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
Nathan's POV“You're right. We shouldn't.”My ears heard the words, and I breathed a sigh of relief. But it was short-lived.“Only because it's so right, Nathan. Don't you want this, Nathan? Don't you want me?”She grabbed my hand where it was in the water, raising it and resting it on her tits. Her nipples were taut already, puckered and ready. The primal urge in me rose without any prompting, and I could feel myself harden—an involuntary reaction to her. And she could feel it too.“Nathan, you want this. You want me. Do you like it when I do this?” She leaned in, her mouth planting open-mouthed kisses on my neck, trailing all the way to my ear. She whispered in them, murmuring nonsensical words. I stayed immobile, my hold on my control stretched to its limit. It was all I could do to not move. I held myself together, knowing if I let go, I would snap.“Let go, Nathan. I'm here. Just, let go.” She started to stroke me, and that was all it took to cut the thin thread that was my contr
NATHAN'S POVShe flinched, her hands dropping at her sides. I was equal parts confused and angry. I could barely contain my anger, my body visibly shaking from the effort of it.“Why, Victoria? Why would you do that?”I couldn't understand it. We've been friends for so long. How didn't I even get a hint of this?“I've been telling you to get rid of it for years now! I couldn't help myself. I've been telling you to reject her too, but I bet you haven't.”Something in my expression must have betrayed the answer because she scoffed at me. “I was right. You still haven't.”“That is none of your business, Victoria. You crossed a line.”“What makes her so special, Nathan? She cheated on you, for goddess' sake!”“That doesn't matter, Victoria. She's still my mate. And she would never do something like this!” I yelled at her, needing her to see what she did. “And, Victoria, you don't rub on sage—the ones only I have in my garden—if it was a spur-of-the-moment thing.”I could see the minute th
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
SOPHIA'S POVAs the speeches ended and the twins basked in the love everyone was showering them with, I took a moment to breathe. The party had gone smoother than I expected, despite the clear and obvious tension between Nathan and Lucas. But I knew that was only because they’d been kept busy with the kids and giving them gifts.Now, with the formalities over, I had work to do.I glanced over at Maria and Frank, who stood near the drink table, deep in conversation. Well, that was a good start. Frank was laughing at something Maria said, and she had that intrigued glint in her eyes. Still, I wasn’t about to leave things to chance.Grabbing a fresh plate of food, I made my way toward them, wearing my best innocent smile. “Hey, you two. Enjoying yourselves?”Frank wiped his hands on a napkin. “Your food is top notch, as always, Sophia.”Maria smirked. “Yeah, yeah, don’t think flattery will get you more free meals.”I laughed and casually glanced around. “You know, since you two are alre
SOPHIA'S POVThe kitchen was chaos personified.Cake batter smudged my cheek, frosting covered my fingers, and the sweet scent of vanilla and chocolate filled the air. The twins’ birthday was supposed to be a joyful, carefree day, but with the competition looming over me like a highly upset storm cloud, it was hard to not focus on the stress completely.I had spent the past week obsessing over menu plans, supplier issues, and last minute adjustments. I did not want to be caught lacking. But today, none of that mattered. Today was about Alex and Alexia. I owed them this.Kate nudged me with her elbow as she carefully arranged cupcakes on a tray. “You look like you’re planning world domination, not a birthday party.”I huffed out a laugh. “Same thing. I should write a book titled, ‘How to successfully plan world domination’ don't you think?”She smirked. “Slow your roll soldier. You sure inviting both of them is a good idea?”I stiffened. “They’ll deal with it.”Kate gave me a knowing l
NATHAN'S POVSophia’s words still lingered in my mind as I stepped out of my office, the cool evening air wrapping around me.“Thank you, Nathan.”She had said it softly, with sincerity, but also with hesitation, as if she wasn’t sure how much gratitude she wanted to offer me. As if she was still keeping a wall between us.I understood.She had every right to be cautious. I had made mistakes. But I wasn’t the same man I was when I had let her walk away.Now, I was here. And I wasn’t going anywhere.I checked my phone, scrolling through the messages Theon had sent. The pack was restless. Some still questioned my leadership, especially after my decision to show mercy to Victoria and her father. I had anticipated the backlash, but it was clear that my absence was adding fuel to their doubts.Still, my priorities were set.Sophia. Alex. Alexia.They came first.I turned onto the sidewalk, moving through the streets of New York with a purpose. The city was alive, the sounds of distant traf
LUCAS' POVIt had all happened like it was a dream. An out of body experience.I had planned everything down to the last detail. The weekend away was supposed to be a break, a moment for Sophia and me to breathe outside of work, responsibilities, and – most importantly – Nathan.But now, she was backing out.“I’m really sorry, Lucas.” She said, her voice carrying that careful softness she used when she knew she was letting someone down. “I just – I can’t leave right now. The competition is too important.”I sat back in my chair at the restaurant, gripping the edge of the table. Across from me, Sophia looked genuinely regretful, but it didn’t make me feel any better. I had been anticipating this weekend for weeks. More than that, I had needed it.I forced a smile, though I wasn’t sure how convincing it was. “I get it.” I said, keeping my voice even. “The competition comes first.”She exhaled in relief. “Thank you for understanding.”That wasn’t entirely true. I didn’t understand. Not w
SOPHIA'S POVI took a deep breath, trying to push away the exhaustion creeping into my bones. The past few days had been relentless – between running the restaurant, preparing for the competition, and making sure the twins were taken care of, I barely had a moment to think. Or breathe.Kate had practically shoved me out of Il Cuore di Sofia tonight, insisting I take a break. “Go. Do something that isn’t work or kids.” She’d said, waving me off like an overbearing mother.So, here I was, walking aimlessly through the quiet streets, a warm cup of tea in hand, letting the night air cool my skin. The competition was on my mind, but instead of focusing on recipes or strategies, I kept circling back to Maria’s odd behavior earlier. She’d called, wanting to talk, but before she could get to the point, something had interrupted her. She promised to call back, but I hadn’t heard from her since.Maybe I was overthinking it.I turned a corner, and just as I lifted my cup for another sip, I froze
MARIA'S POVI adjust my press badge and step into the competition hall, inhaling deeply. Butter, garlic, fresh herbs…“Ahhh, that's the smell. The sweet smell of ambition.” I think to myself while I scan the room, already spotting the clusters of chefs, camera crews, and event organizers buzzing around.“Maria!”I turn and spot Frank waving at me from the judges' table, notebook in hand. I weave through the crowd toward him.“Look who’s already front and center," I tease, nudging him lightly. "Trying to steal my scoop?”“Please. You and I both know you're the queen of food journalism.” He says, smirking. “Besides, I’m here for the drama, not just the food.”“Same. Always.” I admit. “There’s always at least one chef who has a breakdown before the main course round.”Frank snorts. “Oh, it’s practically a requirement. Who do you think it'll be this year?”“Too early to say, but I’d put money on one of the newcomers.”Before Frank could reply, a voice cut in.“Excuse me, are you Maria Cla
SOPHIA'S POVThe evening air was warm, with the golden hour rays in me as I walked with Daniel, the tension from the restaurant still humming through my veins. I let out a slow breath, watching it curl in the cold.“Well, that was something.” Daniel muttered, shoving his hands into his coat pockets. His voice was casual, but I caught the flicker of amusement in his eyes.“Which part?” I shot back. “The part where You and Lucas nearly turned my kid's school into a warzone, or the part where you and Kate decided to have a moment in the middle of a warzone in my restaurant?”Daniel winced. “I wouldn’t call it a moment exactly.”I arched a brow at him. “Oh? Because it looked like a moment to me.”He rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “Okay, maybe it was a little… something.” He sighed, then smirked. “She called me charming. What was I supposed to do?”I rolled my eyes. “Right, because you have no choice but to react when a woman finds you charming.”“Exactly.” He grinned. “Now
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