NATHAN'S POVThe suit felt tight against my skin as I walked through the museum’s grand entrance. There was something about the way it fit now – tailored, sharp, perfect – that made me feel like I belonged here. Not just in this high-end part of Brooklyn, but in this world of culture and influence, where appearances meant everything and nothing at all.But today, I wasn’t here for business. I was here to see the city’s pulse, to observe the people who filled its streets and made it what it was.I had a few hours to kill, and the museum seemed like the perfect place to lose myself. Art, history, culture – it was a sanctuary from the chaos outside, a place where I could think without being bombarded by the world.As I wandered through the exhibits, I let my mind drift, thinking of Sophia, the emerald business, and the city’s endless noise.There had to be a way to make it right.Then, as I rounded a corner, I spotted something familiar. Or rather, someone.A young boy, no older than six
NATHAN'S POVMy steps echoed hollowly through the museum’s stone halls as my mind spun in every direction. I couldn’t shake the image of Alex and Alexia – their faces, their eyes, their energy. Something about them had stirred a primal part of me that I hadn’t felt in years.Could they really be... mine?The idea was absurd. I hadn’t been with anyone since Sophia, and when I had, I had never let it get to that stage. And I knew for certain she hadn’t been pregnant when she left. Those days had burned themselves into my memory like a brand. Sophia’s tear-streaked face, the pain in her eyes as I let her go – it haunted me still.So how could I have children?I stopped in front of a marble statue, its blank gaze offering no answers. My chest tightened, the weight of the possibility pressing down on me. If they weren’t mine, then why did I feel such a strong pull toward them? Why did my wolf, who had been silent and dormant for so long, suddenly roar to life in their presence?Could fate
NATHAN'S POVThe boardroom was cold, the AC blasting, the space filled with the faint hum of fluorescent lights. A long, polished glass table stretched before me, flanked by men and women in designer suits. Their eyes flicked to me as I entered, a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. I wasn’t surprised. This was their world, not mine, and they were waiting to see if I had what it took to play their game.The tailored black suit I wore, paired with the subtle emerald stitching along the cuffs, felt like armor. It was a small nod to my roots, but more importantly, it was a statement. I wasn’t here to beg or grovel for investment; I was here to command respect and forge alliances. Emerald Horizon Ventures wasn’t just a company – it was the future. My future.“Good morning, everyone,” I greeted, my voice steady, and deliberate. I made no attempt to hide the commanding tone that had served me well as Alpha. It wasn’t arrogance; it was confidence born of survival and hard choices.They nodd
SOPHIA'S POVThe restaurant was buzzing with life. The melodic clinking of glasses, the soft hum of conversation, and the occasional burst of laughter filled the air like music. The aroma of saffron and truffle mingled with freshly baked bread wafted through the open kitchen, where Kate and Marco were in there, working their magic. The “Emilia drama,” which was what we were now terming it, though exhausting and infuriating, was now firmly in the rearview mirror—meaning it was well behind us.If anything, the chaos had served as a spark that reignited the fire in my restaurant and, oddly, in me. It made me more determined than anything about this life and what I do. It made me appreciate what I had and how easily it would have been to have it all snatched away from me if I had let it.In fact, Chef’s Heart, my secret weapon in the feud, had become more than just a dish. It was now a symbol of resilience, creativity, and the power of community. That was probably just the people of this
SOPHIA'S POVAs I turned the key in the lock, I paused for a moment, the weight of the day settling into my shoulders. The street outside was quiet now, the city bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. Snow had begun to fall lightly, dusting the cobblestones and rooftops with a shimmering white blanket. It was the kind of serene moment that felt stolen from a postcard. It almost reminded me of a different place, a different time…I shook my head to pull myself out of that. I couldn't go back there. I had worked too hard to pull myself out of it.I pulled my coat tighter around me, the cold biting through the fabric, and took one last glance at the restaurant. The sign above the door, “Il Cuore de Sofia,” glimmered in the faint light. It had always been more than just a name. This place was my heart, my soul, my everything.As I turned to walk away, my phone buzzed again. Expecting another text from Maria or Grace or even Kate, I glanced at the screen, only to feel my stomach flip.It
NATHAN'S POVThe morning light streamed through the massive windows of my penthouse office. From here, I had a clear view of Brooklyn’s skyline – a city that seemed to buzz with relentless energy. I had secured the space within the week, needing to establish myself as soon as possible. It was all to make my plan nest within the realm of possibility.I'll admit, as I stood there, sipping a strong black coffee, surveying what would soon be my empire, I found it a bit strange that this was what humans thrived on. This was how they had lived their lives, focusing on the here and now. It did have a certain thrill to it, but I knew better than to lose sight of why I was doing this. Emerald Horizon Ventures was no longer a fledgling idea – it was taking shape, growing roots, and thriving.The boardroom meeting earlier had gone better than I anticipated, but one meeting wasn’t enough to solidify my place in this world. It was just the first step. I had to prove myself again and again, not jus
NATHAN’S POVI woke up with a start, my heart pounding and sweat clinging to my skin. For a moment, I couldn’t tell where I was.It was a dream.It was all just a dream.My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath. The vivid images from my dream lingered like shadows after dawn – Alex and Alexia, their laughter, the warmth of their smiles, the strange tug I felt toward them. The voices, the faces... it had all felt so real.But it wasn’t.I blinked, trying to focus on my surroundings. The soft grey light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting long shadows across the room. The clock let me know it was six in the morning, and it was a Saturday. The smooth expanse of my desk, cluttered with papers and plans for Emerald Horizon Ventures, grounded me. I must have had that dream because of how much I had been thinking about this project, so that soothed me.The ache in my chest, however, did not fade. So many things lingered.Alex and Alexia. Those names had been stuck with me sin
NATHAN'S POVI spent the rest of the night working. The quiet hum of my laptop and the occasional creak of my chair were the only sounds in my apartment. The city outside, usually so loud and chaotic, seemed subdued as if it knew I needed focus.The dream had given me a roadmap of sorts, and now it was time to bring it to life. Emerald Horizon Ventures wasn’t just a name anymore – it was an entity with potential, a vision waiting to be realized.How to go about it…I tapped my chin with the pen I was holding. It was mostly for decoration, seeing as I used the laptop to take notes of anything.The first step was outreach. I needed to secure partnerships with people who could elevate the brand – not just any people, but those who held sway in the luxury market. Claudia Williams and Victor Moreau were at the top of my list.I stared at Claudia’s boutique information on my screen, tapping a pen against my desk. High-end, exclusive, and connected to Manhattan’s elite. In fact, almost the e
SOPHIA’S POVThe house felt lighter. Warmer. As if the weight that had been pressing down for days had finally eased.Alex was better.It was like waking up from a nightmare only to realize that morning had come, and the world hadn’t ended after all. One day, he had been weak, fevered, and barely able to hold a conversation without exhaustion pulling him under. The next, his color had returned, his fever had vanished, and his laughter – his bright, carefree laughter – filled the house once more.It was a miracle.I didn’t trust miracles.I watched him now from across the living room as he sat with Alexia on the floor, eagerly showing her a new book I had picked up for him. His hands moved animatedly as he explained something to her, his voice filled with excitement, no trace of the weakness that had held him captive just days ago.I should have been relieved. And I was. But beneath that relief lay something else – something sharp and uneasy.Nathan.The thought of him sent a fresh wav
LUCAS' POVThe morning light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office, illuminating the sleek, modern space with a golden hue. The city stretched out below me, a sea of movement, a constant reminder that the world never stopped in New York City – not for heartbreak, not for personal enta, and certainly not for me.I welcomed it.It was easier to focus on work than to dwell on the mess I had walked away from last night.Sophia.Nathan.The weight of that confrontation still sat heavily on my chest, but I pushed it aside. There was no room for distractions today.A sharp knock on the door pulled me back."Come in," I called.Emma, my executive assistant, strode inside, tablet in hand, her usual efficiency cutting through the air like a blade.“The acquisition is finalized.” She said without preamble. "Emerald Ventures wasn’t happy about it, but they didn’t have much of a choice. Their client signed with us the moment the ink dried."I allowed myself a small, satisfied
SOPHIA'S POVThe house was too quiet.Even with Alex and Alexia upstairs, even with Elara somewhere in the background, the silence pressed in on me like a tangible weight.Nathan’s presence still lingered in the air, thick and suffocating, despite the fact that he’d left a few minutes ago. And Lucas – Lucas had barely said a word before leaving, his jaw tight, his expression unreadable.I let out a slow breath, pressing a hand to my temple.What the hell just happened?I had spent years keeping my past buried, locked away behind carefully constructed walls. And yet, in the span of a single night, it had cracked open, spilling out at my doorstep. Nathan was here. Lucas had confronted him. And in the middle of it all was me – standing between two men, two forces that refused to yield.A bitter laugh escaped me. Perfect.Just what I needed right now. A mate coming back to claim me and Lucas being there. I turned away from the front door, heading upstairs. My body was tense with the weig
NATHAN'S POVThe moment Lucas spoke those words, “He was looking for you,” something inside me snapped into focus.I had spent weeks fighting my instincts, pulling back, restraining myself. I had let go of vengeance when my home was burned down. I had turned the other cheek when my own pack doubted me.But this?Someone dared to come after my mate?I took a slow step forward, my wolf rising to the surface. The low growl rumbled in my chest, barely contained. “Tell me everything you know.”Lucas didn’t move from the steps. He didn’t even flinch. If anything, his stance grew firmer, as if planting himself between me and Sophia. His sharp blue eyes locked onto mine, unwavering.“I’m handling it.”A slow, humorless chuckle left my lips. “You’re handling it?”“Yes.”I took another step forward. “I don’t think you understand what’s happening here.”Lucas scoffed, crossing his arms. “Oh, I understand just fine. Someone attacked my friend, and now you’re looking for an excuse to sink your tee
SOPHIA'S POV The knock at the door wasn’t just a sound – it was a shift in the air, a weight pressing against my chest. I froze. For a moment, I convinced myself I had imagined it. That my desperation had conjured up something that wasn’t real. But then it came again – firm, deliberate. I glanced at the time on the wall, several hours after I'd called him. Could it finally be him? “Go, child. Open the door.” Elara gently pushed me towards the door. I barely realized I was moving until I was standing in front of the door, hand hovering over the handle. The mate bond was still there, faint but present, like an unsteady heartbeat beneath my skin. It thrummed softly, the connection between us impossible to ignore. I sucked in a sharp breath and pulled the door open. And there he was. Nathan stood on my doorstep, drenched in sweat, his dark shirt clinging to his broad frame. His breathing was uneven, his chest rising and falling with the force of it. His eyes – sharp, gray, pierci
SOPHIA'S POV The moment the bond snapped taut, I gasped, my breath catching in my throat. It was like a thread pulled too tight – painful, urgent, undeniable. The kitchen blurred, the dim glow of the light overhead fading into the background as something else took hold. A presence. Strong. Familiar. Nathan. My knees buckled, and I gripped the counter, my fingers digging into the cool surface as the bond flared to life with a force I hadn’t expected. It pulsed, thrumming like a second heartbeat, and I knew – he heard me. He was listening. The connection flowed through me, raw and overwhelming. But just as quickly as it surged, the exhaustion followed. A crushing weight pressed down on me, the sheer force of it nearly suffocating. Elara had left the room, and I had no idea where she was. I had no idea how long it had taken me to reach him. I had no idea. Period. Would he come? I wasn’t sure I had the right to ask for him. Not after everything. Not after I had pushed him away, r
NATHAN'S POVThe next morning came all too quickly. Sleep had eluded me, like a partner hell-bent on being away from me. I'd spent the night roaming my pack, the one place I'd considered my only home, but now seemed like the farthest thing from it. But I couldn't just bring myself to leave. This was where I'd had the best memories with Sophia, where the good times still shone.But now perhaps, the bad times were starting to outshine the good here. Is this not a sign? That I should find somewhere new?I sighed, almost wishing for the days when the Luna goddess appeared to guide me. But I also knew that if I were to see her now, it would not be without danger following behind. I didn't realize it until I was there, but I was back at the edge of the territory, where Malachi had stabbed me. And had survived. My smile was melancholic when it crossed my face. In many ways, that was the cannon event for everything. “No Nathan. This all started when you banished our love. Our mate.” My wo
NATHAN'S POVThe moment I returned, I could feel it. The shift in the air.The crowd had gathered near the ruins of my home, their eyes on me the second I stepped into their sights. But this wasn’t the usual respect, the unwavering loyalty I had once commanded. This was hesitation, doubt.And resentment.Whispers spread through the pack, a quiet murmur of voices laced with frustration and disbelief. I heard bits and pieces – enough to know what they were saying."He let them go?""How could he spare her?""What kind of Alpha does that?"I could see it in their eyes – the ones who had once stood at my side, wolves I had fought for, bled for. Some still believed in me, but others? They wanted blood. They wanted a leader who would avenge, not restrain.Theon stood by my side, his expression dark as he scanned the gathered wolves. He had known this would happen. We both had.But knowing didn’t make it easier.The silence stretched, suffocating. Then, a voice cut through it."Alpha.” An ol
SOPHIA'S POVElara stood in my doorway, the morning light catching in her silver-streaked hair, her piercing gaze locking onto mine. There was something unreadable in her eyes, something weighty – like she already knew the depths of my desperation.I swallowed hard. “I need your help.”Elara’s gaze flickered past me, her face betraying nothing. “I know.” She said simply. “Let me in.”I stepped aside, my heart pounding as she crossed the threshold. She moved with quiet confidence, her presence filling the space in a way that was both grounding and unnerving.She took one look at Alex and let out a slow breath."Tell me everything.” She murmured, kneeling beside him.I didn't hesitate. “I followed the instructions exactly. The herbs, the remedy – I did everything right.” My voice cracked. “And it worked. For a little while. But then he got worse. Worse than before.”Elara pressed the back of her hand to Alex's forehead. His fever had climbed again overnight, his breathing shallow, his s