Kamrynn's POV
The second I stepped into the bathroom, I barely had time to lock the door before my legs gave out beneath me. I crumpled onto the floor, my hands trembling as I clutched at my dress, gasping for air. My chest felt tight, as if someone had wrapped their hands around my throat and was squeezing, forcing out every last bit of control I had left.
And then the first sob tore through me.
It was raw, ugly, painful. The kind of cry that came from deep inside, from a place long buried under layers of strength and survival. The kind of cry I hadn't allowed myself in a very long time.
My shoulders shook violently as I pressed a hand over my mouth, muffling the desperate sounds escaping me. My heart pounded against my ribs, the weight of everything crashing down all at once.
I had held it together for as long as I could. I had faced Calvin without breaking, without giving him the satisfaction of knowing just how much he still had the power to hurt me. But now that I was alone, the weight of everything crashed over me like a tidal wave.
My chest tightened painfully, and I pressed a trembling hand against it, as if I could somehow hold myself together. Tears streamed down my face, hot and relentless.
"I'm sorry," I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so, so sorry, my loves."
I knew they couldn't hear me, but I whispered to them anyway, as if my babies were here, as if they could understand the lie I had just told.
"I didn't mean it," I sobbed. "I didn't mean a word of it."
Telling Calvin that I had gotten rid of our child had been the hardest thing I had ever done. Even now, the echo of my own voice haunted me, the cruel finality of my words.
There is no baby.
It was a lie. A necessary one. But that didn't make it any easier to bear.
"You did the right thing." Aryna's voice rumbled in my mind, steady and unwavering.
"You protected them, you protected us. You've truly grown, Kamrynn. I'm so proud of you." She praised me, nudging me gently.
I let out a shaky breath, nodding as I tried to believe it myself.
I did the right thing.
Calvin could never be allowed near my children. Not after everything he had done to me. No amount of regret, no amount of groveling or apologies could erase the torment he had put me through.
The more I thought about it, the clearer it became. All of the pain he caused… every slap, every bruise, every whispered plea for mercy that had gone unheard. The ugly scars-both the ones on my body and the ones inside me, the ones that would never fully heal.
Calvin had destroyed me.
And now, he would never have the chance to destroy my children.
I squeezed my eyes shut, swallowing back another sob. I hated him.
I hate him.
The more I let myself remember, the more the hatred grew, taking root in my chest like a twisted, gnarled vine. And yet, a part of me knew Calvin wouldn't just leave.
He was stubborn.
If he found out about the twins, he would fight for them.
And then he would try to take them away from me.
The thought sent a cold rush of fear through me, sobering me instantly. No. I couldn't allow that to happen. I wouldn't allow that to happen.
My heart hardened at the thought.
I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand, forcing my breathing to steady. Slowly, I turned on the faucet, splashing cold water onto my face. The icy chill jolted me back to the present.
When I looked up at my reflection, I saw a woman who had survived. A woman who had won.
"He can't hurt me anymore," I whispered, staring into my own eyes.
I straightened my shoulders, smoothing my dress before turning toward the door.
It was time to go back.
The moment I stepped back into the party, my eyes swept the room, searching.
I couldn't see him.
Relief flooded through me, and I exhaled. Maybe he got the message. Maybe he finally left.
I prayed he had. If Calvin was gone, I could finally breathe again.
But despite my relief, an ache settled in my chest-an overwhelming need to see Astor and Arabella. I had had enough of this night. Rmonica had thrown this party for me, but I didn't need it anymore. I just wanted to go back to my room, hold my babies, and remind myself that they were safe.
As if on cue, the doors to the hall swung open.
And then I heard it.
The wailing.
My heart clenched as my eyes snapped toward the entrance.
Rmonica was walking in, both of my children in her arms.
Astor and Arabella were crying-loud, distressed sobs that made my stomach twist painfully. The moment they entered the room, people turned, whispers rising among the guests.
I didn't care.
"Rmonica!" I called, rushing toward her, my pulse spiking with worry.
She turned to me immediately, carefully shifting Astor into my waiting arms. The second he felt my warmth, his cries softened, though his little face was still scrunched with distress.
"What happened?" I asked, my voice urgent as I rocked him gently.
Rmonica sighed, adjusting her hold on Arabella. "Everything was fine before. I was playing with them, and they were happy. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, they just started crying." She frowned, looking between them. "Maybe they're hungry. Or maybe they just missed you."
I pressed a kiss to Astor's forehead, my heart still racing. "I'll take them back to my room," I said. "I'll feed them and put them to sleep."
Rmonica nodded. "I'll come with you."
We turned toward the hallway, my entire focus on getting my children somewhere quiet, somewhere safe.
And then-
We stopped.
Or rather, we were stopped.
Something-someone-stood in our path.
Dread crashed over me in a suffocating wave.
Slowly, I looked up.
And met his eyes.
Calvin.
His red, puffy gaze locked onto mine for a fraction of a second before shifting-before dropping-to the small, fragile bundle cradled in my arms.
Then, his eyes moved to Arabella in Rmonica's arms.
It was as if the world had stopped spinning.
A subtle shift rippled through the air, something raw and electric. I felt it crackling in my bones, in my blood.
He knows.
Not just because of the resemblance-though that alone was undeniable. Astor had his eyes. Arabella had his nose.
But more than that-his wolf recognized them.
His entire body tensed, his breathing turning shallow. His lips parted slightly, as if the air had been stolen from his lungs.
"No," he whispered, so softly I almost didn't hear it.
I couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
The panic surged up my throat, clawing at me like a trapped animal. I held Astor closer, my fingers gripping him tighter as an overwhelming, primal urge took hold of me.
Run.
I needed to run.
Calvin's eyes flicked back to mine, his expression unreadable, his hands trembling at his sides.
"They're mine," he breathed, almost to himself.
"Move," I said, my voice deadly quiet.
His gaze was frantic, shifting between me and my children. "You lied to me." His voice cracked, barely more than a whisper.
"I had to," I snapped, my grip tightening on Astor. "You don't deserve to know them. You don't deserve anything from me."
His eyes darkened, his entire body stiffening. "Kamrynn, please-"
"No!" My voice rose, raw and desperate. "You're not taking them from me!"
The second the words left my mouth, something flickered in his gaze-something dangerous.
A chill ran down my spine.
Beside me, Rmonica tensed, her arms tightening protectively around Arabella. "Kamrynn," she murmured, her voice low and cautious.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stand tall. "We're leaving," I said, more to myself than him.
I stepped forward, fully intending to push past him, but he didn't move. His entire body trembled, his hands clenching at his sides.
"You can't keep them from me," he whispered, his voice breaking.
I met his gaze, my expression like steel. "Watch me."
And with that, I walked past him, Rmonica close behind.
I didn't look back.
I couldn't.
Because if I did, I knew I would see the moment Calvin realized something terrifying.
I would never let him near my children.
And he would never stop fighting for them.