The Alphas' VerdictRoman's POVAs we walked out of the meeting room for the short break, I couldn't help but rub my temples, trying to think about the best judgment for the confined Lunas. Caspian fell into step beside me, sensing my inner turmoil. "What are you thinking?" he asked quietly.I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I'm not sure, to be honest. Holding them confined for a while is the safest option, but I know the other alphas won't be pleased about it." I confessed.Caspian nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "Perhaps we should make it an open discussion when we reconvene. Let them voice their concerns, make it clear that we're not against them, we're all in this together." he suggested.I considered his words, nodding slowly. "That's not a bad idea. We need to approach this carefully, make them feel heard, but also make them aware not to be selfish." I said.Caspian clapped me on the back. "Exactly. Just remember, you're the King. Your word is final, but it'll go
Departure and DecisionsRoman's POVI woke up with a dreadful feeling in my chest, as the insistent chaos of recently washed down on me. As I lay there, staring at the ceiling, I realized I couldn't stand being in this country anymore. The urge to leave, to go back to New York, was overwhelming.So I'll just call the pilot driver and have him bring the jet here. Nonetheless, I'll have to check on the prisoners before we take off.Beside me, Rose stirred, before her eyes fluttered open. She looked at me, concern etched on her face. "You're awake already. Everything alright, Ro?" she asked, her voice still husky with sleep.I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Yes, I was just thinking, I feel we need to leave. Go back to New York. Today." I informed her, plainly.Rose stifled a yawn, and frowned slightly. "Are you sure? What about everything here?" She asked, curiously."I know it's sudden, but I can't continue keeping you here with the babies," I explained, my voice low and urgen
Returning To New York With Beautiful HopeHayley's POVAs the jet's engines came to life, preparing for takeoff, I reclined back into my plush leather seat, feeling a momentary wave of relief wash over me.The familiar hum of takeoff vibrated through my body, and I closed my eyes, desperately wishing we could leave all our troubles behind on the ground. But even as we climbed higher into the sky, the haunting image of Leighton's bride being stabbed flickered behind my eyelids. I shuddered, opening my eyes quickly to dispel the memory which has become my nightmare lately. I hope that somehow, the change of scenery will erase all those haunting memories.Viola settled into the seat next to me, her presence a comforting warmth. On my other side, Bree sat quietly, her usual bubbly energy subdued. I glanced at her, noticing the distant look in her eyes. The attempted murder we'd witnessed had clearly shaken her to her core, extinguishing her enthusiasm for weddings and celebrations.A
Home Sweet HomeHayley's POVThe New York skyline loomed in the distance, before the jet touched ground, finally arriving in New York, we were all feeling weary. The limo awaited us in the airport driveway and we all filed in. In less than thirty minutes, we pulled up to the mansion, the tires crunching on the gravel driveway. I stared out the window, my eyes heavy with more exhaustion now. The lush greenery surrounding Roman's estate greeted us. As beautiful as it was, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in my stomach during the vacation.Roman squeezed my hand gently. "We're home," he murmured, his voice a mixture of relief and tension.I nodded, mustering a weak smile. Home. It still felt strange to call this place home, but I supposed it was now.As we stepped out of the limo, the front door swung open, and I saw my San Francisco parents rushing out to greet us. Their familiar faces, etched with concern and relief, brought a lump to my throat."Oh, sweetie!"
Chaos Continues Hayley's POVThe next morning after I woke up, I stood by the crib, watching our babies sleep peacefully, their tiny chests rising and falling with each breath. I smiled down at them as I watched them.The soft morning light filtered through the nursery curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room. The familiar surroundings brought a sense of calm to my heart, a stark contrast to the chaos we'd left behind.The door creaked open, and I turned around to see Roman step inside. His hair was slightly tousled, and there were dark circles under his eyes, but he looked more relaxed than he had in days."Hey," I whispered, careful not to wake the babies. "How did you sleep?" I greeted him.Roman came up beside me, wrapping an arm around my waist. "Better than I have in days," he murmured, echoing my thoughts. "Being home... it helps." he admitted, with a small smile playing on his lips.I leaned back into him, drawing comfort from his solid presence. For a moment, we just s
The Foreboarding News Hayley's POVAs I prepared to unload the foreboarding news, I couldn't help but wonder how they would react. Would they be scared? Angry? Would they regret coming here, being pulled into this dangerous world of werewolves and power struggles?I took a deep breath, my hands clasped tightly in my lap to stop them from shaking. The weight of everything we'd been through pressed down on me, making it hard to find the right words. But as I looked at my parents' concerned faces, I knew I had no choice."Mom, Dad," I began, my voice barely above a whisper, "there's something you need to know about the wedding we just attended. There was ... a sinister reason why we went to that wedding."Dad leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean, honey?" I asked them.I glanced at Roman, drawing strength from his steady presence beside me. "We went to that wedding because we thought we'd find the man who kidnapped you both. Remember Melissa? The woman he used you as l
Unveiling the MoleRoman's POVAfter informing Rose about the situation, I left her to catch up with her parents and while I walked out to call Caspian. The situation was already giving me a headache. The thought of our bombed safehouse, a place meant to protect us, now reduced to rubble, haunted my thoughts. We had barely left there, and the realization that someone had given out our location left a bitter taste in my mouth.With a deep breath, I pulled out my phone and dialed Caspian's number. The line rang twice before he picked up."Caspian," I said, my voice tense. "We need to talk. Now." I said without a preamble.I could hear the concern in his voice as he replied, "What's happened, Roman?" He asked, his voice groggy from sleep."Our safehouse was bombed," I said, the words feeling surreal as I spoke them. "The guards called me this morning, and... it's bad, Caspian. Really bad. Some of them couldn't make it out alive." I filled him in.There was a sharp intake of breath on
Whispers of DangerHayley's POV The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the balcony as I sank into the plush sofa, my eyes wandering over the lush garden below. It was a day before our visit to my father's mansion, and my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The garden below was alive with the soft murmur of voices. My parents – the ones who raised me in San Francisco – were strolling among the flower beds, their laughter drifting up to me on the warm breeze. I closed my eyes, letting the peaceful moment wash over me, knowing it might be the last one I'd have for a while. I was trying to savor this moment of peace before the storm that was surely coming.The sound of approaching footsteps made me open my eyes. Then the soft click of the balcony door opening made me turn. Viola and Bree appeared in the doorway, with concern written on their faces. I managed a weak smile as they settled into the sofa beside me."Hayley, sweetheart," Viola began, her voice gentle. "
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