Chapter 2 New Beginnings

Four years later...

I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside my window. I stretched my tired body out and glanced at the bedside clock, feeling a sense of dread. I wished it wasn't that time, but I knew I had to get up and start my day. I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to shower and get dressed. As I washed my hair, I couldn't help but think about everything I had to do that day. Meetings, errands, cooking, cleaning... the list seemed endless. But then I remembered my darling twins, Nadia and Nathan. I smiled as I thought about them, imagining their bright eyes and infectious laughter. Everything I did was for them, and that thought made all the difference. They were my whole world, and I loved them with everything I had, my wonderful babies. I was thankful they were more like me with their looks, but Nathan certainly had his father's stubborn side. I shivered at the memory of Lochlan. I had done the right thing to escape him and keep my twins a secret. He would have never let me go otherwise. I hated him and that bitch Tara. How could they do that to me? At least I had my twins to keep me going. At times, I missed my wolf, but she was so devasted by our mates' betrayal she disappeared, and I have been on my own since. That's why I was so thankful for my dear Maria. My twins and Maria were all I needed to survive in this world. In the human world, I was safe from Lochlan. He wouldn't dare to come and find me after all this time. Besides, I was confident he had moved on with Tara by now. They were welcome to each other. It was a shame I had never been able to say goodbye to my pack, but I had done what was best for me and my babies at the time. Perhaps not having my wolf anymore was why I did not feel a thing when it came to him, as he had never accepted my rejection. Or it could be because I was so far from the packhouse and everything I had left behind. I had never even been intimate with anyone since leaving him. I didn't doubt that he had had more women than I had had hot dinners these last four years, though. As I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around myself, I gasped when I felt a leg move beside me. Then I noticed that Nathan had snuck onto the bed and fallen asleep. I must have been so tired that I had not woken to him. Spending a few moments staring at my sleeping child, I thought about just how lucky I was to have my twins. They were my reason for living, my motivation to keep going even when things got tough. I loved them more than anything, and I would do anything to make them happy. With a smile on my face, I got dressed and headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for my little ones. As I cooked, I hummed a tune to myself, feeling grateful for life's simple pleasures. Even though my days were busy and often stressful, I knew I was blessed to have such wonderful children to care for. And so I went about my day with purpose and love. No matter what challenges lay ahead, I knew I could face them with the strength and determination that came from being a mother. After I finished cooking breakfast, I went back to the bedroom to wake up Nathan. I gently shook him awake and kissed his forehead. He looked up at me with sleepy eyes and a smile, and I knew everything would be okay. As we sat down to eat, Nadia ran into the kitchen, her pigtails bouncing behind her. She climbed onto the chair next to Nathan and gave me a big hug. I felt a warmth spreading through my heart, knowing that I was loved and appreciated by these two little angels. After breakfast, I got the twins dressed and ready for the day. I was racing against the clock as I grabbed the bags and headed to the car. Today was my first day at my new job as a secretary for one of the biggest companies in the city, so being late was not an option. The Twins were chatting excitedly about their plans for the day with their childminder, Maria. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile. Maria was an angel sent from above. She had helped me tremendously when I first arrived here, knowing no one. She was a friendly face that soon became a great friend. Thanks to her, I found my footing and trained to become a good secretary. My twins adored spending time with Maria, and I was grateful for the peace of mind she provided. With school starting soon, everything was about to change. My heart was pounding as I pulled up to drop the twins off, knowing that I would soon be off to my new job. My stomach was in knots, but I kept telling myself everything would be okay. I was doing this for my dear twins to make our lives better. As we approached the door, Maria greeted us with a big smile. "Good morning, my lovelies!" she exclaimed, and the twins rushed to her, both talking at once and filled with excitement. Maria beamed at them and then turned to me, smiling reassuringly. "Good luck, Cat. You've got this. Don't worry about a thing. We'll see you later." Her words of encouragement were just what I needed to hear. I mouthed a silent 'thank you' to her as I started up the car and drove off. Once I arrived at the office, I was greeted politely and shown where everything was. I was starting to feel relaxed when suddenly someone caught my eye. No. It couldn't be.