Kai's POV
"Uncle Ade! You're doing it wrong!"
I look up from my laptop to see Luna standing on the couch, hands on her hips, scolding Adrian like he's the child. He's attempting to braid her hair before tomorrow's school picture day, and it's... well, it's a disaster.
"What do you mean wrong?" Adrian holds up the lopsided braid with mock offense. "This is art."
"That's a bird's nest," River calls from the floor where he's organizing his beetle collection. "Daddy does it better."
"Everyone does it better," Luna agrees solemnly.
I laugh for the first time in two weeks. Ever since Victor's threat, I've been a mess of anxiety and fear. But right now, watching Adrian fail spectacularly at hair braiding while my children roast him, I remember that we're still a family. Still together.
Still safe.
For now.
The doorbell rings, and my stomach drops. It's Saturday. Ethan's day.
I've been dreading this all week. Not because of Ethan—he's been perfect with the twins. Patient. Kind. Present. Everything I used to dream he'd be as a father.
No, I'm dreading it because of what happened last Saturday.
Adrian and Ethan nearly came to blows over who got to push Luna on the swings. Two grown alphas fighting over playground equipment like territorial wolves. It would've been funny if it wasn't so painfully awkward.
"I'll get it," Adrian says, already moving toward the door.
"Ade, please—" I start.
But he's already opening it. Ethan stands there holding a pink backpack covered in stars—Luna's favorite thing in the world right now—and a book about beetles for River.
"You're early," Adrian says flatly.
"By five minutes." Ethan's jaw tightens. "Is that a problem?"
"Depends. Are you going to respect Kai's boundaries today, or are we going to have another incident?"
"What incident?" Ethan steps inside, his alpha presence filling the room. "You mean when you deliberately stood between me and my children at the aquarium?"
"Your children?" Adrian's voice drops dangerously low. "You mean the children I've been raising for five years while you lived your cushy CEO life?"
"Stop it!" I slam my laptop shut, my heart racing. "Both of you. The twins are right there."
Indeed, River and Luna have abandoned their activities to stare at the two alphas with wide eyes. Luna's lower lip trembles. She hates yelling.
Ethan immediately drops to his knees. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. Uncle Ade and I were just... talking. Everything's okay."
"You sounded mad," Luna whispers.
"I was being rude," Ethan admits, glancing at Adrian. "To someone who's very important to you. That wasn't right."
Adrian's expression softens slightly. Very slightly.
The next two hours pass in tense civility. We go to the park—again, because it's neutral territory with lots of security cameras. Ethan pushes the twins on swings. Adrian helps River catch a grasshopper. I sit on a bench and try not to have a panic attack every time a stranger walks too close.
Victor's custody petition feels like a noose around my neck. My lawyer says we have a strong case—I'm a fit parent, employed, stable. But Victor Cross has unlimited money and unlimited connections. He can drag this out for years.
And every day in court is a day my babies have to be scared.
"Kai?"
I jump. Ethan has appeared beside me, concern etched across his face. "You zoned out. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You're not fine. You've barely eaten in two weeks. You have circles under your eyes. Kai, talk to me. Let me help."
"You've done enough," I say tiredly. Then I catch myself. "I'm sorry. That was unfair. You've been great with the twins. Really. I just—"
"You're terrified of my father." It's not a question. "So am I. But Kai, my lawyers are the best. We're going to fight this. He's not taking them."
We. He said we.
When did it become we?
"Ethan, I need to ask you something." I watch River and Luna playing with Adrian near the slide. "Why are you really doing this? Is it guilt? Because you feel like you owe me? Or do you actually want to be their father?"
He's quiet for a long moment. "Both," he finally says. "Yes, I feel guilty. I'll feel guilty until the day I die. But Kai—" He turns to face me fully. "The moment I saw them at the airport, before I even knew they were mine, something in me recognized them. When Luna smiled, my heart knew her. When River stood protectively in front of his sister, I saw myself. They're mine. Not because of DNA or obligation, but because my soul claimed them the second I laid eyes on them."
My throat tightens. "That's not fair."
"What's not fair?"
"You don't get to say things like that. You don't get to make me feel—" I stop myself.
"Feel what?" Ethan leans closer. "Kai, what do you feel?"
Everything. Too much. I feel too much, and it's terrifying.
"Nothing," I lie. "I feel nothing."
But we both know it's not true.
That evening, after Ethan leaves and the twins are finally asleep, I collapse on the couch. Adrian sits beside me, close but not touching. He's been careful about that lately.
"You're falling for him again," Adrian says quietly.
It's not a question. It's an observation. A sad, resigned observation.
"I don't know what I'm feeling," I admit.
"Yes, you do." Adrian looks at me with those gentle eyes that have seen me through my worst moments. "You're falling for him again. And I—" His voice catches. "I need to know if I should step back. If I should stop hoping that maybe, someday, you'd see me as more than just Uncle Ade."
My heart cracks. "Adrian—"
"I love you, Kai. I've loved you for five years. I fell in love watching you be strong when you should've been broken. Watching you raise two incredible kids alone. Watching you build a life from nothing." He takes my hand gently. "But I won't be your second choice. I won't be the safe option while you're in love with someone else."
"I'm not—" The lie dies on my lips. Am I in love with Ethan? Still? Again?
Adrian stands up. "I'm going to stay in the guest room tonight. Give you space to think. But Kai—I need an answer soon. Because watching you look at him the way I wish you'd look at me is killing me."
He walks away, leaving me alone with my thoughts and my confusion and my traitorous heart that apparently hasn't learned its lesson about loving Ethan Cross.
My phone buzzes. Text from an unknown number.
I should ignore it. Should delete it. Should—
But I open it anyway.
A photo fills my screen. My blood turns to ice.
It's Luna and River. Playing at the park today. Someone took pictures of them without us knowing. Dozens of photos. Close-ups of their faces. Photos of me and Ethan together. Photos of Adrian.
Below the photos, a message:
"Cute kids. Would be a shame if something happened to them while you're distracted playing house. Custody court is slow, but accidents happen fast. Choose wisely, omega. Ethan Cross, or your children's safety. You can't have both. -V"
My hands shake so badly I drop the phone.
Victor isn't just suing for custody.
He's threatening to hurt my babies.