SOPHIA'S POVMe? What does Lucas mean by ‘me’? What's he doing up there? The applause in the room was deafening.He had a mischievous glint in his eye and a smirk on his face as the spotlight was on him, illuminating his features. The man looked like he promised sin and decadence like he was absolutely up to no good.As the applause died down, the crowd murmured, heads turning to catch sight of who Sophia Lancaster was, not knowing that the very person they were searching for was me—I who wasn't expecting to be under the spotlight just yet.What was this man up to?Maria squealed right beside me like this was out of her very own scripted book. “Sophia, he said your name. What do you think your man is up to?”“He's not my man, Maria. Frank, tell her.”Frank just shrugged, not looking to get in between the argument.“Coward,” I whisper-yelled to him, and he had the audacity to simply look sheepish. Maria had the man wrapped around her fingers, and she did not even know. For someone who
SOPHIA'S POVAs Lucas's hand rested on the small of my back, guiding me across the dance floor, I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body. Our bodies swayed in perfect harmony, the music and lights blurring around us.He pulled me closer, staring at me like I was the only woman in the world. And, for all the care in the world, like I was the only person in the room.“You know, that dress really brings out the color in your eyes," he said to me, staring into my hazel eyes. “I like the amber and flecks of brown in them swirling around that you could get lost in. Permission to get lost in them, ma'am?” he said, his words teasing but his expression anything but. He looked like, if I gave the word, I'd be whisked out of here and on a plane to Switzerland, lost from the world.I brought my mind back to the present. "Thank you, Lucas. I'm glad you recognize my eyes are my best qualities,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.“As much as I could get lost in them, I wouldn't say your bes
SOPHIA'S POV“What are you doing here?”I really, really do not want to be doing this."You think you've won, don't you?" Emelia spat, her voice venomous. "Stealing Lucas's attention, flaunting yourself."I stood tall, refusing to back down. "Emelia, stop this. You're embarrassing yourself.""Embarrassing myself?" Emelia laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You're the one who's embarrassed. A poor restaurant owner, clinging to Lucas's wealth."My temper flared, but I kept my cool. "My restaurant is successful, Emelia. That's more than I can say for you. And Lucas values me for who I am."Emelia sneered. "You'll never be good enough for him."She took a step closer, her voice dropping. "You don't know what Lucas wants. What he needs.""I think I do," I replied firmly.Emelia's eyes flashed. "You're just a temporary distraction. A charity case."The words stung, but I held my ground. “You think I'm the charity case? Look around you, Emelia. You're the one whose restaurant is crumbling. Yo
SOPHIA'S POVThe moment was magical, and the feeling unfurling in my chest was indescribable. It was the first time in a long time that I had really been seen by a man – let myself be seen by a man.Soft music drifted through the air, weaving around us like a spell. Lucas's hand rested on the small of my back, guiding me across the patio with gentle pressure. Stars twinkled above, casting an ethereal glow on the lush greenery. The moon's warm glow wrapped around me, making my wolf sing.As we danced, Lucas's eyes locked onto mine, warm and captivating. "You're radiant tonight, Sophia."Gosh! The endless praises…I smiled, feeling so alive. "You're not so bad yourself.”Our bodies swayed in perfect harmony, the tension between us palpable. The night air filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers.Suddenly, Lucas's phone vibrated, breaking the spell. He glanced at the screen, his expression tightening."Excuse me," he said, stepping away.I watched as he answered the call, his voice
NATHAN'S POV“Theon, what’s your progress on weakening their defenses?” I asked, marching into the meeting room.“Alpha!” Several people chorused.“Alpha, you should still be resting,” Beta Daniel said. He was the newest addition to the council meeting, replacing Beta Rodney. I'd be lying if I said his absence wasn't felt, but I decided the most I could do now was avenge him.I stood at the head of the table carved out from the stones of the ground, my piercing gaze sweeping across the assembled council members. The air was thick with tension, the weight of our mission settling heavily on my shoulders."My loyal pack," I began, my voice low and commanding. "Our pack mate, Victoria, remains captive under Malachi's tyranny. Tonight, we devise a plan to infiltrate his pack and bring her home."Beta Lewis, Victoria’s father, spoke up, his eyes burning with determination. "We can't wait any longer. Malachi's already broken pack law."Gamma Ava, another new addition, spoke up and nodded vig
NATHAN'S POVThe training ended, and people dispersed, heading home. I noted that they hadn't ignored my advice, walking home in teams of two. While people were shaken by the events of recent times, I knew it would take more than that to break my pack.“Alpha Nathan,” Theon called out to me. I waited for him as I caught my breath, the adrenaline still pumping through me from the fight.“Yes, Theon?” I grabbed water off the holder, chugging it. He waited for me to have my fill before he spoke.“How about you? How many guards would you like situated at your house?”I took a moment to think. “None. Station them around the pack. Protect the pack. They're the number one priority.”“But Alpha, Malachi has already attempted an attack on you. And he managed to get to Rodney too. There's no telling what he's capable of.”“Theon, I appreciate the concern but–”“You're the strongest of us all.” He interrupted me. I let him continue out of respect and his concern for me. “If something happens to
NATHAN'S POVI woke up with a start. My first thought was to search my surroundings for any intruders.“I’m safe,” I say out loud. The space was quiet, with only the sound of water running down a stream behind the structure.What was that?The dream I had was so lucid, it felt real. I looked around again, taking note that I was still in the meditation room. I remembered only wanting to clear my mind and search within myself for serenity. But had I actually been more exhausted than I thought I was?The insistent chirping of birds outside the window of the room dragged me from the clutches of slumber. I groaned, rolling over and burying my face in my hands. The dream, vivid yet frustratingly elusive, still clung to the edges of my consciousness. It had been a collection of symbols in harmony, a cryptic message delivered in a voice that resonated with the otherworldly hum of the full moon.The figure, her face obscured by a veil of moonlight, had appeared in my dream, her eyes like pools
NATHAN'S POVHis tone suggested that all was not well. I just knew this would not bode well for me.I looked up to the skies. Although the day had passed, it meant it was now closer to dusk again. How did the day go so quickly, and I had accomplished little to nothing?The man next to me still waited to hear my reply to his statement.“Good news and bad news, you say?”He bowed his head deeply. “Yes, Alpha Nathan.”I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “Alright. Let me have it.”He cleared his throat and began speaking. “Well, Alpha. I might not be entirely sure, and keep in mind that I could be wrong, but that figure in your dream? That was the Luna goddess.”My eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. “Luna goddess? There's no way. She has never met with any one of our kind before. Why now?”“Correction, Alpha. She has. Long ago, there was an organization of wolves called The Luna Pack. Legend says they were the most highly trained, skilled, and blessed wolves in our history. The
DANIEL'S POVI’ve sat through my fair share of ceremonies – long, bordering on insufferable things filled with speeches no one really listens to, polite applause, and stiff conversations. But this one was different.This was for Alex and Alexia. Sophia's kids. If anyone had told me yesterday when I boarded that flight to New York, that I would be at a kid's award ceremony, particularly the kid whose mom had tried to hit me with a decorative vase my mother had bought on a trip to Japan, I would told them to shut the fuck up and stop being full of shit.“Life is full of funny surprises, isn't it?” I smiled as I said to myself.I leaned back in my seat, watching as students filed across the stage one by one, collecting their awards. The school had gone all out for the event – decorations in the colors of their mascot, fliers with words of encouragement, and a slideshow playing pictures of the kids throughout the year. Parents filled the hall, some recording with their phones, others flo
SOPHIA'S POVThe school parking lot was packed. Parents expertly navigated their cars into the last remaining spots, courtesy of life skills taught by New York's finest, teachers directed those walking, and excited children ran ahead of their families toward the entrance. The buzz of conversation filled the air – greetings flying, people calling out to their friends, laughter ringing out, and the occasional frantic parent calling after a child who had gotten a little too excited.Which was the path Alex was slowly heading down.I barely had time to take in the scene before Alex tugged at my hand.“Mom, hurry!” He whined, practically bouncing on his feet. “We need to get inside first.”Alexia, holding my other hand, rolled her eyes but didn’t let go. “We don’t have to be first, Alex.”Daniel, walking just behind us, chuckled. “You got a hot date with the stage or something, kid?”Alex turned, eyes narrowed, his cute six-year-old mind clearly trying to figure out what a date was. “It’s
SOPHIA'S POV The morning was loud. Not in a bad way – just in the way it always was when Alex and Alexia were full of energy, their voices bouncing around the kitchen as they blew through their breakfast. “Mom, are you coming to school today?” Alex asked between bites of toast. “Yes, but I can’t stay the whole day.” I reminded him for what felt like the tenth time this week. “But the fun stuff is later.” He groaned. “You mean the part where you get to run around like a lunatic after getting your award?” Alex grinned. “Exactly.” Alexia, more focused on tying her shoes than the conversation, perked up. “Mrs. Jackson stopped by earlier! She left something for you.” Oh. That's strange. I was just at her house yesterday and she didn't mention anything. Before I could ask what, the front door opened, and the woman herself strolled in. “Well, well, well, look at this madhouse.” Mrs. Jackson, already teasing right out the gate, said as she stepped inside. Trailing behind her was
SOPHIA'S POV By the time I reached my front door, exhaustion had settled deep in my bones. Between Mrs. Jackson’s relentless teasing, Daniel’s unexpected charm, and that strange feeling I’d had on the walk home, I was ready to shut my brain off for the night. That was the plan. Or so it was – till reality had other ideas. The moment I stepped inside, something felt… off. Not in the same way as before – there was no eerie silence or weird sensation along my spine. No, this was different. This was the kind of “off” that meant my children were up to something. A faint clatter came from the kitchen, followed by hushed whispers. I frowned. My twins were supposed to be asleep. Kicking off my shoes as quietly as possible, I crept toward the kitchen, my senses sharpening. If they were trying to sneak snacks past bedtime again, they were about to get caught. Another clatter. And then– “Oh no! Alex, it’s falling!” “I got it! I got it – uh, nope, I didn't get it.” A loud clatter echo
SOPHIA'S POVI hadn’t planned on walking home with Daniel, but somehow, that’s precisely what ended up happening.Mrs. Jackson had all but shooed us both out the door, saying something about needing peace and quiet before she lost her mind. I’d protested, of course, pointing out that I lived nearby, literally right next to her, and didn’t need an escort, but Daniel had just shrugged and said, “Indulge me. I need to make sure you don’t attack any more innocent civilians on your way home.”So now here we were, walking side by side under the dim glow of the streetlights, after his insistence for us to take a little stroll. The air was crisp and filled with the lingering scent of freshly cut grass and a damp walkway.I pulled my jacket tighter around me, side-eyeing Daniel as he strolled along like this was some kind of leisurely evening walk instead of a completely unnecessary detour. “You know, I’ve survived plenty of walks home alone before tonight.”Daniel smirked. "True, but given yo
SOPHIA'S POVThe tea was good – really good. Mrs. Jackson always had a way of making the simplest things feel like home, like comfort wrapped in a warm mug.Sitting at her kitchen table, I let out a deep breath, letting the last of the adrenaline leave my bones. Sitting opposite me, Mrs. Jackson looked like she was still recovering from the shock of me assaulting her son, while Daniel, who liked to think of himself as the unfortunate victim here, sat with his arms crossed, looking both amused and mildly offended.“You know,” he began, eyeing me over the top of his cup, “most people introduce themselves with a handshake. Not a flying object to the face.”I gave him a tight-lipped smile, almost sarcastic. "Most people don't break into their mother’s house in the middle of the night and rummage through her kitchen like a burglar."Mrs. Jackson, ever the peacekeeper, sighed. "Oh, Sophia, really now. He wasn’t rummaging, he was making tea."“Loudly. He was making tea, loudly.” I pointed ou
SOPHIA'S POVBy the time I parked in front of my house, exhaustion had its claws deep in my skin. The restaurant had been a whirlwind – missing shipments, an important guest, and the possibility of disaster that hung in the air. But somehow, by some miracle, everything had worked out.Not that I was naive enough to think it had worked out on its own.No, there was a very particular potion of interference that had Nathan’s name written all over it. The problem was, I had no proof. Just a gut feeling. A familiar, annoying gut feeling.I sighed, rubbing my temples before stepping out of the car. It wasn’t even about that. Right now, all I wanted was a shower, a glass of wine, and–“Oh, shit!”I stopped dead in my tracks, remembering something important. Mrs. Jackson.She had watched the twins for me tonight. And for the weekend getaway. I can't believe I had forgotten. I’d been so caught up in everything that I hadn’t even checked in with her before leaving the restaurant. “Great parent
NATHAN'S POV I was reviewing reports in my office when the knock came. Sharp. Purposeful. Intrusive. Could only be one person. Then, without waiting for a response, the door swung open, and Lola strolled in like she owned the place. There we go. "Hello to you too.” I muttered, leaning back in my chair. Lola wasn’t the type to drop by unannounced unless she had a reason. And judging by the smirk on her face, she was enjoying whatever she was about to say. "You’ve been busy, haven’t you?" She leaned against my desk, sipping a coffee that I knew wasn’t from my building. "Helping out at your mate’s place, playing storytime with the twins… I have to say, Nathan, I didn’t peg you for the domesticated type." I sighed. "How did you even–” I stopped before I could complete the question. Of course she did. She always had a way of knowing everything. I looked at her from the corner of my eyes. “Did you come here to talk about my personal life, or do you actually have a point?" Sh
SOPHIA'S POVThe moment I stepped into Il Cuore di Sofia that evening, I felt it in my bones. Something was off. Coming off the back of an important investor meeting and the principal at Alex's school calling to inform me that I was to be in school during rush hour tomorrow, I was hoping the rest of the day would be stress free. But I should have known it would have been too much to ask.Especially where the Luna goddess was involved. And New York city.I looked around at the restaurant, trying to determine what was wrong. To crack the code – or hack it, whichever the case may be – before it could come back to bite me in the ass. It wasn’t the usual pre-dinner service buzz. It was heavier – tense, crackling in the air like a storm about to start. The entirety of my staff moved with tight shoulders, exchanging nervous glances, and Kate was already making her way toward me the moment she spotted me.Not a good sign.“We have a problem.” She said in a low voice, falling into step beside