Chapter 26 · Twin Truth

The truth came out over breakfast.

Zaia hadn't planned to tell them—not yet, not when they were three and four and still learning that wolves lived inside them. But Leo had questions. Leo always had questions.

"Mama, why do we have two heartbeats in the pictures?"

Zaia froze, coffee cup halfway to her lips. Sebastian—staying for breakfast, tentative, hopeful—looked up from his eggs.

"What pictures?" Zaia asked carefully.

"The ones in your drawer. The ultrasound. Two babies."

Milo perked up. "Two babies?"

Zaia set down her cup. Sebastian had gone very still.

"Leo, we need to talk." Zaia moved to the living room. The boys followed. Sebastian followed.

She pulled out the ultrasound photo—the one she'd carried through bus stations and hospital rooms and three years of building a life. Two shapes. Two heartbeats.

"You were twins in my belly," she said. "Both of you. Together from the beginning."

Leo's eyes widened. "We were always together?"

"Always." Zaia's voice was soft. "You shared everything. Space. Food. My heartbeat. You came into the world together—Leo first, then Milo, six minutes later."

Milo climbed into her lap. "We're a team."

"We're a team," Zaia agreed. "And you were wanted. So wanted.