SOPHIA’S POVThe doorbell rang precisely at seven, its chime echoing softly through the house. I smoothed my dress one last time, nerves fluttering beneath my skin – not because of the award but because of him. Lucas had always had that effect on me.When I opened the door, he stood there in a perfectly tailored suit, his dark hair slightly tousled and eyes warm with quiet admiration. He had a gift for looking effortlessly handsome.“Wow.” He said, his voice low, a slow smile spreading across his face. “You look... Incredible.”My heart did a little flip, but I kept my cool. “Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself.”He chuckled, offering his arm. “Shall we?”I took it, feeling a rush of warmth as his fingers brushed against mine.The car ride was pleasant, filled with easy conversation and soft jazz playing from the speakers. Lucas had a way of making everything feel light, even when my nerves threatened to get the best of me.“Are you ready for all the attention tonight?” He as
SOPHIA'S POVThe air seemed thicker, charged with something I hadn’t felt in years. My breath hitched as my wolf stirred, a low hum beneath my skin. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was – my instincts screamed his name before my mind could catch up.Nathan.Slowly, I turned on my heels, my eyes locking onto his. He stood tall and demanding, dressed in a tailored black suit that seemed to enhance every sharp angle and commanding presence he always possessed. His gaze pierced through the few people standing between us, landing squarely on me.For a moment, the world faded. The hum of conversation, the clinking of glasses – all of it blurred into the background. The only thing I could focus on was him.The man I once loved. The man who once banished me. The man who shattered my heart and left me to pick up the pieces on my own.His eyes flickered with something raw – regret, perhaps – but I didn’t care. I couldn’t care. Memories rushed to the surface, each one a dagger to the
SOPHIA’S POVThe moment stretched, thick with tension, as Nathan stood before me, his eyes locked onto the emerald pendant around my neck.“That necklace.” He said, his voice low and deliberate. “It suits you.”I arched my brow. “Thanks. Lucas thought so too.”Nathan’s jaw clenched, his gaze flickering briefly before meeting mine again. His presence was overwhelming, suffocating in the way it always had been – demanding attention, commanding space. He looked like he belonged here, yet somehow out of place in my world, a ghost from a past I’d long tried to bury.But ghosts didn’t just disappear, did they? They lingered, waiting for the right moment to reappear.Nathan took a step closer, his eyes never leaving mine. “We need to talk, Sophia.”I laughed softly, the sound hollow and sharp. “We don’t, actually. I think we’ve said all there is to say.”Nathan’s jaw tightened, his gaze flickering briefly before meeting mine again. His intensity hadn’t dimmed; if anything, it had sharpened.
NATHAN’S POVI should’ve expected it to be this hard.They walked out, going around mingling with people. I couldn't do more than watch her, as she flowed effortlessly in between people, in between conversations. Her glossy raven-black hair shone under the lights, its luminance unmeasurable. The weight of reality settled in my chest the moment Sophia’s eyes met mine, cold and unwavering, across the room. She was by the bar of this establishment, alone, a drink in hand. My wolf stirred restlessly, pushing me to close the distance between us, to demand she listen – but she wasn’t the same woman I’d turned my back to. And yet, I did.She stood there, regal and untouchable, every inch the queen she had become without me. The emerald necklace around her neck caught the light – a delicate thing, far too simple for the fierce woman she was. Still, it gleamed with a quiet elegance that matched her perfectly. It also struck a nerve, the sharp recognition making my jaw clench. I knew that piec
SOPHIA’S POVThe hum of the engine filled the silence between us, a low, steady reminder of the storm I had just walked out of. City lights streaked outside the windows, their glow cracked and blurred, mirroring the chaos in my head. I sat back against the leather seat, staring at the passing streets, trying to push away the weight pressing down on my chest.Lucas glanced at me from the driver’s seat, his eyes flicking between me and the road. He didn’t speak right away, but I could feel the question hanging in the air, heavy and inevitable. Like rain. Like tax.He was giving me space, waiting for the right moment to breach the quiet.“You’ve been quiet since we left.” His voice was soft, careful. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”I considered brushing it off, offering some excuse, but I knew better. Lucas wasn’t the type to let things go. He knew me too well for that. He’s been there too much.“I’m fine,” I said, my tone was light, too rehearsed. I knew I wasn't selling it. “I
NATHAN'S POVThe moment they walked away, something in my chest twisted – tight and unyielding. I watched as Lucas placed a hand on the small of Sophia’s back, guiding her through the crowd with an ease that made my wolf growl in protest.She was his.At least, that was the message she wanted to send.Fucking hell. I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down my face. The sharp sting of whiskey still clung to the air, the remnants of the night lingering long after the music had dimmed and the chatter softened. My jaw clenched as I forced myself to turn away, to push down the gnawing frustration clawing at my ribs.She wasn’t mine anymore.But that didn’t mean I’d stop fighting.I had known this wouldn’t be easy. I had spent weeks preparing myself for her anger, for her coldness, but seeing it – feeling it – was different. It wasn’t just her walls that had grown stronger; she had. She was still the same woman I knew but more. She was a woman that had to endure a lot in life. And came out w
SOPHIA’S POVThe city was quiet, the hum of life outside muted by the late hour. I've always loved living in this part of the city. It was homely but sophisticated, the perfect place to raise my kids. I loved that they’ve lived here and this is home to them.I sat on the couch, legs tucked beneath me, the soft glow of the lamp the only source of light. My phone rested on the coffee table, Lucas’s message still lingering on the screen.Proud of you beautiful.I traced the rim of my wine glass with my finger, lost in thought.Nathan.I had spent so, so many years trying to forget him. To erase the man who once felt like the center of my world. I told myself I had succeeded, that I had moved on, left him in the past where he belonged. But tonight… Tonight proved otherwise.I should have been fine. I had prepared for this moment – seeing him again, facing whatever unresolved weaves were left between us. But nothing could have prepared me for the storm that seeing him unleashed.He looked…
SOPHIA'S POVThe dull hum of soft conversation among the waiters filled the restaurant as I oversaw the final touches for tonight’s dinner service. The tables were set with pristine white linens, candles flickering softly in the dim light. A private reservation under Emerald Ventures had booked the entire place for the evening – a request we’d received before for special occasions, and I thought nothing of it.I glanced at my watch. The reservation was set to begin in fifteen minutes, but the restaurant was strangely quiet, devoid of any guests. Odd. Usually, corporate groups arrive early, excited and noisy. It was usually a relief from their everyday lives.“Alright boss. That's everything. If you need anything, I'll just be loading in the things at the back.” Marco said, wiping his hands clean of the sauce he had been making earlier.“You know you could leave that till tomorrow yeah?” I asked him with a small smile on my face, fiddling with my necklace.“No can do boss. Only because
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