Alec’s

"Mommy!"

I turn to find Aspen sprinting toward me, her little legs moving with such speed it

makes me wonder if she's secretly the Flash.

I barely have time to brace myself before she leaps into my arms.

"Hi, my love,” I greet her, burying my nose in her hair just to inhale her scent.

I don't know about you, but there's something about our kids that calms the raging

storm inside us. Something about their presence that eases the pressure building in our chests. It doesn't matter how stressed you are or how much you're drowning. Once you see their smile, everything else melts away, replaced by peace.

"Hi Mommy," she murmurs, nestling against my shoulder. "I missed you, but I let you sleep."

In other words, she didn't wake me up. How can I not love this little girl?

"Goddess, I love our daughter," Nyx says, her voice soft and full of warmth.

I can't disagree. Aspen has met Nyx. Many times, actually. Even though she doesn't fully understand the whole werewolf thing, her love for Nyx runs just as deep.

"Thank you, my love," I whisper back to Aspen. "Mommy was really tired."

"I know," she replies simply.

I hold her close, letting her warmth and the serenity she brings wash over me. For the first time in a while, my thoughts quiet down.

But then her name is called.

She lifts her head and waves enthusiastically, motioning for her friends to join us. They don't hesitate; they come charging like a tiny tornado.

Where the hell do kids get so much energy? I consider myself pretty fit, but I could never match that kind of chaos.

"Hi!" they chorus the moment they skid to a stop in front of me.

"My friends," Aspen announces proudly. "They're tins."

I blink. "Tins?"

She nods. "Yeah... tins."

"You mean twins?"

"Yeah... tins," she repeats stubbornly.

I start to correct her again but stop myself. "Never mind."

With her personality, this could turn into a back-and-forth, and trust me, nothing is more exhausting than arguing with a three-year-old who thinks they're always right.

They're fraternal twins, clearly, but you can still see the resemblance.

I crouch a little. "What are your names, sweethearts?"

"Abby," the little girl answers.

"Aiden," the boy says, standing a little straighter.

"It's lovely to meet you," I smile warmly.

"Thank you, Luna," they say in perfect unison.noveldrama

There's that title again. Why does everyone keep calling me Luna? Still, I'm impressed by their manners.

"You don't have to call me that," I tell them gently. "How about Ash's mom instead?"

They exchange a look. A weirdly silent conversation between them and then nod in agreement.

"Okay," they say together, flashing identical smiles.

Honestly, the way they're so in sync is kind of creepy... but also weirdly adorable. It's like their bond runs deeper than just being family and packmates.

I glance at Aspen, still clinging to me.

"Are you tired?" I ask.

"No," she replies. "Just saying hi."

"Well, I love you, but don't you think you should get back to your friends?" I smile at her, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Abby and Aiden are clearly waiting for her. And besides, I need to get started with training. With this new Kaden development, mastering my powers isn't just important—it's urgent.

"Okay, Mommy," she says sweetly, kissing my cheek before hopping down. "Bye!"

She runs off, laughter trailing behind her as the trio disappears down the path.

I head to my usual training spot. A quiet clearing that offers the solitude I need to focus. I've been coming here ever since I discovered it. No interruptions. Just me and Nyx.

So far, I've managed to master teleportation, telepathy, and my third form. It's something. But it's not enough. Not for what's coming. Not for Xena. Not for Kaden.

Nyx is right-I need to train harder and push deeper, faster. If I'm not ready when the time comes, I could lose everything.

“So,” I exhale, squaring my shoulders. "Where do we begin?"

"What we've done so far was just warm-up," Nyx replies. "Today, I want us to focus on calling the scepter."

“Okay,” I nod, then catch myself. Why am I nodding? She's inside my head.

"But before we do," she continues,

"you need to understand something.

Our other form, the one you call your

third form? it's not just a blend of human and wolf. It's something else entirely. Something more."

"I don't really get that," I admit.

I always assumed it was a third form. A hybrid mix. A three-in-one kind of deal.

She sighs Where I come from, it's

not like here. There's no switching between a human form and a wolf form There's just... one. That form is my original. There's no

in-between."

I frown, trying to piece together what she's saying. "Wait, are you saying you're

not a wolf?"

"It's hard to explain without telling you everything," she says evasively. "And

you're not ready for that yet. Just... stop thinking of it as a third form.”

So what the hell do I think of it as then? Maybe it's like how humans have a body,

soul, and spirit, different aspects of one being.

"Okay," I mutter. "What else?"

"We have scepters," she says. "I think I mentioned them before."

I nod-again forgetting that she can't see me.

"A scepter is a source of power for us," she explains. "It holds part of our essence.

Without it, you're basically functioning on half power."

That gets my attention. I sit on a nearby log, eyebrows furrowed.

"Isn't that risky? What if someone steals it?"

She's quiet for a long beat. "It is. But that's how it's always been. Your scepter is

an extension of who you are. You'll need to master how to summon it."

The more she talks, the more curious I become. Where does she even come from? I've never heard of anyone with powers like Nyx's or Xena's.

"So... where does the scepter go when it's not in use?"

She hesitates. “I don't know. It just..... disappears. And reappears when I call it.”

Right. Super helpful.

"Okay," I sigh, standing back up. "What do I do?"

"I want you to close your eyes," she instructs, "and focus. Visualize it. See the scepter in your mind, then pull from the core of your power and call it."

Easier said than done.

Still, I close my eyes. I picture a glowing ball of power burning at my center. I reach for it-feel it hum beneath my fingertips.

I summon you.

Nothing.

I try again. Still nothing.

Frustration builds until I fling my eyes open with a groan. “This isn't working!"

"Because you're trying to force it," Nyx says, calm as ever. "Training's over for now. We'll try again

tomorrow. In the meantime, just net

keep connecting with your power. The more familiar you are with it, the easier it will be to control."

I place my hands on my hips, breathing hard. "Fine."

"And Sadie?" she adds gently. "You need to stop seeing these powers as mine.

They're yours too. If you keep rejecting them, they'll reject you.”

I want to argue, but I can't. She's right.

It's time to stop running from what I am. It's time to start owning it.