She flinched, then nodded, tears tracking down her cheeks. "I know you''ll keep them safe,” she whispered. "I know they''ll grow up loved. Strong. They''ll have you. ric. Cassian. Lance. Rae. They''ll be okay." Her hand came to rest over her heart. "But it hurts so much to think of leaving them. Of leaving you."


    My chest felt like it was splitting open. I put my hand over hers, holding it tight against my racing heart, like the connection could anchor us together.


    "You''re not leaving," I said, softer now but no less certain. "This family does not survive by sacrificing you. We survive with you, because of you.”


    She leaned into me again, shoulders shaking. I rocked her gently, slow and steady, the way she did with the boys. For a few fragile seconds, the world narrowed to this- heartbeat, breath, warmth.


    Then the door burst open.


    "Alpha!"


    I turned sharply, every instinct ring. The warrior froze at the threshold, chest heaving, eyes wide with urgency.


    August stirred between us, fussing angrily at the sudden shout. Ian made a loud, angry sound from the crib.


    Ellie moved to him, setting August behind him and stroking their hair as she murmured reassurance.


    All in the second it took her to move, I rushed forward too. Pushing the warrior back into the hallway and shutting the door behind us.


    "What are you doing?"


    "Message from Moonstone," he said. "From Alpha Cassian."


    My blood ran cold.


    "There''s movement at the border," the warrior continued. "Rogues. Not a scouting py. An army."


    "How long?" I demanded.


    "Less than an hour," he said. "They''re moving fast."


    I closed my eyes once, briefly. Then everything snapped into ce..


    "Sound the silent alert," I ordered. "Full defensive formation. Evacuate nobatants to the inner keep. Now."


    "Yes, Alpha!"


    The warrior was gone in an instant.


    I steadied myself for just a moment, then walked back into the nursery. Ellie was holding the boys, one on each hip and bouncing them gently.


    They''d calmed, but they were perceptive enough to know that something was wrong. Each of them held on to Ellie''s shirt, bunching the fabric in one little fist.


    Their other hands weretched together. Holding each other like a lifeline.


    My heart swelled at the sight, and I quickly closed the distance, pulling them all into my arms.


    My heart raced with fear, ached at the thought that this could be it. This could be the end of this family we''d


    Bonus


    fought so damn hard to make and bring together.


    I forced the thought aside. I would not let that happen. I couldn''t.


    Ellie looked up at me, fear zing brighter than before. "This is it."


    "This is the storm," I agreed.


    Ellie''s eyes were still glistening with emotion, but her mouth set in a hard line. There was that fierce determination of hers, the boldness that always got under my skin.


    When we were younger, I thought it was irritation, the tight feeling in my chest when she got like this. Now I know better. I know that it''s attraction. But in this moment, it''s also pride.


    My mate, the mother of my boys, is facing the storm head-on, and she doesn''t flinch.


    I never thought I''d be able to feel like this for another person. To see their strength and feel this deep sense of pride. To feel this kind offort.


    Maybe I was deluding myself, but right now I felt like we might just get out of this safely, together.


    But now wasn''t the time to get starry-eyed. Now was the time for action and caution.


    I cupped her face, forcing her to meet my gaze. “Listen to me. You stay with the boys. Rae will be with you. ric too. The inner wards areyered. They''ll hold." "And you?" she asked.


    "I''ll be where I''m needed."


    She grabbed my sleeve. "Nn-"


    "I need you to trust me,” I said quietly. “The way I trust you.


    334


    Her lips trembled. Then she nodded once, fierce despite the fear. "Come back to us."


    I pressed a kiss to her forehead, then to August''s soft hair, thenn''s chubby cheek.


    "I will," I said.


    As I turned toward the door, the packhouse was already shifting-controlled chaos, warriors moving with purpose, the air thick with anticipation.


    The storm had arrived.


    And this time, it wasn''t content to circle the borders.


    It wasing for our home.


    Cede is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a ir for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cede''s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.