SOPHIA'S POVAs the doctor had predicted, a few weeks later, I found myself nearing my due date. The excitement and anticipation intensified with each passing day.It had now been eight months since my last visit to the hospital, and the time for labor had finally arrived. While my pregnancy was shorter than the typical nine months—common for a werewolf—I felt ready to welcome my children into the world. I gave birth to twins, whom I named Alex and Alexia. Although everyone was surprised by the timing of my delivery, I was grateful to bring my babies into the world in good health. The process of labor took longer than I had anticipated, but the moment I laid eyes on my children, all my discomforts faded away. They were beautiful!Alexia looked more like me; she took after my blue eyes, while Alex was a replica of Nathan with his light gray eyes. I stared at my children as a tear rolled down my face. I kissed them both as I dropped them gently in the crib. In no time, they were both a
NATHAN'S POVRunning every morning is my favorite part of being Alpha. I love how fast my paws take me whenever I run in my wolf form. It was a form of workout for my wolf, and it kept my mind at ease as I only focused on running and my environment. I'd been running for the past thirty minutes, so I decided it was time to go home. I ran towards the pack house as the gates opened the moment my wolf was spotted from afar."Good morning, Alpha.""Welcome, Alpha." Some pack members greeted me the moment I shifted back to my human form. I nodded to their greetings as I walked straight to my room to take a cold shower.An hour later, I was in my office. I had so much to do. If I had a beta, it would have been easier, but I have yet to appoint one. I’m trying to be careful so that I don’t make a mistake. The last Beta of my pack was killed in a rogue attack on his way back to the pack. I had to appeal for an acting Beta from Moonshine Pack—Victoria's father—to fill in until I’m ready to appo
SOPHIA'S POVThat week flew by in a blur. My delivery was smooth, the twins were healthy, and after all the necessary checks and monitoring, we were allowed to go home.The place I called home was a cozy two-bedroom flat nestled in the heart of the town. I had fallen in love with it at first sight, and it had once been the only slim ray of light in my life.I gazed at the building as it came into view, the drive from the hospital a long one.“So, which one is yours?” Lucas asked, looking around the block.“That one,” I said, pointing at the one with the little lights twinkling around the edges.“I don't think I even needed to ask you. I could tell right away as soon as you pointed it out. It looks very you,” Lucas chuckled as he pulled into the driveway.“Hey.” I lightly punched him on the shoulder. “It just shows personality. And I'll decide to take that as a compliment.”“Whatever you say, Sophia,” he said as he killed the engine.“Hey,” I said as he opened his side of the car. “Tha
SOFIA'S POV Five years later… “Mommy, mommy!” My twins chorused as they tugged my hands, pulling me forward. Alex tried to simultaneously pull his sister forward too, forgetting we were already moving at the same pace. He nearly tripped over his own feet but quickly regained his balance. “Yes, my babies? Alex, be careful. Come here, hold my other hand.” I reached out, and he walked over and slipped his tiny hand into mine. “Mommy, New York is huge! Has it always been this big? Mommy, what's that thing there? Mommy, it's going so fast!” Alex spoke quickly, his words tumbling over each other like they couldn't wait to escape. His wide eyes darted around the airport terminal, taking in everything at once. “Slow down, Alex. You're confusing me.” Alexia, his twin sister, complained, her tone much more measured and firm. “But Mommy heard what I said, didn't you, Mommy?” He looked up at me, his eyes the color of clouds. He didn’t even wait for a response before turning back to his sis
SOPHIA'S POVThe rush hour arrived, and the bell on the door chimed accordingly, signaling the entrance of customer after customer. While that usually would have snapped up my attention, the man just a little behind everyone else caught my eye.I watched him raise a sign and read it just as he whispered in my ear, "Need a hand?" That seemed to do the trick, yanking me from my shock. I crossed the space in what usually took me more seconds, shoving against the onslaught of people coming in.I stopped when I was right in front of him.“Hi.” I was breathless from basically sprinting to meet him.“Hey, you.” He stepped closer, into my space. “I see you're a blonde now.”“Why does everyone keep saying that?” I shoved him on the shoulder. “Did you and Grace plan this?”He laughed, catching my hand to stop the attack. “No, we didn't. And hey, is this the greeting I get after all these years?”“It will be if you continue this. You should know not to comment on a woman's hair unless you have
SOPHIA'S POV“Hey hey, stranger danger. It's just me. Calm down, tiger.” Lucas chuckled as he entered the kitchen, holding his hands up in mock surrender. He walked up to me and grabbed the makeshift weapon from my hands, the pan clanging on the board.“Yeah, sorry. I just thought it was someone else.”“Who else could it have been?” Lucas asked, brushing it off.His question brought up a concern that had been lurking in the back of my mind for the past five years. If they ever found out…I shook my head, bringing myself out of it. Not right now. I couldn't worry about that right now. “So, uhm, yeah, you said you wanted to talk?”“Yeah, I wanted to… Are you good?” He looked hesitant to carry on, probably having sensed the change in my mood.“Yeah, definitely. I'm good.” I reassured him, adding a smile for good measure.“You know you can talk to me about anything, yeah? Anything at all.” Lucas probed, his eyes searching. I couldn't afford to give anything away, so I brushed off his conc
Sophia’s POV Five Years Ago… “Are you sure you wanna do this?” Grace asked, following me into the room where I was shoving things into a bag. She had been a constant presence in this house ever since the phone call about a month ago. It was still fresh in my mind… She had arrived and met me watching over the twins. “Hey. You sounded stressed over the phone. You wanna talk about it? And I promise, I’m being a friend and not your therapist right now,” she ended with a little nudge. She waited, but I still said nothing. “Wow. Tough crowd.” “I don’t want to make a mistake with them. Just looking at them… they’re the best thing to ever happen to me. I can’t lose them.” “Hey, hey. You won’t lose them. I promise you.” Grace rubbed my shoulders comfortingly. “But you don’t know that, Grace. You don’t know that.” And she really didn’t know that. There were too many unknowns, and too many factors to consider that could come into play. How was I supposed to balance everything? How was I
SOPHIA POVThe ride to the airport was silent, neither of them wanting to fill it. The twins were in the backseat, blissfully asleep. It had been a blessing that they were usually peaceful. Grace had made a comment about how she wished that when she had children, they would be as peaceful as Alex and Alexia.But she didn’t know the circumstances whatsoever. I almost felt bad about withholding the truth from my best friend, but she wouldn't understand. It was for her own safety.And besides, she wouldn’t believe me even if I told her. I wouldn’t believe it if I were in her shoes either. Really? Werewolves?I smiled ruefully to myself, and Grace picked up on it. “Something up?”“No, nothing.” My facial muscles returned to their normal resting position.“Good. So, have you told Lucas yet?”“Told him what?” I asked, playing dumb.“You know what I’m talking about.” She gave me a sideways look.I sighed, knowing there was no way out of this. “No, I haven’t. And before you say anything, it’s
SOPHIA'S POVLola was quiet for a moment, her hand loosely wrapped around her mug. Then, with a glance that was far too knowing for my liking, she said gently, “So… how do you really feel about him?”Her words settled like mist in the cozy room, quiet and unassuming, but thick enough that I couldn’t ignore them.I stared into my tea like it might offer a better answer than I could. It didn’t. “I don’t know.” I said, which was technically true, if you just didn't count all the parts of me screaming otherwise.Lola’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, please. That’s the most suspicious ‘I don’t know’ I’ve heard all week – and I’ve had three customer complaints and a guy who claimed his espresso was ‘emotionally cold.’”I laughed despite myself. “Emotionally cold?”“He said it lacked soul. I gave him a biscotti and told him to take it up with his therapist.”I nearly spit my tea. “God, I’ve missed this.”“What, sarcasm and caffeine-fueled delusions?”“Exactly that.” I smiled, then let it slip. “And…
SOPHIA'S POVThe warmth of the mug seeped into my fingers as I curled them tighter around it, watching the steam swirl into the quiet kitchen. It seemed like Elara had offered me tea more out of habit than anything else, but I had accepted with a small, grateful smile, and she nodded, a smile on her own face, the kind that made you feel like she already knew what you needed.We walked in silence from the woods, the smell of nature and moonlight still clinging to my skin. I didn't know moonlight has its own scent till today. Was this how freeing it could be? Was this what I'd been missing? Been denying myself in the name of protection? The streets beyond this clove were empty this late, the world hushed and still. And now, with a cup in hand and the ache of the shift softened into a gentle hum beneath my skin, I finally felt grounded.At peace.Well, almost.“Elara?” I asked, glancing up from my mug. “How often do you walk these woods?”She arched a silver brow, blowing on her tea. “A
NATHAN'S POVI didn’t slam the door.Didn’t storm off, didn’t shout or demand she choose me. That had been the old me – the boy who thought power alone could win devotion.I left Sophia’s house with my jaw clenched, my fists loose at my sides, and a storm brewing behind my ribs. Lucas had looked so damn settled in her space, and she hadn’t stopped him. Not really. Not even when the kids had lit up at the sight of me, not when the air had pulsed between us like a heartbeat.I got in the car and pulled away slowly, like I wasn’t unraveling inside.But I was.I couldn’t go home. Not to the penthouse with its cold silence and reminders of what I’d lost. So I drove with no destination until the buildings thinned and the edges of the city blurred.Eventually, I ended up at the overlook above the river, where the world fell quiet and I could breathe.Almost.The next day came with emails, missed calls, and two back-to-back meetings. Camille cornered me in the hallway with her usual stack of
SOPHIA'S POVThe laughter came first – sharp and clear, like little bells ringing through the living room.“Okay, okay, one more time.” I laughed, holding up the deck of cards.“No!” Alex shouted, laughing uncontrollably and holding his tummy as he fell over onto the cushions. “You’re cheating!”“I am not!” I defended dramatically, spreading my hands. “I’m just really good at Go Fish.”“You peeked!” Alexia accused with narrowed eyes and a smug little grin, arms crossed as if she were the judge and jury both.“I did not peek! That’s called strategic intuition.”“Mom.” Alex groaned from the floor, face stuffed into a throw pillow then turned to Alexia. “She’s using grown up words again. That means she’s lying.”I fell back onto the carpet in mock defeat, while both kids climbed over me like little wolves claiming victory. It was past their bedtime, the dishes from dinner was still in the sink, and I had at least two voicemails from Kate about tomorrow’s delivery schedule. But none of it
SOPHIA'S POVI couldn’t taste the waffles.Couldn’t even tell if they were burnt or perfect, though I watched Lucas flip them with his usual confidence and pride. I watched Alex drizzle syrup across his plate like it was a masterpiece. I watched Alexia pick at hers, pulling the edges apart like she was unspooling something too tightly wound.And across the table – Nathan.His presence alone changed the air in the room. Like a low growl under a wolf's breath . He sat with poise, talking softly to Alex as if they’d always known each other. Asking questions about school, about drawings, about dreams. And somehow – somehow – Alex opened up. Completely. Like he’d been waiting to be heard in exactly that tone, with exactly that warmth.It scared me. How easy it was.“You okay?” Lucas’s voice cut into the quiet.I blinked. He was watching me from the other end of the table, his jaw tight, his expression blank. Dangerous.“Yeah.” I said too fast. “Just tired.”“Didn’t sleep again?”I shrugged
NATHAN'S POVThe door swung open.And there she was.Sophia.Barefoot, wearing worn jeans and a soft sweater that still somehow managed to knock the breath from my lungs. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, her cheeks flushed like she’d been running — or panicking. Knowing the absolute fucking love of my life – probably both.Her eyes locked onto mine. For a second, neither of us moved.I tightened my grip on the paper bag and the small wooden box in my other hand. Gifts. Pathetic offerings for the things I really wanted — her forgiveness. My children’s acceptance. A place at their table. In their lives.“Hi.” I said, voice rougher than I intended.“Hi.” She breathed back.I saw it then — the war happening inside her. The way her body wanted to lean toward me but her mind pulled her back. Fear. Guilt. Hope.All tangled together. Dammit. Not still.“I brought something.” I said quietly, lifting the bag a little.Sophia blinked like she’d forgotten how to speak. Then she stepped as
SOPHIA’S POV The sun filtered gently through the curtains, casting warm stripes across the wooden floor. For once, the house was quiet – not with the eerie kind of silence that came from something being wrong, but the kind that only came after a storm. I stood in the kitchen, barefoot, a mug of tea cradled in my hands. “Ow, hot.” I burned my fingers as I dipped it in the mug to taste the tea. Then replied myself, “Of course it's hot you dummy. You just made it.” I sighed and leaned my head lightly against the cabinet door as I stared at the empty hallway beyond. The twins were still asleep, for now. I had let them sleep in. I’d taken the day off. No Kate, no kitchen, no demands. I texted her before dawn. “Can’t come in today. Family stuff. I trust you.” I didn’t say more, and she didn’t ask. She just sent back a thumbs-up and a heart. I knew she would understand even with no explanation. The truth was, I didn’t even know how to put words to what had happened last night. I wa
VICTORIA'S POVThe air reeked of stale beer, sweat, and desperation. Ew.But, it was exactly the kind of place I’d expect to find a disgraced Alpha drowning in his own failure. Go figure.The bar was tucked into the corner of a forgotten alley, away from prying eyes by broken neon signs and shattered dreams. How do the humans say it again? Ahh, yes. What a boulevard of broken dreams.I stood outside for a moment, letting my eyes adjust to the dim glow bleeding through the fogged windows. The faint thundering boom of music sounded from within – some cheap EDM beat vibrating through shitty speakers – and over all of that, somehow louder than it all, the rough voices of men exchanging bets, boasts, and laughter that reeked of low intelligence.I pushed the door open.The warmth inside hit me like a wall, thick with body heat and alcohol fumes. It was a human dive, alright. Ugh.Cheap wood paneling, flickering lights, a couple of dart boards with knives sticking out of them. A fight was b
NATHAN'S POVThe rain had finally stopped.I watched the last beads slide down the windowpane of my office, the world outside slick and silver under the afternoon light. It had been a quiet day—restless, but quiet. The kind of quiet that gets under your skin, makes your wolf lift its head and sniff the wind.Still, I tried not to read too much into it. I had things to do—real things.I turned my attention back to the table in front of me. A spread of papers, drawings, and a carefully wrapped pair of gifts sat in the center. One for Alex. One for Alexia.I had put them together after our last talk—gifts that I hoped the ancestors would be proud of, sure, but also from me. I’d carved their names into the wooden boxes myself. Inside were tokens of our world—hand-polished stones charged with protective runes, small journals bound in soft leather, and a pendant each, etched with our crest. It was slightly different from the other pendants I had gotten them—this one had the Bennett family c