That’s not why you did it, Maddis teased, chortling.
I don’t want boys in my girls’ rooms, Luke muttered defensively, though he knew Maddis was right.
You’re going to be the overprotective father figure, Maddis added with another chuckle.
Yes, you will!
Luke sighed inwardly, knowing Maddis was right. “Bella,” he said aloud, shifting his attention to her. “What are your plans for the day with the children?”
“Not much,” she replied, adjusting Karis’s jacket. “Just wanted to find them warm clothes and maybe spend some time with Dani.”
“How do you know Dani is here?” he asked, narrowing his eyes. He hadn’t told her yet.
The smirk that spread across Bella’s face practically melted his heart. The amusement in her eyes was enough to make him forget everything else. If the children hadn’t been in the room, he’d have closed the distance between them in an instant.
“I watched you all arrive home last night,” she said, almost laughing. “Tyler and I were hiding in a snowdrift.”
Luke couldn’t help but grin. He didn’t care that she’d slipped away from him. Seeing her this happy—even at his expense—brought him more joy than he’d expected.
Maddis told me he smelled Tyler, Maddis muttered, clearly smug.
Sorry, buddy. Next time I’ll listen, Luke promised.
“Maddis nearly looked right at us,” Bella continued, her tone light and teasing. “But I’m guessing you thought I was still in the Luna Suite and convinced him I wasn’t out there.” She chuckled, and Luke could hear Tyler’s laughter echoing alongside hers. They were both thoroughly amused by how they’d managed to avoid him.
Luke caught the slight hesitation in her voice when she mentioned the Luna Suite, and he realized why. She didn’t want their children to think he’d locked her away or treated her unfairly. Even now, she put the children’s perception of him above herself, protecting his reputation in their eyes.
He felt a pang in his chest. She’s too good for me, he thought.
But that only made him more determined to prove himself worthy of her—and their family.
“Quite the shock, indeed,” Luke nodded, then added through the mind-link, ‘You ever climb five stories down a drainpipe again, I’ll put you across my knee and let Maddis s**k the hell out of you.’ His tone was firm but laced with playful teasing.
Maddis surged to the surface at that moment, his wolf’s voice rumbling aloud, “I’ll s**k you good and proper,” he growled, his tone surprisingly playful.
Bella raised an eyebrow, but Luke caught the soft chortle from Tyler in her mind.
The children, however, were all staring at him now, clearly puzzled by the sudden shift. This wasn’t part of the plan. Luke had been intending to wait a few days before introducing Maddis to the kids, but Maddis had decided otherwise. He turned his sharp wolf eyes on each of them, one by one, as if taking them in for the first time.
Bella watched quietly from her seat, Tyler shimmering on the surface. The children didn’t appear frightened—just curious. The twins stopped bouncing on the bed, their wide eyes fixed on Maddis. It was likely their first time seeing a wolf other than Tyler.
Karis stood up after tying his shoe and climbed onto the bed, positioning himself protectively in front of his sisters. Always their little guardian. Luke smiled inwardly, knowing Maddis would never hurt them.
Maddis growled softly, “Mine,” before retreating.
Luke exhaled and glanced at Bella. “Sorry,” he said, scratching the back of his neck. “We were going to wait a few days, but Maddis had other ideas. I hope he didn’t scare you?” He directed his question toward the children.
They all shook their heads in unison, much to his relief. He was glad they weren’t afraid of his wolf.
“I’m starving. Let’s go eat,” he said, turning toward the door.
As they headed out, Minka’s voice piped up, “Daddy, where is Mummy’s room? We all got one. Did Mummy?”
Luke’s heart skipped a beat, and he had to fight to suppress the howl of joy Maddis was threatening to release. The word Daddy coming from his daughter hit him like a wave, filling his chest with warmth. He blinked rapidly, trying to keep the happy tears from spilling over.
“Um, yes, she does,” he managed to say, his voice catching. He glanced at Bella, who was now staring at him, her shock evident as she registered his reaction to their daughter’s words.
Clearing his throat, he added, “She can stay with me in the master bedroom… or, if she prefers, in one of the other rooms down the hall.”
Bella’s expression shifted from shock to a deep frown. “I never said we would be staying here,” she said firmly.
Luke noticed the questioning looks on the children’s faces. Even Karis seemed to expect to stay—he’d already settled into his room, after all.
“We can discuss it later,” Luke said gently. “Let’s just focus on eating for now.”
As they made their way down the hall, Luke glanced at Bella. “You and I need to sit down and have a proper conversation later, perhaps over dinner? Just the two of us.”
Bella’s eyes narrowed slightly. “And where would my children be during this dinner?”
Luke smiled softly. “Our children can stay with either one of our parents—or both—if that makes you more comfortable.”
Bella considered for a moment, then nodded. “Fine. I want some answers anyway.”
Hearing Minka call Luke “Daddy” had been a shock for Bella. Her eyes had widened in surprise, but what truly stunned her was Luke’s reaction. The way his face lit up, the joy so evident it nearly brought him to tears, left no doubt in her mind. He had loved hearing that one word.
In that moment, Bella realized the depth of his feelings. He wouldn’t let anyone hurt them—his love for the children was genuine. And not just her children, but their children.
When he told Minka that her room was in his room, Bella frowned. Did he think she would just fall in line and go along with his plans? She still had choices. But when all three children turned to her after she voiced her hesitation about staying in the Alpha suite, it was clear they not only expected to stay, but they wanted to.
