Chapter 204

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Chapter 204
Ellie POV
It had been a good morning.
The boys were napping after Nolan’s visit, the soft rhythm of their breathing filling the apartment with peace. For the first time in weeks, I felt light. Nolan’s presence had left a strange warmth in its wake – not the confusion I’d expected, but a quiet steadiness.
He’d been patient, gentle. Not once had he tried to overstep or turn the visit into something about us. It had been about the boys – their laughter, their new words, the way they’d reached for him as if they’d known him all their lives.
I hadn’t realized how much I’d needed that.
I was sitting on the couch, sorting through the boys’ tiny clothes, when a knock came at the door.
My heart skipped. Nolan wasn’t due again until tomorrow.
I opened the door and froze.
Kieran stood there, smiling faintly, a bouquet of pale yellow roses in hand. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, his posture easy, but there was something sharp behind his eyes – something I couldn’t quite place.
“Ellie,” he said, his voice smooth. “You look beautiful.”
I blinked, caught off guard. “Kieran. What are you doing here?”
“I was in the area,” he said lightly, stepping past me before I could protest. “I thought I’d stop by. I brought these for you.”
He held out the flowers. I hesitated, then accepted them with a small, polite smile. “They’re lovely. Thank you.”
The air felt strange. Too quiet.
Kieran glanced around, his expression softening as he saw the boys’ toys scattered across the floor. “They’re asleep?”
“Yes. They just went down.”
He nodded, wandering toward the window. “You’re in a good mood. I thought that after our discussion the other day, you might be upset.”
I considered his words carefully before responding. “I’m not.”
“I can see that.” He turned back toward me, eyes thoughtful. “I hear Silver Fang’s
Alpha has been spending more time in Moonstone lately.”
My stomach tightened, “Is there a reason you won’t say his name, now?”
Kieran’s smile didn’t falter, but something in it shifted flicker of tension beneath the charm. “Has he been here?”
I saw the slight flaring of his nostrils as he moved across the living room and I knew that he could smell Nolan. There was no point in denying it.
“Yes. He’s their father.”
“Of course.” He walked toward me slowly. “And how did that go?”
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Before I could answer, a quiet knock came at the door.
My pulse jumped.
Kieran arched a brow. “Expecting someone?”
I shook my head and crossed the room, opening the door to find Nolan standing there.
For a heartbeat, the world seemed to tilt.
He froze when he saw Kieran inside, his expression unreadable. His gaze flicked to me, then to the flowers on the counter, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Nolan said evenly. “I wanted to drop off a few things for the boys. I forgot to bring them up earlier.”
He lifted the small bag in his hand – toys, I realized. Simple, thoughtful things.
I swallowed hard. “It’s fine. Come in.”
Nolan stepped inside, but the moment he did, the atmosphere changed completely.
He didn’t move closer to Kieran, but he positioned himself without seeming to think about it – between the other Alpha and the hallway that led to the twins’ room.
Kieran noticed. His jaw tensed, though his tone remained casual. “You’re back already, Silver Fang.’
Nolan’s eyes met his. “Moonstone hospitality extends to allies, doesn’t it?”
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“It does.” Kieran’s voice was still smooth, but quieter now. “Though it’s unusual for allies to drop in unannounced.”
“I wasn’t aware I needed your permission to see my children.”
The words were soft, but they landed like a challenge.
I stepped quickly between them. “Enough. The boys are sleeping. Please don’t wake them.”
Both men looked at me then – Nolan’s expression softening instantly, Kieran’s gaze unreadable.
I forced a breath and gestured toward the table. “Let’s sit down. There’s no reason for this to turn into anything.
For a few tense seconds, neither of them moved. Then Nolan exhaled slowly and set the bag on the table. “They’ve started teething,” he said, still looking at me. “These might help.”
I nodded, opening the bag. Inside were a pair of small teething rings carved from smooth, pale wood – simple, functional, beautiful. My chest ached.
The teethers that Cassian had gifted them were great, but August was chewing through them with surprising speed.
“They’re perfect,” I said softly. “Thank you.
Kieran leaned back against the counter, arms folded. “You’ve been busy.”