Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 222

Chapter 222

Natalia & Andrei

Natalia

“We can play whatever you want,” Andrei said, already heading t

He opened the cupboard door and pulled out a stack of various brand–new–l brows shoot up in surprise.

inet in the corner of the dining room. ing board games, which made my

“Since when do you keep board games in the house?” I blurted out. In all the years Andrei and I were married, I never saw him play a game. Not even cards.

He shrugged and plopped the pile down in the middle of the table, letting Jane and Max squabble over which game to play. “Since I figured I might have kids running around.”

The admission warmed me from the inside out. Even if it was as presumptuous as the kids‘ bedroom.

Within minutes, we were all sitting cross–legged on the living room floor around a board game I’d never played before. The twins explained the rules to Andrei and I, although neither of us seemed to be retaining any of the information.

“Why are there so many rules in a kids‘ game?” Andrei whispered, leaning toward me.

“Beats me. Keeps them occupied, though.”

Andrei chuckled. “Fair enough.”

For the next thirty minutes, I could only describe what happened as complete and utter chaos. Despite the twins only being six years old, Andrei seemed reluctant to let go of his competitive streak, and beat them over and over again until they were both on their feet and shouting.

“Ha!” Andrei declared as he moved his piece closer to the finish line. “Looks like Daddy’s about to win another one!”

“No way!” Jane shrieked.

“We can’t keep letting him win,” Max grumbled, clenching his tiny fists.

Suddenly, both twins launched themselves at Andrei. He went down with a grunt, the game board scattering as Jane grabbed one of his arms and Max tackled his legs.

“Surrender!” Jane demanded, as she tried to pin his wrists to the floor.

“Never!”

I couldn’t help it. The sight made me laugh, and before I knew it, I was crawling over to join the pile.

“Get his other arm!” I called to Max, grabbing Andrei’s free hand.

“This is mutiny!” Andrei protested, but he was grinning as he let us pin him to the carpet. “I demand a fair trial!”

“Guilty!” Jane announced. “The sentence is… tickles!”

The twins tickled Andrei while I tried to keep his arms pinned, his mock cries of mercy echoing through the house. And for those few perfect minutes, we were just a normal family playing together.

It was all I’d ever wanted. All I’d ever hoped to create for my children.

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Chapter 222

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But then Max started coughing.

At first, I thought it was just from all the laughing and rolling around. But the coughs kept coming, and then he was on his hands and knees, practically gagging from the force of

face was turning red, chest rattling

with mucus.

“We need to get him to Elena.” Andrei was already on his feet and gaung

into his arms.

There was no time to waste. We left our boardgame forgotten on the living room floor, and as I followed Andrei through the halls, all I could think about was my son’s red little face.

Andrei

Later that night, I found Natalia exactly where I expected to.

Still sitting in the chair beside Max’s bed, staring at our son with dark circles around her eyes and tear tracks down her face. He’d been asleep for hours. By the time we’d gotten him to the infirmary, he had already gone unconscious and still hadn’t woken.

Elena said he was just resting. But I had a sinking feeling that this was far more than simple rest.

Whatever was happening to him, it wasn’t pneumonia. It was worse. Far worse. And these spells of unconsciousness were the only way his wolf could keep him alive.

“Natalia, it’s after midnight. You need to rest,” I whispered, moving to her side. She hadn’t moved from this spot since we’d brought Max to the infirmary.