Collision 2 MILES’ POV “We’ve arrived just in time. The launch isn’t starting for another thirty minutes,” Rico announced as Holmes parked the hired car in the lot of the towering research center. I gazed out the window at the skyscraper, and a swell of pride rose in my chest. It was magnificent, and the atmosphere was serene. A few people were walking into the reception area, heading for the launch. “This place is stunning, Miles,” Evans said as we stepped out of the car. “This is our first venture so far from home. Quite the leap.” “Exactly,” I replied. “It’s a strategic move. We’re not just building businesses; we’re expanding influence. That’s how you stay ahead. We need a network across the world—that’s our goal.” “This pack feels peaceful,” Rico chimed in as he scanned the area. “Calm. I doubt they even know what a rogue attack feels like.” We made our way into the reception area, where the young receptionist immediately straightened at the sight of me. Her h
False Alarm YURI’S POV We all stood outside, across from the gleaming medical research center, watching as the Bomb Squad moved out. Everyone had been safely evacuated, but the unease lingered. Miles and his team were a few feet away. I made sure to position myself between him and Rhea, like a human barrier. Rhea was putting on a flawless display of composure; her chin was slightly raised, her eyes fixed on the squad as they made their way towards us. But I couldn’t say the same for Miles. He hadn’t taken his eyes off us—off me for a second. His jaw was clenched so tightly I half-expected his teeth to shatter, and his fists were balled like he was ready for war. Not that I cared. Let him simmer. The Bomb Squad leader approached the director. “Sir, we didn’t find any bombs inside the building. It must have been a false alarm.” The director exhaled heavily with relief. “Thank you,” he said, nodding with genuine gratitude. False alarm? Yeah, sure. Of course, there hadn’t been a bom
One Step Too Close RHEA’S POV "Ms. Marston, that was a great speech," one of the visiting alphas said with a broad smile. His Luna clung to his arm like he might float away without her, and he balanced a drink in his free hand. “Thank you,” I replied, returning the smile. "I'm glad it impressed you," Dr. Ivan chimed in beside me, practically glowing. "Ree here is incredible." We were now at the reception now. All the speeches, introductions, and investor acknowledgments were done, leaving everyone free to mingle and network. Yuri had thankfully wandered off to chat with some other alphas, leaving me with Dr. Ivan and Stella whose presence grounded me, and I tried not to think too much about the fact that Miles and his friends were here, standing just a few feet away. I dared not look his way, but from all indications, I knew his eyes had never left me. It left me confused. Why would he be staring at me? I tried not to dwell on it and instead focused on the other guests who were
One More Chance MILES’ POV “What’s your next step now?” Evans asked, setting his shot glass on the counter. His expression was taut. “You’re not seriously going to drown yourself in alcohol like you did seven years ago, right?” I sighed heavily, lifting my glass and gulping down another shot. The burn was almost comforting, though it did little to dull the sting of what I had seen earlier. My chest tightened at the memory of Yuri kissing Rhea—my Rhea. The pride I had felt watching her earlier was now tangled with anger and something I couldn’t quite name. My ex-wife, the woman I had wronged in more ways than I cared to admit, was now the nurse of her dreams. She had made it. She was thriving. I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she stood on that podium, speaking confidently to a room full of alphas, betas, and dignitaries. She commanded the space effortlessly as though she were born to lead it. Rhea had grown into someone even more remarkable than I had remembered. Sophisticated,
A Monday Surprise RHEA'S POV “Good morning, Ree!” chirped Olivia, the ever-cheerful receptionist, with a broad smile as I stepped into the reception. “Good morning, Olivia!” I replied with equal cheer, making my way to her desk. “Don’t forget to grab a cookie. I made enough for everyone.” I extended the plate of freshly baked cookies toward her. Her face lit up as she reached for one. “Thanks, Ree! And by the way, congratulations on that killer speech over the weekend. Everyone’s been raving about it.” “Thank you, Olivia,” I said with a smile, adjusting my coat as I headed toward the staff lounge. “Morning, Ree!” a chorus of voices rang out as soon as I entered the lounge. “Good morning, everyone,” I greeted, setting the tray of cookies on the communal table. “Alright, people, fuel up. It’s Monday, and I don’t need anyone dragging their feet today!” A few chuckles broke out among the group as they swarmed the tray. I grabbed a couple of cookies for myself and left the lounge.
She Has My Son MILES’ POV Yuri and I are just friends. Yuri and I are just friends. That statement rang in my head continuously as I made my way out of the hospital lobby. Hope bloomed in my chest—that lying bastard. I knew Yuri was a bastard. No wonder my friends never liked him. Stepping through the glass doors, I turned back to glance inside. A broad grin spread across my face. I was leaving now, but I would definitely be back, and I was going to chase Rhea until she gave me a real chance to explain myself. To apologize. To make things right. I wasn’t going to overwhelm her with my presence. I knew she was still trying to come to terms with seeing me after hiding from me for seven whole years. I didn’t know how long it would take, but I was going to get Rhea looking at me again like I hung the stars. Call it arrogance, call it hope, hell, call it delusion. I didn’t care. I had faith. My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me out of my thoughts. The guy I had hired earlier to d
Lies and Confrontations RHEA’S POV “Did you tell Miles that we were dating?” I asked, staring pointedly at Yuri. Yuri stood there, a gift bag in one hand and a bouquet of roses in the other, looking every bit the guilty party. He shifted on his feet, rubbing the back of his neck but remained silent. That was all the confirmation I needed. I folded my arms across my chest and glared at him. I wanted to get really mad at him, but I couldn’t be so mad. Yuri had been my rock for years, the one person I could count on. But that didn’t excuse this. “Yuri, you don’t have to lie for me,” I said. “You shouldn’t be making up stories about my relationship, or lack thereof with you. What’s the point? Miles is a married man. You told me that yourself. Do you think I’m so desperate that I would go chasing after a man who nearly destroyed me? Miles is my past and nothing will happen between us.” “You don’t know that,” Yuri countered, stepping closer. “He has been hovering around you since the s
Work Dinner MILES’ POV One Week Later... “Alpha Miles,” Alpha Zane greeted as he stepped out of his car, his gammas flanking him. His posture was relaxed, but the slight edge in his tone didn’t go unnoticed. I smiled knowingly. I already had a good idea of what this was about. “Alpha Zane,” I returned his greeting with a polite nod. “What brings you to my pack again? I don’t recall you having any pending business here,” he said, tilting his head slightly as his dark eyes narrowed. Zane wouldn’t usually have issues with me being in his pack. I doubted he even kept proper records of pack visits. Typically, when an alpha visits another pack unofficially, they only inform the host alpha after settling down. Werewolves were evolving now that we hardly fought amongst ourselves. Peaceful dialogues had replaced pack wars. These days, our common enemies are rogues, whose numbers seem to be growing by the day. I was genuinely surprised when Crimson Peak’s border security respectfully aske
Team SekaniMILES’ POV Taking Sekani to his game was the highlight of my day. We weren’t exactly on the same page yet, but I could tell, he was glad I came. He didn’t say it outright, but it was in his eyes, in the way he kept glancing over from the field like he wanted to be sure I was still there.The sun bathed the school field in warm, golden light, casting long shadows over the grass. Kids ran in every direction, their colorful jerseys flashing with movement. Sekani didn’t know it, but under my tracksuit, I was wearing something special. The moment the game kicked off, I unzipped my jacket, revealing the custom jersey underneath; black and white, with “SEKANI 10” bold across my back. I was here for him. Win or lose. “Let’s go, Sekani! That’s my boy!” I yelled, cupping my hands around my mouth. He looked over mid-run, his curls bouncing as he smiled, just for a split second. It was enough. My heart did a full backflip. I had never done this before—being a dad. I wasn’t sur
Bruises Beneath the SkinMILES’ POV Holmes eased the car to a stop in front of Rhea’s house. The sun was just beginning to peek through the early morning clouds, casting long shadows across the driveway. Rhea was standing on the porch with Sekani at her side. His suitcase was already packed and resting at his feet. Rhea had dressed him warmly for the day, zipped him into a soft navy hoodie. Her hair was tied back in that same no-nonsense bun she wore on work days. She was already in her scrubs, her arms folded across her chest. They both looked like a portrait I could never quite touch. Like something behind a glass frame, beautiful and distant. I pushed the door open, gripping the crutch in my left arm, and stepped out with effort. My leg still ached with every step, but I was getting better. I limped up the short path to the porch. Sekani didn’t smile nor rush toward me, he just stared down at his sneakers. We've not had any time alone since my parents left. He wasn’t avoiding m
Where We StandRHEA'S POVFive days later. “Mummy! Grandma took me to an ice cream shop!” Sekani announced the moment I stepped into the hospital room.The sound of his excited voice was the first thing that hit me, followed by the cool scent of antiseptics and the soft hum of machines. I smiled gently as I closed the door behind me. “Oh, did she?” I asked, walking toward Pa Dennis' bed. Sekani was perched on Ma Lisa’s lap, his legs dangling off the edge as he scooped ice cream from a bright blue bowl. He grinned at me, his lips already smeared with vanilla. “Yeah! And she let me get two scoops!”I let out a soft chuckle. “Two scoops? That’s a lot of sugar, champ.”Ma Lisa winked at me over his head. “It’s only once in a while.”Miles was seated in the chair beside the window, his head still wrapped in bandages. A single crutch leaned against the wall beside him. His right arm was in a cast, but he looked better and stronger. I was relieved when the doctor said his gen
A Soft Place to FallRHEA’S POVI stood by the doorway of Pa Dennis ward, my heart pounding with uncertainty. I wasn’t sure what kind of reception awaited me. Would Ma Lisa lash out again? Would she say more things that would leave me shattered?I sucked in a deep breath. Ma Lisa turned at the sound, and her eyes landing on me. I braced myself for another storm. But what happened next caught me completely off guard.Her face crumpled. “Rhea,” she whispered, voice trembling, “my dear… how could I be so hard on you?”She stood shakily, clutching the edge of the hospital bed for support. “How did I say all those awful things to you… when you’ve suffered more than any of us?”I stared at her in bewilderment. She came over and hugged me tightly. My chest heaved. "Oh, my dear, you don't deserve all of that," she wept. "Please, forgive me. Forgive me." Her body shook with tears.Tears welled up in my eyes and without a second thought, I wrapped my arms around her and burst into tears. Her s
Between Love and Law Rhea’s POV The sky was just beginning to turn pale outside the kitchen window, that soft grey blur that comes before dawn fully arrives. The house was quiet. None of the live-in staff was awake. Not even the birds had started their morning song. I sat alone at the kitchen table; a half-drunk cup of tea had gone cold in front of me. My elbows rested on either side of an open law book, a few printed articles, and drafted letters scattered across the table. Child custody laws in our region. Alpha-bloodline inheritance rights. Exceptions for rogue-born offspring. I had read them all. And I was still reading. One of the letters was addressed to the Council of Regional Alphas, petitioning an investigation into Alpha Yuri Cassian's repeated violations of the protective order I had placed on file years ago. Another was a formal complaint to the Inter-Pack Justice Committee, detailing how Yuri had disregarded multiple warnings to stay away from Sekani, culminating in
Mothers at War Rheas's Pov "He’s fine," Dr. Singh said gently. "No internal bleeding, no head trauma. Just a few scrapes and bruises. We’ve cleaned them up, and he’s doing great." I closed my eyes for a second, letting out the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. Finally, my lungs pulled in air properly again. Ms. Lucy gave my back a reassuring pat as I nodded slowly. “Thank you,” I breathed. Dr. Singh gave me a kind smile, his hand resting briefly on my shoulder. “Nurse Marston, you can take a breather now,” he said warmly. “You can take tomorrow off if you wish.” "Thank you, Dr. Singh," I replied with a faint smile. With a final nod, he turned and walked away. I turned and reached for Sekani’s hand. His little fingers clutched mine tightly. He looked smaller somehow, his face pale, his shoulders slouched, his eyes shadowed with guilt. He didn’t say a word, and neither did I. He just walked quietly beside me, while Ms. Lucy trailed behind in silence. My chest felt like it
In the Name of the Son THIRD PERSON POV (I will use the third person's POV here because a lot of events are going to take place in this chapter. Please pardon me.) Sekani lowered his gaze, twirling his tiny fingers in his lap. “Mommy won’t let me talk to you. She won’t let me tell you anything. So I thought… maybe this way…” His voice trailed off to a whisper. Yuri stared at the boy, unsure whether to yell or cry. Sekani peeked up at him with those soft, innocent eyes. The look on Yuri’s face made the boy shrink slightly. Maybe he had done something really bad. Maybe Uncle Yuri was angry. “I’m so sorry, Uncle Yuri,” he said quietly. “I didn’t mean to make you mad.” Yuri closed his eyes and exhaled slowly through his nose, trying to stay calm. “Come on, Sekani… I’m not mad at you. But sneaking into my car and following me all this way? That’s not okay, champ. Your mom’s probably going crazy right now.” Sekani shook his head, gaze dropping again. “Ms. Lucy thinks I’m asleep. Nobo
(I'm using the third person's POV for this chapter because so many events will happen at the same time. Please, pardon me.) Faster Than Fear THIRD PERSON POV Yuri sped down the highway, his foot heavy on the gas, engine growling as the city blurred past in streaks of color. His jaw was tight, and the muscles ticked with tension. His fingers gripped the steering wheel like it had personally wronged him. He weaved between cars, honking without restraint, his eyes fixed ahead like he was chasing something, or running from it. But he couldn’t outrun her words. “Because I don’t love you! I never did. And I never will!” They kept playing in his head. Was it that hard to love him? After all these years. They could easily pass as a couple. He knew Rhea would have loved him back if Miles didn't fucking show up. He slammed his palm against the steering wheel. BAM! “Fucking bastard!” he muttered under his breath, honking at a car that appeared in front of his, as he cut across another
The Edge of Letting Go RHEA'S POV “Ree, I know you’re mad at me, but just hear me out,” Yuri pleaded, his voice barely holding together. “Yuri, what’s there to hear out? That you’ve been lying to me for goddess knows how long?” His face twisted in frustration. “I did what I had to do. I was trying to protect you. You said you didn’t want to hear about him anymore.” “I did say that,” I snapped, blinking hard. “But it was still my life. You didn’t have the right to make choices for me. I never told you to lie. Never asked you to twist the truth. Yuri, you told me Miles didn’t want his child. Sekani grew up without a father because of you!” "But I have always been there," he defended. “You didn’t have to!” I shot back. The words ripping out of me before I could stop them. He stared at me, eyes wide like I had slapped him. Like he couldn’t believe I just said that. I knew I had hurt him. But he had hurt me first. Deeper. And the truth was, yes, he had been there for Sekani. Yes, h