Chapter 5

The next morning, Adam awoke to a knock on his front door. Who could that be? He hadn’t been expecting anyone that morning. He rolled out of bed, careful of his wound, wanting to stretch but remembering the pain it brought him. Adam tugged a clean shirt over his head and grabbed some jeans as he yelled to the person at the door he would be down in a minute.

Adam thumped down the stairs, heading toward the front door. He opened it a crack. When he saw Ella on the other side, he swung the door open wide, standing there with his mouth open wide. On either side of Ella were two children. The little girl looked almost like an exact replica of Ella when she was younger.

Adam’s eyes moved to the boy standing to the right of Ella. There was no doubt in Adam’s mind that he was staring at his own son. The boy held Ella’s hand nervously as Adam continued to gape at him.

Adam tried to form words, but nothing would come out of his mouth. He turned toward Ella, dumbfounded, his eyes conveying the question his lips could not.

“Adam, these are my children: Aaron and Emme,” Ella said, gesturing to each.

Ella turned to her children, prompting them to say hi. Adam waved apprehensively as the twins looked up at him.

“Kids,” Ella said, pausing slightly, “This is your father. Adam, these are your children."

Ella let out a sigh, not believing she just spoke those words. Adam crouched down, becoming eye level with the two younglings. He smiled, holding his hand out. Aaron looked up at his mom, checking to see what she wanted him to do. Ella gave a small nod and Aaron lifted his hand, placing it in Adam’s, and giving it a small shake.

“Nice to meet you, Aaron,” Adam said.

He turned to Emme, extending his hand once again. She took it hesitantly. A small smile lifted the corner of Adam’s mouth. He breathed in their scent.

“Would you like to come in?” Adam asked, stepping back.

“We were actually hoping you would join us at the park,” Ella replied, looking down at her children, not sure she could meet Adam’s eyes.

“Well, I would be delighted,” Adam said, grabbing his keys before joining them outside and locking his front door.

The twins’ faces beamed with joy and excitement. They pulled their mom down the steps before she could say anything to Adam. Aaron branched away from his mom to grab Adam’s hand, guiding him down the stairs, and catching up to Emme and Ella.

They walked side-by-side all the way to the park, drawing stares from everyone on the street. Adam could hear their whispering voices. There was no doubt everyone in the pack that saw them were surprised by the sight. There was no denying the resemblance between the children and their Alpha.

Adam stole a glance at Ella, unsure if this meant she was willing to help him. She was smiling as Emme pulled her faster, trying to beat her brother to the playground. Ella’s scarlet hair whipped behind her, the curls catching the sunlight in a way that made it look like fire. She looks even more stunning than the day she left.

Ella’s head turned, feeling Adam’s stare. She blushed as she saw the look in his eyes, and she promptly lowered her eyes to the sidewalk in front of her. Adam could hardly peel his eyes from her beautiful form, but he forced himself not to stare. Instead, he switched his attention to the little boy leading him along.

He still couldn’t believe the words Ella had spoken — "these are your children." At first, he was furious and hurt that she had kept them a secret from him all this time, but as he thought about it, his view changed. He felt guilty for pushing her away all those years ago. He had sent the most wonderful woman in existence away, pregnant and alone. A knot formed in his stomach as he thought about how lonely and afraid she must have been when she found out.

***

Ella felt the pull of Adam’s gaze as they walked toward the park. She couldn’t help but glance over. Big mistake. That look in his eyes made her blush. She turned away quickly, forcing her eyes to stare at the ground in front of her.

Ella focused instead on Emme pulling her along. She was so determined to beat Aaron to the playground, Ella was practically running to keep up. When they reached the green grass on the edge of the park, Ella let go of Emme’s hand, letting her run full speed to the playground, taunting Aaron who ran behind her.

Their laughter could be heard clearly even as they drew further away. Ella chuckled to herself as she watched them, each one trying to get a leg up on the other. They passed the wooden beams circling the playground, each one claiming they had won.

Ella shook her head, knowing they would argue until they gave up and asked for her opinion on who won.

“Moooooom,” she heard Emme whine as she neared, “Tell Aaron I totally beat him!”

“No way! I totally got here first!” Aaron argued.

“Well you both beat me and Adam,” Ella interjected, trying to distract them.

They both turned to Adam and Ella, smirking.

“We beat you two slow pokes!” they teased at the same time.

“You sure did,” Adam answered, “But that doesn’t mean I can’t catch you now!”

He held his hands up in mock claws, a sly grin on his face, and a mischievous look in his eyes. The twins shrieked as they turned and ran, laughing as Adam pursued them. Ella stood at the edge of the playground, arms folded across her chest as she observed the three of them play, a hint of a smile creeping on her face the longer she watched.

“Heeeelp!” Aaron cried out as Adam snatched him up.

Aaron giggled and his eyes found Ella’s.

“Mom! Help me!” he called out between happy shrieks.

Ella’s face lit up with a grin and she jogged over. As she neared, she pulled out hand guns and pointed them at Adam.

“I’m here to rescue you, Aaron!” She closed one eye, pretending to take aim. “Pew! Pew! Pew!”

Adam feigned being hit and dropped the boy, stumbling backwards in the process. He clutched the fake bullet wounds as he fell to the ground dramatically. He let out one final grunt before closing his eyes and playing dead.

“You got him!” Aaron rejoiced, giving his mom a high-five.

When Adam continued to lay unmoving, Emme wandered over hesitantly. When she got within arms’ reach, Adam’s eyes snapped open, and he swooped her up into his arms. “Muahaha!” he called out as he raced away with Emme.

“Oh no, Mom! We have to save Emme!” Aaron exclaimed, already running after his sister.

Ella laughed and chased after him, playing along. They soon caught up to Adam and Aaron quickly retrieved an imaginary rope to tie Adam’s legs up with. He ran ‘round and ‘round Adam, holding the imaginary rope out so it would wind itself around Adam’s legs.

Adam played along, bringing his legs together and wobbling. “Whoa!” he exclaimed as he lost his balance and fell over.

“I got you!” Aaron shouted, moving toward Adam to rescue his sister.

Aaron tugged on Emme’s arms, breaking her out of Adam’s grasp.

“My hero!” Emme proclaimed, giving Aaron a hug.

Adam grunted as he rolled onto his side, pushing off the ground to stand back up. His smile suddenly disappeared, and he clutched his abdomen a second before his legs buckled and his eyes rolled back into his head. Ella rushed forward to catch him before he hit the ground, worry swimming in her eyes. The exertion of playing with Aaron and Emme had been too much for him.

Ella stared down into the agonized face of the man — the wolf — she loved.