Free Web NovelChapter 9: Chapter 9
"Mommy, is Raphael coming over today?"
Chloe’s sweet voice echoed through the dining room as she hurried in after changing out of her kindergarten uniform. Her golden curls bounced with every step, and her bright blue eyes—so painfully similar to Christian’s—sparkled with excitement.
Fleur looked up from the kitchen island where she was reheating dinner and couldn’t stop the amused roll of her eyes.
Both of her little wolves adored Raphael. Honestly, adored was even an understatement. The twins practically worshipped the man.
And that terrified her more than she cared to admit.
Raphael had become a constant presence in their lives over the years—steady, warm, dependable in ways she had never experienced before. Yet every time he looked at her with those soft gray eyes filled with affection, guilt twisted painfully inside her chest.
Because no matter how kind he was... No matter how safe he made her feel... A broken part of her still belonged to the Alpha who had shattered her heart years ago.
After Christian, trusting another man felt impossible.
"I don’t know, sweetheart," Chloe replied gently while stirring the creamy risotto simmering on the stove. "Raphael is a huge movie star. He’s probably busy filming or attending brand events somewhere."
"But he promised," Gabriel declared as he climbed into his chair beside Chloe.
Unlike his sister’s sunshine warmth, Gabriel carried a quiet Alpha confidence eerily similar to Christian’s. Even at five years old, his wolf instincts surfaced constantly—in the way he observed people too carefully, the way he positioned himself protectively near Chloe without realizing it.
Fleur bit back a smile at the determined expressions on both their faces.
"Oh?" she mused dramatically as she carried over a large bowl of their favorite mushroom risotto. "Then maybe we should ban Raphael from the house forever if he breaks his promise this time."
Both children gasped in horror.
"No!"
"He would never!"
Their identical outrage made Fleur burst into laughter. She leaned down and kissed both of their chubby cheeks lovingly.
"That’s right, my little stars."
A deep, familiar voice drifted through the doorway.
"No matter how desperately your mother wishes otherwise, I could never break a promise to my favorite people."
Fleur froze.
Raphael stood at the entrance wearing a dark coat and that devastating movie-star smile that had made millions of women fall hopelessly in love with him.
His gray eyes immediately found hers. And stayed there.
Warmth crept into Fleur’s cheeks despite herself.
The twins squealed excitedly and launched themselves toward him without hesitation.
"My tiny wolf pack!" Raphael laughed as he scooped them both effortlessly into his arms. "Did you miss me?"
"We missed you so much!" Chloe chirped.
"You took forever," Gabriel added accusingly.
Raphael clutched his chest dramatically. "I’ve been busy."
Then his gaze slid back toward Fleur. "And what about you?" he asked softly. "Did you miss me too?"
Fleur instantly busied herself gathering plates from the counter.
"You’re late," she muttered instead.
Raphael smiled knowingly. He had spent six years learning every one of her defenses. And he had no intention of giving up.
Chloe and Gabriel quickly dragged him toward the table while Fleur served dinner.
The scene looked so painfully domestic that it made her chest ache.
A family. Something she had once dreamed of having with Christian.
But unlike Christian, Raphael never carried darkness into a room. He laughed easily. Played with the twins constantly. Even his human aura—though powerful beneath the surface—felt calm and welcoming instead of dangerous.
"Are you staying with us this week?" Chloe asked hopefully.
"Of course, princess," Raphael said immediately. "I’m staying with my family."
"Raphael," Fleur warned sharply.
The actor only grinned. He knew exactly why she kept her distance. Fleur was terrified the twins would grow too attached to him. Because eventually, Raphael would move on.
Find a real pair. Start a family of his own. And her children would end up heartbroken again.
But Raphael had long since made his decision.
As far as he was concerned, Fleur and her twins already were his family.
"How do you even have this much free time?" Fleur asked suspiciously as everyone settled around the table. "Doesn’t your PR team complain about you disappearing every month?"
Raphael leaned closer, lowering his voice teasingly. "I finish all my work early so I can spend time with you."
Fleur shoved his shoulder lightly with a glare that lacked any real annoyance.
The twins giggled shamelessly.
Dinner passed warmly as Raphael entertained the children with stories from movie sets, embarrassing celebrity encounters, and ridiculous stunts gone wrong during filming.
Fleur found herself smiling more than she had all week. And for a brief moment, life felt frighteningly normal.
After dinner, Fleur rose from the table reluctantly.
"Be good to Raphael," she instructed while loading dishes into the dishwasher. "I have a meeting tonight and probably won’t be back early."
Gabriel immediately frowned. "But you promised you wouldn’t work after we came home from school."
Guilt pinched her chest instantly.
Now that her design empire was fully established, Fleur had intentionally reduced her workload to spend more time with the twins. Being the owner meant she could choose her own schedule.
Usually.
"I know, baby," she said apologetically. "But this client insisted on meeting me personally."
Raphael stepped in smoothly before the twins could protest further.
"You should go," he said casually. "Besides, you’ll miss all the fun we’re going to have."
The children immediately brightened.
"We’re going out?" Chloe gasped excitedly.
Raphael winked. "Absolutely."
"No outings," Fleur said at once.
Raphael blinked innocently. "Why?"
Fleur sighed heavily.
"Because last time the paparazzi followed us for days," she reminded him. "The photos caused gossip everywhere, and I don’t want my children dragged into celebrity scandals."
That wasn’t the full truth, of course. The real reason sat far heavier inside her chest.
Fear. Fear that one day Christian Wayne would see her face somewhere online and realize his mate was still alive.
Fear that the Alpha who once broke her heart would come searching for her.
"Oh, Mom," Gabriel scoffed confidently. "If that happens again, we’ll just do what we did last time."
Fleur narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What exactly does that mean?"
Gabriel exchanged a smug look with Chloe. "We hacked the entertainment websites and deleted the pictures."
Fleur nearly dropped a plate. "You what?!"
Chloe shrugged calmly. "And I hacked the backup cloud storage."
Fleur stared at her five-year-old children in horror. Their intelligence was becoming genuinely terrifying.
"Children," she said weakly, rubbing her forehead, "hacking is illegal."
"Only if you get caught," Chloe replied matter-of-factly.
Gabriel nodded in agreement. "And nobody catches us."
Raphael burst out laughing.
Fleur looked ready to faint.
"Relax," he said gently. "I’ll wear a disguise again, and my security team will handle the paparazzi if needed."
Seeing the twins practically vibrating with excitement, Fleur finally surrendered.
"Fine," she sighed dramatically. "But behave yourselves."
The children cheered triumphantly.
After kissing them goodbye, Fleur left for her meeting—completely unaware that fate had already begun shifting around her once more.
The moment the front door closed, Chloe turned toward Raphael eagerly.
"So where are we going first?"
Raphael pretended to think deeply.
"Hm..." He tapped his chin theatrically. "How about shopping?"
"Yes!"
"And then dinner," he added. "We’ll bring something home for your mommy too."
Gabriel rolled his eyes dramatically. "You love our mom way too much."
Raphael sighed dreamily. "I absolutely do."
The twins exchanged knowing looks.
Raphael had confessed his feelings countless times over the years. Unfortunately for him, Fleur never returned them. Not completely.
Still, the children secretly hoped he would eventually become their father. Or at least the closest thing to one.
"I think Mommy likes you too," Chloe whispered conspiratorially.
Raphael’s eyes widened hopefully. "You think so?"
Gabriel nodded sagely. "She acts grumpy around you, but that’s usually a good sign."
Raphael laughed helplessly before pulling both children into his arms and tickling them mercilessly.
"You tiny little traitors."
The twins squealed with laughter.
"I’m Mommy’s favorite!" Chloe declared.
"No, I am!" Gabriel argued immediately.
Raphael quickly intervened before a war broke out.
"You’re both her favorites," he said wisely. "Now hurry up and get ready, or we’ll miss the private premiere I booked."
The children gasped excitedly.
"YOU’RE THE BEST!"
The evening passed like something from a dream.
Raphael rented an entire VIP theater section for the twins, disguising himself beneath a mask and baseball cap to avoid recognition. His bodyguards stayed nearby but discreetly out of sight.
After the movie, they visited one of Paris’s most luxurious children’s boutiques where Raphael spoiled Chloe and Gabriel shamelessly.
Then came the final stop––a high-end women’s fashion store.
"We should buy something for Mommy," Chloe decided firmly.
The twins immediately began searching through elegant designer gowns while Raphael watched with amusement.
Suddenly, Chloe froze. Her eyes widened dramatically. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
"Oh..." She lifted a breathtaking silver-colored gown from the rack, the fabric shimmering like moonlight. "It’s perfect for Mommy."
Raphael smiled instantly. "You’re right."
They headed toward the register, only to be interrupted by a sharp feminine voice.
"I want that dress."
The twins turned simultaneously, and Raphael’s relaxed expression disappeared instantly.
Standing several feet away was Carrie Channing––a supermodel, a socialite, and the woman once publicly linked to Christian Wayne.
Her crimson lips curved into a smug smile as her eyes settled possessively on the gown in Chloe’s hands.
