Bella’s POV

My throat constricted as I watched Parker’s nostrils flare slightly. This wasn’t good. If he caught even a hint of Tara’s scent, everything would unravel. I had to act fast, create a diversion before his wolf instincts took over completely.

"Parker, you were supposed to watch her," I snapped, injecting as much irritation into my voice as I could manage. "How do you just lose sight of a child?"

"She was right there, and then she wasn’t," he muttered, but his attention kept drifting back to my daughter.

My heart hammered against my ribs. The moment I saw his focus returning to Tara, I knew I was running out of time. The pendant. I had to get the pendant on her before he figured out what his instincts were trying to tell him.

Without thinking, I lunged sideways, stretching until my muscles screamed in protest. My fingers barely grazed the silver chain before I snatched it back, nearly toppling over in the process. Tara was still crying, her little arms reaching for me, and the sound shattered something deep in my chest. She needed comfort, needed her mother, but here I was scrambling for a piece of jewelry like my life depended on it.

"What the hell are you doing?" Parker’s voice cut through the air like a whip.

His hand shot out, nearly slapping mine away from Tara. The pendant tumbled to the ground with a soft clink that seemed to echo in the sudden silence. His eyes locked onto it, then swept up to meet mine. I watched the confusion flicker across his features before his gaze landed back on my daughter.

Terror flooded my veins. I dove for the pendant again, but Parker was faster. His hands closed around Tara’s small shoulders, gently but firmly pulling her toward him. The way he looked at her, the intensity in his eyes as he searched her face, made my blood run cold.

"No." The word tore from my throat as I tried to yank Tara away from him. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

But he wouldn’t let go. His grip tightened, not enough to hurt her but enough to keep her from me. The way he stared at me now was different, suspicious and calculating. I could practically see the wheels turning in his head.

"What is this?" His voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of a thousand accusations.

I finally managed to pull Tara into my arms, her small body trembling against mine. "You’re okay, sweetheart," I murmured, brushing the tears from her cheeks while Parker’s eyes burned holes through me. "We’re going home now. I’ll make sure you’re not hurt."

My hands shook as I fastened the pendant around her neck. I was exhausted, drained from the adrenaline and fear. The way Parker watched my every movement told me it might already be too late. He felt it. I could see it in the way his jaw tightened, in the way his hands clenched at his sides.

"We’re leaving," I announced, taking Tara’s hand and pulling her toward the car.

"Wait." Parker’s voice stopped me cold. "I need answers. Now."

He was behind me in an instant, his presence overwhelming. The connection he’d felt with Tara had awakened something in him, something I’d hoped would stay buried forever. The irony wasn’t lost on me. This was the same man who’d demanded I terminate my pregnancy, who’d looked at me with disgust when I told him about the babies. Now he wanted answers.

"Not now," I hissed, whirling to face him. Tara rubbed her eyes against my leg, finally calming down. At least she wasn’t seriously injured.

"When, then? When are you going to stop running?" His words hit their mark, and I felt my jaw clench involuntarily.

I managed to get Tara settled in the car before Parker moved again. He slammed the door shut, trapping me between his arms and the vehicle. His face was inches from mine, close enough that I could see the gold flecks in his dark eyes.

"I need answers," he repeated, his voice low and dangerous.

"You weren’t ready back then," I shot back, my own voice rising. "So forgive me if I’m not ready to answer your questions now."

The words hit him like a physical blow. He stepped back, running a hand through his hair as the realization dawned on him.

"So it’s true," he breathed. "They’re mine."

"These are my children." The possessive way he said it made my stomach churn. Of course he’d assume all the babies were his. The alternative was biologically impossible.

"Why didn’t you tell me?" He was pacing now, his hands tugging at his hair. "Why did you just disappear?"

"Because I didn’t want your shadow over my children," I spat. "I don’t see them as yours, and I don’t want anyone else to know either."

"But they are mine, Bella. Damn it."

"Why do you even care?" My voice cracked with the force of my anger. "You never wanted children. You made that crystal clear."

"I was young," he exploded, making me flinch. "My parents would have killed me if they found out I’d gotten someone pregnant. It wasn’t personal. It wasn’t because you were omega or because I hated you. I was terrified."

His explanation hung in the air between us. Was he saying he regretted what happened? That if circumstances had been different, he would have wanted the babies?

"I was scared," he continued, stepping closer. I pressed my palm against his chest, keeping distance between us. "Just forget what I said before. I was an idiot."

His words swirled around me, but I couldn’t process them. If he wasn’t angry about the children being his, if he actually wanted to be part of their lives, then everything I’d worked to protect would crumble.

The sound of engines cut through my spiraling thoughts. Three cars pulled up, two red ones filled with warriors, and one black sedan that screamed urgency. Before I could react, two small figures burst from the lead car, racing toward Parker on tiny legs.

"Daddy!" They crashed into him, wrapping their arms around his legs like he was their whole world.

My blood turned to ice. These children were the same age as my babies. The same age.

"So you weren’t ready for my pregnancy," I said, my voice deadly quiet, "but you had someone else carrying your children at exactly the same time?"

The look on Parker’s face told me everything I needed to know. He was a liar.