"And Barbara is mine now. Didn't you reject her yourself? Why are you throwing a tantrum like this?"
Timothee grinned, intimidating Taylor. I could feel the tension escalating there.
"The more you disturb her, the faster I'll annihilate your pack. Just like you annihilated Barbara's dad. Remember, I am a Lycan. I can do anything with my strength, Alpha Taylor."
Like getting a silver whip to his body, Taylor ran out of words. He growled in frustration but seemed unable to muster the strength to retort against Timothee's words.
Taylor left after cursing. Timothee looked at me and my twin sons; he sighed.
"Where's your husband?" He asked quickly.
I rolled my eyes. "He doesn't remember us after that night..."
Timothee glanced at me, one of his eyebrows raised. "I'm serious, Barbara Palvin."
"That night..." I couldn't bring myself to continue my words.
"They're mine?" Timothee's eyes locked onto mine.
I couldn't answer out of fear that he might just take Sawyer and Asher away.
"Say it."
"No. I'm sorry, and thank you for helping me multiple times. It's late, I'm going home. See you another time." I pulled Sawyer and Asher to leave the building as quickly as possible.
Once home, I made sure Timothee wasn't following me. However, Sawyer, noticing my odd behavior, interrogated me.
"Who's that man, Mom? It seems like you've known him for a long time."
"Just a casual acquaintance. Go to sleep quickly; it's getting late."
Two days later, while I was busy designing a wedding dress on the balcony, I was shocked to find Timothee bringing Sawyer and Asher. I couldn't find the words as I saw him casually carrying Sawyer and Asher. I quickly went down to check on the condition of my two sons, but the two kids seemed so happy with Timothee's presence.
"Mom! Why didn't you say that the guy is our dad?" Asher shouted.
I furrowed my brow, wondering how Timothee found out that Sawyer and Asher were his children.
"Sawyer, Asher, you better change your clothes now." I instructed my twin sons to go inside.
"Why did you keep it a secret and run away from me?" Timothee folded his arms across his chest. "You can't hide it anymore, Barby. I've helped you multiple times, but you didn't tell me this sooner. If you were honest from the start, Taylor wouldn't be after you—"
"I don't want to get involved with werewolves again." I interjected.
"Why? Do you want to join the fae group because you're a hybrid?"
"How do you know all that?" I demanded an explanation from Timothee, who was about to enter the house.
"All werewolves everywhere know that, Barby. You're not like your average werewolf. You even understand many languages in an instant."
"Mate!" Alea, my wolf, exclaimed with joy in my head. "He's mate. Second mate."
I averted my gaze from Timothee.
"I'm the one who sent you a letter a week after your father was punished." Timothee sighed.
"Why didn't you come to me from the beginning if you knew about me?" I answered and distanced myself.
I tried to hide my pale face as my heartbeat became increasingly uncontrollable now.
Timothee took a step closer, his eyes searching mine. "I stayed away because I thought it was safer for you and the boys. I didn't anticipate Taylor's involvement. But now that he's after you, we need to face this together."
I couldn't deny the intensity in his gaze, and Alea's excited howls echoed in my mind. Second mate. The realization hit me like a tidal wave. Timothee was not only the father of my children but also my second mate—a bond deeper than I had ever imagined.
Timothee and I exchanged bewildered glances as the mysterious figures approached.
"Barbara Palvin," one of them spoke, addressing me by my full name. "You are the key to the balance between realms. The hybrid blood within you holds the power to prevent a catastrophic war that threatens not only the supernatural but the entire world."
Timothee, with Lycan authority, stepped forward. "Who are you, and how do you know about Barbara's whereabouts?"
"We're a group of Fae, of course we can relocate any fae descendants." She replied sarcastically.
"I thought Fae wouldn't have a scent like werewolves. Unless all of you are hybrids." Timothee stroked his beard and stared at them sharply.
"What's your business here? I'm looking for Barbara, not you." The woman with violet eyes retorted.
"I'm not going anywhere with you." I spoke up. "I also have no business with you, stranger."
The annoying conversation went on for several minutes until, in the end, I found out that all this time, it wasn't just Taylor looking for me. But a whole bunch of shifters were looking for me.
As the realization sank in, my mind raced with questions. "Why are all these shifters searching for me? What do they want?"
Timothee exchanged a quick, worried glance with me. "Barby, it's not safe for you here. We need to get you to a secure location."
Before I could react, the mansion's gate burst open, revealing a group of mysterious figures, all with intense gazes fixed on me.
They spoke in unison, their voices echoing eerily through the room, "Barbara Palvin, you are the key to the prophecy. Come with us willingly, or we shall take you by force."
"You think it's going to be that easy to take her away forcefully?" Timothee hissed in frustration.
One of the figures stepped into the light, revealing a tattoo on their forearm—a symbol I had seen in a few years a go. The air crackled with tension as they declared, "We are the Guardians of the Eclipse, and Barbara is destined to unlock the power that will determine the fate of our world."
Timothee and me took defensive stances, ready for a confrontation. I stood there, torn between fear and curiosity. I felt the weight of an unknown destiny settling upon my shoulders.
Just as the situation reached a boiling point, the room dimmed, and a voice echoed, "Barbara, trust no one except your mate. Your journey has just begun."
The mysterious figures vanished, leaving us in stunned silence.
Timothee growled at me, "Tidy up your stuff right away! Take the kids to the car."
"But why?" I asked.
"Just follow my orders. A new problem is about to arise in a moment. Don't waste time!"