Shopping for a Baby BoyHayley's POVI woke up feeling surprisingly energetic to venture out for another shopping trip. Roman's suggestion about male baby clothes had been constant in my mind, and I finally decided to be done with it.It had been a week since my last outing with the ladies, and I was itching to go out again.As I made my way downstairs with my hand lying on my swollen belly, the doorbell rang. My heart leaped like a startled rabbit. Who could it be? I walked over to the monitor to check who it was.Bree's smiling face greeted me on the screen, and a wave of relief washed over me. I flung open the door and enveloped her in a bear hug, nearly knocking us both off balance."Hey, mama-to-be!" she laughed, hugging me back! "Someone's excited to see me!" She announced.I pulled back, grinning from ear to ear. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you," I said, ushering her inside.Bree's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Well, I'm here to see that nursery you've been talking a
A Game of SeductionHayley's POVThe house was quiet as a tomb when I returned from our shopping expedition. My mind was already churning with ideas. How could I possibly change Roman's mind? The task seemed as impossible as moving a mountain with a teaspoon.Cook him a delicious dinner? Been there, done that. Give him a gift? What kind of gift could possibly sway the Lycan King? He'd probably just raise an eyebrow and politely decline.Feeling lost and a little desperate, I lay on the bed, and the mattress embraced me like a cloud.My eyes landed on my phone, and suddenly, I felt a pang of homesickness wash over me. When was the last time I called Mom? My healed mom, back in San Francisco? She must have missed me too.Before I could think too much about it, I grabbed my phone and dialed her number. The familiar ringing tone was like a lullaby to my ears."Hayley?" Mom's voice came through once she picked. It was warm and comforting. "It's been a while, sweetheart! How are you?" She a
Tension in the Hospital RoomHayley's POVAs my eyes opened due to the brightness of the room, I realized Roman was out of bed. I stretched, feeling the weight of yesterday's conversation with Roman still lingering in my mind.The urge to visit my dad's office and reassure him that everything was under control tugged at me, but the thought of potentially running into Melissa made my stomach churn like a stormy sea.With a sigh, I resigned to making a call to my mom, Viola instead, hoping it would ease some of Dad's worries. So, I reached for my phone on the nightstand.My fingers hovered over Viola's number for a moment before I tapped to call. As the line connected, I took a deep breath, ready to relay Roman's assurances."Hello, honey," my mom's voice came through. And if I was not wrong, it was laced with worry."Hi, Mom. How are you this morning?" I asked her and as if she was waiting, she chimed."Oh, Hayley, things are not good.." she began in a tone making my heart skip a beat.
A Moment of Calm Hayley's POV The ride home was a journey through worry and exhaustion. My mind was occupied with thoughts, each one competing for attention like kids bring homework. As Roman pulled into the driveway, I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. "You okay, Rose?" Roman's voice cut through my thoughts, marked with concern. I managed a weak smile. "Yeah, just... processing everything." I explained. He reached over and squeezed my hand. "Why don't you go rest? I've got some calls to make." He assured me. Nodding gratefully, I made my way to our bedroom. The familiar surroundings didn't reduce my worry, so I sank into the plush comforter. I closed my eyes, and I reached out to that part of me I was still getting to know, my wolf. I needed to center myself, to find some peace in this storm of emotions. "Sister, I'm here," I whispered internally, reaching out to my wolf. Her response was immediate, warm and comforting like a soft blanket on a cold night. "I'm he
Peace before the StormHayley's POVAs I woke up the next morning, my first thought was of my dad lying in that sterile hospital bed. I needed to see him again today, to make sure he was really getting better.As I stretched and yawned, shaking off the last wisps of sleep, I remembered my promise to Bree. Of course, I'd invite her to come with me to the hospital today.As I walked out of my room, I felt the soft carpet beneath my bare feet. Then, I heard a commotion coming from the nursery. Curiosity piqued, I peeked inside, and my eyes widened at the sight before me.Workers were standing on ladders, and their movements were careful and precise as they installed a projector on the ceiling.The device would cast a sea of stars above my baby's crib, turning her room into a beautiful galaxy each night. It was breathtaking, like something out of a fairy tale."Impressive, right?" Roman's deep voice rumbled behind me, making me jump slightly.I turned and a smile spread across my face lik
Coffee, Kisses, and ConfrontationsHayley's POVAs we stared wordlessly at one another, I noticed Melissa's eyes searching across the room, and her lip curled in a smug smile as she noticed Roman wasn't here. Her gaze then landed on me with wicked satisfaction."Well, well," she drawled, "I see the king couldn't be bothered to visit his ailing father-in-law to be. How... predictable." She sneered, her voice dripping with disdain.Before I could respond, Caspian stepped forward, "The Alpha is sick and needs his rest, in case you haven't noticed." He warned in a low but firm tone."We were just leaving to offer him that. So you'd do well to stop your noises." He added brooking no argument.But Scarlett, not one to be outdone, flared in anger as if offended, and her eyes flashed dangerously, like a cat about to pounce,"The alpha you brag about is our family and has nothing to do with you. You don't tell us what to do here!" She sneered, shooting back with venom in her voice.The absurd
Hope For a Brighter Future Hayley's POV After Caspian dropped me off at home, I watched as his car disappeared. I was lost in thought as I stood in the driveway but I sighed and made my way back inside. As I entered the house, the silence welcomed me like an unwanted visitor. Without Roman's presence, the place felt emptier, larger somehow. I wandered into the kitchen, with my hand absently rubbing my swollen belly and I poured myself a glass of water. The cold water soothed my throat, but my mind was already deep in thought. The hospital visit had started so well but ended in chaos. I remembered Melissa and Scarlett's faces sneering at me a few hours ago. "When will those two ever see me without sneering at me?" I wondered. Then, Roman's promise to banish Scarlett if she sneered at me again echoed in my mind. She had done exactly that at the hospital, but he wouldn't know except- Caspian told him... No. I couldn't let that happen. Before I could second-guess myself, I pull
Sweet Expectations Hayley's POV The sharp ring of my phone woke me up abruptly from my sweet sleep. My hands fumbled to find it, searching blindly in the dim light of the room. As my eyes focused on the screen, a smile appeared on my face seeing Roman's name flashing on the screen. He must have gotten my late night message and decided to call back. I answered instantly. "You sure know how to drive a man crazy," his deep voice rumbled through the speaker, sending a shiver down my spine. I acted innocent, and replied in my sleepy voice. "What did I do?" I retorted playfully. "Anyway," he continued, ignoring my question, "I'm coming back later in the evening since you can't withstand my absence." he answered, with anticipation and tease in his voice. I couldn't help but roll my eyes, even though he couldn't see me. "Sorry, your highness, I don't remember saying that." I protested weakly. He chuckled, sending a shiver down my spine. "Oh, you'll remember once I get hold of you." he
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