. Was it Calvin, coming to discuss custody of our children?
I didn’t approach the car imdiately. My phone vibrated in my hand, and when I saw the caller ID, my expression softened instinctively.
"Gary, when are you coming back?" I asked, my voice lighter than it had been all day. As my forr lab junior and now a key researcher at Evelink Biosciences, Gary was one of the few pack mbers I truly trusted. "You said that last ti too. Both Alexis and I miss you."
I headed into my house, unaware of the tinted window in the back seat lowering just enough for soone to observe my every move.
After my shower that evening, I looked down from my balcony and noticed the black Maybach was gone.
I stared at the starless night sky, my mind racing with thoughts of the coming custody battle.
My lawyer had suggested approaching this from the children’s perspective. The Bloodbane Pack’s influence stretched across all of Ravenshade territory - their power was absolute in every Alpha Council decision.
Calvin had only Rowan and Rhys, while I had Alexis. My lawyer explained that the Alpha Council typically ruled against parents who had children from other relationships. Since no one knew Alexis was also Calvin’s daughter, this worked against . Even worse, Rhys, being so devoted to his father’s approval, would never choose to co with . At best, my lawyer said, I might only be able to take one child.
But if the boys chose to stay with firmly enough...
My eyes darkened at the thought.
If they preferred their father, I would ensure they had a future without complications. Like ensuring Calvin could never father more children with that woman,a permanent solution.
This custody battle would end with one of us losing everything.
The following afternoon, I arrived at the Ravenshade Academy gates. The school was exclusive to pureblood werewolf children, particularly those from Alpha and Beta bloodlines. Only to find Clara and Calvin already there. The temperature seed to drop as his eyes found , but I quickly turned my attention toward the school entrance before our gazes could lock.
I made sure I looked my best today. My golden hair fell in waves over my shoulders, shining in the light. My green eyes, bright and clear.
I may be a wolfless Oga, but my heritage spoke for itself. As the daughter of the Norse Pack’s Alpha, our na commanded respect.
Even now, despite what others say about , I still carry my pack’s pride.I hold myself with grace and dignity.
I could feel Calvin’s intense stare. Clara noticed too, quickly interrupting, "Alpha, the children are coming out."
In the distance, I saw Rowan holding Rhys’s hand as they exited the building. They spotted Calvin imdiately and began rushing toward him.
"Daddy!" they called out.
I wasn’t standing far from Calvin. Rowan spotted and his eyes lit up with joy. He tugged his brother along as he ran toward instead, his steps quickening with excitent.
"Mom! Why are you here?" he asked, beaming up at .
I pulled Rowan into my arms, deliberately ignoring Rhys. "Mommy ca to pick you up from school. Don’t you like that?"
Rowan shook his head then nodded, embarrassed. "I like it. I like it when Mom picks up, very much!"
I smiled and stroked his head affectionately. Beside us, Rhys pressed his lips together stubbornly, his face full of hurt and disappointnt.
Rowan peered around , looking for his sister. "Mom, didn’t Alexis co?"
"She’s at ho," I explained. "Aunt Astrid and I bought lots of new toys for you. Do you want to co ho with ?"
"Yes!" Rowan replied imdiately.
Rhys’s eyes began to redden with unshed tears as he waited for an invitation that never ca.
I took Rowan’s hand and prepared to leave when he asked, "Mom, isn’t Rhys coming with us?"
Rhys looked up at hopefully.
"He doesn’t need to," I replied coldly.
Rowan hesitated. "But I want to have dinner with both Rhys and Alexis. Mom, can we bring him too, please?"
eting Rowan’s pleading eyes,I found it difficult to refuse."Ask him what he wants."
Rhys turned away defiantly. "I don’t want to go."
I could sense his distress. He wanted to ask him directly, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. The moon goddess knew how much it hurt to treat my own son this way, but this was the only path forward now.
Just then, a cold, commanding voice ca from behind us.
"Rowan. Rhys."
Calvin’s POV
"Rowan. Rhys," I called out, my voice carrying the natural authority of an Alpha.
All three turned to look at . The similarity between Evelyn and our sons was striking，the sa expressive eyes, the sa determined set of the jaw.
My chest tightened at the sight.
Clara held up a gift box, her voice overly sweet. "Boys, Auntie Clara brought your favorite cupcakes!"
"Thank you, Miss Clara," Rowan replied politely,"but we don’t like cupcakes anymore."
Clara’s expression faltered. "Oh, I’ll bring sothing else next ti."
I could hear the whispers around us, everyone guessing which woman was my mate and which was the mistress. The thought was almost funny. One look from was enough to silence the crowd.
"Where are you taking him?" I asked Evelyn.
She stood there calmly, holding Rowan’s hand. "You said I could see the children anyti. Today I want to take Rowan ho for dinner. I’ll bring him back afterward."
"Not today," I replied firmly.
Clara smiled triumphantly beside . "Ms. Blackwell, Calvin is taking the boys to dinner at my Packhouse today. Please return our child."
Evelyn suddenly laughed. "Return?"
Her smile vanished, replaced by a steely glare. "You can play stepmother after you’ve officially entered the Bloodbane Pack, not before."
Her words struck a nerve.
"Evelyn," I growled, "can’t you be civil about this?"
I saw the flash of anger in her eyes, though her face remained composed.
She ignored both Clara’s triumphant smirk and my glowering expression, turning to Rowan instead.
"Rowan, do you want to go to Clara’s house with your father, or co ho with and see your sister?"
"With you," Rowan answered without hesitation.
Rhys walked closer, clearly hoping for an invitation that didn’t co.
"You heard him," Evelyn said to . "He wants to co with ."
Rowan looked up at . "Dad, you always tell us to express our true feelings," he said earnestly. "I want to have dinner with Mom and Alexis."
He squeezed Evelyn’s hand and added, "But Rhys and I still love you very much, don’t be jealous."
My son’s words so innocent yet so perceptive,caught off guard.
I looked directly into Evelyn’s eyes, searching for... sothing. But she avoided my gaze, looking only at our son.
A strange pressure built in my chest—not anger, sothing deeper and more painful.
"Fine," I conceded after a mont of silence.
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