Raisel – POVSoren was silent for a long moment.“I can’t do that, Raisel,” he said finally, his voice low, firm. “I have no love for this man. I don’t want to help him. If I’m going to ask for something… it will be for you.”I sighed internally.“He’s right to want you,” Soren murmured, a knowing smile playing on his lips.“I don’t know what to ask for now… but I will later,” I admitted.“As you wish. Take care,” he said simply.The day had been chaotic, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. “What a hectic day,” I whispered.Before I could take another step, Soren swept me into his arms and carried me into his other manor. His embrace was strong, possessive, as though he couldn’t bear to let me go.“Rest,” he commanded gently, laying me on the bed.But I couldn’t. I slipped off the mattress, grabbing the medical kit.“You’re hurt,” I murmured.His gaze burned into me, dark and hungry. I swallowed as he reached out, his fingers trailing across my cheek, the touch featherlight, almost rever
Raisel’s POVI woke up to the smell of something delicious—and the sight of Soren walking in, wearing nothing but pajama pants and carrying a breakfast tray.“Morning, Raisins,” he greeted, his voice warm and playful. His abs were on full display, and that handsome smile of his? Yeah, it was dangerous.“Lovely morning indeed,” I murmured, my voice still laced with sleep.He cocked an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes as he let his gaze sweep over me—slowly, deliberately.“You look beautiful,” he whispered, setting the tray on the bed. His fingers traced along the length of my neck, lingering on my skin.“Especially when you wear my love mark.”His husky voice sent a shiver down my spine. His hands wandered, his lips found mine, and just like that, I was melting—until my stomach let out a loud, traitorous growl.Soren chuckled, pulling back just enough to tease, “Looks like someone’s hungry.”I groaned, embarrassed. But instead of laughing at me, he cut into the pancakes and held
Raisel's POVSoren and I made our way down to the basement infirmary to see Susan. The moment I saw her sitting up on the bed, relief washed over me.“Thank God you’re awake,” I whispered, my voice barely holding back the emotion.“Raisel…” she breathed, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. She reached out, silently urging me closer. Without hesitation, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her in a gentle hug.“Thank God you’re okay,” she whispered against my shoulder. “I was so scared something had happened to you.”I pulled back slightly, offering a small smile. “I’m fine, healthy—no need to worry. Please, don’t strain yourself over me.”Susan studied my face for a moment before shifting her gaze to Soren. “How did things go down?” she asked.“The threat is nearly eradicated,” Soren admitted.Her brows knitted together. “‘Nearly’? What do you mean nearly?”“No danger. We’re out of it,” I cut in before Soren could say anything else. I wasn’t about to let her stress over details
Raisel - POVSoren sat beside me, his fingers laced through mine, his grip steady but unreadable. His expression mirrored my own—uncertain, waiting. Roacher settled into the chair across from us, her gaze sharp as ever."You might not remember this," she started, voice carefully measured, "but when you were fifteen, you were bullied. And then... you snapped." She hesitated.I swallowed hard."How could I forget something like that?" I asked, my voice quieter than I intended."Because you took a bad hit to the head during the fight. And the other kid... well, he didn’t walk away unscathed either." Roacher exhaled. "Your mom pulled some serious strings to get you out of that orphanage before things escalated. Paid them off, had you transferred, even covered the kid’s medical bills. Kept your name off any records so you wouldn’t end up in juvie."I stared at my hands, trying to grasp the idea that I had been that violent once. It didn’t feel real."Somehow, Viktor must have found out abo
Raisel - POVDressed in pajamas, I stepped into the guest room where the girls were staying. It was already late, the night settling in, and the room smelled of wine and takeout. The drinks were poured, food spread out, and the laughter had already begun.Soren was at his other house, catching up on work. Typical.Gwen handed me a drink just as Fiora let out a dramatic sigh."It’s been forever since we actually got to unwind," she groaned. "I swear, I’m working myself to the bone." The dark circles underher eyes backed her up."I’ll tell Jace to ease up on you," I offered.Fiora shot me a glare. "Don’t you dare. That asshole will just find a way to dump it back on me. Thank God he’s in New York forthat meeting—otherwise, he’d be breathing down my neck, adding more to my plate."She sighed again before tossing back her wine in one go."More," she demanded, holding out her glass.Gwen silently refilled it."This Jace guy sounds like a total pain in the ass," Hazel chimed in, stretchin
Raisel - POVNew York was its usual chaotic self—bustling streets, people rushing off to work, taxis honking like it was their full-time job. I watched the city blur past from the car window, my mind already tangled in the upcoming meeting. Dressed in formal attire, today was all about discussing sales success and strategies to push for more.A gentle tug on my hand pulled me from my thoughts. Soren. His fingers laced through mine, his grip warm and familiar.“What’s on your mind?” he murmured, bringing my knuckles to his lips.“Just work,” I whispered back.He frowned, clearly unimpressed. “And here I thought you were having daydreams—scratch that, wet dreams—about me.”I felt my face heat up instantly. It wasn’t like I didn’t think about him that way. Keeping my hands off him was already a full-time struggle. His smirk deepened, all dark amusement. God, I hated how easily he got under my skin.“I promise to make all your fantasies come true,” he murmured, voice teasing but laced wit
Soren – POVKillian glanced between me and Raisel, his expression unreadable.“To answer your question... why not check what's on the pen drive?” he suggested. “Maybe now's the right time. Then I’ll answer whatever you want.”From a spare burner laptop, I plugged in the drive. Just one file: a video. Raisel sat beside me as we hit play—and watched the footage of me... killing Alaric.I froze. My eyes locked on Killian.“Where did you get this?” I asked, voice low.Raisel spoke next, anxiety laced in her words. “What do you plan to do with this?”Killian’s gaze didn’t waver. “To answer your question, Soren—my father planned to use this to ruin your name. After killing you, of course.”I tried to read him, tried to tell if this was some twisted ploy.“As I said earlier, if there’s a peace deal—no bloodshed—then there are no consequences,” Killian said calmly.“It’s hard to believe,” Raisel murmured.“I understand. It does sound too good to be true,” he admitted.I narrowed my eyes. “Wha
RAISEL – POV“Soren!”He looked up and smiled. “I was wrapping up work.”I wanted to ask what was on his mind, but I figured I’d wait until we got home. The car ride was unusually quiet.As soon as we stepped inside, Soren excused himself and went straight to his office. I freshened up and was about to start cooking something for us when I saw him sitting on the couch, deep in thought.“Soren, you seem distant... and worried,” I said softly.He looked up. “I’m trying to figure out what to do with this pendrive.”“Destroy it,” I suggested.“No, I’m not thinking about that,” he replied quickly.“Then what?”“Killian might have a copy... and what if he—” he paused, clearly troubled.“He said he didn’t, but still, being cautious is smart. Just... don’t let it eat you up,” I said. “Maybe things won’t go bad. You have me.We’ll be okay. We’ll be happy. My mom will be here too.”He raised an eyebrow.“What’s that look for?” I asked.“You called Susan ‘Mom’ instead of her name,” he said with
Raisel’s POVThe morning sun filtered through the curtains, warm and soft, like a kiss from the universe after a long, restless storm. I stirred in bed, feeling more rested than I had in days. My body still ached slightly from the newness of motherhood, but my heart felt full—overflowing, actually.I padded through the apartment, still quiet with the peaceful hush of early morning. I found Soren in Aurelia’s room, the soft light of dawn casting a golden hue over him as he carefully adjusted her tiny blanket. His every movement was tender, deliberate. This man—the same one who used to grumble about morning alarms—was now up before me, checking on our daughter.After his routine—breakfast, meds, and his usual black coffee—he turned to me and smiled.“Don’t worry about Aurelia,” he said, pouring a second cup for himself. “I’ve got her.”It had only been four days since we brought her home. Four days. And yet, Soren had slipped so effortlessly into fatherhood, like it had always been insi
Soren’s POV My eyes settle on the sweetest sight: Aurelia fast asleep in her crib, and somehow, Raisins has managed to squeeze in beside her. The little guy fits perfectly, curled up like he was meant to be there. It’s impossibly cute. I pull out my phone and snap a picture, already knowing I’ll come back to this moment again and again.I tiptoe out, letting my two angels rest. I can’t wipe the smile off my face—seeing them like that does something to me. Still, deep down, there’s this quiet fear that won’t quite go away: What if I’m not enough? What if I can’t be the father she deserves?But this happiness… this warmth in my chest… it’s like nothing I’ve ever known. I sit on the couch, breathe in deep, and close myeyes. The peace is so overwhelming I could cry. And to think—I once believed I’d never know this kind of love. I thought I was broken. Unlovable. That someone like Raisel was a dream I’d never be allowed to have.“Soren?”I open my eyes to find Raisel walking toward me,
Raisel’s POVMornings felt like a haze lately—exhaustion clinging to me like fog. But I wasn’t alone. I had help. Soren, Hazel, Fiora... and of course, Aurelia.“Morning, love,” Soren murmured, brushing a kiss across my forehead. I smiled up at him as his arms slid around my waist.Hazel entered with Aurelia in her arms and handed her to me gently. The baby giggled and cooed, lighting up the entire room.“Hey there, little princess,” I whispered, nuzzling her soft cheek.“Breakfast is ready!” Nia called cheerfully from the kitchen. Even Nia, usually so calm and composed, couldn’t resist the joy Aurelia brought into our home.“You all go ahead and eat. I’ll take care of Aurelia,” Soren offered, cradling her as he walked off toward the playroom.As I sat down with the others, I noticed the energy shift. Something unspoken hung heavy between Hazel and Fiora—glances exchanged, a tension that was hard to miss.“What’s going on?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.No wonder Soren had slipped away
RAISEL – POV Soren looked worn out, eyes heavy with something deeper than exhaustion.“I thought I killed him,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I really believed it. But then Killian and I reviewed the video… and it showed more.”I leaned in, heart pounding. “What else killed Alaric?”He nodded, eyes clouded. “A sniper. Hired by Joshua. The plan was to kill him and frame me.”My hand flew to my mouth. I gasped. “Oh my god…”“So technically, I’m not a criminal,” Soren said quietly. “But Viktor... he did die by my hands.”I blinked at him, stunned. “Mathew left you?”“He had to,” Soren said. “After I showed him the evidence… Killian tracked down the assassin, who confessed everything. Mathewhad no choice. He had to arrest me. But Viktor’s death… that part is still a mystery. Killian covered things back then.”I couldn’t hold back any longer. I wrapped my arms around him, trembling.“You’re finally home,” I whispered against his shoulder.“I am,” he said softly, wrapping me
Raisel - POV“Soren,” I whispered like a prayer. “Is it really you?”“Raisins, this isn’t a dream.”His voice—deep, warm, and familiar—washed over me like a balm. He reached for my hand, his touch grounding me. But then pain exploded in my abdomen, sharp and sudden.“Ahh!”The cry tore from my lips before I could stop it. My vision blurred as the pain clenched tighter, burning from the inside out.“She’s dilating,” the nurse called out as the doctor rushed in.I could barely breathe—the pain was swallowing me whole.“Soren…”“Everything’s going to be alright!”His voice shook, urgent and raw, his eyes brimming with worry as they searched mine.“Why is she in so much pain?” he snapped at the doctor.“Please, sir, calm down,” the nurse said, steady but firm.“It’s time to push,” the doctor announced.I panted through the fire blazing inside me and pushed with every ounce of strength I had left.“You’ve got this, Raisins,” I heard Soren say, his voice like an anchor in the storm.Then—A
Raisel’s POVFour Months LaterI’m at my desk, going through the motions, but my mind is elsewhere—circling around Mathew. He’s getting closer to Soren’s location, and that terrifies me. Last week, Fiora decrypted a coded message—it confirmed what I feared: Mathew is hot on their trail.Killian’s gone dark, too, hiding from Mathew, who’s figured out that Killian is the one protecting Soren.Even worse, Mathew managed to dig up enough evidence to implicate Jace—proof that he tampered with the surveillance footage tied to Soren. It’s not a solid case yet, but it’s enough for Mathew to keep hauling Jace into the interrogation room, hoping he’ll crack and hand over Soren on a silver platter.A knock snaps me out of my thoughts.“Didn’t mean to startle you,” Mathew says smoothly, stepping inside. “I’ve been calling.”I compose myself quickly. “What brings you here, Mr. Mathew?”He raises an eyebrow, probably thrown off by how calm I sound.“I have a few questions,” he says, pulling out a c
Soren’s POVBrian came striding in, almost too fast, his face lit up with a strange sort of joy. Not the kind of expression you’d expect in our line of work. He handed me an envelope.“A letter from your wife,” he said, then disappeared without waiting for a response.I didn’t need to read the name. I already knew who it was from.Inside was a letter, and a small, wrapped box. My hands trembled as I unfolded the paper."You are the father of my child."The words stared back at me, loud and raw. I unwrapped the box to find a pregnancy test. Positive.My heart cracked open with emotions I wasn’t ready for. Me—a father? That thought had never even flirted with my imagination. I didn’t know how to feel. Was she scared? Was she happy? I had no answers, only a hurricane of uncertainty.And on top of it all, that monster Davina was still out there, circling her. I should’ve ended her when I had the chance.I climbed out of the basement, needing air—needing something stronger. But I didn’t ma
Raisel’s POV“Raisins.” I stared at the nickname, my heart caught somewhere between a laugh and a lump in my throat.“This isn’t Davina writing, but—” Hazel cut in, grinning. “I’ll give you and that letter some privacy, now that I know it’s not a threat letter. It's a love letter.” She winked, her tone playful.I blushed, caught off guard.As my eyes returned to the letter, I caught a soft trace of his cologne clinging to the page — warm, spicy, unmistakably him. And just like that, a rush of emotion surged up, bittersweet and strong. A strange calm swept over me. Even if things were uncertain, this letter brought me back to center.The LetterRaisins,This is a rough patch we’re going through — being apart like this. But it won’t last forever. I know that in my gut.Raisins... are you eating on time? You always forget when you’re caught up in work. Skipping lunch is basically your thing — and it drives me nuts.{I smiled through a tear. I could almost hear his voice, every word alive
RAISEL’S POVOne Month LaterI crouched in the shadows of the alley, my breath shallow, heart pounding. I was hiding from Davina’s assassins. Heavy footstepsechoed behind me.“Search over there!” a man barked.They swarmed the area. Without a sound, I slid beneath a rickety shed, my pulse thudding so loud I was sure they could hear it.“Come out, woman!” another voice shouted.I clamped a trembling hand over my mouth, stifling the scream clawing its way up my throat. Every part of me trembled. I regrettedeverything—leaving alone, ignoring Killian and Jace’s warnings to call first, brushing Hazel off when she tried to stop me. Myphone was in my hand, but the screen was black. Dead.God, help me, I begged silently. Please."Did you check all the spots?" one of them asked."I did. Nothing.""Impossible. We saw her run down this alley."“We can’t fail this mission. If we do—” the man’s voice faltered.“We have to kill her. Then send the photo to Lady Davina.”I shivered. Even they were