Cian's POV"Get out" I said coldly, my voice devoid of any emotion. Josephine looked up at me, confusion and pain written across her face."Cian, I...”"Get. Out." I repeated, my tone leaving no room for argument. I didn't want to see her, neither did I want to be reminded of my failure.Josephine scrambled to her feet, clutching the remnants of her torn clothes around her. She cast one last, desperate look at me before fleeing the room, her sobs echoing down the hallway.I collapsed back onto the couch, running a hand through my hair. My mind was a mess of conflicting emotions-- rage, frustration, and something darker, something I didn't want to acknowledge. I had hurt Josephine, yes, but the person I truly wanted to hurt was Vanya. I wanted her to feel the pain, to understand that she couldn't just walk away from me.But she was gone, out of my reach for now. The thought gnawed at him, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. I closed my eyes, trying to banish the image of Josephine's t
Vanya's POV:I stepped through the front door of the house, exhaustion weight heavily on my shoulders. The familiar scent of the place—lavender and freshly baked bread—welcomed me, but it did little to soothe the turmoil churning inside me. I barely had time to drop my bag before Marco and Emilia appeared in the hallway, their expressions a mix of concern and frustration.“Vanya” Marco started, his voice stern but tinged with worry. “What were you thinking? Leaving the hospital like that?”Emilia folded her arms, her gaze sharp. “You should be resting, not running around like everything's fine. The doctor was very clear about what you needed”I sighed, leaning against the wall. “I couldn't stay there, Marco. Not with everything that was happening. I needed to be home, with you both and with the kids”“You needed care” Emilia cut in, her time brokering no argument “you collapsed, Vanya. This isn't something you can just brush off”“I'm fine now” I insisted, though I knew it wasn't enti
Vanya's POVWhen I arrived at the office, I was surprised to see David waiting outside. He leaned against the wall, his gaze sharp as he watched me approach."David" I greeted him with a nod, trying to mask my irritation. "What are you doing here?"He straightened up, giving me a curt smile. "Just checking in on you, Vanya."My eyes narrowed. I knew better than to believe that. David was Cian's right-hand man, his loyal enforcer. If he was here, it was because Cian had sent him."I don't need checking in on,” I replied coldly. "'m fine.”David's smile didn't waver. "Of course. Just doing my job." I resisted the urge to snap at him, instead pushing past him and into the building.Tara and the rest of my staff greeted me with warm smiles, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to relax. But the feeling was fleeting. Every time I turned around, I felt David's eyes on me, watching my every move.By the time evening came, I was exhausted. Tara suggested a team dinner to lift everyone's
Vanya's POV:I had tried, I really tried, to stick to the two-week break Marco and Emilia had practically forced on me.For the first few days, I indulged in the luxury of not having to rush anywhere. I spent time with my children, making them breakfast and driving them to school. I even allowed myself the guilty pleasure of spending a quiet afternoon reading a book, something I hadn't done in ages. You might say I was living my best life.But the itch to return to work, to the life I had built so meticulously, became impossible to ignore. By the end of the first week, I found myself pacing the house, feeling restless and uneasy. Every time my phone buzzed, my heart would skip a beat, half-hoping it was a work-related emergency that would justify my return to the office. But it never was. Instead, my phone seemed to be a direct line to Cian's persistence.Every morning, noon, and night, without fail, he would text me. At first, I blocked his number. Then he started sending emails. I
Vanya's POVIt was laughable., He's not human. He doesn't care about human laws. A piece of paper isn't going to stop him.Tara's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't back down. "Maybe not, but it could help in other ways. It would at least be on record, you know? And if things get worse.."I shook my head, though I appreciated Tara's concern. "Thanks, but I'll handle it. Somehow." Tara didn't look entirely convinced, but she let it drop. "Alright, but if you need anything- anything at all-we're here for you.""Thanks, Tara," I said, offering her a small, strainedsmile. "l appreciate it."With that, Tara left, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more. I glanced at the file Marco had left, the details of the upcoming party staring back at me like a puzzle I couldn't quite solve. Something still didn't sit right with me about it, but I pushed the feeling aside. I had a job to do, and the sooner I finished, the sooner I could get back to figuring out how to deal with Cian.****The
Vanya's POV I sat in the muse of what I now thought to be a blissful evening, one of the best I have had in quite a while. The surprise party had been a success, full of laughter, warmth, all with a fleeting sense of safety. For a brief moment, I had allowed myself to believe that perhaps I could reclaim a semblance of normalcy in my life. But as I stood in the quiet aftermath of the celebration, surrounded by empty champagne flutes and deflated balloons, I realized how naive that hope had been.I was tidying up the last of the decorations when I heard footsteps echoing in the empty hall. My heart skipped a beat, a sense of unease creeping into my chest. When I turned to face the intruder, my breath caught in my throat.There he was, standing at the entrance with a smug grin plastered across his face Cian. Dressed immaculately in a dark suit that seemed to blend with the shadows, he held a bouquet of roses in one hand and a small box wrapped in silver paper in the other. The sight o
Vanya's POVCian's golden eyes flicked to Marco, and for a moment, a dangerous silence filled the room. Then, to my disbelief, Cian's lips curled into a mocking grin, a dark, twisted amusement dancing in his gaze. "Kill me?" he echoed, his voice dripping with condescension. "How quaint."The casual dismissal in Cian's tone only fueled Marco's anger. His fists clenched at his sides, knuckles turning white as he fought the urge to strike the smug look off Cian's face. "You don't understand" Marco warned, his voice low and menacing. "This isn't a game, Cian. If you hurt her again-"But before Marco could finish his sentence, Cian threw his head back and laughed-a chilling, hollow sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Oh, Marco" Cian said, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye as his laughter subsided. "You really think you're in control here?"A flash of uncertainty streamed across Marco's face, but he stood his ground, determined to protect me at any cost. "I'm done talking" Marco
Vanya's POV:The oppressive tension in the air was almost tangible, pressing down on me as I huddled in the corner of the room, my mind reeling from the terrifying encounter with Cian. His presence had lingered long after he'd left, like a dark cloud that refused to dissipate, leaving my nerves frayed and my heart racing with the aftermath of what had just transpired. But then, out of nowhere, Cian's phone rung. The shrill tone cut through the silence, startling me. I watched as Cian's golden eyes flicked to the device in his hand, a look of annoyance crossing his features. For a moment, I held my breath, praying that whoever was on the other end of that call would somehow save me from this nightmare. Cian answered, his voice low and clipped, the usual arrogance muted as he listened to whatever was being said. I couldn't make out the words, but I saw the change in his expression-an irritation, a flash of something that almost looked like anger, before his expression settled ba
Vanya's POVEither a monkey or a piece of trash. As usual, even after all the torture, he was still proud and arrogant, and that was what Angel loved the most. His pride and arrogance because it was only then that the mental breaking would be fun for her. "Angel..." I called out as soon as I picked up the call. "Vanya!!!" She screeched, clapping her hands on the other side of the call. "I've missed you." "We talked less than a week ago." I reminded her. "I know, just play along okay?" Play along for what? "How are you and Tristan?" Was her next question. "Me and Tristan? We're good." "That's it?" Her voice was one of shock and utter surprise. "You're good?!" "Were you expecting to hear something else? " "Yes and no." She sighed. "By it fine. How's the preparation for the merge going?" "Well, Maureen is on her tiptoes doing most of the planning with Emilia. I'm doing the best I can although Tristan says not to worry about it... And well... Your father and Marco are being b
Vanya's POV "Hello, Stranger."I raised my head from my laptop where I had been reading the news to who stood at the door. My eyes widened as I leaped up from the seat walking towards her as she walked toward us. We embraced each other in a bone-crushing hug as if we hadn't been in the same hospital and seen each other a couple of times before I was discharged. I pulled away from the hug to take a good look at her and couldn't stop smiling. "You look... Oh my God!" She burst into laughter, throwing her hair back."And I can see that you've already gone into business mode." "Pfft! Oh please..." I groaned as we pulled away from the hug. "I've always been in business mode even back at the hospital." A big fat lie."As if." She scoffed, letting a smile peer over her lips before her attention worked itself to my laptop. "You seemed happy while viewing that." She pointed to it. "Good news?" She raised a brow, showing me that she knew what I had been looking at. I called to my desk, "If
Vanya's POVThat night, Emilia could finally go home with Marco and the kids. Marco offered to drop Tristan's dad which surprisingly he agreed and then they left leaving Tristan and I together.We laid in bed together, enjoying each other's presence without having to speak a word. The last time we had spent in bed played on repeat in my head. And it wasn't long before our hands began to wander each other's bodies. That night, I slept like a baby. I think it was the news that Cian had been taken care of but not even a single nightmare plagued me.I woke up to the sound of twittering birds and bright sunlight streaming into the room. It took sometime for my eyes to adjust to the light as I stretched myself out. I turned to the sight only to be greeted with a kiss on the forehead."Good afternoon." He mused smiling. "Congratulations, you slept through the entire morning." I smiled at that, ruffling his hair. He ruffles mine back, covering my face with it. My stomach growled in hunger."
Vanya's POV"You seem to have forgotten me." I froze then turned sharply to Tristan. I had forgotten him. I was so engrossed in studying Marco and Emilia and his dad that I had forgotten he was there. "I take it..." "You take nothing. " I said in a hurry, before exhaling. "I'm sorry I forgot you were here." I apologized with a smile. He nodded. "Do you want to get away from here or sit with the oldies and talk about old people things?" "I've missed you." That was enough answered for him. "We'll catch you later." He said to the three of them who had begun to laugh and enjoy each other's company all so fast. We left them, heading to the rooftop again. We giggled as we took the elevator to the last floor of the hospital and walked the stairs up the roof. Thankfully, the afternoon sun wasn't harsh today, so we stood in it rather than go to the shade that was built on the roof. He brushed away strands from my hair before he covered his lips with mine. The kiss was one of longing f
Vanya's POVNo word, nothing. I shook my head. "What about you?" I questioned. "You said your friend and partner, were separated for more than ten years yet you're here." "Well... He's an alpha." He replied making Emilia choke on her water, her eyes wide as she stared at him. It wasn't a surprise in her face. It looked like shock, almost like... The fear disappeared when she noticed I was looking at her. "He had alpha duties, as Vanya would say, to attend to, so he had to leave.""Sad," Emilia replied pouting. Marco glared playfully at her, going for the second box of pizza we hadn't opened. We both hit his hand, shooting daggers in his direction. "That's mine." I scowled. "Keep off.""But I haven't eaten.""That's because we never knew you'd return so early," Emilia spoke handing him the last triangle of thrones we were eating."How's this going to be enough." He grumbled "You don't want it?" We both asked him, reaching to grab it.He sucked in his breath to make a point. "I never
VANYA'S POV:Three days, and no sign of Tristan. Not even a phone call. I eyed my phone as I had lunch with Emilia. Marco had left in the morning to attend to business of some sort. Said it was a long-time friend and partner of his that had just flown into the country after more than ten years of separation and had a business offer to propose. So Emilia permitted him to leave. She had decided to drop off Andrew and Ryan at school this morning saying she wanted to speak to their teacher while I had had breakfast with Tara.As we kept eating, my eyes drifted to the phone once again, eyeing it uncontrollably. He said he wouldn't be gone for a week, but it was already three days into the Week. "If you miss him, you could just call," Emilia said to me, her attention still on her food. She had been the one with me all through the nights Tristan wasn't around. She had slept with me in the hospital while Marco prepared the kids, took them to school, and got them back from school. These three
Tristan's POV"No healer comes to see him throughout today," I spoke to the guards. "He doesn't eat for the next two days. And after those two days, feed him once a day." "You sure are taking my business into your own hands," Angel commented. "This is just for the meantime. You have him to yourself for all eternity. Do as you please." She grinned in response. As I stepped forward, Angel, Niko, the driver, my father, and the guards parted for me to pass through. The guard's gaze shifted from me to my hands. That was when I remembered that I hadn't wiped it on my handkerchief. I reached for my pockets but it wasn't there.. I had left it in the cell. Just then, my father handed his to me. I extended my hands to take it, but he held firm onto it, studying my face as if taking in every muscle movement, facial expression, and n. We stood there, the handkerchief in both our hands for almost seven seconds before he finally let go of it. I wiped my hands clean, tossing the handkerchief int
TRISTAN'S POV My fists clenched on their own accord by my sides wanting to punch the hell out of him. I could feel my pulse increase by a hundred percent as rage seized through me with such ferocity I only felt during the war against another pack when they tried to hurt Angel or my father. "Don't look so downtrodden Tristan." He continued spewing rubbish from his mouth. "Didn't you know she was a slut?" He widened his eyes, staggering to his feet before taking wobbly steps to where I stood. "But it's fine. She's nothing but my used property. You can have her." I clasped him by the collar, raising my fists to make them collide with his nose. He kept laughing like a lunatic, clapping his unchained hands. I pulled my hands back, stepping away from him before wiping my hands on the handkerchief in the pocket of my trousers. "It's good to see you go mad," I replied to him after regaining my calm. "And just so you know, you are her used property. Look at how miserable you are but look
Tristan's POV "I don't need you to summarize." He shot Angel a glare who returned it with a smile, still wearing her glasses. "The sun's already set. " He pointed to the glasses she wore. "What's that for?" "Dirty work." She replied. "Just in case he..." She pointed to me. "I would love my eyes protected." Then she strolled to the car waiting for the four of us. "Time to show you my newest acquired property." She sang to herself, opening the car door and getting into the second back of the car before the driver could assist her. I got into the first row of seats with my dad while Niko sat in front as the driver zoomed off. Now and then, Angel giggled at her phone, probably at the pictures of Cian being sent to her by the guards as she had instructed them. A purebred lunatic and her lunatic guards. We drove in silence, no one speaking to the other. When we eventually got to the borders of our pack, Angel put away her phone, straightening herself. The guards greeted us with a bow o