148 Chapter 2.69

They left the room and I quickly got dressed for the day. I got Addie dressed and put her things together before going to the kitchen table. Trey smiled to me, "Morning."

I set down Addie's bag beside the table before adjusting her to lay on my shoulder. She began babbling, which Iris brightly smile to as she came in the area. I took out Addie's bottle from the fridge before going over to her.

"Do you want to hold her?" I asked as I had realized she was not one to ask for what she wanted and liked Addie. She blushed, but nodded before taking Addie. I aided her in holding Addie with her bottle before stepping back.

Iris looked to me with hesitation and uncertainty, "but...I don't know...what should I...?"

"Iris," I said sweetly, "just do what feels natural." I chuckled as she looked to me, "if I can do it, anyone can. Trust your gut and ask if something is wrong. You're already doing great."

I went over to the table and gestured for Iris to sit beside me. She sat down and seemed infatuated with Addie and each small move she made. My heart mended slightly as I thought back to my first few days with the twins.

Right before they were born, I deeply contemplated if they should be put up for adoption. Then they wouldn't suffer alongside me and might have an easy life.

I felt I couldn't give them what they needed as I had already skipped a few meals and replaced them with supplements to afford things they would need. Formula, clothes, diapers...everything was so expensive.

I hadn't worked in months as I could barely walk and my savings dried up when I finally found an apartment that would accept a pregnant, single male Omega. I couldn't let them live on the couch at the back of the bar like I had been and couldn't go back to the street. I could survive, but they wouldn't have a chance in those situations.

When the delivery began, I was in near hysterics as I couldn't decide what to do. Being all alone with so many life changing decisions was too much to handle.

Then the moment came that I feared. They handed the twins to me and I hesitated to even take them. I finally took a deep breath and fought through my fear. I took them in my arms and saw them...

They were incredible. Absolutely perfect in every way and beyond my imagination. I didn't care that they looked nothing like me and nearly identical to that Alpha. They were mine, my children, my entire world. every concern, fear, and negative emotion were gone.

"What's wrong, Momma?"

I looked to Ashley and Archer's worried faces as they stood beside my chair. I realized I was crying and rushed to wipe my face as I smiled. I quickly hugged them against me, "I'm sorry. Nothing's wrong. I was just thinking about a happy memory!"

"What memory?"

I smiled over to Chase as he looked to me with slight worry and walked into the room. "The day I became a parent and the twins were born." I ruffled the twin's hair, "that was one of my two happiest day of my life."

"Was the other when Addie was born?"

I nodded with a sad smile to Iris, but my attention was brought back to Archer as I felt him tense up and clutch onto my pant leg. "Archer? What's wrong?"

He refused to look up as Ashley made a sniffling noise and I felt my heart tear. I took their hands as I stood and led them off to the living room with a sad smile to Zara.

"I'll take Wren to school and tell them that the twins will come later." I nodded in appreciation.

When I sat down and let go of their hands, Ashley began crying and Archer hugged her. His eyes were welling up as I felt pure guilt. I became aware of the mark on the back of my neck and the missing ring on a chain that I always wore.

"I..." my mind went blank as I couldn't think of how to fix this. I couldn't even think of where to start. I took a few deep breaths, "talk to me, please. What can I do? I can't bear to see you cry."

Archer cried loudly before rushing to me and burying his face into my shirt. Ashley rushed to sit next to me and cry into my chest also. They cried harder then they had in a long time, causing me to freeze in horror. I glances up as I heard someone come nearby and met Chase's extremely worried gaze.

'Can I help?' He mouthed without making a sound.

I slightly shook my head and fought not to cry, 'not yet,' I replied without noise. He left the room as the twins slowly lessened in noise. I stroked their hair and stayed silent, letting them get out their tears.

When they both silenced, Ashley glanced to me slightly, "I'm sorry, Momma."

I gave her a sad smile, "why are you apologizing, baby? You did nothing wrong."

She shook her head, "I did, Momma."

"I did too!" Archer insisted, "I'm sorry, Momma!"

I took a hard breath before giving them a smile, "did something happen at school?"

Ashley shook her head again, "we..." she started crying again.