Ethan’s POVI had to leave the hotel earlier than planned. My day was packed, starting with a visit to the new office building complex to settle in and get a feel for my staff.It wasn’t my usual routine, but there was something about this place that made me want to root myself properly, to build something more permanent. After that, I had an appointment with Alpha Ronan.By the time I pulled up to the sprawling Frost Mansion, the sun was high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the meticulously kept gardens.The sheer size and elegance of the estate always managed to catch me off guard, no matter how many times I visited.A housekeeper escorted me inside, her footsteps quiet on the polished floors. I was led to the living room, a large space with high ceilings, tasteful decor, and an undeniable warmth despite its grandeur.I sat down on the edge of a plush armchair, my back straight and my hands resting on my knees. The Frosts always exuded a sense of quiet authority, and even the
Emily’s POVThere was a back entrance that led to Luna Joan's chambers in seconds, without having to pass through the halls and living rooms of the Frost Mansion.Thanks to Lila who told me all about it.The Frost mansion had always had this thick sense of quiet authority around it, but since Lila and Caden left, it suddenly felt like it had doubled.As I walked briskly down the neatly trimmed lawn that led to Luna Joan’s chambers, I couldn’t help but marvel at how the place always seemed so royal yet intimidating.The path was lined with neatly trimmed hedges, and the distant sound of birds filled the otherwise silent space.My heart raced as I approached the entrance to the mansion. Lila’s request had better not be the end of me.I could not even bear to think what would happen if Alpha Ronan caught me here.Without doing or saying much, he gave me the creeps. meeting him personally without Lila being present was already a devastating thought.I sighed.I couldn’t wait to see Luna J
Emily’s POVI walked out with Ethan, keeping a safe distance between us.Not that it mattered anyway.His mere presence was magnetic, pulling me in despite my best efforts to act indifferent. As we reached the curb, I instinctively raised my hand to hail a cab, eager to escape this sudden turn of events.“Where do you think you’re going?” Ethan’s voice cut through the air, smooth yet edged with amusement.I turned to face him, raising an eyebrow. “Back to work. I can’t exactly show up to lunch dressed like this,” I said, gesturing to my outfit. "It is too nice for the occasion. I don't want you getting the wrong impression and all that bullshit."His eyes swept over me in a way that made my skin tingle. “This is what you call ‘nice clothes’?” he asked, the corner of his mouth twitching in suppressed laughter.“Yes,” I shot back, defensive. “It’s clean, it’s neat, and it’s perfectly appropriate for work. I need to change so you don’t get any wrong ideas.”Ethan chuckled, the sound deep
Ethan’s POVThe soft clinking of silverware against plates echoed faintly in the quiet restaurant, blending seamlessly with the soothing hum of background music. I leaned back in my chair, studying Emily. She seemed more flustered than usual, her eyes flicking away whenever our gazes met. I couldn’t tell if she was just shy, or if there was something deeper beneath her calm exterior. Whatever it was, it intrigued me. I’d always felt a pull toward her, but today it seemed stronger than ever.I tried to focus on the conversation we were having, but my thoughts kept drifting back to the simple fact that we were finally having lunch together. Something I’d wanted for far too long, yet had never allowed myself to pursue. For months—maybe even years—I’d been too wrapped up in the chaos of work and my own self-inflicted solitude to notice what was right in front of me. Emily.As I sipped from my glass, my mind wandered to why I’d never thought about courting her before. She was smart, be
EmilyThe lunch had been... nice.Much nicer than I had anticipated. And Ethan, well, he was infuriatingly charming as always, with his smug smile and the way he leaned in just enough to make me lose focus.But I couldn’t stay here forever.In the back of my mind, guilt churned like a restless tide. I hadn’t told Joan what I needed to—that Lila was coming back soon.And now, it felt wrong to bring it up in front of Ethan. He didn’t even know she was coming back. It was supposed to be a surprise. Lila had made that abundantly clear.I sighed and pulled my phone from my bag, hoping for a distraction. The moment the screen lit up, my stomach dropped. A string of missed calls glared back at me.One from my director. Three from Mera. Two from Lila.Oh no! Fuck me.I choked on my own saliva, coughing so hard that Ethan looked up, concern flashing in his eyes. “You okay?”“Yeah,” I croaked, waving him off and grabbing my water. “Just... wrong pipe.”He didn’t look convinced, but I didn’t hav
ReubenThe club was packed tonight, the air thick with smoke, sweat, and the pounding bass of music that made the walls tremble.I sat in my usual spot, a private booth tucked into the shadows, where I could see everything but remain unseen. A half-empty bottle of whiskey sat on the table in front of me, its amber liquid gleaming under the dim lights. A cigarette dangled between my fingers, the smoke curling lazily toward the ceiling.It should have been a good night. I had everything I needed to forget—booze, smoke, and the kind of mindless chaos that usually drowned out the noise in my head. But tonight, none of it worked. My thoughts were stuck, circling around Emily, as they always did.I took another drag from the cigarette, letting the burn sear its way into my lungs before I exhaled. I should have been over her by now. I’d told myself that a thousand times. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face—those soft eyes, the way her smile lit up a room. She haunted me, a gh
Emily’s POV The shrill sound of my phone ringing again startled me as I fumbled with my bag in the backseat of the cab."Not again.." I scrunched my face when I saw Mera’s name flashing on the screen."Emily," Mera’s voice erupted the moment I answered. "How much longer before we herald your awesome majesty? Your line has been wide open, and guess who’s been blowing it up? Our dear director!" I grimaced, trying to keep my voice steady. "Do the calms Mera, I only lost track of time, not that I killed anyone. But I’m close to the office. I’ll be there soon." "You’d better be," she snapped, her tone a mix of anger and exasperation. "If our director cuts my allowance because of you, you owe me a hundred bucks. No negotiations!" I stifled a laugh, even though I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. "I promise, I’ll be there in no time, and I’ll finish all my tasks for the day. Just… cover for me for a few more minutes, please?" "Cover for you?" she huffed. "You owe me so much
Ethan’s POV The day had been long, but not long enough to dull the sting of Reuben’s words. As I drove home, the conversation replayed in my mind, his accusations looping like a broken record. Was I truly at fault? Had I overlooked something? No. Emily had been clear. Reuben’s issues stemmed from his own swindling, uncaring attitude—not me. Still, the weight of his words clung to me like an unwelcome guest. The iron gates of my estate swung open, and I eased my car into the driveway. The soft glow of the mansion lights greeted me. As I stepped out, the familiar scent of Lady Tatiana’s cooking wafted through the air, instantly calming me. Inside, I found her bustling in the kitchen, her gray hair neatly pinned back, her movements precise and practiced. "Good evening, Lady Tatiana," I greeted, leaning against the doorframe. She turned, her face lighting up with a warm smile. "Good evening, Sir Ethan. You’re just in time—dinner will be ready shortly." "What are you making
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,