A CALL FROM SAN FRANCISCO Roman left the basement with Hayley. He left Caspian to handle things there. Hayley walked slowly, she wanted the fresh evening breeze to touch Roman so he would get calmer. “Why are we walking this slow?” Roman asked. “See it as an evening stroll, it is calming is it not?” She asked him. Roman looked at her and then back in front of him. “What is it?” She asked him. “I know you are trying hard to make me feel better and I appreciate it but it is not necessary. With you here by my side, I am at my calmest, I mean it” he said. Hayley looked at him and smiled and he returned the smile. “But i must admit the breeze is a bonus' ' he Said and her smile brightened as she looked ahead. Roman noticed the wind was pushing her hair in her face, so he reached out and tucked them behind her eyes and when he did that, blood rushed to her cheek. “Is she blushing again?” He said and he pulled her hands away. “Who? Me? I was not blushing.” She said and the hair
RETURNING THE FAVOR. Hayley was in disbelief at what she just heard. Her mother was one of the strongest people that she knew and to hear that this kind of a thing happened to her just felt so unrealistic. Had she stayed away so much that they felt like telling her was going to be a bother? Is that how she had made them feel. A rush of guilt filled Hayley immediately. “Jane, how bad is it?” Hayley asked her. She heard Jane scoff on the other end of the line. “Such a great daughter you are, well you have realized that they aren't your parents so why would you give a damn about them?” Jane asked her sarcastically. “Jane it is nothing like that. Why would you say that to me?” Hayley asked really hurt by her best friend's words. “The truth is bitter honey, you always do this, when people are out of your sight they can just fuck off from your mind right? Don't come here with another sob story of yours, telling me how you have been so busy. That is bull crap” Jane spat out. “Jane, y
JOURNEY TO SAN FRANCISCO. The next morning Roman woke Hayley up from her sleep. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled when her eyes met his. “Good morning” she said smiling shyly and Roman pressed his lips on her. “Good morning,” he said. Her smile widened and she began to blush. “Go and get ready. You need to leave on time” Roman said and she nodded and got up from the bed She went into the bathroom, had her bath and came out. As she picked out the cloth she was going to wear, her towel fell from her body. She wanted to pick it up but then she changed her mind. There wasn't any need for that, really. Roman looked at her, he watched her closely waiting for her to quickly cover up but she never did She just continued searching for clothes. She found a loose gown and then she wore her undies and threw it on “You know you are playing the wrong game with me, Rose” he said and she turned and looked at him. “I am sorry but I am afraid I do not understand what you mean,” Hayley
Turbulence of the Heart Hayley's POV I sank my teeth into the roasted chicken on the tray before me, savoring each bite as if it were my last meal. "Mmm, delicious," I mumbled, my eyes closing on their own in sweet surrender. The taste danced on my tongue like a symphony of flavors. Roman's lips curved into a pleased smile. "I'm glad you love it." He attested. "This service is top-notch," I managed between bites, my words muffled by a mouthful of food. I felt like a kid in a candy store, unable to contain my excitement. "You can say that again," Roman chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement at my enthusiasm. After we finished our meal, Roman switched on the TV, and we relaxed back to watch the news. The gentle hum of the jet's engines provided a soothing backdrop as we soared through the clouds. "Wow! I didn't know flying could be this fun," I mused, feeling more relaxed than I had in weeks. It was as if all my worries had been left behind on the ground, shrinking to insig
Homecoming Hayley's POV I stepped off the jet, my heart pounding like a jackhammer in my chest. San Francisco stretched out before me, a familiar yet somehow foreign landscape. The city I once called home now felt like a distant memory, blurred by the whirlwind of recent events. Roman's hand found mine, squeezing gently. "You okay, Rose?" he murmured. I forced a smile, but it felt brittle as glass. "As okay as I can be, I guess." I sighed. We made our way through the airport, my mind racing faster than my feet could carry me. Every face I passed seemed to morph into Jane's, her words echoing in my head like a cruel taunt: "Such a great daughter you are." I shook my head, trying to dislodge the memory. "Stop it," I muttered to myself. "What was that?" Roman asked, glancing at me with concern. "Nothing," I replied quickly. "Just... talking to myself. Bad habit." I replied honestly. As we climbed into the waiting car, I found myself staring out the window, lost in thought. The
New Horizons and Unexpected Encounters Hayley's POV As the elevator doors slid open with a soft ding, I stepped out, my heart still raced from the emotional rollercoaster of seeing my parents. Roman's steady presence beside me was like a warm, comforting blanket in the sterile chill of the hospital corridor. We were heading towards the exit, my mind was a jumble of thoughts and feelings, when suddenly, my eyes locked onto a familiar face. Jane! My breath caught in my throat, and I felt my steps falter. She was engrossed in her phone, fingers flying over the screen with practiced ease. For a fleeting moment, I considered slipping past her unnoticed, avoiding the confrontation that I knew would be as uncomfortable as wearing shoes two sizes too small. But fate, it seemed, had other plans. As if sensing my presence, Jane's head snapped up, her eyes widening in recognition before narrowing with a hostility that felt like a physical blow. "Well, well, look who's here," she drawle
A Taste of Romance Hayley's POV After wandering the hotel and taking a tour for what seemed to last like an eternity, I was tired of walking on my heels, so I leaned voluntarily into Roman for support. Roman seemed to read my expression when he spoke up. "A dinner and a drink will be needed after all the evening's events," he suggested, his voice as smooth as velvet. Without waiting for my response, he gently guided me towards the hotel's renowned eatery. As we stepped into the restaurant, the atmosphere enveloped us like a warm embrace. The lighting was soft and intimate, casting a golden glow over everything it touched. All around us, ladies in elegant evening dresses and men in sharp suits sat at tables, while their hushed conversations created a gentle buzz in the air. The soft clink of glasses and the delicate sound of cutlery against fine chinaware added to the symphony of refined dining. "Wow," I whispered to Roman, my eyes wide as I took in the scene before us. "Looks
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
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