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Markus snarled at the mention of him.

“She loves us. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have trusted us with her huge secret. She knows we’re her fated pack.”

Chapter 24

Alana

Thenextmorning,Owenwas helping me get ready before my family arrived to see the babies. They still had no idea I had given birth, and it was supposed to remain a secret, but Lio had convinced me that they wouldn’t tell anyone.

Grandma was cooking lunch downstairs, and Markus was walking around with baby Jay while Lio took care of June. They looked exhausted from the lack of sleep last night, but it felt like a real pack now that the babies were here. For some reason, it felt more lively in the house.

I loved it, but I still felt like something was missing. The actual father of these babies was missing.

“There, your hair is perfect,” said Owen, who helped me tie it up in a ponytail.

“Do you see my blue maternity dress over there? Could you get that for me?”

“Alana, they don’t expect you to look perfect. You just gave birth, for goodness sakes,” said Owen, resting his hand on my shoulder.

“I know, but I can’t be naked,” I said, looking down at my bare chest. “It’s already a lot that my Grandma has seen these jugs.”

Owen chuckled and kissed me on the lips, cupping my left breast. I quickly swatted his warm hand away.

“Your grandma is cooking,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m not taking any chances,” I whispered, and he kissed me one more time on the lips before grabbing my dress. He helped me put it on, and I grabbed his hand as he led me to the bathroom. I closed the door behind me and used the counter to balance myself as I walked to the toilet. Everything ached, especially my vagina. I couldn’t believe I had given birth to twins. It still seemed unreal to me, but I was so excited for my family to see the babies, although I was apprehensive about them meeting Jay. It would be tough for them to understand, and I hoped I wouldn’t have to go into detail about the babies.

But they would have to know that I would be leaving Howl’s Edge.

Later that day, I heard the doorbell ring.

My heart raced as I looked at the babies lying beside me on the bed. The bed was decorated with a pink comforter from my insistence, and the floor was vacuumed. I was nervous when I heard Grandma greeting my family downstairs. I could hear their voices downstairs, especially my sisters’ which were the loudest.

“We have something to show you,” said Grandma, leading them up the steps while my dad Grant made a joke in his booming voice. I looked over at Markus, who was standing next to the bed, and he winked at me.

My heart pounded fast.

“We got this little omega,” Markus said. “I can smell your scent changing. You’re nervous.”

“I don’t know what they’ll think,” I whispered quickly while Grandma glided into the room excitedly.

Grant and my mother walked into the room first, following Grandma. Their eyes widened upon seeing the two bundles on the bed. Mom walked over to me with wonder in her eyes and framed my face with the palms of her hands.

“You had babies,” she exclaimed. “Congratulations, daughter! And twins.”

“Yeah,” I said, smiling, hearing my sisters squealing over the babies.

“Hold on, something is wrong,” said Grant, staring at my baby boy in particular. “Something is off about his skin. Very thin and clear.”

My mother released my face to see what was wrong. I swallowed hard. Lio’s hand rubbed my back comfortingly.

“I have something to tell you,” I said.

My entire family looked at me with full attention while I told them the story about the vampire. Some of them looked confused. My sisters didn’t care if the baby was a vampire, and they still loved him. Grant was the most pissed off.

“I don’t know how I feel about this,” he said in a low voice. “You’re life is in grave danger.”

“I know Dad,” I said. “But there’s nothing I can do except leave Howl’s Edge.”