“Creating an alibi while ensuring you felt abandoned,” Cole muttered. “Classic manipulation.”
“Hunt, take a team and find Mary,” Knox ordered. “I want to know exactly where she was during the attack and who saw her.”
“On it.” Hunt disappeared with his usual efficiency.
“Cole, coordinate with the other houses that were hit. I want a full report on the attack patterns, timing, everything.”
Cole nodded and left as well, leaving us alone.
“Mama,” Rowan said quietly from where he’d curled against my side. “Are we safe now?”
I looked at Knox, who met my eyes with absolute certainty.
“Yes, baby,” I said, believing it. “We’re safe.”
For now.
32
— • —
Lina
The house was finally quiet after the attack. The kind of quiet that felt wrong after so much chaos, where every small sound made me tense up waiting for the next disaster. Cole had returned to the pack house to keep everyone calm and coordinate cleanup efforts. Hunt was outside somewhere, reinforcing security measures and probably scaring the hell out of any wolf who dared approach Noah’s property without permission.
Only one window had been damaged downstairs during the attack, and Hunt had already covered it with sturdy boards. The door was still locked and in one piece, the rest of the house surprisingly intact considering rabid wolves had tried to break in. Small mercies.
Knox sat on the couch with my phone in his hand, typing carefully. His own phone was still at the wedding where he’d left it when the attack started. I watched him frown at the screen, those focused lines appearing between his eyebrows.
“Noah’s not answering calls,” he said, showing me the text he’d just sent. “But he read this at least.”
The response came through almost immediately, typical Noah brevity: “Fine. Following a lead.”
“Following a lead during a crisis,” I muttered. “That’s either very good or very bad.”
“With Noah, usually good. He doesn’t chase shadows.”
The twins hadn’t left our sides since the attack ended. Thea was practically welded to my hip while Rowan kept one hand on Knox’s arm at all times, as if letting go might make him disappear. Can’t say I blamed them. After watching rabid wolves break into what should have been a safe space, they needed the reassurance of touch.
“Bedtime,” I announced, though it was barely eight o’clock. Normal rules didn’t apply after your children hid in a closet while their mother fought monsters.
“Can we sleep with you?” Thea asked immediately, already knowing the answer.
“Of course, baby.”
We trooped upstairs to Knox’s room since it had the biggest bed. The twins climbed right into the middle, creating a little nest ofblankets and stuffed animals they’d retrieved from their room. I settled on one side while Knox took the other, bracketing our children between us.
“Daddy, will the bad wolves come back?” Thea whispered against Knox’s chest.
The word made us both freeze. Daddy. They’d been getting used to calling him that lately, even though no one had ever confirmed he was their daddy. Just started using it naturally, as if they’d always known.
I held my breath, waiting to see how he’d react. His eyes found mine over their heads, so much raw emotion swimming there that my chest got tight. He looked stunned, hopeful, and terrified all at once.
Rowan nodded solemnly before Knox could respond. “You scared them away, Daddy. You’re the strongest.”
“No one will hurt you again,” Knox promised them, his voice rough. “Not while I breathe.”
“Promise?” Thea asked, tilting her head up to look at him.
