The Truth in the Bag MILES’ POV Rhea swallowed hard. Her lips pressed into a thin line as if she was forcing herself to remain composed. I held her gaze, silently begging her to see the sincerity in my apology. My heart was racing, thudding so hard I was sure she could hear it. I could feel the tingles running up my hand from where I was touching her wrist, and I wondered if she felt that too. Rhea inhaled deeply and quickly yanked her wrist away from my grasp. Her head turned slightly as if she couldn’t bear to look at me for a moment. Then, just as quickly, her eyes locked onto mine again, and the fire in her gaze was unmistakable. “I wish,” she said slowly, “if you’re going to speak to me about these things, you would at least do it without being under the influence of alcohol,” she said. I let out a tired sigh, running a hand through my hair. “Rhea, I swear, I’m not drunk. I’m perfectly sober." She let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head. “Sure, Alpha.” The way she said
Closer to the Truth RHEA’S POV I groaned as consciousness began to seep back into me, dragging along a pounding headache that felt like a hammer against my skull. My hand flew to my forehead, trying to massage the ache away, but it did little to help. This was from all that drink I had consumed last night, in an attempt to drown the emotions Miles had so rudely stirred up after all these years. Wait. Last night… What happened? The last thing I remembered was Miles tossing me over his shoulder and leaving the venue. My eyes flew open, and I instantly knew I had not slept on my bed. Miles’ scent immediately wafted into my nostrils, and my anger flared. I knew he wasn’t a pervert who would sleep with me when I was drunk, but I instinctively glanced down at my body under the blanket. Everything checked. My clothes were still intact. My heart almost leaped out of my mouth when my eyes darted around the room and landed on him. Miles. He sat a few feet away, wearing a white tank top th
The Lies That Kept Us Apart RHEA’S POV "Rhea, all of this has been one big misunderstanding," Miles said, stepping closer, his hand reaching out like he wanted to touch me. Instinctively, I stepped back. “It kept us apart for seven whole years.” I shook my head, snapping out of the shock that had momentarily frozen me. "No. No misunderstanding kept us apart, Alpha. You served me divorce papers. You wanted to marry Roxy. You married her." Miles shook his head, and that same vulnerability I had seen last night flickered across his face. "I never married Roxy, Rhea. I never even planned to. It was always you." A bitter laugh escaped me. “Alpha Mondragon, do not say things you do not mean,” I said firmly, ignoring the emotion that was welling inside me. “You were very clear about not wanting me in your life. You said I was the worst thing that ever happened to you.” Miles' head dipped low, his jaw clenched, his body tense. Silence stretched between us for a few seconds before he exha
Lies, Deals, and Deception YURI’S POV I paced the length of Zane’s living room, my heart hammering against my ribs. I had been calling Rhea since last night, and she had refused to answer even once. It was driving me insane. Everything about this situation was driving me crazy. Miles. Why the hell did he have to come back here? I should have been more vigilant. I should have kept Rhea close, made sure Miles never got the chance to see her. But I knew she wouldn’t appreciate me hovering around all the time. She was stubborn like that. And besides, I had my own pack to run. My elders were already growing restless, questioning my frequent absences. Rumors of rogue attacks were spreading fast, and I needed to be there to handle it. I don’t know why those forsaken rogues would not accept defeat. But what stung the most was Zane. I thought he was my friend. I clenched my jaw, my fingers curling into fists as I recalled what his beta had told me over the phone. Miles had made Zane a
Fists, Fury, and a Mother’s WrathYURI’S POV The drive to the Thompsons’ was longer than usual, or maybe it just felt that way because of the thoughts crashing through my head. My grip on the steering wheel tightened. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I had convinced myself it was for Rhea’s good. For Sekani’s. For all of us. I pulled up in front of the Thompsons' house and exhaled slowly, forcing my nerves into check. There were no other cars parked outside. Good. That meant Rhea or Miles wasn’t here yet. I stepped out, straightened my shirt, and strode up the steps, keeping my expression neutral. Before I could even knock, Mrs. Thompson opened the door, greeting me with a warm smile. “Alpha Yuri, come in.” Sekani ran up the hallway the moment he saw me, his small feet padding against the wooden floor. "Uncle Yuri!" His bright eyes gleamed with excitement as he threw himself into my arms. I crouched, ruffling his hair. “Hey, champ. How’s my little warrior doing?” "I'm good!
The First MeetingRHEA’S POV At first, I was frozen in disbelief. Then, like a slow-rising flood, the fury hit me. Full-blown, pulse-racing, lip-twitching anger. Anger at his tone. Anger at that possessive glare. Anger at those two stupid words—my female. I wasn’t anyone’s. I didn’t belong to any man anymore, not even the father of my child. And the audacity of these two standing here, thinking they could decide what was best for me, made my skin crawl. It was my damn life, not theirs! Then I raised my chin and met Miles’ heated stare. “First of all,” I snapped, my voice crackled like fire waiting to catch. “I am not your female.” I saw his jaw tighten, but it didn't stop me. “And secondly, you don’t get to speak to me that way. Ever.” He laughed, bitter and cold, like he couldn’t believe I just said that. His hand dragged roughly through his already tousled hair, and the frustration in his body language was radiating like heat. “I don’t give a shit what you are to me right now,”
Where Silence ScreamsRHEA’S POV I stood behind the couch, watching the exchange, my heart clenching in my chest. Sekani had always been bright and sensitive. He was loyal to a fault. And today, I could see that his heart was hurting in ways he didn’t yet understand, seeing the tension between Yuri and me. He didn’t know the truth. Not yet. But even his little heart knew that something wasn’t right. Miles looked up at me after Sekani’s frosty reaction. His eyes burned with fury, but underneath that rage, I caught glimpses of something else, confusion… pain… maybe even betrayal. It was hard to tell. He looked like a man trying to hold someone responsible, someone to lash out at, but there wasn’t one person to blame. We were all in this mess together. Even me. And honestly, with everything I learnt, I didn't know what to feel. But despite all the damage done, all the scars and lies, I was sure of one thing. My heart didn’t belong to Miles anymore. And as much as that should’ve
A Moment Too Late.RHEA’S POV I tucked Sekani into bed, gently brushing his curls back and planting a soft kiss on his forehead. He mumbled something in his sleep, clutching his stuffed lion tighter. My chest squeezed. I watched him for a moment longer, letting the calm of his sleeping face soothe the ache in my heart, then quietly stepped out of his room, switching off the light.Back in the living room, Miles stood in the center like he didn’t quite know what to do with himself. His shoulders were slightly hunched, hands tucked into his pockets, eyes scanning the space like he was looking for something, maybe a piece of the life he had missed. I took a slow breath, steadying myself for the conversation I knew we couldn’t avoid tonight.The staff were still setting the dining table. I wasn’t hungry, but I needed the distraction. I needed something to focus on. I waved the staff off with a small gesture and walked toward the table myself. I motioned for Miles to join me at the table.
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