Chapter 190
Third Person POV
Rowan stared at the ceiling, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of his blanket. The house was quiet except for his brother’s soft breathing in the twin bed beside his. Yet sleep wouldn’t come.
Helping Dad win Mom back had seemed simple when they’d promised to help. Now, lying in the darkness, the weight of that promise pressed down on him.
Mom clearly couldn’t stand being in the same room as Dad. She always found excuses to leave whenever he appeared. Her eyes would narrow, her shoulders would tense, and her words would become clipped and cold. Anyone could see she wanted nothing to do with Calvin Wolfe.
Worse still, Mom had so many better options. There was Leon, with his kind smile and endless patience. Julian, who looked at Mom like she hung the moon and stars. Even Eryx, who rarely spoke but whose fierce loyalty to Mom was obvious to everyone.
Rowan sighed heavily, turning onto his side.
“Seriously?” Rhys’s voice broke the silence as he sat up in his bed. “I’ve been listening to you sigh all night! Anyone would think you’re solving world hunger or something p>
Rowan pushed himself up, looking at his twin with frustration. Where Rowan was thoughtful and cautious, Rhys was impulsive and carefree. Two sides of the same coin.
“We are facing a problem,” Rowan said. “How are we supposed to help Dad get Mom back p>
Rhys rolled his eyes, throwing his hands up. “That’s it? That’s what’s keeping you awake p>
“What else would it be? And don’t pretend you have some brilliant solution p>
“But I do,” Rhys said, smirking.
Rowan perked up instantly. “What is it p>
“I’ll tell you tomorrow,” Rhys yawned, flopping back down and pulling his blanket over his head. “Goodnight p>
“Oh no you don’t!” Rowan lunged across the space between their beds, yanking the blanket away. “Either you tell me now, or neither of us sleeps p>
Rhys sat up, shoving his brother’s shoulder. “For someone so smart, you’re being really dumb right now. The answer is super obvious p>
Rowan frowned. “Just tell me p>
“Who does Mom love most out of the three of us?” Rhys asked, a flicker of sadness crossing his face.
“She loves us all the same,” Rowan answered immediately.
Rhys shook his head, wagging his finger. “No, no, no. She loves Alexis most, then you, then me p>
Rowan opened his mouth to protest, but Rhys continued. “It’s fine. I deserve it. I was awful to Mom when I believed Clara’s lies. I said horrible things.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I’m still making up for that p>
“Mom doesn’t play favorites,” Rowan insisted, hating the hurt in his twin’s eyes.
“Whatever. Not the point.” Rhys waved dismissively. “We both adore Alexis, right p>
Rowan nodded.
“So who’s our best hope for convincing Mom to give Dad another chance p>
Rowan’s eyes widened with realization. “Alexis p>
Rhys flopped back onto his pillow with a triumphant grin. “Bingo p>
The following afternoon found Alexis sitting amid a mountain of designer clothes, ribbons, and tiny jewelry pieces. Evelyn was completely absorbed in her Wolf Instinct Suppression Reversal project, a breakthrough she’d been working toward for months. Gary was equally buried in lab work, and Eryx had been sent on some mission that required his specific skills.
This left Alexis in the care of her glamorous godmother, self-proclaimed future Oscar winner Astrid Vale, who had just wrapped filming on her latest art house film.
“How about this one next?” Astrid held up a small Gucci dress with tiny embellishments. “You’ll look like a princess p>
Alexis, normally sweet-tempered and eager to please, was wilting after hours of being treated like a life-sized fashion doll. Astrid had been switching between outfits, hairstyles, and accessories as if preparing for the Met Gala rather than an afternoon at home.
“Astrid, I’m tired,” Alexis said, rubbing her eyes with small fists. “Can we stop now p>
“Just a few more, sweetie,” Astrid coaxed, already reaching for a miniature tiara. “This will look perfect with p>
“Alex!” Twin voices called from the doorway.
Alexis’s face lit up at the sight of her brothers. As much as she adored playing dress-up with Astrid, the twins’ arrival felt like a rescue mission.
“We came to take Alex to the playroom,” Rowan announced politely.
Rhys nodded enthusiastically. “We have a super cool new game p>
Astrid opened her mouth to protest when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and grimaced. “It’s my agent. I need to take this.” She waved them off. “Go ahead, but don’t mess up her hair p>
Once safely inside the playroom, Rowan closed the door and turned to face his little sister.
“We need to tell you something important, Alex p>
Alexis mirrored his seriousness, her face scrunched in concentration.
Rhys sighed at his brother’s formality. “My dad is your dad,” he blurted out.
Rowan shot him an annoyed look before pulling a folded paper from his pocket. He carefully handed the DNA test results to Alexis.
“We always thought we had different dads, but we have the same parents,” he explained. “This proves Calvin is your biological father p>
Rhys snorted. “Come on, Rowan. She’s barely three. You think she can read that? She’s literally illiterate right now p>
Seeing Alexis’s confusion, Rhys quickly added, “I’m not calling you dumb, Alex. I just think Rowan’s being silly showing you a document you can’t read p>
Rowan’s cheeks flushed. “I just wanted to show her proof. Alexis, do you understand what we’re telling you p>
Alexis looked between her brothers and nodded calmly. “I already knew Calvin is my daddy p>
Both twins gaped at her.
“You knew?!” they exclaimed in unison.
Alexis nodded again.
“How did you know? And why do you still call him ’uncle’ if you knew?” Rowan demanded.
Alexis shifted uncomfortably. “We’re werewolves. I can tell he’s my daddy. But he’s a bad daddy who was mean to Mommy. Mommy doesn’t like him, so I don’t want him as my daddy. I only need Mommy p>
Rowan’s shoulders slumped. Their plan was crumbling before it even began. He exchanged a defeated look with Rhys. Silently communicating: You’re out of ideas too, aren’t you?
But Rhys wasn’t giving up so easily. He knelt down, taking Alexis’s hands in his.
“Alex, can I ask you something? How do you know Mommy doesn’t love Daddy p>
“Mommy gets angry when she sees him,” Alexis answered promptly. “She looks mad and doesn’t want to be near him. They always fight p>
Rhys nodded thoughtfully. “You’re right, but you’re not seeing the whole picture p>
Alexis tilted her head curiously.
“Rowan and I are Mommy and Daddy’s children. You are also Mommy and Daddy’s child.” Rhys spoke slowly, making sure she followed. “Don’t people who love each other get married and have babies p>
Alexis seemed uncertain but nodded anyway.
“Exactly! Mommy and Daddy loved each other. They might have had a fight about something, but that doesn’t mean the love is gone.” Rhys’s voice grew animated. “It’s like in those movies we watch! The prince and princess have problems, but they work them out and live happily ever after, right p>
Alexis recalled the Disney movies she’d watched, not fully understanding the plots but remembering the happy endings. She nodded again.
“Do you like Daddy?” Rhys asked gently.
Alexis thought about how safe she felt with Calvin, how he would lift her high above his head, making her giggle. How he bought her favorite toys and read her stories with different voices for each character. Other uncles did these things too, but with Calvin, it felt different. More special. More right.
She nodded firmly.
“Then shouldn’t we help our favorite daddy and our favorite mommy overcome their problems and be happy together?” Rhys pressed, sensing victory.
Without hesitation, Alexis nodded enthusiastically.
Rowan watched in amazement as his brother won Alexis over to their cause. His twin might not excel academically, but when it came to understanding people’s hearts, Rhys was brilliant.
“Great!” Rhys clapped his hands together. “Now let’s make a plan. Operation Cupid is officially underway p>
Rowan couldn’t help smiling as his siblings huddled together. Already debating the best way to reunite their parents. Maybe they really did have a chance at becoming a proper family again.
For the first time since promising to help their father, Rowan felt hope.