The Rejected Luna Came Back With Her Triplets

Chapter 2: Unexpected Encounters

Chapter 2: Unexpected Encounters

(Eliza's POV)

I was caught completely off guard by Garrett's low growl. The audacity of this man never ceased to amaze me.

"How shameless can you be?" I thought, snatching my luggage back from his grasp.

I fixed him with an icy stare, making sure my voice carried just enough bite. "You're overthinking it, Future Alpha—once was enough. More would just be... tedious."

The flash of shock in his amber eyes was worth every word. I'd struck his Alpha pride where it hurt most.

With a polite nod to Elder Blackwood, who seemed to be hiding a smile, I turned to my sons. "Max, Aiden, let's go."

As we walked away, I could feel Garrett's gaze burning into my back. The severed bond between us still ached like a phantom limb, but I'd rather die than let him know that.

Max tugged at my hand, his intelligent eyes darting back toward Garrett. "Mommy, can we teach him a lesson? About respecting you?"

Aiden nodded eagerly on my other side. "We could hack his phone. Or maybe his car."

I squeezed their hands gently. "Not today, boys. We're here for Elder Blackwood, remember?"

They nodded reluctantly, exchanging that twin look that meant they were plotting something anyway. At four years old, they were already too clever for their own good.

(Garrett's POV)

"Once was enough?"

The words echoed in my head, stoking a fury I hadn't felt in years. How dare she dismiss me—dismiss us—so casually?

I watched her walk away, her posture straight and confident, those two boys flanking her like miniature bodyguards. Something about them nagged at me, something I couldn't quite place.

A soft cry pulled me from my thoughts. My head snapped toward the sound—a sound only Alpha ears could detect from this distance.

Dawn.

My daughter had fallen on the stone steps of the main house. In an instant, I was at her side, my heart pounding with concern.

"Dawn, are you hurt? Does it hurt anywhere?" I asked, my voice softening as it always did for her.

I gathered her small form into my arms, checking for injuries. Her porcelain skin was unmarked except for a slight redness on her palms. She shook her head, her twin braids swaying with the movement.

Dawn rarely spoke—selective mutism, the doctors called it. Combined with her other developmental challenges, it meant that most days passed without me hearing her voice at all.

Which was why I nearly dropped her in shock when she suddenly spoke.

"Brother... Pretty Auntie..." Her voice was hesitant but clear.

I stared at her, momentarily speechless. Dawn speaking voluntarily was rare enough to be remarkable, but what she said next stunned me even more.

She pointed toward where Eliza and her sons had disappeared. "Who are they?"

I was stunned.

(Eliza's POV)

The South Den was more beautiful than I remembered. Serene ponds reflected the afternoon sky, and meticulously arranged rock gardens created a sense of tranquility that I desperately needed after our tense arrival.

Lucas "Luke" Shade, my Beta and personal bodyguard, was already waiting for us, having arrived earlier to scout the location.

"All clear, boss," he reported with his usual casual salute. "Though I'd feel better with some upgrades to their prehistoric security system."

I nodded, watching as Max and Aiden darted off to explore the grounds, their young werewolf energy impossible to contain after the long journey.

"Make that your priority, Luke. And see if you can arrange for some additional guards—ones loyal to us, not the Blackwoods."

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Expecting trouble already?"

"I always expect trouble in this place," I replied grimly.

My sons' ears perked up at the mention of security systems. They abandoned their exploration and rushed back to us.

"Mommy, we can help!" Max exclaimed, his eyes bright with excitement.

Aiden nodded eagerly. "We just finished upgrading the security protocols for our last residence and we can even set up some digital traps!"

I couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm. Most children their age were obsessed with toys and cartoons. Mine were obsessed with cybersecurity and programming.

"Alright, you can help Luke. But be careful, and don't do anything that might be traced back to us."

They exchanged mischievous grins that made me both proud and slightly concerned.

"We'll be good," they chorused with angelic expressions that didn't fool me for a second.

As they hurried off with Luke, I headed upstairs for some much-needed rest. The journey had been exhausting, and tomorrow I would need all my strength to begin treating Elder Blackwood.

(Garrett's POV)

I couldn't focus. Hours after Eliza's arrival, her parting shot still rankled. "Once was enough." The dismissal in her tone, the casual way she'd referenced our one night together—it clawed at something primal inside me.

Dawn sat beside me in the garden, carefully arranging her dolls in a precise line. I tried to focus on her, on this rare moment of peace between pack duties, but my mind kept drifting.

Those boys. Something about them tugged at my memory, at instincts I couldn't name.

My phone buzzed with an urgent message from Daniel Pierce, my head of security. Pack business that couldn't wait.

"Dawn, sweetheart, I need to go for a little while," I said gently. "Martha will stay with you."

She nodded without looking up, absorbed in her play. I signaled to Martha Collins, Dawn's caretaker, who was watching from a respectful distance.

As I walked away, I didn't notice Dawn's eyes tracking my departure. Nor did I see her slip away from Martha's watchful gaze moments later, her small form darting toward the South Den with surprising stealth.

(General Third Person POV )

Dawn crept closer to the ornate white fence surrounding the South Den's private garden. Through the gaps, she could see the twin boys playing soccer, their movements quick and coordinated, their laughter ringing out in the quiet afternoon.

The sound fascinated her. Laughter was rare in her world of careful silence.

A rabbit suddenly darted from the bushes beside her, startling Dawn. She jumped back, losing her balance on the uneven ground. She fell onto the gravel path with a soft thud, scraping her hand.

A small whimper escaped her lips—barely audible, but enough for the twins' enhanced senses to detect.

Max and Aiden immediately stopped their game, heads turning in perfect synchronization toward the sound. They rushed to the fence, finding Dawn on the ground, tears welling in her eyes as blood beaded on her small palm.

Max knelt beside her, his voice gentle. "It's okay, don't cry. Let's get you inside and treat that wound."

Dawn looked up at him, surprised by the kindness in his voice. She nodded mutely and allowed them to lead her into the South Den.

Once inside, Aiden hurried to the kitchen, returning with a glass of apple juice. "Here, drink this. It'll make you feel better while Brother gets the first aid kit."

Max returned with their mother's comprehensive Medical Kit, opening it with practiced ease. He selected an antiseptic wipe infused with mild moonlight herb essence.

"This might sting just a little," he warned, gently cleaning the scrape. "But the moonlight herb will help it heal faster. It'll be better soon."

Dawn watched him work, fascinated by his confidence and care.

"Where did you come from?" Aiden asked curiously, sitting beside her. "We haven't seen you before."

Dawn remained silent, overwhelmed by the sting and her inherent shyness.

"What's your name?" Max asked, carefully applying a bandage to her hand.

"Dawn," she whispered, so quietly they almost missed it.

The twins' faces lit up with identical smiles.

"That's a beautiful name!" Max exclaimed.

"I'm Aiden, and this is my brother Max," Aiden introduced them proudly. "We're twins, which means we're super close and can sometimes even read each other's minds."

Dawn's eyes widened with wonder. "Brother," she whispered, pointing at them both.

The designation delighted the twins, who exchanged pleased glances.

"Do you want to play video games with us?" Max offered, gesturing toward the stairs. "We have the newest Wolf Warrior game upstairs."

Dawn nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She had never been allowed such frivolous activities before.

Hours passed in joyful play, the three children forming an instant bond that transcended words.

(Eliza's POV)

I woke from my nap feeling somewhat refreshed, though the lingering tension of being back in Blackwood territory still weighed on me. The house was surprisingly quiet.

Curious about what my usually boisterous sons were up to, I made my way downstairs. The sound of muffled laughter and electronic game noises led me to the living room.

There, I found an unexpected scene. Max and Aiden were seated on the floor in front of the television, deeply engrossed in their favorite video game. But between them sat a small, unfamiliar girl, her delicate hands clutching a controller, her eyes wide with concentration.

"And who is this little one?" I asked gently, stepping into the room.

Aiden paused the game and looked up. "Mommy, this is Dawn. We found her in the yard. She fell and hurt her hand, so Brother bandaged her up."

I approached slowly, not wanting to startle the child. She was beautiful—porcelain skin, dark hair arranged in neat braids, and wide, intelligent eyes. Her clothes were of the finest quality, and as I drew closer, I detected the subtle scent markers of the Blackwood lineage.

This wasn't just any child. This was a Blackwood.

I knelt down to her level. "Dawn, whose child are you?"

She only gazed up at me, silent and watchful, clutching her controller tighter.

Max leaned over and whispered, "Mommy, Dawn doesn't like to talk much."

I nodded, understanding immediately. I'd seen similar behaviors in my medical practice—selective mutism wasn't uncommon, especially in werewolf children from high-pressure families like the Blackwoods.

"That's perfectly alright," I said, smiling warmly at her. I felt an unexpected pull toward this quiet child, a maternal instinct that surprised me with its intensity.

I gently brushed a stray hair from her cheek. "You're so adorable, little one. Do you like cookies? Or maybe some fruit? How about some more juice?"

Dawn's eyes widened at my gentle tone, so different from what she was accustomed to. She looked at me with such wonder that it made my heart ache.

Then, to my surprise, she abandoned her game controller and moved toward me, nestling into my arms with complete trust. The warmth of her small body against mine felt right somehow, as if she belonged there.