Always

Always


The days passed quickly at Mount Pleasant, the twins’ growth steady but alarming. Every movement, every pulse of energy from them seemed sharper, stronger, more aware. I had begun to notice subtle changes in myself too—their energy resonating with mine, pushing me to levels I hadn’t known I could reach.

The lunar eclipse was only three nights away. The elders had warned us that during such an event, the moon’s power intensified, amplifying the abilities of the Heart’s bloodline. For us, that meant the twins—and me—would be under pressure like never before.

Kevin paced the training yard, tension evident in the way he flexed his hands around the hilt of his sword. Kelvin leaned against the stone wall, arms crossed, his wolf form rippling beneath his human exterior. Both of them were silent, their minds focused on the approaching threat—but I could feel the unease beneath their composure.

“I’ve reviewed the borders again,” Kevin said finally, breaking the silence. “All patrols are doubled. Any rogue that crosses near Mount Pleasant is dead before they reach the house.”

Kelvin nodded, eyes scanning the treeline. “It’s not just rogue packs this time. There are whispers… of outsiders, other Bloodline hunters who’ve heard about the Heart of the Moon awakening. They’ll come looking for the twins.”

I swallowed, hands resting protectively on my stomach. “Then we need to be ready… physically, mentally, and… magically.”

Kevin glanced at me, his eyes softening. “You’re more ready than any of us. They sense it, Molly. Even the twins are aware of their strength, but you… you guide it.”

I looked down at the twins’ tiny pulses beneath my palms. They shifted gently, almost as if responding to Kevin’s words. My heart twisted. They were so small, yet so powerful. So precious.

Kelvin stepped forward, crouching beside me. “Tomorrow we begin the final preparation. The eclipse will awaken their power fully. We need control, or it will consume them—and you.”

I nodded, closing my eyes. I could feel their energy, small yet insistent. It intertwined with mine, stretching, probing, searching for the strength they would need.

Night fell quickly, and I retired early, though sleep was uneasy. I could feel the twins moving even more restlessly, tiny bursts of power brushing against me. My dreams were vivid, flashes of the eclipse, silver light cutting through darkness, shadows moving, eyes watching.

I woke before dawn, heart racing, and found Kevin sitting beside the bed. His hand rested gently over mine. “They’re awake early,” he murmured, eyes scanning the shadows outside.

“They know,” I whispered, stroking my stomach. “They know something is coming.”

Kevin’s jaw tightened. “So do I.”

Kelvin appeared at the door, fully shifted, silver fur catching the dim light. “It begins today,” he said simply. “The twins’ first real test.”

We made our way to the clearing beyond Mount Pleasant, where the ground had been cleared for training. It was quiet—eerie in the calm before the storm. I positioned myself in the center, kneeling as I had so many times before, hands hovering over my stomach.

Kevin and Kelvin flanked me, their eyes never leaving the horizon. “Focus,” Kevin instructed. “They will mimic you. Control your emotions, control your energy. They respond to fear, anger, excitement… all of it.”

I inhaled deeply, whispering soft words to the twins. “Feel me. Hear me. We’re together. Always.”

At first, nothing happened. Then, faint pulses shimmered beneath my palms, soft silver waves rippling outward. I smiled, encouraging them.

The wind shifted suddenly, carrying a faint scent of smoke and iron. My pulse quickened. Shadows moved in the treeline—rogues, dozens of them, but unlike any we’d faced before. Their eyes glowed with unnatural light, their forms twisted with energy.

Kevin’s hand tightened on his sword. “They came early.”

Kelvin growled, shifting fully, his wolf form large and imposing. “And they’ve brought reinforcements.”

The twins pulsed sharply beneath my palms, responding instinctively to the threat. Their energy flared outward in small bursts, brushing against the rogue attackers, slowing their advance.

“Good,” I whispered. “Stay steady. Focus.”

The rogues hesitated, sensing something larger than themselves. I could feel the twins’ recognition, their instinctive reaction to danger. It was subtle at first—tiny surges of silver energy—but growing rapidly, almost as if they were learning to fight before even being born.

Kevin stepped forward, drawing a line in the dirt with his sword. “They won’t pass this point.”

Kelvin crouched, silver fur bristling. “And if they do, they’ll feel the wrath of our family.”

The first rogue leapt forward, claws extended. The twins pulsed instinctively, a wave of silver energy erupting outward. The creature stumbled, thrown back, whimpering. The energy flowed through me, through them, a dance of instinct and power.

I realized then that this was more than training. The eclipse would awaken them fully, but the threat from outside meant they were already responding—learning, surviving, fighting.

Another wave of rogues charged. Kevin and Kelvin met them head-on, moving in perfect synchronization. I stayed in the center, guiding the twins’ energy, encouraging control, whispering soft instructions.

As the battle continued, a strange phenomenon began. The sky darkened unnaturally, the moon hidden behind swirling clouds. Shadows stretched unnaturally long across the clearing. My hands glowed, and the twins’ pulses responded in tandem, their energy radiating outward, stronger than I’d ever felt.

“Keep them steady,” Kelvin called over the clash. “Focus their energy—channel it!”

I did, pushing every ounce of control I had. The twins surged, light and energy radiating outward, forming a protective barrier around us. The rogues faltered, their movements chaotic, eyes wide with fear.

Kevin gritted his teeth, fighting through his exhaustion. “They’ll learn!” he shouted. “They’ll survive!”

And then, as if on cue, the first rays of the eclipse touched the clearing. The light was eerie, silver and black swirling across the sky. I felt the twins’ power spike in response, their energy tangling with mine, creating a luminous shield around us.

The rogues screamed, retreating into the shadows, unable to withstand the twins’ instinctive control. Kevin and Kelvin moved to the forefront, striking down the last of them.

When the clearing finally fell silent, I sank to my knees, trembling. The twins pulsed faintly beneath my hands, exhausted but steady. Kevin and Kelvin knelt beside me, sweat and blood on their skin, but alive, unbroken.

“They did it,” Kevin whispered. “You did it. All of us… together.”

Kelvin rested a hand on my shoulder, his silver eyes soft. “They’re ready. You’ve prepared them well. And so have we.”

I looked down at my stomach, the twins stirring faintly, tiny silver pulses against my palms. The bond was stronger than ever, unbreakable. Even the eclipse, with all its power, had only strengthened it.

For the first time, I allowed myself to smile, relief and pride mingling with exhaustion. The twins had faced their first real challenge—and survived.

Kevin leaned down, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “You were incredible, Molly. They’re incredible because of you.”

I swallowed, feeling tears prick at my eyes. “We’re a team. All of us.”

Kelvin nodded, resting his forehead briefly against mine. “And no matter what comes next, we face it together. Always.”

The eclipse faded, leaving silver light in its wake. Mount Pleasant was quiet again, but the world beyond remained dangerous. Rogues, hunters, and unknown threats still lurked in the shadows—but we had survived.

And now, more than ever, I understood what it meant to be the Heart of the Moon. Not just a vessel of power, but a guide, a protector, and a mother.

As night fully settled over the mountains, the twins stirred one final time, sending a soft pulse of energy through me. I whispered, gently, “You’re ready… and so are we.”

Kevin and Kelvin flanked me, protective and vigilant, but a sense of peace settled over us for the first time in weeks. The eclipse had awakened more than power—it had awakened confidence, trust, and the undeniable bond of family.

No matter what came next, we would face it together. All of us. Always.

And somewhere in the quiet, beneath the stars, I knew the twins felt it too—the pulse of the moon, the heartbeat of their family, and the strength that would guide them through every challenge yet to come.