Carina’s POVThe car hummed softly as we made our way home. I sat in the back, my phone in hand, scrolling through the Kowalski Group’s website. My mind wouldn’t stop racing. Why now? Why my company? After all these years, I had done everything to leave them behind. My stepbrothers, their cruel jokes, the endless torment—and my mother, who never stood up for me.I sighed and closed my eyes for a moment. Even thinking about it made my chest feel tight. Sure, I missed my mom sometimes, but leaving was the best decision I’d ever made. Still, today had been a whirlwind, and my nerves were shot.“Long day, ma’am?” my driver, Alex, asked suddenly, his voice breaking through my thoughts.I looked up at him in the rearview mirror. He had a warm smile, his eyes filled with kindness.“You could say that,” I replied with a small smile. “How about you? The boys didn’t give you too much trouble, did they?”Alex laughed, shaking his head. “Trouble? Those two are the definition of trouble! Liam woul
Carina’s POVI walked into the bar at the corner of my parlor, my footsteps heavy with exhaustion. My hands reached for the bottle of whiskey almost instinctively. Pouring myself a glass, I felt a moment of calm, but it didn’t last long. My mind was racing too fast for any drink to keep up.As I raised the glass to my lips, I heard footsteps on the stairs. I turned just in time to see Ethan coming down, his face flushed, hair slightly messy. “Whew!” he said, plopping onto the nearest stool. “Those kids are a handful. Leo tried to climb onto my shoulders while Liam declared himself king of the living room.”I laughed, reaching for another glass. “You’re their official play partner, Ethan. You signed up for this,” I teased, pouring him a drink and sliding it across the counter.“Yeah, yeah,” he replied with a chuckle, taking a sip. “But seriously, you look wiped out. What’s going on? Work giving you trouble?”I let out a heavy sigh, swirling the whiskey in my glass. “You could say that.
Carina’s POVThe D day to meet my stepfather came, I stepped into the office, my heels clicking against the polished floor. The usual buzz of my team greeted me, but my nerves were on edge. Today wasn’t just another workday. Today, I was supposed to meet him.I clutched my coffee cup a little tighter, its warmth barely soothing my racing heart. I tried to remind myself to breathe. This wasn’t the same Kowalski I grew up knowing—or so I hoped.Lisa met me by my office door, her tablet in hand and her expression brighter than mine. “Good morning, Ms. Carter. You ready for the big meeting?”“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I said, forcing a smile.Lisa frowned slightly. “You okay? You look… tense.”“Just a lot on my mind,” I admitted, brushing past her and setting my bag down on my desk.“Well, don’t worry. You’ve got this. And Mr. Kowalski is already in the conference room waiting for you. He arrived early, by the way.”“Great,” I muttered under my breath, taking a long sip of coffee.Lisa t
Carina’s POV“Lisa,” I called out as I walked back into my office. My voice was sharp, and I didn’t care if it showed how tense I felt.She looked up from her laptop, eyebrows raised. “Yes, Carina?”“I need you to reschedule the meeting with the marketing team,” I said, pacing. “Move it to tomorrow. Also, draft an email to the investors thanking them for today’s session. Make it professional, but warm.”Lisa nodded, already typing. “Got it. Anything else?”“Yes. Forward me the budget report. I’ll review it later tonight.” I stopped pacing and looked at her. “And… hold my calls for the rest of the day.”Lisa’s fingers paused on the keyboard. She looked at me with concern. “Carina, are you okay?”I forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just need to step out for a bit. Clear my head.”She hesitated, then nodded. “Alright. Let me know if you need anything.”“Thanks, Lisa.” I grabbed my bag and headed out before she could ask any more questions.I didn’t plan to end up at the bar, but my feet seemed
Carina’s POVI quickly picked up my phone to dial Ethan’s number, but it wasn’t going through.“God!” I muttered under my breath, standing on the busy street. My hands trembled as I stared at the screen, trying again. Still nothing. Panic was settling in, like an unwanted guest. My mind raced.“Lisa! Lisa!” I said, scrolling furiously through my contacts. After what felt like forever, I finally tapped her name. The phone rang once. Twice. Three times.“Hello, ma’am,” Lisa’s calm voice answered.“Lisa, contact my driver and have him pick me up at this location. I’ll send you the address now,” I barked, already typing.“Okay, ma’am. On it,” she replied and hung up.I sent her the address and exhaled deeply. My hands were still shaking. What is happening? My life was perfect. So why does everything feel like it’s crumbling now, especially after what I’ve discovered? Something from my past… something I thought was buried.The car arrived sooner than I expected. I jumped in and slammed the
Carina’s POVThe message blinked on my phone screen, bright and menacing: "You think you’re smart, right????"My stomach dropped. Before I could process it, another notification popped up. With trembling fingers, I scrolled down."You think the police will save you from all this... If you want your children, Liam and Leo, to be safe, meet me at the abandoned cathedral yard by 11 PM tonight. Or your sons and your so-called friend Ethan will die."The phone slipped from my hand, clattering to the floor. My heart raced, pounding in my ears. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.“Carina!” Ethan’s voice snapped me out of my panic. He was at my side in an instant, his hands on my shoulders, steadying me. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”I shook my head quickly and snatched up the phone, holding it close. “Nothing,” I said, forcing my voice to sound calm. “I’m fine.”His eyes narrowed. “Carina, you’re shaking. Don’t tell me it’s nothing.”“I’m just... overwhelmed,” I said, plastering on a fake smil
CHAPTER 39Chapter 39: My Bullies, my Stepbrothers, My MatesCarina’s POVAs we walked back toward the house, my mind was racing. My phone vibrated in my hand, the notifications relentless. I clenched it tightly, afraid Ethan would notice. He was already watching me too closely. I needed to distract him—fast.“Ethan,” I said, breaking the silence.“Yeah?” he replied, looking over at me.“What do you think about... going back?” I asked, my voice shaky.He frowned. “Going back? What do you mean?”“Like... going back to see my mom,” I said. “And everyone else.”Ethan’s steps slowed, and he turned to face me. “Carina, you know how that affected you the last time you were there.”“I know,” I said quickly. “But maybe it’s different now. Maybe it’s time.”He shook his head. “For me, this isn’t the right time. You’ve got enough on your plate already. Why add more to it?”I sighed, kicking a loose stone on the road. It bounced ahead, echoing in the quiet night. “I just feel like Liam and Leo n
CHAPTER 40Chapter 40: My Bullies, my Stepbrothers, My MatesCarina’s POVI stared at the message on my phone, my heart racing."Don’t mess it up this time."What did it mean? There was no location. No instructions. Just those words blinking on the screen. I was confused and frustrated.Was this about last night? Did they know Ethan had escorted me out of the house? Was that why I didn’t get to meet them?I tapped my fingers against my thigh, trying to calm the panic swirling in my chest. My thoughts were a mess. I needed to figure this out. I couldn’t risk anything happening to Liam and Leo.The only reason I’d let them out of my sight was because they were writing their exams. Otherwise, I would’ve kept them home, locked away, safe.As if the universe could sense my anxiety, another message buzzed through."Meet me at SandStone Restaurant. VIP section. In 10 minutes. Don’t be late. COME ALONE!!!"I froze. SandStone Restaurant? That wasn’t far from where I was now. But 10 minutes? Ho
CHAPTER 94Carina’s POV As I was about to get ready, my phone suddenly rang. I frowned at the screen. Mr. Kowalski.My stepfather.I didn’t want to pick up, but I knew if I ignored it, I’d have a bigger problem on my hands. With a sigh, I pressed the answer button and held the phone to my ear."Good morning, sir," I said, trying to keep my voice neutral."Carina. Morning. How are you? Hope you are doing just fine," he said in that usual deep, authoritative tone."Yes, sir. Sure, I am," I replied, forcing myself to sound composed."Good. I need to see you in my office later today. Will that be possible?"I hesitated for a second. "Okay. Sorry, sir, which office specifically?" I asked. My stepfather owned several businesses, held multiple positions, and had offices all over the place."My office at the company," he clarified.I sighed internally. "Alright. I’ll be there shortly, sir.""You can call me stepdad, you know," he said suddenly.I forced a small smile. "Okay, stepdad. I’ll be
CHAPTER 93Carina’s POV Waking up and sleeping had been my routine. I hadn’t been to work for like a week. I didn’t really care, though, because as it stood, all I wanted were my kids. Nothing else mattered. Not my company, not my responsibilities. Just Liam and Leo. My babies.The knock on my door was soft. "Ma’am, tea for you," Lisa’s voice came through before she even stepped inside.I sighed and sat up. "Oh… thank you." I took the cup from her hands, feeling the warmth seep through my fingers.Lisa watched me carefully. "How are you feeling today, ma’am?""The same as yesterday. And the day before that. And the day before that." I took a sip, the tea slightly bitter, but I didn’t care.Lisa hesitated before sitting on the edge of the bed. "You haven’t been to the office in a while. Mr. Jensen has been handling everything, but there are… issues. Investors are asking questions."I scoffed. "Let them ask. They don’t care about me, Lisa. They care about their money."She nodded slowl
Carina’s POV The past three weeks have been crazy. I haven't slept, and I haven't had rest. I was so tired from crying. I didn't even know what else to do. I just kept crying again and again. My kids, Liam and Leo—I fucking miss them so bad. Ever since Henry had them taken, I have been restless, like so bad. I just woke up, and my head is banging. I didn't even know what to do. As it stands, I didn't even want to call my mom, stepdad, or my stepbrothers. All I wanted was just to cry my ass out. "Carina, open this damn door!" Maggie’s voice came from outside my room, loud and impatient. "I swear, if you don’t open this door in the next five seconds, I’m breaking it down." I groaned, hiding my face deeper into my pillow. "Go away, Maggie." "No," she snapped. "I’m not going anywhere until you get your ass out of that bed." I didn’t move. "Alright, fine." There was a short quiet before a loud bang shook my door. "Last chance, Carina. Open up, or I swear to God—" "Ugh! Fine!" I stum
Rodrigo’s POV I suddenly got a call. As I looked at it, I saw the number."It’s Dad," I muttered, even as I picked it up."Rodrigo. Meet me back in my office," his voice was sharp, firm. "Bring your brothers. Now."I swallowed hard. "Sure. We’ll be there."The line went dead. No explanation. No further words. Just a command.In no time, all three of us—Miguel, Antonio, and I—were at his office. The moment we stepped in, the tension hit us like a wave. Dad sat behind his desk, his fingers steepled together, his wolf dangerously close to the surface. His eyes were glowing slightly, a clear sign he was barely holding his rage in check."Sit," he ordered.We obeyed without a word.His gaze swept over us, cold and assessing. Then, he exhaled sharply. "I’m giving you over a hundred men. I don’t care what it takes—find Henry and bring him to me. Alive or dead. But I want him here. You understand?"Miguel nodded. "Yes, sir.""And that’s not all," Dad continued, his voice like steel. "The Bla
Rodrigo’s POV What the hell is wrong with you?!My father’s voice boomed through the office the moment I stepped in. The air was thick with his rage, his wolf pushing through, making his presence almost unbearable. His eyes burned into me, sharp and unforgiving.“I thought I told you to take care of the Black Moon Pack! What’s this rubbish I’m hearing?!” His fists slammed against his desk, rattling everything on it.I clenched my jaw. “Sorry, Dad. It wasn’t intentional. We thought we—”“Shut up!” he barked, his wolf growling along with him. The sound sent a warning through my body. My father was dangerous when he was angry. As an Alpha, if he lost control, people died. I knew better than to keep talking.His glare was deadly. “You of all people know what these people are capable of! And all you could do was allow them to live?! Have I ever given you and your brothers a job to do and you all failed? What the hell is this?!”I swallowed hard, standing still as he paced the room. His wo
Carina’s POV A few months back, my dad’s shipments were being raided by rogue wolves. It was getting too much. He told me and my brothers, and we swung into action. We made sure we traced where these rogue wolves were from, and when we found them, we attacked. Eliminating every living person in their pack.The Black Moon Pack.Like every single person.I knew we weren’t supposed to. Just those that raided my dad's shipment were meant to be gone. But… nah. I couldn’t stop. Out of anger, me and my brothers did this. Now, I think they are back.I was very surprised. Or did any of them survive?Is Henry one of them?All these questions just filled my head. For them to even have an idea to follow us, to keep track of Carina, to kidnap our kids… this person must be really good. Really calculated.I was so angry and pissed that, even as I drove, my wolf almost took over because of the rage. I just had to keep on suppressing it. My grip on the steering wheel was so tight, my fingers were goi
Carina’s POV I didn’t know why I had such a strong rage when I heard the news. It was like fire had been set loose in my veins, burning everything in its path. The fury inside me was so high as I sped in my Benz, heading straight to my father’s pack. It had been a long time since I felt this kind of rage.All in my head now was Henry. I had to find him. And when I did, I was going to use my own hands and snuff the life out of him. My grip on the steering wheel was tight, my knuckles turning white as the thoughts in my head grew darker.Ever since I met those kids, I felt something different, something I couldn’t explain. A connection that ran deeper than just Carina’s kids. I didn’t know why. Maybe I did, but I just didn’t want to say it out loud. Carina had never told us who their father was. She avoided the topic like the plague, dodging every question, every hint. But deep down, I knew the truth. We all did.They were ours. Mine, Miguel’s, Antonio’s. Our blood, our heirs.And I wo
Carina’s POVMy voice was shaking, my whole body trembling. My legs felt weak, like I was going to collapse.The driver groaned. “Black… van… masked men…” He gasped for air. “I… I couldn’t…”I didn’t wait. I shot up and ran toward the car. Maybe they were hiding. Maybe it was some cruel joke. I pulled open the back door so fast, my hands hurt.Empty.No backpacks. No lunch boxes. No tiny shoes. Nothing.They were gone.I let out a scream. A loud, painful scream that shook through my entire body. I felt like something had just been ripped out of my soul.“No… no… NO!!!”Ethan was behind me in an instant. “Carina, listen to me, we’ll find them.”I turned on him, eyes wild. “FIND THEM?! ETHAN, MY KIDS WERE TAKEN! SOMEONE TOOK MY BABIES! DO YOU GET THAT?! DO YOU?!”Ethan grabbed my shoulders. “Carina, look at me. LOOK AT ME.”I was breathing too fast. My chest was tight. I felt like I was going to pass out.“I swear to you,” Ethan said, voice firm. “We will get them back. But you have to
Carina’s POV I won’t lie… at this point, I was really pissed. The main reason I left my stepbrothers and my mom was because I wanted to be away from them. I fucking literally saw these guys a few hours back before I left my mom’s house. Like, how the fuck do they just want to come into my life by force? Can’t they just leave me alone?All these thoughts were swirling in my head, making my blood boil. I just wanted to be calm, to not overthink it. So, I sat down, trying to steady my breath.Ethan, being Ethan, got up and walked over to the kitchen. I could hear him moving things around, then he came back with a glass of water, sitting beside me. He handed it to me, his voice gentle.“Drink up.”I looked at him, then at the glass, then back at him. “No.”He sighed, shaking his head dramatically. “Carina, you need to hydrate. You look like you’re about to combust.”“I don’t need water, Ethan. I need peace.”“You need water more.”“I’m not drinking it.”“Wow.” He leaned back, studying me