Gemini of the Shifter Realm

Chapter 13 Switched Not At Birth

Gabriel Zades P.O.V

I set the phone down on the table, the news heavy in the air. The weight of the situation pressed down on me, making each breath feel like a struggle.

"What happened?" Lilith's voice cut through the silence as she gently cradled our baby.

"They're missing," I replied, the words barely scraping past my lips. The room seemed to contract around the news, the reality of the situation sinking in like a leaden weight.

"Who's they?" Her voice quivered with confusion, her eyes searching mine for answers.

"The twins," I said, my voice a strained whisper. Her eyes widened as she processed the gravity of the situation. The concern on her face was palpable, a reflection of my own growing anxiety.

"What's going to happen now?" Her question was tinged with a mix of concern and trepidation, a subtle fear that perhaps I would be pulled away once again, leaving her alone.

I felt a pang of guilt, caught between two worlds. If I stayed, would I be neglecting my brother and my responsibilities as an uncle? If I left, would I fail as a husband and father, prioritizing my nephew and niece over my own family?

No matter which path I chose, I feared being seen as the villain in someone's eyes.

"Go," Lilith's voice broke through my turmoil, pulling me back to the present.

"What?" I was taken aback, my confusion evident.

She bit her lip, her eyes a mixture of sadness and determination. "You were listening to my thoughts," I said, my voice softer now.

"I didn't mean to invade your privacy—" she began, her tone apologetic.

"It's alright," I interrupted, my hand reaching out to soothe her. "I just— I don't want to disappoint you again. I want to be here for you and our daughter."

Lilith's gaze softened. "My family is important to me, but your family is my priority too. I don't ever want you to forget that."

Her words were a balm to my troubled mind. I nodded, grateful for her understanding.

"So, what happens now? How do we help?" she asked, her voice steady despite the concern in her eyes.

"We might need to call in our dear old friend once more," I said, my mind already racing through possible solutions.

"Don't tell me the person you're referring to is—" she began, her expression grim.

"Adam," we said in unison. Her tone was laced with a mixture of resignation and apprehension.

Adamone Levi P.O.V

I tossed the phone onto the bed, watching it bounce perilously close to the edge. A surge of anxiety swept over me, nearly making my heart skip a beat. I really need to curb that habit—maybe I do it for the thrill.

"Eve?" I called out, my voice echoing in the quiet of our temporary retreat. We were on this island to give Evelyn some much-needed spiritual healing after all the trauma she had endured. I'd been helping her navigate through it, but her silence now made my pulse quicken.

It was nearly sundown, and she had mentioned going for a walk along the beach shore. She should have been back by now. I called her name again, a hint of desperation creeping into my voice. Her werewolf senses should have picked up my call.

The uneasy feeling that something was wrong gnawed at me. I tried to mind-link with her, but the silence that answered my call made my heart race with anxiety.