SOPHIA'S POVThey raced to the kitchen, energy fueling each step. They were starting to become more energetic. With each new age, brought new surprises.I remember when Alexia was three years old, and while Alex hadn't shown any signs, she had looked like she was five years old already. They didn't look like twins for almost three months until Alex caught up to her, and now he's starting to look like the other one. Which is only fair. Male wolves tend to grow faster than female ones as they grow older.And now, he's the one showing more advanced growth changes. And soon, Alexia will too…My mind flashed back to when they were three. We were still in Italy then, and they had just started to talk properly a bit. Alexia's hair had grown past her shoulders by this point, and Alex's hair was almost the same length. They had looked almost unidentifiable like they were the same person. The only difference was Alex had grey eyes, and Alexia had blue eyes. Back then, my hardest problem was hav
NATHAN'S POVThe scent of smoke and blood still clung to my skin, a grim reminder of the battle we had just endured. My muscles ached, a dull throb echoing with every labored breath. But the victory over Malachi, coupled with the rescue of Victoria, outweighed any physical pain. I had promised to bring her home, and I had.As soon as we crossed the pack borders, a wave of relief washed over me. The familiar scent of pine needles and damp earth filled my senses, a comforting balm to my weary soul. I could almost hear the rhythmic thumping of pack gongs, a welcome sign that we were not alone and that all was well.The sight that greeted us was a mixture of relief and apprehension. My warriors, battered but unbroken, were tending to the wounded. The air was thick with the scent of healing herbs and the low growls of concern.I saw someone rush towards me, and for a moment, it looked like Sophia. My heart leaped to my throat, and I slowed down. My arms seemed to move of their own accord a
NATHAN'S POVVictoria got up and ran out of the clearing.“Wait!” The word had barely gotten out of my mouth when I could no longer see her again. I knew what I had said that was wrong, but I still didn't understand why she took it so personally every time.She stormed off, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I had many questions, and none of them had been answered. Victoria's reaction was only partly valid, seeing as I didn't outrightly accuse her of anything.Or was it the timing? Was her ordeal with Malachi too much for her to revisit?I don't like fighting with Victoria, and knowing what happened last time we spoke, and she had ended up kidnapped, I made up my mind to resolve this as soon as possible. I didn't want this to go on for quite a time.I stayed out late, gazing at the stars. The moon was beautiful today. I could still see as it shone clearly, illuminating the clearing. Nature was one of my best parts of being a werewolf. There was just something about being out in the op
NATHAN'S POVI stopped in my tracks, listening. Something was off.I stayed like that for moments before brushing the nagging feeling off. I began to move now, but lightly, my feet padding along the grass, not making any unnecessary movements.But the joy of the hunt, the thrill of the chase, felt muted. A nagging unease gnawed at me, a discordant note in the symphony of the night. "Why?" I growl, the sound echoing through my mind.A voice, raw and guttural, responds from the depths of my soul, "She's gone.""I know." I acknowledged him, the word tasting like ash in my mouth."You banished her," the voice snarls, "Your Luna, our mate.""She betrayed me," I defended, my voice tight. "She slept with another."The voice is silent for a long moment, then, "You have no proof.""I saw them," I insist, the memory of the fleeting but long-lasting image, the scent of another wolf clinging to her, still fresh in my mind. I had gone to the room with Victoria, intent on proving her wrong.Instead
SOPHIA'S POVThe aroma of melting butter filled the kitchen, a comforting scent that always brought a smile to my face. Rain lashed against the windows, a perfect excuse for an indoor adventure. Today, my two little pumpkins, Alex and Alexia, were celebrating having turned five, and although that was months ago, I still wanted to make it extra special for them."Okay, my little chefs," I announced, gathering them around the counter."Today, we're making the most delicious banana pancakes you've ever tasted."Alex, with his bright gray eyes sparkling, clapped his hands. "Pancakes! With bananas?""Well, that is what you guys ordered, is it not?" I said with a playful grin on my face.Alexia, ever the serious one, furrowed her brow. "But Mommy, how do we make them stick together?""That's where the magic happens, Alexia," I chuckled, handing her a bowl. "We're going to whisk flour, sugar, and milk together.""That's right, Alexia, that's where the magic happens!" He stuck his tongue out
NATHAN'S POVStill watching the path Victoria had left on, my mind wandered, going through the memories.Five years ago, two months after Sophia's banishmentThe full moon hung heavy in the sky, casting long, eerie shadows across the pack grounds. I paced restlessly in my chambers, the silence deafening—not the external silence of the night, but the internal one.My wolf, a fierce protector and loyal companion, had fallen silent after I banished my mate, Sophia. I thought it had been a joke, a cruel joke but one nonetheless—but I couldn't have been more wrong. My wolf still didn't answer my calls, no matter what I did. I had stood for hours under the moonlight, hoping it would cajole him out.I had run laps around the pack for days on end, hoping against hope that it would prompt him out, that the feel of my feet pounding against the grounds would ignite his feeling to touch the earth again. But nothing.He had ignored my calls, my summons, my pleas. All for what?Because of our mate.
NATHAN'S POVNow, as I walked back to my home, the heaviness of the consequences of my decision lay heavily on my shoulders. The conviction of that day had lasted only so long before it crumpled under the weight of the hopelessness of the situation.I had gone through different stages. At first, I was hopeful I would find her. No one knew I had been searching. I had kept up pretenses, my facade one that showed I had moved on, embodying the persona of one not mated at all.Only Victoria had known I still hadn't rejected her, and even so, she had only suspected.I had spent weeks searching, going on runs where I could secretly search for her, but all my attempts were in vain, as she had been nowhere to be found. It was like she had disappeared from the face of the earth.Slowly, my hope had turned into frustration, as finding her had been the only way to seal the rift between my wolf and me. I had gotten it in my head that it was the only way to reconcile with him, for the doors that ha
NATHAN'S POVThe bath had been peaceful, my head free and carefree for the first time in weeks. All my worries were at the back of my mind. I was choosing to dwell not on my worries but only on the good things in life. I was focusing on the here and now, as opposed to being stuck in the past. Just for this moment, I wasn't Nathan, Alpha of Moonstone pack now. The one whose mate had betrayed him and the one whose wolf had abandoned him.I was simply… Nathan.The state of simply being was peace – unparalleled. It was bliss that was unrivaled by no other.Or it was, until the presence I felt some moments ago. I decided to ignore them, thinking they had lost their way or they were on the wrong path. Not a lot of people knew about this place and the few who did know that it was under my personal territory.I waited several minutes, but the presence lingered. I growled, sending out a warning to whoever was there. The presence vanished from my radar immediately.I sighed, intent on relaxing
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