Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 31

I should have expected this, and inwardly chided myself for not showering before seeing the twins. I had just been so excited to see them that it had slipped my mind.

“No, I didn’t see your dad,” I lied, hating how bitter it tasted on my tongue. “But…” I hesitated for a moment, then made a decision. I sat on the edge of Max’s bed and patted the spot beside me. “I need to talk to you two.”

Jane immediately scrambled onto my lap. Max scooched beside me, still twitching his nose, and looked up at me warily. I hated when he looked at me like that—no four year old should ever have a gaze so old and wise. It was always a reminder that maybe if things had been different, he wouldn’t have to look like that.

“You might come across a man named Andrei,” I said, choosing my words carefully.

“Andrei…” Jane said the name slowly, like she was tasting it. Just hearing her say her father’s name made my

chest clench.

I nodded. “Yes, and you should stay away from him if he comes,” I instructed them. “You know how we practiced not talking to strangers, and if anyone tells you that Mommy sent them to pick you up and take you somewhere

“Then we yell ‘stranger danger‘!” Jane and Max practically said in unison.

I couldn’t help but smile at that. “Good pups. Well, I want you to do it twice as much as with anyone else. Andrei might try to take you away from me and separate us forever, so I want you to be extra careful. Okay?”

The twins looked perturbed, especially Max. But when his sister finally bobbed her little head in agreement, he nodded as well.

I stuck my pinkies out, making them pinky promise. They obliged, and I tucked them both into their respective bunks.

བ་ ཁ

As I tucked Max in, however, he grabbed my hand and whispered, “Don’t worry, Mommy. I’ll protect us, just like always.”

My heart ached at his words. Just four years old, and already more responsible and dutiful than most adult males.

I hated that he felt the need to be like that. Maybe if his father had been in the picture…

But I pushed that notion away. If I hadn’t hidden the twins away, who knows what might have happened. Andrei might have taken them from me when he chose Lilith. Or Lilith might have done something a million times as bad -something that I didn’t even want to consider.

I forced a smile and kissed Max on his forehead. “Get some sleep, little knight,” I purred, brushing a strand of dark hair out of his eyes. “You can protect your kingdom in the morning, after you’ve had your breakfast.”

“Mommy… Can we have chocolate chip waffles for breakfast?” Jane murmured from the top bunk, already half- asleep.

I chuckled. “Sure we can. We’ll have a whole feast.

Chapter 31

+25 Bonus

Jane sighed dreamily, but Max’s knowing eyes followed me all the way to the door. And his wary gaze was the last thing I saw before I turned off the lamp and slipped out.

Once I was in the hallway, I stopped, placing my hand on my chest and breathing deeply. My heart was pounding, and a sense of guilt so heavy had come over me that I felt like I could hardly stand.

I found Damon in his study, sipping from a glass of wine in an armchair by the fireplace. He glanced up as I entered. “Wine?” he asked, sensing my frayed nerves.

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