His Rejected Mateless Luna

My heart had stopped dead. I gripped Collins’ arm. “What exactly did you tell him?”

“Nothing!” Collins held up his hands defensively. “But he’s not an idiot, Terra. All it’ll take is one more odd coincidence before he puts the pieces together.”

Id collapsed into a chair, mind racing through the implications. There was no more hiding or denying it now. Nathan would keep digging until he learned the truth that my three beautiful sons were also his.

“Terra?” Lucy’s voice jarred me from the anxious recollection. I linked and attempted a reassuring smile. “Sorry, just reviewing the surgical steps in my head.”

She nodded amiably as we finished sterilising the area, but worry still gnawed at my gut. How would I explain all this to Nathan in a way that protected the boys?

I moved through the rest of the day in a fog, jumping at unexpected noises and losing my train of thought mid-sentence. Nathan’s fiery temper once unleashed was a force to be reckoned with. But my sons were the only thing that mattered – I had to shield them, no matter the cost.

Levi poked his head in my office door as I stared sightlessly at patient forms late that afternoon. “Mommy, can we have grilled cheese for dinner?” His sweet face is like his father’s twisted heart.

“Of course, sweetie. Tell your brothers I’ll start cooking soon. I managed a strained smile until Levi scampered off happily. Closing up shop early, I picked the boys up from aftercare and headed home to our cosy cabin in the woods. Making dinner together eased my nerves. Their playful laughter and spirited conversations always grounded me.

But that night as I tucked them snugly beneath quilts and dropped kisses on their foreheads, emotions swelled painfully in my chest. Would peaceful bedtime routines like this become impossible if Nathan discovered the truth? I had to find a way to protect my sons, no matter what.

I barely slept, thoughts chasing worst case scenarios relentlessly. By 5 am 1 surrendered to restless energy and went for a long run through the misty dawn woods. My feet slapped wet leaves as I pushed myself faster, trying to outrun the fear, But the miles brought me no answers.

Collins was already brewing coffee when I returned, sweat-soaked and shivering. His assessing eyes took in my state. “Couldn’t sleep either, huh?”

dishevelled

I just shook my head wearily, too exhausted to explain. He pulled me in for a bracing hug. “It’ll be alright, Terra. We’ll figure this out together.”

I absorbed his steadying warmth a long moment before pulling back. I wish that were true. But you don’t know Nathan like I do. His temper is vicious when roused.”

Collins’ jaw tightened. “I won’t let him lay a finger on you or the boys, no matter his rank. You have my word.” Fierce protectiveness radiated from him. My throat tightened with emotion.

“I know. But please, don’t do anything reckless.” My mind spun imagining Collins facing off against an enraged Alpha. “Just close to me. I’ll handle this.”

stay

Throughout the chaotic morning rush, I debated strategies fruitlessly. No options seemed foolproof with Nathan’s cunning intellect and determination stirred. A direct confrontation might only provoke his volatile side. But refusing to speak with him at all would rouse dangerous suspicions.

By the time the triplets arrived after school, I was frazzled. They noticed instantly, little faces creasing in concern, “How come you look so worried, Mommy?” Luke asked, climbing into my lap.

I smoothed their hair, forcing confident calmness into my tone. Oh, just an upset patient earlier. But I feel much better now that my boys are here!” I tickled them until they collapsed in giggles, their distress forgotten.

If only my own uncase could be dispelled so easily. But I maintained a facade of cheerful energy through dinner prep and evening routines, reluctant to taint their childhood innocence. My problems were not theirs to worry over.

Only after they were tucked in and their rambunctious play-by-play reenactments of the day finally gave way to soft snores did I release the tense smile. My weary thoughts spun useless circles trying to discern Nathan’s intentions.

A firm knock on the front door nearly made me jump out of my skin. I froze, every sense on high alert. We never had visitors this late. Collins was bunking at the clinic tonight on call Who could possibly be brazen enough to show up unannounced past 10 pm?

I crept to the window and cautiously peeked out. My blood turned to ice. Nathan stood on the moonlit porch, imposing figure unmistakable. How had he found me?

Fear morphed to anger in a flash. This was my territory, my sanctuary, and I would not be caught cowering. I flung the door open, eyes blazing. “Get out! You’re not welcome here.”

Nathan seemed momentarily taken aback by my ferocious tone. But he stood firm, amber eyes burned with banked fury. “We need to talk, Terra. Now

“I have nothing to say to you.” I moved to slam the door, but Nathan wedged his foot in swiftly. We stared each other down, both radiating barely leashed rage now.

“I will get the truth from you one way or another, Nathan growled through gritted teeth.

I bared my own teeth right back, shoving against the door with all my strength. “Over my dead body. Now leave!”

For a breathless minute we strained in stalemate, neither budging an inch. But I could not risk the boys waking to the sound of fighting. They came first, always.

With immense effort I regulated my furious breaths and released the crushing door pressure. Nathan eyed me warily but eased back a fraction too.

Jaw aching from clenching, I bit out, “You have no power here, Nathan. I won’t warn you again – stay away from me and mine.

Before he could respond I stepped back swiftly, slamming the door with an echoing finality. My hands shook violently as I threw the lock and stumbled back. I had no illusions the brief confrontation was over. Nathan did not take defiance lightly, and his ruthless tenacity was infamous. But I would weather any storm before allowing my sons to become casualties of the unfinished war between us.

Over the next week I kept the boys closer than ever, barely letting them out of my sight even just in our own yard. I jumped at every unexpected sound, constantly scanning for threats. Such hypervigilance was exhausting, but my protective instinct ran hot and fierce. No one would harm my family while I still drew breath.

The boys noticed the change instantly, their play growing subdued and tentative. At their pleading gazes, I forced myself to relax my smothering hold somewhat. They deserved to feel carefree and safe in their own home, not smothered by my paranoia

So I allowed supervised forest adventures again, stood watching from the porch as they ran wild chasing leaves and sticks. Their joyful shouts echoed between the fiery-leaved trees, bolstering my weary spirit. No matter what storms loomed ahead, I must shelter the innocence of their childhood for as long as possible.

Some afternoons we baked cookies or crafted tissue paper trees to decorate the windows, immersing ourselves in the simple delights of their laughter and wildly creative ideas. Other days I lay beside them on a pile of quilts telling stories until their exuberant itraginings lulled me to sleep too

During quiet mornings at the clinic, Nathan’s ominous threat clung close, suffocating in its uncertainty. But then the boys would burst through the door in a whirlwind of enthusiasm and light, sweeping away the shadows. Each new day with them remained a gift not to be squandered worrying over forces outside my control.

But the illusion of security was shattered late one evening by an insistent banging at the door. My heart seized – I knew that commanding knock. But how had Nathan found me again?

The boys looked up from their movie, eyes wide. “Who is it, Mommy?” Landon asked nervously.

“No one, baby. You three keep watching. Mommy will see what they need.” I tried to keep my tone calm as I strode to the door, pulse racing.

Nathan’s imposing figure loomed on the shadowy porch. Jaw cleriched, I stepped outside and pulled the door firmly shut behind me.

“What do you want now?” I demanded in a harsh whisper.

His eyes glittered with banked fury in the moonlight. “I want answers, Terra! I’m done playing games. Those boys are mine and you know it.”

“You’re crazy.” I spat back. “Now leave immediately before I call the authorities.”

Nathan’s lips curled in a humourless smile. “By all means, go right ahead. I can’t wait to share a few choice words with them about your willful negligence.”

I faltered briefly. Nathan could spin any story to bolster his case, with his reputation ensuring he’d be believed.

Sensing my hesitation, he pressed closer, voice dropping. This charade ends tonight, Terra. You will tell me the truth. Those boys deserve to know their father.”

His words sliced deep, echoing my own secret doubts. I looked away, turmoil churning.

Did I really have the right to deny my sons their biological father, however painful our past? Could Nathan and I ever move/ beyond the festering wounds we both carried to do right by the boys? I wavered, resolution fracturing.

Sensing imminent victory, Nathan grasped my shoulders firmly. Terra, please. Let us be a family.” His piercing gaze burned with conviction.

I stood frozen, emotions at war within me. Could opening this door lead to healing, or greater heartbreak?

The boys’ laughter echoed faintly from within, tugging my maternal instincts back to their defence. No matter the risks, my duty was shielding their innocence.

I stepped back forcefully from Nathan’s grip. “I will always protect them, even from you,” I bit out through fresh angry tears.

Before he could respond, I slipped inside, turning the lock with an air of finality, Nathan’s enraged fists pounding the door echoed through the cottage, but could not penetrate the refuge of my sons’ devotion.

Their little arms wrapped fiercely around me as I clung to them on the floor. No matter wirat, we had each other