Juno’s POV
The twins were absolutely adorable. They explored the house with wide–eyed wonder, their excited whispers filling the usually quiet halls with life.
I felt a twinge of envy watching them, then instinctively placed a hand on my own growing belly. Soon, I’d have a child of my own. The thought brought a smile to my face despite the chaos of recent days.
“They’re so well–behaved,” I commented to Olivia as the children examined a painting in the hallway with careful hands clasped behind their backs.
Olivia smiled.
I led them toward the east wing, where I’d arranged for their accommodations. Chris had stayed behind to handle their luggage, working with some of the Delta guards to bring their sparse belongings to the room.
When we reached the bedroom I’d selected for them, Olivia’s eyes widened. It was my old room.
“This is…” she trailed off, seemingly at a loss for words.
“I hope it’s suitable,” I said. “I thought you and Chris would be comfortable here.”
“Thank you,” Olivia said, her eyes filling with tears. “For welcoming us into your home, for being so kind when you have
every reason not to be.”
“This is your home too,” I said firmly. “You’re Chris’s family, and Chris is Augustin’s brother. That makes we family.”
She surprised me by stepping forward and pulling me into a tight hug. I stiffened momentarily before relaxing into her
embrace.
“You don’t know what this means to us,” she whispered. “We’ve been running for so long. Ever since the twins were born. Never staying in one place too long, always looking over our shoulders.”
My heart broke at her words. Eight years of constant fear, of raising children on the run. I couldn’t imagine it.
“You can rest now,” I assured her, pulling back to look her in the eyes. “You’re safe here.”
Chris entered then, carrying a suitcase. He set it down carefully by the door.
“You’re generous.” She glanced around the room. “We want to earn our keep, though. I’m a decent cook, and I can help with household chores. We don’t want to be a burden.”
She looked to Chris for confirmation, and he nodded firmly.
The pride in her voice made my chest ache. They’d been forced into hiding through no fault of their own, yet they maintained their dignity.
“You’re not a burden,” I assured them. “But if you want to help, I won’t stop you. Perhaps you could join us for afternoon tea later? I’d like to introduce you to some people.”
Olivia nouded eagerly. “Of course. And thank you again, Luna.”
“Please, call me Juno,” I insisted. “And technically, you’re a Luna too now.”
Chris smiled at that, the first genuine smile I’d seen from him. It transformed his face, making his resemblance to Augustin even more striking.
After a moment of comfortable silence, Chris cleared his throat. “My brother Evanth… is he here as well?”
I considered my response carefully. Augustin was still working on that relationship, and I wasn’t sure how Evanth felt about having another brother.
“He’s around,” I said. “Handling some business for Augustin. I’m sure he’ll find you when he’s ready.”
Chris nodded, seeming to understand the unspoken complexities. “Of course.”
I left them to settle in and went to check on the twins‘ rooms. I found Jeffrey bouncing enthusiastically on his bed, his
small face alight with joy.
“This is all mine?” he asked when he spotted me in the doorway. “The whole room?”
“All yours,” I confirmed with a smile.
He let out a whoop of excitement and fell back on the bed, spreading his arms wide. The simple pleasure he took in having his own space told me more about their previous living conditions than any words could have.
“Your sister has her own room too, right next door,” I explained.
“We usually share,” he said, sitting up. “Mom says it’s safer that way.”
My heart clenched again.
“Well, now you each get your own space,” I said.
I’d deliberately placed the children’s rooms adjacent to their parents‘, knowing they’d feel safer that way after years of uncertainty. Alice’s room shared a wall with Isabelle’s, which hadn’t been my original plan, but the manor’s layout had limited options.
The thought of Isabelle reminded me of my next task. I needed answers from her, about the USB drive she’d mentioned to Matthew, about her father’s plans, about everything.
I found a Delta warrior lingering near her door.
“Luna,” he acknowledged with a respectful nod before using his key to unlock Isabelle’s door.
Isabelle stood by the window, one hand resting protectively over her swollen belly as she gazed out at the gardens below. She turned at the sound of the door, and I was struck by how tired she looked. Her eyes were red–rimmed and puffy from crying, and she seemed older somehow, the weight of recent events etched into her face.
She immediately dipped into a small curtsy, awkward with her pregnant belly but clearly intended to show respect.
“Why?” I asked simply, letting the door close behind me.
We stood there for several seconds, Isabelle seemingly gathering her thoughts. She wiped away a stray tear and took a deep breath.
“I had no choice,” she finally said, “My father… he had planned everything long before I even realized what was
happening.”
I remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
“I didn’t know how serious it was until you were brought to Clifflands,” she continued. “That’s when my father started becoming… harder. More demanding.”
She paced a few steps, her hands trembling slightly. “Before that, my frequent visits to my father’s house raised some eyebrows, but nothing more. I’d tell Matthew I was visiting friends, and he never questioned it.”
“You lied to him about being accepted by him,” I stated flatly.
Isabelle nodded, shame flashing across her face. “Yes. Because no one says no to my father. People who disobey him end up dead.”
She continued, describing how her father would invite her over, ask about things at home, pretend to care about her well- being.
“I didn’t think much of it,” she admitted. “I’d tell him everything, about Matthew’s routines, about the pack, about you. He’d tell me to hang in there, that things would get better. It all seemed so… scripted, looking back.”
She paused, wringing her hands. “But after your sacrifice, everything changed. My father started pressuring me to marry Matthew, asking where he went, if he was planning revenge.”
