Calvin’s POV
Franklin exhaled slowly, his sharp gaze never leaving me. He had been standing at the foot of my bed for a while now, arms crossed over his broad chest, waiting for me to explain myself.
“I’ll give the order for Lysaa’s release right away,” he said, his voice steady but laced with curiosity. “But I have to ask-why her? Why now?”
I had expected that question. He wasn’t the type to blindly follow commands without understanding the reasoning behind them.
I took a slow, deliberate breath, my ribs aching from the effort. “There are a lot of reasons, Franklin. But first and foremost-it’s the right thing to do.”
Franklin arched a skeptical brow. “That’s new. Since when do you care about doing the right thing?”
A bitter smirk crossed my lips, but I shook my head, brushing off the jab. “Since I started realizing how much damage I’ve done.”
He sighed but said nothing, allowing me to continue.
“Kamrynn was taken alone,” I said, forcing my voice to remain steady. “That means our children… they were left behind.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Franklin’s face. “Children?” He repeated, as if trying to make sense of the word in relation to Kamrynn and me.
“Astor and Arabella,” I clarified. “My twins.”
Franklin was silent for a moment, digesting the information. “So Kamrynn had twins, why didn’t you let me know right away? Some best friend you are.” he remarked, sounding slightly annoyed.
“There was never a chance to. Things spiraled out of control too fast.”
“I was literally just a mind link away…” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Forget it. So, if the twins weren’t taken… where are they now?”
“With Luna Rmonica of the Blue Bell Pack.”
His brows furrowed in confusion. “Wait-Luna Rmonica? How the hell does Kamrynn have ties to the Blue Bell Pack?”
I sighed, feeling the heaviness of the explanation I owed him.
“It’s a long story, much of which is still a mystery to me. I’m guessing they took her in after she escaped from here,” I explained. “All I can say for sure is that Kamrynn is an important and well respected figure in Blue Bell and the Alpha and Luna care for her deeply.”
Franklin scoffed. “This is way too much to handle, give me a fucking break. You’re telling me that your own children are in the hands of another Pack-one that has no reason to trust you.”
I clenched my fists. “I know that.”
He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “So let me get this straight. Kamrynn was taken, but the twins were left behind with this Rmonica woman?”
“Yes. And I’m grateful for that because I know they’re in good hands.”
Franklin’s expression darkened slightly. “And you’re sure they’re keeping the twins safe?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “If there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that Rmonica would protect them with her life.”
Franklin studied me for a moment before asking the next inevitable question. “So, what’s the problem here? Give the order and I’ll go get them, they’re the heirs of this Pack.”
I looked away. “Because I and probably everyone from our Pack are not welcome there.”
He tilted his head slightly, confusion flickering across his face. “Not welcome?”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Alpha Orion, Rmonica’s mate, made it very clear that there would be consequences if I stepped foot in their territory. After everything I did to Kamrynn, I can’t exactly blame them.”
Franklin sighed, dragging a hand down his face. “Great. So we’re dealing with an entire Pack that probably wants you dead. Fantastic.”
I ignored his sarcasm. “That’s where Lysaa comes in.”
Franklin arched a brow. “I don’t follow.”
“She was the maid attending to Kamrynn and a close friend of hers. If anyone can get me access to my children, it’s her. Rmonica is far more likely to trust her than she would ever trust me.”
Franklin seemed to consider that for a moment before exhaling sharply. “So, what-you plan to have Lysaa go in first? Convince them to hand over the twins?”
“Something like that,” I said. “And when I get them back, I’m entrusting their care to her.”
Franklin couldn’t hide his frown. He stared at me, as if trying to gauge whether or not I had completely lost my mind. “Calvin… Lysaa is blind.”
I flinched.
The words hit harder than they should have, but I deserved the sting.
Because I had done that to her.
I had given the order to have her blinded for helping Kamrynn escape, punishing her for doing the right thing-something I was only now learning to value.
I forced myself to meet Franklin’s gaze. “I know.”
His brows furrowed. “And you still think she’s the best person to care for your children?”
“She won’t be alone,” I said firmly. “My mother and the other maids will be there to assist her.”
Franklin let out a slow, measured breath. “Even so, are you sure about this?”
“Yes.”
His jaw tensed. “You do realize that Lysaa has every reason to hate you, right? You took her sight, Calvin. Not just that, you exiled her entire family, goddess knows what’s become of them. And now you want to entrust her with your children, the heirs to this Pack. What’s stopping her from taking revenge? From using the twins to hurt you the same way you hurt her?”
I clenched my fists. “Because that’s not who she is.”
Franklin stared at me, waiting for me to elaborate.
“Lysaa loved Kamrynn,” I continued. “She knew the consequences but still fought for her. Risked everything for her. And I know-deep down-I know she would never take out her anger on innocent children.”
Franklin scrutinized me for a long moment, then finally let out a slow sigh. “Alright.”
I relaxed slightly, though my body still ached from the effort of sitting up for so long.
“And what about you?” Franklin asked. “Do you expect her to just forgive you? To act like nothing happened?”
“No,” I admitted. “I don’t expect anything from her.”
Franklin arched a brow. “Then why are you really doing this?”
I exhaled slowly. “Because I want to make things right.”
He didn’t say anything, but his expression softened just slightly.
“I don’t deserve her forgiveness,” I continued. “After everything I did to her, I don’t even deserve to stand in her presence. I’ve been punished but it’ll probably never be enough to make up for what I did. I can never restore her sight but once I find Kamrynn-once I bring my mate home-I’ll find a way to make things up to Lysaa. No matter what it takes.”
Franklin let out another deep sigh, shaking his head. “You’re a stubborn bastard with a touch of insanity, you know that?”
A weak smirk tugged at my lips. “That’s not exactly news.”
He rolled his eyes but finally nodded. “I’ll handle it. Lysaa will be released within the hour.”
With that, he turned on his heel and walked out of the room.
The doctor entered soon after, carrying a clipboard and looking at me with both relief and exhaustion. She must have been working around the clock to keep me stable.
“You really should be resting,” she scolded, setting her things down beside the bed.
“I don’t have time to rest.”
She clicked her tongue disapprovingly but didn’t argue as she lifted the blanket to examine my wounds. I flinched when her fingers lightly brushed against my bandaged ribs, and she shot me a sharp look.
“You’re healing,” she muttered, “but it’s slow. Thankfully the blow to the head wasn’t fatal and you only suffered a concussion, your wrist is fully healed as well. As for the stab wound…it still needs time, and these burns-” She shook her head. “You’re lucky you woke up at all.”
I didn’t feel lucky.
“How long before I can travel?” I asked.
She sighed. “At least a week.”
I scowled.
“And that’s if you actually rest and let your body heal,” she added, arching a brow. “Which, knowing you, you won’t.”
I ignored that.
She finished her examination and stood, shaking her head. “You’re stubborn, Alpha.”
I said nothing.
As she left, I leaned back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling.
None of this would be easy.
Going back to Blue Bell wouldn’t be easy.
Rmonica had every right to deny me my children. Every reason to turn me away.
And there’s Lysaa…
I had taken everything from her.
Yet, I was still going to ask for her help.
I had no idea if she would even agree to it.
But I had to try.
How had I ended up offending so many people in my life? I had made so many poor decisions, done so many bad things. I had to take responsibility for everything. The success rate of what I was about to do was low but I couldn’t let that deter me.
No matter what happens, I’ll get my children back.
And after that-
I swore I would bring their mother home.