SOPHIA’S POVThe gentle hum of conversation and laughter filled the house as the twins darted around, their giggles echoing off the walls. The past few days had been a whirlwind. Lucas’s unexpected arrival on Christmas night had shaken something loose in me—something I'm starting to get the feeling I’d been holding back for far too long.And now, here we were, on New Year’s Eve, still riding our rhythm like this wasn't my first holiday back. Lucas was a man of his word, and I knew he didn't have to be here. He could have been with family, but the fact that he chose here made my heart warm.He was in the kitchen with Alex, helping him build a mini volcano from a science kit he’d received for Christmas. Alexia was beside me on the couch, quietly braiding her doll’s hair, though her curious eyes kept drifting to Lucas.“I think Alex likes him,” Alexia whispered, her voice low but amused.I chuckled softly, brushing a stray curl from her face. “Oh yeah? What about you?”She paused, a misc
NATHAN’S POVThe crowd on the Brooklyn Bridge was alive with energy. Laughter and chatter mixed with the sound of car horns and the faint strains of music drifting in from nearby parties. The cold air bit at my face, but the warmth of the bodies around me made it bearable. This was not where I wanted to be, not even remotely.“Remind me why I let you drag me out here, Lola?” I muttered, shoving my hands deeper into my coat pockets as I dodged a group of teenagers racing past us.Lola, dressed in a thick cream coat with a fur-lined hood, turned to me with a grin that screamed mischief. “Because, dear Alpha, you’ve been moping in your apartment for weeks, and I couldn’t take another one of your broody texts. It’s New Year’s Eve! You’re in New York City! Live a little.”I shot her a dry look. “I don’t brood.”She snorted. “Oh, please. You practically invented it. ‘Lola, the city feels empty.’ ‘Lola, Christmas isn’t the same.’ ‘Lola, I’m not sure the decorations are tasteful enough.’”I g
NATHAN’S POVThere she was…She was standing a few feet away, her face tilted up toward the fireworks. Her dark hair framed her face, and even in the chaos of the crowd, she seemed to stand apart, as if the world had shifted to put her in sharp focus.Sophia.My wolf surged forward, a mix of longing and protectiveness flooding me. I hadn’t seen her in years, but there was no mistaking her.She turned then, her eyes meeting mine, and the world seemed to stop.Lola’s voice was distant, drowned out by the pounding of my heart and the roar of the fireworks.For the first time in what felt like forever, everything else faded away. There was only her.And just like that, I knew. This wasn’t just chance. This wasn’t just fate.This was my second chance.The moment our eyes met, the world around me ceased to exist. My heart thundered in my chest, a relentless rhythm that drowned out even the roaring fireworks in my ears. My wolf surged forward, his growl echoing in my mind, urging me to act.
NATHAN’S POVThe days after New Year’s Eve passed in a haze of frustration and restless energy. The moment I saw her on the Brooklyn Bridge, I knew I couldn’t let it go. My wolf had made his stance clear, and to be honest, I felt the same.I sat at my desk in my office, the faint hum of the city outside filtering through the glass windows. My hands rested on the oak table, fingers drumming absently against the surface as I stared at the notes and scattered papers in front of me. They weren’t about Sophia – not exactly. They were about the children I had seen at the museum months ago.I couldn’t shake the memory of their faces. I hadn’t recognized them immediately, but something about them had tugged at a deeply buried instinct. Their features, their scents, the way they moved – it all felt connected somehow. I had spent weeks trying to uncover who they were and where they had come from, but every lead turned into a dead end.“Alex and Alexia,” I said their names out loud. Twins. My ch
NATHAN’S POVThe office was tense, humming with quiet urgency as my team trickled into the conference room. I had called in a meeting to address the situation as soon as Lola left. It had to be taken care of. There was no room for errors.Camille was the first to arrive, her sharp gaze focused on the papers she held tightly in her hands. Priya followed next, already juggling her tablet and phone. Jacob and Davis brought up the rear, their casual banter halting the moment they stepped inside and saw my expression.I didn’t bother to sit. Instead, I stood at the head of the table, arms crossed, my gaze fixed on the map of the city projected on the wall. The building was circled in bold red. I wasn't going to let it slip from my sight.“This isn’t just any building,” I began, my voice sharp, cutting through the room like a blade, my jaw ticking as I spoke. “This is our building. It’s in the perfect location – access to everything we need, enough space to grow, and its positioning keeps u
NATHAN’S POVThe clock in my office ticked loudly, or maybe it just felt that way with how quiet the room had gotten. If Elder Jesper were here, he would've sworn that, “If a man dropped a pin, it would ring in his ears.” I remember when he said such, and the memory brought a faint smile to my mouth, but before it could bloom further, the shears of the current situation nipped it in the bud.I ran a hand through my face. “What do we have?”Camille stood by the board we’d set up, her pen frozen mid-air, while Davis scrolled through his tablet like his life depended on it. As he should.Jacob paced, and Priya leaned against the desk, arms folded, her expression skeptical.“This shouldn’t be that hard,” I said, leaning forward in my chair, my chin resting on my linked fingers. My voice was calm, but they could hear the edge that was present, sharp and unyielding. “It’s a building. A sale. There’s paperwork. Someone’s name is on it.”“And yet here we are,” Priya muttered, and my gaze cut
NATHAN’S POVThe private dining room at Le Monde was just as pretentious as I expected – polished mahogany, soft candlelight, and a waiter hovering by the door like a guard dog. It suited Richard McAllister perfectly. He sat at the head of the table, dressed in a tailored suit that screamed wealth and arrogance.His smile didn’t reach his eyes as he rose to greet me.“Nathaniel Bennett.” His voice was smooth, like the whiskey in his hand. “I’ve heard quite a bit about you. Getting Victor Moreau to partner up with you. Just how did you do it?”I ignored his question. “Hm, you have? Then you know I don’t go by Nathaniel.” I shook his hand firmly, holding his gaze. He was tall, but I didn’t care. He wasn’t my equal, and I was going to make sure he knew it.Richard chuckled, gesturing to the chair across from him. “Fair enough. Please, sit.”I obliged, but I didn’t bother taking off my coat. This wasn’t a dinner meeting. This was business, and I wasn’t about to make myself comfortable.It
NATHAN’S POVBack in my office, the tension in the room could’ve been cut with a knife. The hum of the city outside was muffled by the thick glass, leaving just me, the faint buzz of my team’s chatter, and the weight of Richard’s smug refusal. I hated leaving a meeting like that without a definitive move in play.Lola leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching me silently. Her casual posture was deceiving – her mind was always sharp, always working. When I didn’t acknowledge her, she raised an eyebrow.“Well?” she asked finally.“Well, what?” I snapped, tossing my coat over the back of my chair and sitting down heavily.She shrugged. “You look like you want to punch a hole in the wall. Thought I’d ask how the Richard meeting went.”I rubbed my temples. “It went about as well as expected. He’s not selling.”“Not surprised.” She walked over, planting herself in the chair across from me. “McAllister plays the long game. So, what’s next?”“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t
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