LilaAs I sipped the last of my wine, I let my eyes wander around the restaurant, careful not to let them land on him again. But it was impossible to resist. The moment my gaze met Caden’s cold, piercing eyes, my heart betrayed me, skipping a beat. The glass in my hand trembled slightly, and I quickly reached for my water, trying to steady myself. Why is he looking at me like that? I took a long sip, hoping to calm my nerves, when I noticed something that sent a chill down my spine. Caden was heading straight toward us. His long strides made him seem even taller than usual, his white shirt crisp under the restaurant’s soft lighting.He wore a tailored black jacket that framed his broad shoulders perfectly, and his dark jeans added an effortless edge to his polished look. The kind of look that made people stop and stare. The kind of look that made it so fucking hard to breathe when he was near.I watched as he approached, the air growing heavy with anticipation. Ethan, sitting ac
CadenI tried to ignore Peru’s remark, but I was already riled up and needed to let it out. Normally, I would let my wolf take over and go for a hunt, but I couldn't do that now.I glanced at Peru in the rearview mirror. Sorry, man, but you’re about to feel my wrath.I looked away.“Damn it, Peru,” I cursed, gripping the steering wheel tightly. “Why the hell did I let you drag me here?”Peru looked up from the backseat, raising his hands in defense. "Hey, I didn’t know it was going to be this filled with fans. I just thought—"“Just forget it,” I cut him off, not bothering to look back.I pulled up to Peru’s agency, barely slowing down as he scrambled out of the car."Thanks, man," Peru said awkwardly before closing the door. I waved him off and sped away the moment he was out of sight. The car was eerily quiet as I drove, the engine humming beneath me, filling the silence.I kept my eyes on the road, but I could feel Lila’s gaze flicker toward me every few seconds, like she was waiti
LilaI walked into the lab, the familiar scent of sterile equipment and faint chemicals filling the air. I didn’t have anything specific to do here, nothing I really needed to carry or sort through. So I just sat on one of the metal stools near the counter and stared at the empty space, wondering what the hell had happened earlier. The lunch, Caden and the way he looked at me. It felt like he was a ticking time bomb waiting to be detonated. But why? I shook my head, trying to focus. It wasn’t helping. My mind was still spinning, thoughts colliding like waves in a storm.With a heavy sigh, I stood up and headed upstairs to my makeshift room in the lab. It wasn’t much, just a small space I used whenever I needed to stay late or crash here for the night. I pulled out a calendar from the drawer next to my bed and flipped through it.Three fucking weeks. Summer holiday would be over in three weeks, and if I didn’t get pregnant with Caden’s baby before I left, there might not be another
CadenAs I leaned back in my chair, phone pressed to my ear, Miss Yaw’s sharp voice filled the room with a tone that could cut through glass. "Caden, you’re trending," she said, her words clipped and direct as always. "Fans spotted you at an Italian bistro, and get this—they’ve already found pictures of you with some young lady. You know how they are. Always on the lookout for any hint of scandal."I could almost see her now, pacing around her New York office, her signature black bob swaying with each step. Miss Yaw was always meticulous, never one to let a detail slip past her. A Chinese-American powerhouse of a manager, she’d built my career from the ground up, making sure every move I made was calculated, every decision premeditated. Despite her professionalism, her personal life was... well, chaotic. She had been married four times to four husbands in a single year—and divorced each one just as quickly. I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Miss Yaw, there’s nothing to overthink. It’s
CadenI let out a long breath, running my hand through my dark hair once again. My mind drifted back to Lila almost instantly, her face flashing before me like an insistent memory. This was madness, obsessing over someone who was clearly off-limits. I had to get my head straight before it drove me insane.With a frustrated sigh, I reached for my phone and called Peru. The familiar ringtone buzzed in my ear as I waited for him to pick up."Yeah, man?" came his voice, gravelly and rough around the edges, as usual."I need you to find me someone for the night," I said, keeping my voice low, my eyes darting toward the door as if Ronan could still hear me. "Someone... uncomplicated."There was a pause on the other end, Peru understanding what I meant without needing further explanation. He had arranged this sort of thing before. "Got it. I’ll send someone your way within the hour. You want your usual?"I clenched my jaw, the thought of my usual routine suddenly feeling like a hollow attem
LilaI could feel Caden’s hands roaming over my body, his touch igniting a fire that made me gasp. His lips moved down my neck, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake, and my fingers tangled in his hair as he pressed me closer to him. I was breathless, desperate for him, my body aching in ways I hadn’t known before. His hand slid down my thigh, spreading me wider as he positioned himself between my legs. I could feel how hard he was, how close we were to crossing a line we couldn’t come back from.My pulse quickened, anticipation building as his mouth found mine again, his kiss deep and commanding. The heat between my legs was unbearable. I wanted him—needed him—more than I could express. Just when I thought he was going to thrust into me, that he would fill me completely, my stomach growled loud enough to break the moment. I gasped, startled out of the dream, my breath coming in short, uneven pants. The sheets were tangled around me, damp with sweat and... more. I cursed under my
CadenLila’s soft, slender hands wrapped around my waist from behind, and it sent a jolt through me. Her touch, so close to where I was already hard, had me on edge immediately. I felt her fingertips barely brushing my skin under my shirt, her body pressed against my back. My entire body tensed as I fought to keep my cool, but it was damn near impossible with her so close, her scent filling my senses.“Lila,” I growled again, my voice rougher than I intended. “Let go.”She didn’t move. Instead, she held on tighter, her small hands tracing the lines of my abs, her fingers leaving a burning trail across my skin. “Please,” she whispered, her voice soft but laced with need. “I had a dream… You made me wriggle under you, made me scream your name in pleasure. Please, Caden... make my dream come true.”Her words hit me like a freight train, and I clenched my fists at my sides, trying to control myself. My jaw tightened, but I couldn’t deny the pull between us. Her fingers were moving again,
LilaThe moment Caden pulled out of me, I felt the loss of him immediately, the cold air hitting my skin where his warmth had been. My legs were trembling, my heart still racing from the intensity of what we’d just done in the kitchen. But the fire between my legs was far from extinguished, and the way he looked at me—his eyes dark with desire—told me he wasn’t finished either.Before I could catch my breath, he scooped me up into his arms effortlessly, my naked body pressed tightly against his chest. I let out a small gasp as he carried me through the kitchen, he picked my nightwear and panties from the cool tiles of the floor as we headed toward the hallway. My arms wrapped around his neck instinctively, my head resting against his shoulder. His muscles flexed under my touch, and the heat from his skin only fueled the growing ache between my legs.“Where are we going?” I whispered, my voice barely audible, my lips brushing against his neck.He smirked, his eyes flickering with misch
Emily The moment Ethan and Caden stepped back into the room, I could feel the shift in the air. My heart stuttered for a second as I took in the sight of my husband, his expression softer but still lined with the weight of everything that had just happened. Caden, on the other hand, looked like a man who just put out a fire, calm and assured. He caught Lila’s eye and gave her a subtle nod, a silent message passing between them.Lila turned to me and smiled. “Emily, Caden and I need to grab some groceries. We’ll pick up the kids on our way back.”I knew exactly what she was doing. She was giving us privacy, a chance to talk. A warm appreciation swelled in my chest, and I nodded, smiling back at her. “Thank you.”She waved me off as she grabbed her purse, and with a final knowing glance, she and Caden stepped out of the house, leaving Ethan and me alone.The silence stretched between us, heavy and uncertain. Ethan shifted his weight, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. I stayed
EthanI slammed my fists into the steering wheel, the sharp sting running up my arms doing little to curb the frustration boiling inside me. I shouldn’t have let my temper get the best of me. I shouldn’t have snapped at Emily. But goddamn it, everything is falling apart, and I feel like I’m drowning with no way to get my head above water.I wasn’t supposed to make mistakes. I was supposed to take care of her, protect her, build a future where she’d never have to worry. Instead, I got swindled like a fool.Reuben. That bastard. He’d played me like a puppet, and I had danced to his tune, convinced that the deal would put us ahead. My financial advisor had warned me.“Ethan, this is too risky,” He said, but I had been arrogant, thinking I could handle it. Reuben must have been laughing behind my back, knowing full well what he was doing. And now? Now I was standing in the ruins of that stupidity, watching everything I worked for crumble.I rear back and punch the dashboard again.
Emily I knew something was wrong with Ethan before he even opened his mouth. The way his shoulders tensed when he thought no one was looking, the dark circles under his eyes from sleepless nights he never spoke about, the way he ran his hand through his hair when he thought too hard about something these were the little signs that only someone who truly knew him could catch.And I knew him. Knew him well enough to understand that he was keeping a secret. A big one.Lila and I stepped back into the living room, balancing the glasses of pineapple juice in our hands. I handed Ethan his glass, offering a soft smile. “Here you go, love.”He accepted it without looking at me. “Thanks.”Lila, ever the smooth one, slid onto the couch beside Caden and passed him his drink, shooting me a quick glance, almost as if to ask, Are you ready for this?I wasn’t. But I had no choice.I cleared my throat. “Ethan.”He sipped his juice. “Yeah?”I hesitated for a moment, gathering my thoughts, and then
LilaThe mood in the living room had shifted. The tension was palpable, as though the walls themselves were closing in on us. Ethan was unusually quiet, staring into his drink as if it held the answers to questions he wasn’t ready to ask, let alone answer. Caden and I exchanged looks, but neither of us dared to speak up. It had been a while since we’d all been together, and I could sense the heaviness that hung in the air, especially around Ethan.But it wasn’t until I caught Emily’s face, suddenly drained of color, that I felt a shiver of unease. She had been laughing just a minute ago, her usual lighthearted self, but now she sat there, a shadow of herself, her eyes flickering nervously. She was hiding something. I knew her too well.I didn’t want to push her in front of everyone, but I also couldn’t let it slide. I stood up, my feet carrying me toward her. "Emily," I called gently, "You good?"She froze for a moment, then forced a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Yeah,
EmilyTen years had passed and for two weeks now the rain had not let up. It was as if the clouds themselves were mourning, drenching everything in their sorrow. The funeral was anything but ordinary. Reuben had taken his own life, leaving behind a legacy as dark as the storm above. Pack traditions dictated that the body should be cremated, the ashes scattered to allow the soul to roam free. But for me, it wasn’t so simple. I’d known Reuben, and although his narcissistic and manipulative lifestyle had led to us going our separate ways and ultimately his sentence to the prison, I could not deny that I had once loved him and that he was also Ethan’s relative. “Ethan,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the howling winds, “Are you sure about this?”He didn’t answer immediately, his eyes fixed on the freshly dug grave. His jaw clenched, his brow furrowed. I could tell he was fighting with himself—struggling with a decision that felt so wrong but so necessary. Finally, he turne
Emily's POV Two years had passed since that life-changing day when everything seemed to fall into place. I stood at the kitchen counter, gazing out the window at the garden beyond. The sun was shining, a golden light spilling across the earth, painting everything in soft hues of warmth. The twins were playing outside, laughing as they chased each other around, their tiny feet kicking up little clouds of dust. Joan's son, almost two years old, was toddling along beside them, his innocent grin lighting up his entire face as he followed the twins’ every move. Lila’s baby, just a year old, was content in her arms, the tiny bundle snuggled against her chest, peacefully asleep.And then there was mine. My son. Our son. He had just turned one, and his bright eyes followed the others, his small hands reaching out to touch the world around him. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched him, my heart swelling with a love that felt boundless. He was the perfect combination of Ethan and me, with
Emily’s POVThe morning was crisp, the air just chilly enough to make me wish I had a scarf but not so cold that it drove me inside. I had grabbed my camera before heading out, planning on capturing the beauty of the city and the world around me for my blog. It wasn’t the most glamorous job, but I loved it—those quiet moments, the things most people overlooked, caught forever through the lens of my camera. I had started blogging as a way to reclaim some of my life after everything that had happened with Reuben, and over the past two months, it had been an escape. But now, it felt like something more—a way to share what I had found in the quiet spaces between moments, my own healing journey.I’d never been much of a morning person, but I had to admit, there was something beautiful about the way the world woke up. The soft golden hue of the rising sun filtering through the trees, the chirping of the birds, and the occasional rustle of leaves as a gentle breeze blew through the streets.
Ethan’s POVThe tension in the air was thick with the weight of what had just transpired. My wolf, still surging with adrenaline, felt like it was still in the thick of the fight, the echo of my claws scraping against Reuben’s skin. But the battle was over. Reuben had been captured, and now all that remained was to ensure that the twins were safe and that justice was done.I couldn’t help but glance over at the twins as I carried them, still unconscious but alive—thank the gods. The small bodies of the children felt impossibly light in my arms, but the fear gnawing at me wasn’t going away anytime soon. I could already imagine the damage done to them—mentally and physically. The kind of trauma they would have to overcome.As I moved through the woods, my thoughts kept drifting back to Emily. Her tear-streaked face haunted me. She’d been through too much—more than anyone should have to endure. I hated that Reuben had forced her to go through all this, but at least, for now, we had saved
Ethan’s POVThe forest was eerily quiet, the air thick with tension. My pulse pounded in my ears as I led the way through the thick trees. Every step felt heavier than the last, each footfall a reminder of what we were about to face. The twins were close. Too close. I could almost taste the fear in the air, the bitter tang of it sinking into my chest.The plan had been simple: get in, get them out, and deal with whatever came next. But there was no plan for what was about to happen. The forest was quiet now, too quiet, like the calm before a storm, and I could feel it deep in my bones.As we moved deeper, I could sense them—Reuben and his men—waiting. Their presence, looming in the shadows, thickened the air. The anger was palpable, like a storm cloud ready to burst. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew one thing for sure: we were walking into a confrontation that could change everything.When we finally reached the clearing, there they were. Reuben stood at the edge of the trees,