NATHAN'S POVI sat in my office, staring at the pile of documents I was supposed to review. The words blurred together, meaningless against the storm in my head. No matter how hard I tried to focus, my thoughts kept drifting back to last night.To her.Sophia.She had looked at me like I was a stranger. Maybe that’s what I had become. The distance between us wasn’t just physical anymore – it was something deeper, something I wasn’t sure I could ever close.The creak of my office door pulled me from my thoughts.“I expected you to be brooding,” Lola said, stepping inside like she owned the place. “But this? This is a whole new level.”I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “Did you come all this way just to insult me?”“No. I wish.” She said, dropping into the seat across from me. “I came to check on you. Word is, you left Sophia’s house looking like someone ripped your heart out.”I exhaled sharply. “Might as well have.”Lola tilted her head, studying me. Then she shook her head with a l
NATHAN’S POVThe house was warm, the soft glow of light spilling through the windows. I stood at the doorstep, my grip tightening around the box of toys in my hands. The scent of home – hers and theirs – wrapped around me, laced with something deeper. Something that made my chest constrict.Lucas.I could still feel the lingering heat of their kiss through the mate bond. The sharp, searing pain of it had settled deep in my gut, a wound that refused to close. My wolf prowled inside me, restless, and furious, but I forced him down. This wasn’t the time to lose control.I had come here for my children.And yet, as I lifted my hand to knock, the door swung open before I could.Sophia stood in front of me, her breath catching in her throat.I saw it all in a split second – the widening of her eyes, the way her lips parted like she had been about to say something else. But then, just as quickly, she masked it. Her expression hardened, her posture straightened, and whatever moment of hesitat
SOPHIA'S POVThe door clicked shut behind Nathan, leaving behind an almost suffocating silence. My hands trembled, still warm from where I had touched his chest, from where I had stopped him.I exhaled, pressing my fingers to my temples, trying to will away the chaos brewing inside me. The bond between us was still thrumming, a faint echo of emotions that weren’t entirely mine. Frustration. Determination. A deep, aching need.Lucas’s voice broke through the silence.“Well.”I turned to face him, expecting sharp words, anger – anything that matched the tension in the air. But instead, he just stood there, watching me. His expression wasn’t furious, not yet. If anything, it was too controlled. Too calm.He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly. “That was something.”I let out a breathless, almost bitter laugh. “Yeah.”Lucas crossed the room in a few easy steps and stopped just in front of me. His hands found my arms, warm and grounding. “Are you okay?”The sincerity in his voice
LUCAS' POV I walked away from Sophia’s home, my pace steady, unhurried, measured. On the surface, I was calm. Composed. Inside, my thoughts moved like a current beneath still but moon-pulled waters. Tonight had been inevitable. Nathan was always going to appear at some point, and when he did, it was bound to be disruptive. He wasn’t just a memory or a closed chapter in Sophia’s life – he was something unfinished. An unfinished chapter in her story. And if I had any doubts before, tonight I had erased them. I had seen it. Felt it. The pull between them was subtle yet undeniable. It wasn’t something either of them could turn off. That didn’t mean she had chosen him. But it meant something. Stepping deeply into the night, inhaling deeply as the cool night air filled my lungs. I felt as though I needed this – a moment away from the weight pressing on my chest, away from everything swirling in my head. Tilting my head back, I looked up at the sky. The stars were scattered across t
SOPHIA'S POVI didn’t sleep.No. I don't think that's right. I didn't sleep for the simple reason that I couldn't. Not after everything that happened. That was happening.Even though exhaustion pressed down on me, my mind wouldn’t quiet. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Nathan standing in my living room, his presence like a storm held back by sheer will. I saw Lucas, composed but brimming with unspoken tension. And I saw myself – trapped between them, torn in ways I wasn’t ready to confront.My lips still tingled from the kiss I had shared with Lucas just moments before Nathan arrived. Guilt curled in my stomach, but I wasn’t sure if that was the reason I felt so unsettled.I let out a shaky breath and rubbed my temples. The house was silent now. The twins were asleep, and Lucas had left after hesitating at the door. “Think about what you want, Sophia.” His words looped in my head, taunting me.What did I want?I swallowed hard. For years, I had only focused on survival, never sto
LUCAS' POVAs I stared at the beautiful woman beside me, I almost couldn't manage to convince myself that it wasn't an angel sent to me. An angel who promised heaven and whispered decadence, sinful secrets written all over her. It all seemed too good to be true.I thought back to how I'd gotten into this position. How all my dreams had come true and more….*******Sophia had been quiet all morning. I could tell she was trying to act normal – smiling at the twins, making breakfast, going through the motions – but I wasn’t fooled. Her mind was elsewhere.I didn’t have to guess where.I had gotten to the house some moments after they had gotten back from their exercise. Grace had been there then left shortly afterwards. I leaned against the kitchen counter, watching her move about the kitchen. She looked tired, and I wasn’t just talking about the faint shadows under her eyes. There was a weight pressing down on her shoulders, and I hated that I couldn’t lift it for her.“You should get s
SOPHIA'S POV Everything had happened at once but I could feel the build-up. It was one that had been a long time coming, a rope that had been stretched taut, to its limit, and had finally snapped. It had been everything I had imagined and more. The early morning sunlight streamed through the window, and the skyline had a pretty view. Everything seemed coated in different hues, the afterglow of the night before still in my eyes, on my skin. I turned on the bed, snuggling deeper into him, my hand resting on his chiseled chest. Yesterday had happened so fast. One moment, I was on my way to the airport. The next, I was on my way to heaven and coming off the high of an incredible orgasm. ✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧YESTERDAY✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✧ The hotel room was… Too nice. A king-sized bed with crisp white linens. Soft, dim lighting which cast shadows against the walls. The faint scent of lavender drifts from the bathroom. Everything about it felt intimate, intentional, like a space meant for things I wasn’t r
NATHAN'S POVTheon scoffed, crossing his arms as he leaned against the workbench. "You're telling me you dragged me out here to help you make gifts for six-year-olds?"I ignored the sarcasm. “Not just any gifts. They need to mean something.”I had been sitting in my office, my mind not really focused on anything. Not even thoughts of work could get them out of my mind.My twins.My children.I was– no, am, a father.All this time. I had children and they had to grow up thinking they had a father who didn't care about them. Or worse, was dead. My jaw ticked at the thought and I could feel my wolf growl within. He was not happy with that thought.And even though we had no one to blame but ourselves, it doesn't mean I couldn't do anything about it. Purpose fueling each step, I strode out of my office, calling out to Priya, “Cancel all my meetings for the day. I have something important to attend to.”“Thank the Lord. Does that mean we can go home too?” She called out to me.Without tur
NATHAN'S POVThe morning passed in a rare kind of peace.For once, the air in the office wasn’t heavy with tension or crisis. The team was in high spirits, and business was running smoothly. Priya had been grinning since she walked in, flipping through reports with a satisfied nod before updating me on the latest developments.“We finalized the contract with Veridan Enterprises. They signed off on everything this morning.” She said, placing a crisp folder on my desk. “And the partnership with HavenTech is set to launch next quarter. At this rate, we should probably think of hiring more people and expanding. We could open more branches and get into new ventures!”Camille poked her head in. “Okay, slow your roll Minnie. Your enthusiasm is starting to affect even Jacob. He looks like he's coming off a crazy hangover. You good there Jacob?” She directed the last bit at the man, as he looked a little worse for wear and not like the usually meticulously put together man we all knew. And wo
SOPHIA'S POVThis cannot keep happening. I moved quickly, my mind a blur of frantic thoughts as I carried Alex down the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. His small body felt so fragile in my arms, limp and feverish. I could feel the heat radiating off him, a burning temperature that made my stomach churn. It shouldn't feel possible, and yet, it was.I wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but it felt like the world had slowed down. Every second felt like an eternity as I pushed through the house, my pulse racing. I had to get him help, now.I reached the kitchen, feeling like I was suffocating in the stillness of the house. I set Alex down on the counter, quickly dialing the number I knew all too well, that I had memorised out of necessity but never thinking I would need it again. The phone rang, and I couldn’t stop my hands from trembling.“Come on, come on.” I whispered under my breath, willing the phone to connect.The line clicked, and her voice, calm yet urgent, answered o
SOPHIA'S POVI was still smirking when I set my phone down. Leave it to Maria and Grace to turn a casual morning chat into a remake of a freshly produced detective show about my love life.I shook my head, stretching my arms over my head as I stood from the couch. It had been a good call – lighthearted, full of laughter. The kind that made you forget, just for a little while, about everything else.Maybe that was why I had let my guard down.I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling as I headed toward the kitchen to rinse out my coffee cup. I had been up for a while now, yet the house remained silent. The twins usually slept in on weekends, but even then, I should have heard some noise by now – kids moving under blankets, quiet giggles, footsteps running down the hall.Instead, there was only stillness.I frowned but shook off the unease creeping in. Maybe they were just extra tired. Last night had been a long one, and after all the excitement, I wouldn’t blame them for sleeping in.Just
SOPHIA'S POVThe morning sun streamed through my bedroom window, warm and golden. I stretched under the covers, letting the quiet sink in.For once, there was no rush. No stress pressing down on my chest. Just peace.It had been a long time since I’d felt this way.Nathan.The thought came uninvited, making my stomach twist. Last night had been a mistake. A moment of weakness.But deep down, I knew that wasn’t true.I sighed, rubbing my temples. I can’t do this. I can’t let myself go back.“Then why are you thinking about him?” my wolf asked, her voice calm but firm.I hesitated. Because I don’t know what to do.“Yes, you do.”I shook my head, pushing the covers off. It doesn’t matter. “Last night doesn’t change anything.”“You keep telling yourself that.”Ignoring her, I got out of bed and grabbed my robe. I had things to do – breakfast to make, the kids to check on.The house was unusually quiet – a rare moment of peace. The kids were still asleep, and for once, there were no urgent
VICTORIA’S POVBanishment was supposed to be a punishment. A lesson. A fate worse than death.But for me, it had been a gift.I thrived in the shadows.The pack had cast me out, turned their backs on me, left me to rot in exile – but I was not broken. If anything, I was stronger. Smarter. More patient. I had learned the art of waiting, of watching, of planting whispers in the right ears.And now, the time was near.I stood at the edge of the clearing, concealed by the thick canopy of the trees. The cold wind carried the scent of home – the home that had been stolen from me. The pack had changed since my exile. There were cracks in their unity, doubts growing beneath the surface. Nathan’s leadership had wavered. His own people questioned him, and all because of her.Sophia.The name alone made my wolf bristle inside me."He still went back to her." My wolf’s voice slithered into my mind, her tone low and sharp.I clenched my fists. “Yes. Like a fool.”Nathan should have moved on by now
NATHAN'S POVThe night air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and New York, mingling with the lingering aromas of the celebration. Laughter and warmth had filled Sophia’s home for hours, wrapping around everyone like a familiar embrace of friendship. But now, as I led her away from the house, away from the others, the world seemed quieter. More intimate.She didn’t resist.That in itself said everything.Sophia walked beside me, her steps measured but unhurried, her hand still warm from where I had taken it in mine. I had expected her to pull away, to hesitate, to remind me that things weren’t the way they used to be. But she hadn’t. And so I held on, just enough to let her know I was here, that I wasn’t letting go. Not tonight.Not ever.I glanced at her from the corner of my eye. She was beautiful like this – lit only by the moon, the glow of distant lanterns softening her features. There was something in her expression I couldn’t quite place, something between nostalgia a
LUCAS' POVI exhaled sharply as the jet touched down, the soft hum of the landing doing little to soothe the irritation clawing at my nerves and seeping up my bones. Seventy-two hours. That’s how long I’d spent in Canada, buried in negotiations that refused to go my way. Every time I thought the deal was closing, something else got in the way – legal hurdles, financial concerns, last-minute hesitations from the other side. Just a bunch of jargon.The delay was supposed to be minor – just a few signatures, a handshake, and I’d be on the next flight home. Instead, I found myself trapped in a boardroom in Vancouver, staring down a table full of indecisive executives who suddenly couldn’t agree on anything.“This isn’t what we discussed.” I said, barely keeping my frustration in check. “We agreed on the terms weeks ago.”One of the older men, Dawson, adjusted his glasses and gave me a condescending smile. “Yes, but given the recent market shifts, we need to reevaluate the risk factors.”M
SOPHIA'S POVLaughter filled the air, warm and bright, wrapping around me like an old but comfortable blanket.The restaurant had been transformed in record time – streamers hung from the ceiling, fairy lights twinkled like stars, and the long communal table was packed with friends, drinks, and enough food to feed a small army. Someone had even put on music, something upbeat and festive, and the energy in the room crackled with celebration.Maria, of course, had gone overboard.“To our very own Master Chef!” She shouted, raising her glass dramatically, her voice carrying over the noise. “I mean, technically that’s not the title, but we all know who the real winner is!”A chorus of cheers went up, followed by a loud whoop from Grace, who sat at the head of the table, looking entirely too pleased. “Damn right! She owned that competition! I nearly punched the screen when that Emelia chick started whining about a rematch. And that's saying something because I'm all about controlling your
SOPHIA'S POVThe venue was nothing short of stunning.Polished marble floors, chandeliers casting a warm glow, and sleek stainless steel workstations lined up neatly. The air buzzed with quiet anticipation as chefs prepped their stations, checking their ingredients and supplies. I could tell the air in the room was charged with energy the minute I stepped in.Goddamn. Even my wolf was impressed, from where she watched.I adjusted the strap of my apron, taking in the space. This competition wasn’t televised, but that didn’t make it any less intense. Winning meant prestige, respect, and proving that I belonged among the best.And across the room, Emelia stood with that same smirk I’d seen a dozen times before.Maria, standing beside me, let out a low whistle. “Damn. They really went all out. Makes our kitchen look like a food truck.”I shot her a look. “‘Our’ kitchen is just fine.”“Yeah, yeah.” She said, waving a hand. “You ready?”I nodded, rolling my shoulders. “As I’ll ever be.”The