A Night of Whispers Roman barely left my lips when the elevator sounded and a few more people entered. They looked between us. I must have looked disoriented and flushed so I looked down. Roman held my hand to give me some comfort. As we stepped out of the elevator, the world around us seemed to fade away, leaving only Roman and me in our own little bubble. My heart raced like a hummingbird's wings, a mix of anticipation and nervousness fluttering in my chest. Roman's hand in mine felt like an anchor, grounding me as we walked briskly towards our room. The hallway stretched before us like an endless ribbon, each step bringing us closer to a moment that felt both thrilling and promising. Finally, we reached our door. Roman fumbled with the key card for a moment, his usual grace momentarily abandoning him. As soon as we were inside, the air between us seemed to crackle with electricity. Roman's eyes met mine, and in them I saw a reflection of my own desire. "Rose," h
A Day of Love and SupportHayley's POVI opened my eyes slowly, like a flower unfurling its petals to greet the morning sun. The soft light filtered through the curtains which painted the room in a gentle golden hue, and wrapped us in its warm embrace.Roman's strong arm was draped over my waist, his presence a comforting anchor in the sea of emotions swirling within me.As I lay there, drinking in the peaceful moment, I felt Roman stir beside me. His sleepy voice rumbled through his chest, "Good morning, beautiful." He greeted me.The simple words sent a flutter through my heart, as delicate as a butterfly's wings.I turned to face him, my breath catching at the sight of his tousled hair and the soft smile playing on his lips. "Morning,"I whispered back, unable to keep the happiness from seeping into my voice. It amazed me how his mere presence could make me feel so safe, so cherished.Roman's lips brushed against my forehead, soft as a feather. "How did you sleep?" he asked, his fi
Healing Hearts and Generous SoulsHayley's POVAs we stepped out of the automatic doors of the hospital into my mom's hospital ward, the stark white walls and antiseptic smell hit me like a wave.My heart warmed up in my chest, with a mix of anxiety and anticipation swirling inside me like a storm. Perhaps I was scared of meeting Jane again.But Roman's hand in mine was my anchor, keeping me steady as we made our way to her room."You're doing great, Rose," Roman whispered, his breath warm against my ear. "Just remember to breathe." He added.I nodded, taking a deep breath as we walked in the hallway. The short distance made my stomach flip, or maybe it was just my nerves. I clutched the bouquet of flowers tighter, their sweet scent a small comfort in the sterile environment."What if... what if I meet Jane there with them? I don't know how to confront her yet." I voiced my deepest fear, the words barely audible.Roman turned to me, his eyes full of warmth and understanding. "She'll h
Out To Meet An Old FriendHayley's POVAs we walked out of the hospital, the cool air on the streets carried my hair gently flying around, while my heart whirled with a mixture of emotions.The weight of everything that had happened inside which were, Roman's incredible generosity, and the emotional reunion with my parents settled on my shoulders like a heavy cloak.But amidst all the swirling emotions, a new determination began to take root in my heart.I turned to Roman, his eyes soft with concern as he watched me. "Ro," I began, my voice stronger than I expected, "I need to see Jane. I can't be in the city and not try to make things right with her." I decided.Roman's brow furrowed, and a shadow of worry crossed his face. "Are you sure that's a good idea, Rose? After everything that's happened..." He asked me.I understood his concern. Jane's actions had hurt me deeply, like a knife twisting in my gut. But she had been my best friend for so long, a constant in my life like the Nort
Once A Friend, Always A FriendHayley's POVWhen the door finally opened, it displayed a face none other than the apartment owners.But she looked tired, her eyes red-rimmed as if she'd been crying. For a moment, we just stared at each other, as if we were seeing each other for the first time. Roman also stiffened wordlessly beside me."Hayley?" Jane's voice was barely above a whisper, disbelief coloring her tone. "What are you doing here?" She demanded.I swallowed hard, fighting back the lump in my throat. "I... I came to talk," I managed to say, holding up the bag of peace offerings. "To try and understand. To see if we can fix this." I told her.Jane's eyes flicked from me to Roman, then to the treats in my hand. I saw a flicker of something – regret? Fear? – cross her face before she stepped back, opening the door wider."Okay better make it quick," she said, her voice carefully neutral.As we crossed the threshold into Jane's apartment, I felt like I was stepping into the past a
Rekindling FriendshipHayley's POVThe sitting room grew darker signalling nightfall. And the colorful glow from the television screen shone across the room, which casted dancing shadows on the walls and our faces too.I sank deeper into Jane's plush couch, while the familiar scent of her apartment wrapped around me like a warm blanket.The familiar comfort of a movie night together eased away the tension of the past few months.As the end credits of our second film rolled on the screen, bringing us to the end of the movie, Jane stretched and yawned."I think we need a caffeine boost," she said with a grin. "Let me go put on some coffee." She said jumping up."Coffee sounds perfect," I said, offering a smile of my own.I was grateful for the break. As Jane disappeared into the kitchen, I let out a long breath, my hand unconsciously moving to rest on my swollen belly.The baby gave a little kick, as if reminding me of its presence. A small smile tugged at my lips."Alright, alright," I
Unfinished Business in San Francisco Roman's POV I leaned back in my chair with a cool glass of whiskey in my hand. Its coolness was a stark opposite to the heated atmosphere of the casino. The air was thick with the scent of desperation and greed which was a strong reason that reminded me of why I despised these places. But I wasn't here for pleasure. No, I was here to settle an old business. How did I even get here, you say? Well here's how. After leaving Hayley at her friend's house, I had nowhere to go, but as I stopped by the road to stop a cab, preventing all eyes on me, an idea stunk me San Francisco was a place I came once on a business trip with Caspian several months ago. That was when we had a night party and met Katherine, Rose, my mate. The party was mainly to lure a man we had been searching for. It was reported that he normally attended parties that were secure house parties and not at public nightclubs for his safety. The man, Sylvester, was a gambler who chea
The Gambler's GambitRoman's POVAs I continued to sit in the dimly lit corner of the casino, my eyes never left the gambler's table where Sylvester sat. As if he'd disappear if I blinked my eye even for a second.I took another sip from my drink and wondered when to make my move. Sylvester was not leaving the table at any moment and the game looked like it'll never end, which grated on my nerves.Abruptly, my thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a woman in a dress that left little to the imagination. She slid onto the sofa next to me, with her perfume as overwhelming as her presence."Can I have a drink with you, handsome?" she purred, leaning in close. "You shouldn't be sitting here alone all by yourself." She added, with her voice dripping with false sweetness.I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. This was the last thing I needed right now. "I'm fine on my own," I replied, keeping my voice neutral, but hoping she'd take the hint and leave.But she was persistent, like a mos
Happily Ever AfterHayley's POVThe morning sun shone through the windows as I stared at the garden below, savoring the beautiful view of it. It was like a gentle whisper of hope, soft and tentative, whispering through my ears. My fingers traced the windowsill, exploring the smooth, weathered wood beneath my touch - each groove and grain a tactile memory of our tumultuous journey. Two days. Just two days since Roman had returned from a battle that had threatened to unravel everything we knew, a conflict that had hovered on the razor's edge of total destruction.Memories cascaded through my mind like fragmented scenes from a nightmare. The metallic scent of blood. The paralysis of fear. That horrifying moment when time seemed to stop, and I believed I might lose everything I had come to love.But not today.Today was different.Today was about healing.About redemption.About hope rekindled.Downstairs, the kitchen was a symphony of preparation. We had hired more cooks for the celeb
A Promising Future Roman's POV I opened my eyes to the soft morning light coming through the windows. The pain in my chest was less now, thanks to the healing I got last night. Rose sat next to me on our bed, her hand gentle on my arm. She looked tired but happy."How are you feeling?" she asked softly, her fingers threading through my hair with such tenderness it made my heart ache. Dark circles circled her eyes, evidence of her exhaustion from last night, but her smile held all the warmth of the morning sun.I caught her hand in mine, pressing my lips to her knuckles, breathing in the familiar scent of her skin. "Better. The healing worked better than I expected." Every word was true – the piercing pain that had threatened to tear me apart was now just a memory."That's good." Her smile wavered slightly, worry dancing in the depths of her green eyes like shadows in still water. "The twins are still sleeping now. But they gave me a hard time sleeping last night. It's like they c
A New Dawn Hayley's POV I paced the hospital corridor as we waited for Dad to wake up. The fluorescent lights shone too bright even though it was already night, making the white walls seem even more clinical. I sat down in an uncomfortable plastic chair and shifted numerous times, my muscles protesting after hours of sitting. Next to me, Viola kept checking her phone, her fingers drumming an anxious rhythm on her thigh. Bree had gone home to rest about an hour ago, practically falling asleep on her feet. I'd insisted she get some proper sleep, promising to call if anything changed. The twins were with Dora, and even though I trusted her completely, my thoughts kept drifting to them. It was the longest I'd been away since they were born. "Family of Lucien Merchetti?" A doctor's voice drew my attention to the doorway. She was young, probably in her early thirties, with kind eyes that crinkled at the corners when she smiled. "You can go in and see him now, but just for a litt
The Final Battle Roman's POVThe private jet touched down in San Francisco just as the sun began its descent behind the horizon. My muscles were tense from the flight, but my mind was sharp, focused on the hunt ahead.Beside me, Caspian checked his phone for the hundredth time, his usual playful demeanor replaced by cold determination."Our tracking team is already working on Scarlett's location," I told him as we climbed into the waiting SUV. "They'll have coordinates for us within minutes." I informed him."Good." Caspian's voice was clipped. "The sooner we end this, the better." He added.As we drove to my wolves' team here in San Francisco, I pulled out my phone to hear from Rose back in New York. My fingers hovered over Rose's number for a moment before I pressed call. She answered on the first ring, her voice tight with worry."Roman? Did you find them?" She asked me.Just hearing her voice made my wolf whine. "We're close. The tracking team is working on it now." I leaned aga
Escape Before DawnRoman's POV We sat at the back of the garden, and the late afternoon shone across the immaculately beautiful lawn. My wolf paced restlessly beneath my skin as I watched Scarlett and Stephan exchange their vows, not fooled by the serene facade of this wedding. Everything about them looked fake – the forced smiles, the tension crackling in the air, the way my guards tried to blend into the background while keeping their eyes fixed on Melissa.Rose was beside me, her hand warm in mine, her emerald dress making her skin glow in the fading light. She was trying to keep her composure, but I could feel the slight tremor in her fingers. I found myself thinking about our own future wedding, the one we'd have once all this mess was over. It would be different – filled with joy instead of suspicion, love instead of hatred."You may kiss the bride," the officiant announced, his voice carrying across the hushed garden.I leaned closer to Rose, my lips brushing her ear as I wh
Scarlett's Wedding Hayley's POV I stood before the full-length mirror in our bedroom, pulling down the hem of my emerald green dress for the hundredth time now. I felt nervous.The silk material mused against my skin as I stretched it, but even its luxurious touch couldn't calm my nerves. Today was my sister's wedding—if you could call someone who'd tried to kill you a sister."Stop fidgeting, Rose." Roman's deep voice called from the doorway. I didn't have to turn because I saw his reflection in the mirror before me, and my breath hitched in my throat. He looked devastatingly handsome in his charcoal suit, his dark hair slightly tousled as if he'd been running his fingers through it. His eyes, those piercing amber orbs that never failed to see right through me, held mine in the mirror."I can't help it," I mumbled, smoothing my hands over my stomach. The twins' birth had left its marks, but Bree had chosen this dress perfectly—it hugged in all the right places while still being ap
Three Days of GraceRoman's POVIt was three days before Scarlett's wedding. I was pacing my study in the early morning, thinking. Dawn hadn't yet broken when Caspian arrived and joined me in the study. I had called him earlier. I'd been up for hours now, my wolf restless beneath my skin. The weight of leadership had never felt heavier than in these moments, when every decision could mean life or death for those I loved."Three days," Caspian said, leaning back in his chair. Dark circles under his eyes suggested he'd been up all night too. "Are we really going through with getting Melissa out for the wedding?" He asked me.I paused my pacing to rub my temples, where a headache had been building since midnight. I turned to walk to the window, watching as the sun shone down in the garden looking too peaceful for the turmoil in my mind."I don't know," I admitted, my voice rough from lack of sleep. The thought of letting Melissa out made my wolf snarl with protective rage. "With ever
Betrayal in Plain SightRoman's POVThis morning I woke up with new determination. I rubbed my tired eyes, determined to review more surveillance footage. Yesterday's run with Rose had helped clear my mind, made the bitterness and pain more manageable. I didn't expect to find anything new in the recordings, but I had to try. I had barely started hearing the recordings in my study.Then I heard it.Scarlett's voice came through the speakers, trembling slightly. "I don't know what to do. He's going to banish me from New York. I have nowhere to go." She cried.I leaned forward, turning up the volume. A female voice responded, making my anger spike."Come to San Francisco. We need to stick together now more than ever," the voice said. "It's time we dealt with Roman and Hayley once and for all." She told her. Wait. That voice sounds familiar.My fingers gripped the edge of my desk. That voice... I knew that voice."Are you sure?" Scarlett asked, hope creeping into her tone."Yes. Just co
Comfort in ChaosHayley's POVMy heart ached as I watched Roman storm upstairs to his study, his shoulders rigid with tension. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the foyer, each step heavy with the weight of yesterday's revelations. Viola's eyes followed his retreating form, and concern appeared on her elegant features."Kate, darling," Viola said softly, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. "I've never seen him this tense, even for Roman. What has happened?" She asked me.I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. The morning sunlight streaming through the windows suddenly felt too bright, too cheerful for the heaviness in my chest. "He visited his mother in the dungeon yesterday," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "She told him... she told him Victor might be his real father."The silence that followed was deafening. Bree's coffee cup clattered against its saucer, the sound sharp in the quiet room."Oh my God," Bree breathed, her blue eyes wide. "Are you