SOPHIA'S POVThe restaurant had long since emptied, save for a few lingering patrons finishing their meals, and the soft hum of closing-time preparations filled the air. The scent of freshly baked bread and simmering sauces wafted through the kitchens to me, a reminder of the long day I'd had. I wiped a damp cloth across the counter, my movements slower than usual, my thoughts far too tangled to focus.Nathan.The name alone sent a fresh wave of frustration through me. I had spent years locking him out of my mind, reminding myself that he was simply an ugly reminder of my past and now, with a few careless words and a look that made my heart lurch in ways I didn’t want to acknowledge, he was back in my head, unraveling the careful balance I had built.I sighed, pressing my fingers against my temples. Enough.“You look like you're trying to kill that counter.” Lucas’s voice broke through my haze, warm and laced with amusement.I glanced up, meeting his steady gaze as he leaned against t
THEON’S POVI exhaled slowly, rubbing my temples as the raised voices of pack members clashed in the air like a venti storm brewing. The clearing outside the packhouse was thick with tension, wolves standing in scattered groups, their expressions ranging from angry to impatient to bored.At the center of it all, as always, was Beta Lewis.“This is unacceptable,” Lewis growled, his stance rigid, eyes burning with barely concealed fury. “My daughter deserves better than to be treated like some – some commoner among the pack. She has the blood of a Beta in her veins. That should mean something!”I bit back the urge to sigh. I’d heard this argument before – several times, in fact. Ever since Nathan had left to establish his company in the human world, Lewis had been pushing harder, demanding recognition, stirring unrest with talk of traditions and bloodlines. He used to be calmer when Nathan was around but after months of the Alpha's absence, I could tell Lewis was getting used to the pow
NATHAN'S POVThe grounds were packed, every inch of space filled with wolves. Some stood rigid, their arms crossed, their gazes hard. Others murmured amongst themselves, their voices a low hum of tension. The weight of their judgment pressed against my skin, but I stood tall, my expression unreadable.Leaving the city and coming back here was one of the hardest decisions I'd ever had to make. Necessary, yes, but it certainly did not take away from the difficulty.I brushed a hard across my face as I stood at the border of the territory. I remembered my conversation with Elara before I came here. It was only fitting I'd seen her before making such a decision. “Are you sure this is what you want to do? It would mean you walking away from what you've always known.”“I have to. I would never know otherwise.” She looked at me like she was trying to decipher a code. I didn't give two shits. It was an honest answer. And it was perhaps, the only answer I knew.Then she nodded like she had fo
SOPHIA'S POVWhat the hell?The world around me blurred.One moment, I was standing in my kitchen, rolling out fresh pasta dough for dinner. The next– Nathan’s voice was in my head.“Watch. Please.”The words weren’t a plea. It wasn’t a demand. It was something worse. A tether.I didn’t even have a chance to resist before the connection swallowed me whole.And suddenly, I was there.I wasn’t in my kitchen anymore. I was standing in the heart of the pack’s gathering, surrounded by wolves I once called family, in a place I had once called my home. My breath caught as I saw them – the tension, the division. Theon at Nathan’s side, his face unreadable. Beta Lewis, his usual arrogance burning hot but still the man I had once considered a father. Wolves murmured, some nodding in agreement, others scowling.And then, him.Nathan.Standing tall, unshaken, but not untouched.“I have led this pack for years,” H said, his voice carrying across the gathering. “I have fought for you. I have bled
NATHAN'S POVThe moment Sophia severed the connection, it felt like a door slamming shut inside my mind. The lingering warmth of her presence vanished, replaced by a cold emptiness that settled deep in my chest. My wolf growled in frustration, prowling restlessly beneath my skin, wanting – needing – to chase after her, to restore the link.But I didn’t move.I had said what I needed to say. I had made sure she saw it. Felt it. What she did with that now – that was her choice.The murmurs in the crowd rose, confusion and unrest rippling like a wave through my pack like a storm on the horizon. I could feel the weight of their gazes, the tension thick enough to choke on. Some wolves exchanged uneasy glances. Some looked at me with uncertainty, while others – like Lewis – glared outright.Beta Lewis stepped forward, his face twisted in fury. “This is madness.” He spat. “You stand before us, proclaiming your failures like some martyr, and you expect us to just accept it?”I turned my head
NATHAN'S POVThe scent of smoke hit me first.Not the kind from a fire pit or a distant hearth. This was different – thicker, off-putting, full of destruction. Wrong.✧✦✧✦✧✧A few hours earlier….Theon hadn’t moved since the crowd started to scatter. He stood beside me, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Some wolves lingered, throwing glances our way, murmuring about everything that had just unfolded. Others stormed off, obviously displeased but not bold enough to challenge me directly.Beta Lewis was one of the last to leave, his eyes burning with contempt as he pulled his daughter, Victoria, along with him. She didn’t seem as bitter as her father – more calculating, as if she were already planning her next move. But I paid her no mind. I couldn't even spare her a glance as she tried to get my attention, her presence the last thing on my mind. I exhaled through my nose, rolling my shoulders, feeling the weight of the moment settle in. I had done it. I had named Theon as my Bet
SOPHIA'S POVThe scent of warm spices and fresh herbs filled Il Cuore di Sofia, wrapping around me like a familiar embrace. Like home. The restaurant hummed with quiet efficiency – chefs moving in rhythm, servers weaving between tables as seamlessly as finely blended and brewed tea, the soft clink of glasses punctuated by murmured conversation. Everything was running smoothly, exactly as it should.And yet, I felt restless.I had thrown myself into work since the gala. Buried myself in it, really. There was comfort in the controlled chaos of the kitchen, in the precision of plating, in the meticulousness of balancing flavors. It was safe here – predictable. Work didn’t demand things from me that I wasn’t ready to give. That I wasn't going to give.Unlike him.I shook the thought away, focusing on the dish in front of me. “A little more saffron. Just a little bit more.” I murmured, tasting the broth. “And lower the heat. Let it simmer.”“Yes, Chef ma'am.” Came the quick reply from Ma
NATHAN'S POVIt all happened in a series of events. From the smell of smoke still clinging to my skin to the smell buried so deep in my senses that I doubted it would ever fade. From the first action that set it in motion to my final actions. When I had given the order to arrest them, they had fled, Victoria and her father.But I had simply let them leave, a cold, cold smile on my face. “Should we go after them, Alpha?” A guard had asked me. “No. Let them leave.” And it shocked everyone there into silence. I had entered the killer mode, and nothing could bring me out of it. Not when the ruins of my home stood before me – charred wood, broken stone, and the memories within where I once called my home reduced to nothing but ash.I stood in the burnt wreckage, my fingers tightening around the burnt remains of the box. The last thing I had of my parents. Destroyed.Theon and a few others were handling the aftermath, but their voices faded into the background. My wolf was restless, prowl
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