“They need names,” Eva whispered, her voice hoarse but clear. She reached for the stronger one, the one who had kicked with the force of a storm inside her womb. His eyes blinked open—golden, like hers. “Caelum,” she said. “It means sky. He’ll rise above it all.”
Max nodded, his throat tight. “And the other?”
Eva turned to the quiet twin. He looked nothing like the other—dark-haired, paler, and unnervingly calm. But she didn’t flinch. She touched his cheek gently. “Silas,” she said. “It means man of the woods… or sometimes, of the shadows. But he’s more than that. He’s my son.”
Before the moment could settle, a sharp knock echoed at the door.
Tiana entered, her face grim. “The Crescent Council is here. They’re demanding to see the twins.”
Max’s jaw clenched. “Already?”
“They’re not wasting time,” she said, crossing the room. “And I don’t like the way they’re talking. They want to take Silas. Say he needs to be ‘contained.’”
Eva sat up straighter despite the pain shooting through her body. “They’re not taking anyone.”
A few minutes later, the room was filled with the heavy presence of Crescent authority. Three council members entered, flanked by warriors in ceremonial armor. Elder Rhodes led the group, his face unreadable as his eyes scanned the room and landed on the twins.
“We come with urgent concerns,” Rhodes began, his tone respectful but firm. “Congratulations are in order, of course. But so is swift action.”
Eva narrowed her eyes. “Speak plainly.”
Rhodes didn’t hesitate. “The vampire-blooded child—Silas—represents a potential threat to the balance we’ve maintained. We request he be placed under Crescent protection. For containment. Observation.”
“Protection,” Eva repeated bitterly. “Is that what we’re calling cages now?”
Rhodes raised a brow. “You must understand. A child born with that much darkness in his blood—”
“He is my child,” Eva cut in. Her voice rose like a thunderclap, shaking even the warriors in the doorway. “You will not take him.”
One of the other council members, a woman with silver streaks in her dark hair, stepped forward. “Your personal feelings are understandable, but you carry a responsibility to all the packs. We’re asking you to trust us. This is not punishment. It’s precaution.”
Tiana rolled her eyes. “Oh, that’s comforting. Want to ‘precaution’ Caelum too? He nearly broke my wrist when he stretched during a nap.”
“That’s different,” the woman replied sharply. “He’s wolf-born. Silas is… something else.”
Eva clutched Silas tighter against her chest. “They are both mine. They were both born from the same womb, carried through the same pain, loved with the same heart. Don’t you dare ask me to choose.”
Rhodes sighed. “It’s not about choosing, Luna. It’s about protecting everyone—including the boy himself. What happens if he loses control? What happens if he’s used by Vladymyr or Sylvester?”
“You’re talking about a baby,” Eva said. “A newborn who hasn’t even seen sunlight. And you want to punish him for what might happen?”
Max’s growl echoed through the room.
He stepped forward slowly, his eyes glowing gold. The room fell silent as his Alpha power surged, commanding attention.
“Say it again,” he said coldly. “Say you want to take my son.”
Rhodes hesitated. “Max, you of all people should understand—”
“I understand perfectly,” Max cut him off. “I’ve spent my life protecting this pack, this council, this land. And now you come into my mate’s room, stand over her while she bleeds and recovers, and ask her to sacrifice one of her children?”
“We’re not sacrificing—”
“Yes, you are,” Max snapped. “You want to lock him up. Strip him of his freedom before he can even speak. That’s not protection. That’s fear disguised as policy.”
Eva reached for Max’s hand, squeezing it tightly. Her voice cracked with emotion as she whispered, “They can’t have him, Max. I won’t let them.”
He turned to her, pressing his forehead gently against hers. “They won’t.”
The council members exchanged glances, but none dared speak.
Max stepped back and looked directly at them. His words rang out, fierce and final.
“He’s my son, too. And if anyone tries to cage him, they’ll answ
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
Summary & Review: Comrade
