The drive to Felis’s house was quiet except for Eden’s soft babbling in the backseat. At just four months old, her tiny coos and gurgles filled the silence with a soothing rhythm. I glanced at Noah, whose hand rested lightly on my thigh, his touch grounding me as my nerves threatened to spiral. His other hand gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles pale from tension. He hadn’t said much since I sent the message to Felis asking him to gather everyone, but I knew he was with me. He always was.
When we pulled into Felis’s driveway, my stomach churned at the sight of all the cars lined up neatly outside. They were all here—Felis, Orion, Leo, Nash, Atlas, and Caelum. My six brothers, waiting for me to walk in and shake up their world.
“You ready?” Noah’s voice was calm, but his eyes carried the same nervous energy that I felt.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to nod. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Noah stepped out first, moving to the backseat to unbuckle Eden from her car seat. He lifted her gently, cradling her against his chest. She let out a tiny yawn and rested her head against him, one hand clutching at the fabric of his shirt. Watching them together, some of my nerves eased. No matter what happened inside, I wasn’t walking into this alone.
When we reached the front door, it swung open before we could knock. Felis stood there, his towering frame filling the doorway. His sharp eyes softened when they landed on me, but his gaze shifted quickly to Noah and then Eden, the tiniest flicker of a smile tugging at his lips.
“They’re in the living room” he said, stepping aside. His voice was calm, but I caught the tension beneath it. “Let’s not keep them waiting.”
The air inside was warm, but it felt suffocating as we walked down the hallway. The low murmur of voices from the living room cut off abruptly when we entered. My brothers turned as one to face me, their expressions a mix of curiosity and confusion.
Orion was sprawled casually on the couch, but his eyes sharpened the moment he saw me. Leo perched on the armrest next to him, his fingers drumming on his knee. Nash and Atlas were sitting cross-legged on the floor, their heads tilting in near-perfect unison when they saw Noah and the baby in his arms. Caelum leaned against the wall, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his face unreadable.
Felis cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence. “Estella has something she wants to tell you.”
I stepped forward, my hands clasped tightly in front of me to keep them from shaking. Noah stood at my side, holding Eden protectively. Her tiny hand reached up to grab at his jawline, completely unaware of the weight of the moment.
“This is Eden” I began, my voice trembling. I paused to steady it. “She’s my daughter.”
A stunned silence followed, their reactions washing over me in waves. Orion straightened, his brows knitting together in confusion. Leo’s jaw tightened, his hand frozen mid-drumming. Nash blinked rapidly, his mouth opening as if to speak but nothing came out. Atlas leaned forward slightly, his expression one of surprise mixed with curiosity. Caelum, always the quiet one, uncrossed his arms and stared, his sharp eyes narrowing as if piecing it together.
“And Noah’s” I added quickly, glancing at him. “She’s our daughter.”
Eden, as if on cue, let out a soft coo and giggled, her tiny hands batting at Noah’s shirt. The sound broke through the tension like sunlight through a storm, and for a brief moment, all eyes turned to her.
“Wait.” Leo was the first to find his voice. “You have a daughter? And she’s—” His gaze flicked to Noah. “Yours?”
“Yes” I said firmly, meeting his gaze. “I know I should’ve told you sooner. I was scared—of what you’d think, of how you’d react. And I-"
“Scared of us?” Orion’s voice was sharp, but not unkind. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Estella, we’re your brothers. We’re supposed to be the ones you come to, not the ones you’re afraid of.”
“I know that now” I said, my throat tightening. “But at the time, I... I didn’t know how to tell you. And then time passed, and it just got harder.”
Nash, always the quietest of the group, was staring at Eden. He spoke up softly. “Her name’s Eden?”
I nodded, my gaze shifting to my daughter. “Yes. Eden.”
“She’s... beautiful” Nash murmured, his voice filled with wonder.
Atlas grinned, nudging Nash with his elbow. “Beautiful and tiny. Look at her. She’s perfect.”
Eden giggled again, as if agreeing, and reached one hand toward Atlas, her fingers wiggling. He leaned closer, his grin widening. “Does she always laugh this much? Or is she just happy to meet her favorite uncle?”
“She doesn’t know you yet” Leo quipped, rolling his eyes. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“Favorite uncle” Atlas insisted, gently extending his finger for Eden to grab. She latched on immediately, her tiny hand gripping his with surprising strength. “See? She agrees.”
Orion’s expression softened as he watched the exchange. He leaned back into the couch with a sigh. “Alright” he said, a faint smile curving his lips. “She’s my niece. I guess I’d better get used to being Uncle Orion.”
“Same here” Leo said, his voice quieter than usual. His gaze lingered on Eden, a small smile tugging at his lips. “She’s amazing, Stell. I... I can’t believe you kept her a secret, but I get it.”
“I promise” I said, my voice breaking slightly, “I’ll never keep anything from you guys again. We’re family, and I want Eden to know all of you.”
“Damn right she’s going to know us” Atlas said, gently letting go of Eden’s hand. “You think I’m letting this little one grow up without being completely spoiled by her uncles? Not a chance.”
Noah chuckled softly beside me. “I think she’ll be just fine with all of you around.”
Felis, who had been quiet up until now, stepped closer, resting a hand on my shoulder. His voice was low but steady. “You did the right thing telling us, Stell. And you’re not alone anymore. We’re here. All of us.”
Eden let out a loud squeal, her wide eyes bouncing between all the new faces. Nash laughed quietly, and even Caelum let out a soft chuckle as he finally relaxed against the wall.
In that moment, surrounded by my brothers, with Eden giggling in Noah’s arms, I felt something I hadn’t in years a sense of belonging. For the first time, it felt like we weren’t just trying to rebuild our family. We already were one.
YOU ARE READING
Back to Us
Teen FictionEstella's world shattered when she was six years old, after her father died in a car accident. Her mother turned into an alcoholic, and her brothers abandoned her one by one, leaving her completely alone. Now, 12 years later, her brothers are back a...
