Carina’s POV"Yes, sure," I said, nodding weakly as Ethan moved to grab a towel and warm water. He looked so worried, and even though I could see the tension etched into his face, his focus was entirely on me."Just sit tight," he said softly, his voice filled with concern. "I’ll be right back."I nodded again, watching as he disappeared down the hallway. The moment he was out of sight, my burner phone buzzed loudly on the table next to me, the sound slicing through the quiet like a knife. My heart jumped, and I grabbed it quickly.A new message.You think Ethan can save you? Lol. You’re joking."What the fuck?" I whispered, my stomach twisting. How the hell were they tracking me? How did they know I was with Ethan?My hands trembled as I stared at the phone. Before I could even process it fully, another message came in:To save Ethan, stay away from him.I didn’t open the message. My mind was racing too fast. They were watching me, and now Ethan was in danger because of me. My instin
Carina’s POV“I want you to trust me,” I said, my voice breaking. “Please, Ethan. Trust me.”His expression softened slightly, but the tension didn’t leave his body. “I do trust you. But this… this is too much.”“I know,” I said quietly, tears streaming down my face. “But we have to be smart. For the boys. For us.”Ethan let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair. “Fine,” he said finally. “But the moment I think you’re in real danger, I’m stepping in. No arguments.”“Okay,” I whispered, relief washing over me.********As soon as we stepped inside, Liam and Leo ran up to me, their little faces lit with excitement.“Mummy, look!” Liam said, holding up his workbook. “We did new math today, and the teacher said I’m really good at it!”Leo wasn’t far behind, shoving a drawing under my nose. “And I made this for you, Mummy! It’s our family! See, that’s you, me, Liam, and Ethan!”I smiled, kneeling to their level. “Wow, this is amazing, Leo! And Liam, I’m so proud of you for doi
Carina’s POVRing, ring, ring. My phone wouldn’t stop blaring. The sound tore through the silence of the early morning like a hammer against my skull. Groaning, I sluggishly opened my eyes, the pounding headache reminding me why I was so desperate for rest in the first place. My head injury, though no longer bleeding thanks to Ethan’s quick thinking, throbbed with a dull, persistent ache beneath the bandage.Squinting at the screen, I could barely make out the caller ID. My vision blurred, exhaustion weighing heavy on me, and with a frustrated huff, I tossed the phone to the other side of the bed. “Who the hell is disturbing me this early?” I muttered under my breath, pressing my face back into the pillow.But the phone didn’t stop. Ring after ring, it mocked my attempts at ignoring it. I finally sat up, my body screaming in protest as pain rippled through me. My hands fumbled for the phone, and I swiped the screen without checking who it was.“What?!” I barked, my voice hoarse and ti
Carina’s POVSuddenly, my phone buzzed on the counter, cutting through the peaceful moment. I wiped my hands and picked it up, seeing Lina’s name flash on the screen. I sighed, already knowing this wasn’t going to be a casual chat.“What is it, Lina?” I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.“Sorry to disturb you, but Mr. Kowalski just called. He wants to meet today. Says he’s got another sponsorship deal for the company,” Lina said, her voice tinged with urgency.“Wow. Okay?” I replied, not sure how to feel about it. “Did he say what time?”“Around 4 p.m.,” she answered quickly.I bit my lip. Lisa had already mentioned this earlier, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to meet him again so soon. Something felt off. Why was my stepfather so eager to meet after we’d just seen each other a few days ago? I understood it was business, but there was always that lingering fear in the back of my mind—what if he’d told my stepbrothers about me?If he had, I’d be in serious trouble.“Lina,” I said after
Carina povMove from the road! I said in anger, gripping the steering wheel tightly as I honked at the car in front of me. The traffic was crawling, and my patience was wearing thin. My stepfather had insisted he couldn’t wait for our meeting, and now I was rushing to get to the office, my nerves frayed from the tension.I glanced at the clock on the dashboard. It was already past the time I should’ve been halfway there. The cars ahead showed no signs of moving, despite the road seeming clear further down. Something was definitely holding up the line. I let out a frustrated sigh, drumming my fingers on the wheel.“What’s going on?” I muttered to myself, craning my neck to see if I could spot the issue. Still nothing. A few pedestrians were walking past, so I rolled down my window, determined to find out what the holdup was.“Excuse me!” I called out to a man walking by. He paused, looking at me with mild curiosity. “Do you know why the traffic’s not moving?”“There’s an accident up ah
CHAPTER 50Chapter 50: My Bullies, my Stepbrothers, My MatesCarina’s POVThe morning of the second board meeting had arrived, and the nerves were already starting to build up in my chest. I had gotten to the office way earlier than usual, wanting to make sure I was at my best. Today wasn’t just about impressing Mr. Kowalski; there would be other investors in the room as well, and that meant I had to be even more prepared.As I sat down at my desk, I felt the familiar tightness in my chest. What if I said the wrong thing? What if I made a mistake in front of all those people? The thought alone made me feel like my stomach was doing somersaults. This was a big moment, and the pressure was suffocating.I ran a hand through my hair, trying to calm myself. “You can do this, Carina,” I whispered under my breath. But the nerves kept creeping in, no matter how hard I tried to push them down.I stood up from my desk, pacing back and forth in my office. I needed to clear my mind, to focus. “I
CHAPTER 51Chapter 51 : My Bullies, my Stepbrothers, My MatesCarina’s POVKowalski was seated. “Carina,” he greeted me with a curt nod. “Shall we begin?”“Of course,” I replied confidently, placing my materials on the table. Lina slid into a chair near the corner, giving me an encouraging look.“Before we dive in,” Mr. Kowalski said, “I’d like you to walk us through the sponsorship proposal. Make it clear how this aligns with our company’s goals.”I took a deep breath and began. “The sponsorship opportunity we’re considering targets our key demographics while opening doors to untapped markets. Our brand visibility will increase significantly, and the partnership’s mutual growth potential is undeniable.”“And the financials?” one of the board members interjected.“We’ve run the numbers,” I said, glancing at Lina, who immediately handed out copies of the financial breakdown. “The ROI is projected to be 150% within the first year, with incremental growth thereafter.”Mr. Kowalski leaned
Carina’s POVI was so surprised. Like, seriously, what the hell was happening? Rodrigo, Antonio, and Miguel sauntered into the boardroom like they owned the place, their smug smiles plastered on their faces as if they hadn’t been missing from my life for years. I felt a surge of anger and fear as they sat down, their mysterious looks making my stomach churn.“Long time, no see,” Antonio said with that infuriating smirk as he plopped down on the sofa in my office like it was his living room.I tried to keep my composure, but my voice betrayed me. “How… how did you find me?”Rodrigo chuckled, the sound low and mocking as he leaned back in his chair. “Oh, Carina, we have our ways.”Miguel, ever the quiet one, walked over to the mini-fridge like he owned it, pulled out a bottle of water, and poured himself a glass. He raised it in a mock toast. “Nice setup you’ve got here.”I turned to Lina, who was frozen in place, her eyes darting between the three men and me. “Lina, please excuse us,”
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