Tension Amidst CelebrationRoman's POVThe past three days had been a whirlwind of emotions. Joy, exhaustion, and an overwhelming sense of love for my new family. Today was the day we'd finally bring Rose and our twins home from the hospital. I could hardly believe it was real.As we stepped into the nursery, I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. I had made fast arrangements in the nursery while Rose was still in the hospital.I had brought in another bed for the twins, and made more wardrobe spaceLuckily Kate had already shopped for both genders, so that was not an issue to worry about.The room was perfect, with two cribs side by side and plenty of space for all the things our little ones would need.The soft coos of our newborn twins filled the nursery as Rose and I settled them into their cribs."There we go," I said softly, tucking a blanket around our daughter. "Welcome home, little ones." I added.Rose leaned against me, and her eyes shone with a mixture of exhaustion and
Escape and Vigilance Roman's POV After the guard stammered nonsense about not knowing Victor escaped. I pushed him aside and stomped straight to my mother's room. I needed to hear if she'd known anything about Victor's escape. I bursted through the door, and my mother looked up, startled. But I fixed her with an intense stare. "Do you know?" I demanded, my voice rough with emotion. She blinked in confusion before she asked. "Know what, Roman?" She demanded. I clenched my fists, frustration building within me. "Don't play dumb," I growled. "You know exactly what I mean." I sputtered. My mother's expression hardened. "I seriously don't have any idea what you're talking about, Roman. Please, explain yourself." She said firmly, straightening her back. I took a deep breath, trying to control my temper. "Victor," I spat out the name like a curse. "He's escaped. Do you know about this?" I spat. Her eyes widened in genuine shock. "Escaped? How is that even possible? I swear, Roman, I
A Glow of AnticipationHayley's POVI woke up with a flutter in my chest, my heart skipping a beat as I realized what tomorrow would bring. The baby shower. It felt surreal, like a dream I was afraid to wake up from and I could barely contain my joy.Having my mom and dad with Jane from San Francisco staying with us in the mansion made everything feel perfect. They'd promised to leave after the celebration, but for now, I was savoring every moment with them.As I gazed down at my twins, their tiny faces peaceful in sleep, I couldn't help but marvel at how quickly everything had changed.My fingers gently traced the soft curve of their cheeks, and I whispered, "You two have no idea how special tomorrow is going to be." I whispered to them.The door creaked open, and I looked up to see Roman entering with a smile that lit up his entire face. His hands were hidden behind his back, and I raised an eyebrow, curious.My heart did a little flip, even after all this time, he still had that e
A Morning of Female Company Hayley's POV After chatting with my mom and Jane and having the babies bathed, we settled them down to sleep and decided to go have breakfast downstairs. A guard stood by the door of the nursery to guard Emma with the babies inside, while one of them followed me as I began walking downstairs with Jane and mom. The aroma of coffee and baked pastries filled the air as we made our way to the dining room. My mom and Jane's chatter died down at the sight of the bodyguard. Of course he made us feel uneasy, as his presence was a constant reminder of the invisible threats lurking beyond these walls. Jane's eyes darted to the guard, then back to me, and her brow furrowed with concern. "Hey, Hales," she whispered, leaning in close, "what's with the bodyguard? I get that you're royalty and all, but isn't a guard trailing you everywhere suffocating?" She asked, feeling the shackles too. I let out a small sigh, my shoulders tensing slightly. "It's... com
The Baby Shower Hayley's POV I woke up today with a flutter in my heart like a kid on Christmas morning. Today was the day! The baby shower! As I lay there, trying to calm my racing heart beat, I could hear the mansion already live with activities. The soft bustling of workers, the hastened footsteps along the hall, the occasional bark of instructions, it all filtered through my closed door, which was a last minute preparation. Even around me, Dora fused with the babies as she bathed and dressed them. She greeted me with a smile when she saw me woke up. I answered warmly before I swung my legs over the side of the bed and padded to the bathroom to have a shower. After a quick shower and throwing on some comfortable clothes, I made my way downstairs for breakfast. The mansion had been polished, looking all white and pristine. Roman had a way of overpampering things, I couldn't help but smile sweetly. After a quick breakfast, feeling excitement bubbling inside me with
A Queen's Transformation Hayley's POV The moment I stepped into the dressing room, I felt a flutter of anticipation in my stomach. The makeup artist, a petite woman with a warm smile, gestured for me to take a seat in front of the large, well-lit mirror. "Ready to be transformed, Madam?" she asked in a warm gesture, and her eyes twinkled with excitement. I laughed nervously, settling into the plush chair. "As ready as I'll ever be, I suppose." I mumbled before sitting in the dresser chair. As she began to work her magic, I closed my eyes and let myself relax. The gentle touch of brushes against my skin and the soft chatter of my friends and family in the background created a soothing atmosphere. "Oh my goodness, Kate!" Jane's excited voice broke through my reverie. "You look absolutely stunning!" She gushed. I opened my eyes and gasped at my reflection. The woman staring back at me looked... regal. My usually unruly hair was now cascading down my shoulders in soft wave
A Celebration of New Beginnings Hayley's POV As we all stepped out into the garden, a hushed silence fell over the crowd. I felt my cheeks flush as all eyes turned towards us, and quiet whispers emanated from the gathered guests sitting around the tables. My heart raced, a mix of excitement and nervousness coursing through my veins. I couldn't help but marvel at the final touch of the garden. Twinkling lights hung from the trees, casting a soft glow over the garden. The air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers and the gentle notes of piano music. Roman placed a hand on my back, warm and reassuring, as he guided me forward. He directed the group of ladies to an elegantly decorated empty table, adorned with delicate flower vases and expensive platters. Then, he caught my hand in his and intertwined our fingers, before leading me towards the raised platform where he made his full moon speech almost a week ago. But it felt like a year ago now. Oh! How fast things move.
An Evening of Laughter and Farewells Hayley's POV After tending to the twins, I made my way back downstairs, my heart light and my spirits high. I paused at the bottom of the stairs, taking in the scene before me. The garden was now alive with laughter and chatter, but now a different kind of energy filled the air. As I approached our table, I saw that a comedy performance had taken the stage, making everyone laugh heartily at the antics. I couldn't help but smile as I reached the table, seeing everyone carried away by the performance. Roman looked up at me and pulled out my chair for me, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "You're just in time for the best part," he said, winking at me. I settled in next to him, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. "Oh? And what's that?" I asked, pretending I didn't know. He leaned in close, his breath tickling my ear. "The part where I get to watch you laugh." He murmured. I felt a blush creep up my cheeks and playfully swatted
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