Bella’s POV

I lingered inside the house until Zack finally stirred awake. When I pressed him about his earlier episode, he stared at me with vacant eyes, claiming no memory of his breakdown. Something cold settled in my stomach, but I didn’t push further.

"Mommy, how come Zack and Leah aren’t coming with us?"

Tara’s small fingers wrapped around mine as we headed toward the treeline. Her innocent question made my chest tighten with guilt.

Parker maintained his position close to our side, having dismissed the warriors with a curt gesture. I was leading us back to the exact spot where I’d discovered Leah yesterday. The compulsion to return there gnawed at me, though I couldn’t explain why.

The massive oak tree cast its familiar shadow as I dropped to my knees before my daughter, gripping her tiny shoulders.

"We’re having a special picnic, just the two of us. Remember how upset Zack got yesterday? He needs quiet time with Leah to feel better. But Mommy wanted her very best friend with her today, so I brought you instead. Is that okay with you?"

My voice came out softer than intended as I traced the curve of her cheek. Throughout my explanation, I felt Parker’s penetrating gaze burning into my back.

"I love spending time with just you, Mommy." Tara’s face lit up with pure joy.

My twins had always been protective of me in their own way. Whenever one had to leave, the other would refuse to go, ensuring I never faced solitude. The excuse felt perfectly natural.

"Actually, I have some special questions for you too," I began, but my daughter’s attention had already drifted past my shoulder.

"Mommy, why is that man here with us?"

Parker shifted behind me, his mouth curving into what he probably thought was a reassuring smile.

"I wanted to have a little chat with you myself," he said, lowering himself to her level while balancing a wicker basket filled with sandwiches and juice boxes.

I’d deliberately brought nothing. This entire outing had been his suggestion, and frankly, I would have preferred conducting this interrogation of my own child without his presence. But the alphas had insisted on involvement once they learned the sickness might be spreading.

"What kind of chat?" Tara studied him with the wariness children reserve for strangers.

Her eyes bounced between us before settling on me with complete trust. That look nearly shattered my resolve.

"Remember our dream game? You’d tell me about your dreams, I’d share mine, and we’d decide whose was the most interesting?" I prompted gently.

Her head bobbed with enthusiasm that made my heart clench.

"We’re just playing that same game now," I explained, forcing brightness into my tone.

"Oh! Do you want to hear about my dream from last night?" The eagerness in her voice made me nod immediately.

"Please tell me."

"Well, I dreamed that—" Her words cut off abruptly as her gaze went distant and unfocused.

Terror crawled up my spine. After learning about Leah’s nightmares, the possibility that Tara might be experiencing them too had haunted my thoughts.

"Mommy?" When she refocused on me, something had shifted in her tone, making it sound smaller and more fragile.

"What is it, sweetheart? Do you remember anything?"

"Why did you come to my room last night and ask me to follow you into the woods?"

The question hit me like a physical blow. The ground seemed to tilt beneath me as panic flooded my system.

"Baby, I never came to your room last night." The words tumbled out in a rush as I cupped her face, probably too tightly. My immediate denial made her eyes go wide with confusion.

"But if you didn’t come, then who was it, Mommy? She looked exactly like you."

Tara began bouncing anxiously, tears gathering in her eyes. Fear radiated from her small frame.

My own panic threatened to consume me. I had no idea how to respond, how to comfort her when I was barely keeping myself together. For once, Parker’s intervention came at exactly the right moment.

"That was just a dream," he said with calm authority.

I whipped around to stare at him, but he continued addressing Tara with gentle confidence.

"Sometimes in dreams, bad things try to look like people you love to trick you into following them. But you’re too smart and brave to fall for tricks like that, aren’t you?" He reached out to playfully tap her nose.

Every interaction between them sent uncomfortable pressure through my chest.

"So it really was just a dream?" Tara’s voice held desperate hope.

Parker nodded firmly, then caught my eye, silently urging me to support his explanation.

"Yes, just a dream," I managed, though my voice sounded strained even to my own ears. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"But why would something bad want to pretend to be you in my dream?"

"Because this is happening to lots of children right now. Zack has these dreams, Leah too. It’s like a sickness that’s spreading, but we’re working to stop it. Just promise me you’ll never follow anyone who asks you to come to the woods, okay?" Parker extended his hand toward her.

My throat went dry as I swallowed hard.

"But I followed you here today," she pointed out with her hands planted on her hips.

"You’re pretty clever, aren’t you?" Parker looked genuinely impressed by her logic.

I couldn’t let this continue. Gently but firmly, I pulled Tara away from him.

"The rule is simple - don’t follow anyone alone. If there are two or more people, and I’m one of them, then it’s safe. Can you remember that?"

Even as I said it, I knew how difficult it would be for a child to distinguish between dreams and reality.

The questioning left me feeling sick with myself. No mother should have to investigate her own child for signs of a curse or supernatural illness.

Parker offered Tara a sandwich, which she accepted happily. I refused his offering with a curt shake of my head.

While she ate and played with a small ball, asking me endless questions, I stepped away to check on the children I’d left behind.

"How’s Zack doing?" I asked the nanny, moving out of earshot from the others.

"Much better, though he’s quite tired and keeps asking when you’re coming home. When should I expect you back?"

I glanced over my shoulder at Tara, who was attempting to scale the oak tree while Parker remained distracted by his phone.

Suddenly, the vine she was using for support snapped. She wasn’t high up, maybe only a foot off the ground, but the fall was enough to frighten her.

Parker’s phone clattered to the ground as he lunged forward, catching her head before it could strike anything solid. Despite his quick reflexes, the scare sent her into tears.

I ended the call without explanation and rushed to them. By the time I reached her, she was already in his arms, sobbing against his shoulder.

Before I could demand explanations, my attention caught on something dangling from the broken branch above us. My blood turned to ice as I recognized Tara’s scent-masking pendant swaying in the breeze.