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2025-03-13 14:00:00Ishaan collapsed onto the couch, his body sinking into the worn cushions as he buried his face in his hands. His head throbbed, his chest ached, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the bitter taste left behind by Ashwin's rejection.
He replayed the night's events in his mind, each moment hitting him like a blow. Ashwin snapping at him in front of the kids, pushing him away in bed, flinching from his touch like it was something vile. The words still echoed in his head— Don't touch me.Ishaan's hands curled into fists.What had he done wrong?All he wanted was for Ashwin to come home with him—to be where he belonged. Was that so terrible? Was it selfish to want to be with the person he loved, to crave the warmth of his mate?His mate.Ashwin belonged to him.Ishaan clenched his jaw, exhaling harshly as doubt crept into his mind. But did Ashwin see it that way? Did he even want to belong to him?The
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Tangled In Scales 56
The house was quiet, the early morning light filtering through the curtains as Ashwin sat in the kitchen, feeding Imara. The twins were still asleep upstairs, leaving the kitchen unusually peaceful, just the soft clinking of utensils and Imara’s tiny hums filling the space.She was perched on the counter, swinging her chubby legs back and forth, happily munching on small pieces of diced fruits accompanied by a bowl of milky oatmeal. Her green eyes—so much like Ashwin’s—sparkled as she kicked her feet, her little hands grasping at the next bite Ashwin offered.Still dressed in his oversized sleep shirt from the night before, Ashwin’s boxers barely peeked out beneath the hem, his bare legs cold against the tile. He rubbed a tired hand over his face before picking up a napkin to wipe a bit of fruit juice from Imara’s chin.The sound of footsteps padding into the kitchen made him glance up.Ishaan walked in, yawning, his muscular frame only clad in a
Last Updated : 2025-03-13Tangled In Scales 57
The house had been changing.Or rather—Ashwin had been changing it.He didn’t notice it at first. It started small—fluffing the pillows on the couch, rearranging the blankets, making sure the bed was just right. Then, without thinking, he found himself drawn to softer textures, collecting them without realizing why. Extra cushions. Silk sheets. Warm throws. Anything comfortable.They all ended up in one spot.The corner of their shared bedroom had slowly transformed into a cozy, padded space. It was subtle at first, just a few neatly arranged blankets, then a pillow or two. But as the days passed, he found himself unconsciously adding more—adjusting, rearranging, perfecting.It wasn’t until he sat on the bed, folding yet another blanket, that it hit him like a brick.Oh.His fingers froze in the fabric.He stared at the growing pile of comfort, his heart thudding in his chest.No. No. No.He wa
Last Updated : 2025-03-14Tangled In Scales 58
This was the first time Ashwin would be entering Hayden’s space since he had gone missing.He wasn’t supposed to be here.The apartment had been under strict lockdown, sealed off by police tape and guarded by officers for weeks. It was an active investigation—one that had yielded no real answers. Ashwin had been forced to stand on the sidelines, waiting for news that never came. No updates. No leads. Just silence.But he couldn't wait anymore.He had spent too many nights lying awake, wondering what had happened to Hayden. Too many days fighting the unbearable ache of his absence. He needed to be here—to breathe in his presence, to grasp at anything that might tell him where Hayden had gone.Or who had taken him.His fingers trembled slightly as he turned the knob. The lock had already been broken during the initial search, and the door creaked open with a quiet groan. He hesitated at the threshold, his heart thudding in his ches
Last Updated : 2025-03-14Tangled In Scales 59
Ashwin had gotten used to being motherly.When they first found the twins at the lake and they had called him 'mommy', it had thrown him off—especially when the twins had started saying it so easily, so naturally. But now? Now it was just part of his life.And he didn’t mind it. Not anymore.“Mommy, help!” Koa called dramatically, flopping onto the floor with a blanket wrapped around him like a cocoon. “I’s stuck!”Kai, standing above him with a mischievous glint in his eyes, crossed his arms. “You’s not stuck. You’s playing.”“But I's be stuck,” Koa shot back. “Mommy will save me.”Ashwin sighed, walking over to the two of them. “You know, there was a time when I was actually scared to be responsible for tiny, chaotic creatures like you.”Koa grinned. “But you love us.”“Yeah, yeah.” Ashwin crouched down, untangling the blanket from Koa’s limbs. “There. You’re free.”Koa leapt up and hugged him. “Mommy
Last Updated : 2025-03-15Tangled In Scales 60
Ashwin stood behind the café counter, wiping down the smooth surface with slow, methodical movements. His fitted t-shirt clung to him in all the right places, hugging the lean muscle of his torso, but what really drew his attention was the way the fabric dragged over his chest—specifically against his nipples, still sensitive from Imara’s latching. Every brush of the material sent a dull ache through him, a sensation that lingered longer than he liked.He exhaled through his nose, trying to ignore it as he focused on the steady hum of the café. The air buzzed with conversation, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries filling the space. It was busy, like always—customers chatting over steaming cups, the rhythmic hiss of the espresso machine blending into the background noise. The familiar routine grounded him, offering a welcome distraction from his own body’s unexpected changes.Don’t ever speak of Ohas again.Ishaan’s voic
Last Updated : 2025-03-15Tangled In Scales 61
Ashwin was lost in thought during dinner.The warm glow of the dining room felt distant, the clatter of utensils and the gentle hum of conversation blending into a dull haze around him. The twins chattered animatedly between bites of food, their excited voices rising and falling in bursts of laughter. Across from him, Ishaan spoke with his mother, his deep voice a steady anchor in the room, while Freya sat with Imara nestled in her lap, feeding the little girl with careful precision. It was a perfect domestic scene—one that Ashwin should have been a part of—but his mind was elsewhere, tangled in questions that refused to leave him alone.Who was Ohas?The name haunted him, slithering through his thoughts like a whisper he couldn’t shake. It had been days since that dream—since that voice had wrapped around him in the depths of his subconscious, calling him by a name he barely recognized.Ashwin gripped his fork tighter, his appetite long
Last Updated : 2025-03-16Tangled In Scales 62
Freya had already left for Kal’Raksha. Now, it was just Ashwin, Ishaan, and the children, making the final preparations for their journey.Ishaan had insisted they pack light—very light—since they would be traveling in their Naga forms. Clothes, unnecessary items, even sentimental belongings were left behind. The only things they carried were the essentials, tucked into a single bag strapped securely to the rented truck.Ashwin had already quit his job at the café. When his boss had asked why, he’d kept his response simple: I’m visiting Ishaan’s family, and I don’t know when I’ll be back. Ishaan had done the same, leaving his job at the auto shop without hesitation. But before they could leave town, he had one last stop to make. He went straight to the police station—not because he was under suspicion, but because he didn’t want to be.“The killings stopped a few weeks ago,” he had told them, his voice calm and measured. “I’m taking my family out
Last Updated : 2025-03-16Tangled In Scales 63
They had been walking for what felt like hours, the dense forest closing in around them with each step. The towering trees blocked out most of the sky, allowing only fragmented slivers of moonlight to pierce through the thick canopy above. The ground was damp beneath their feet, softened by fallen leaves and the occasional gnarled tree root that jutted out like skeletal fingers.The air was thick, humid, laced with the scent of wet earth and the distant, lingering aroma of blooming nightshade. Fireflies flitted around them, their tiny lights flickering like stars caught between the trees. The rustling of unseen creatures in the undergrowth was the only sound aside from their footsteps and the occasional murmured conversation.Kai and Koa had been energetic at first, their small feet pattering against the forest floor as they chattered about what Kal'Raksha would be like. But as time wore on, their enthusiasm waned, their steps growing slower, their little hands tug
Last Updated : 2025-03-17
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Tangled In Scales Side Story (The Bikers III)
The clinic was silent, but the tension inside those dimly lit rooms was anything but.Ashwin barely had time to catch his breath before Ishaan’s hand tightened around his throat again, just enough to remind him—this wasn’t a game he was going to win. Ishaan’s grip was firm, possessive, his other arm still wrapped around Ashwin’s waist, keeping him exactly where he wanted.“You like that, little snake?” Ishaan rasped against the shell of his ear, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction.Ashwin trembled, his fingers curling around the cool sheets of the hospital bed, desperate for something to hold onto. His body was caught between the unrelenting heat of Ishaan behind him and the cold air brushing over his skin, an unbearable contrast that made him shudder.Ishaan’s hand drifted lower, skimming over Ashwin’s stomach before gripping his hip hard enough to leave fingerprints. “You’re shaking,” he murmured, amusement laced in his voice. “I haven’t even started yet.”Ashwin bit his lip,
Tangled In Scales Side Story (The Bikers II)
The clinic had long since settled into a comfortable hush. The fluorescent lights hummed faintly, casting sterile glows on linoleum floors. The rhythmic beeping of heart monitors, the occasional rustle of papers at the nurses’ station, and the distant murmur of a late-night television in the waiting room were the only reminders that life continued beyond these walls.But inside Room 17, the world had narrowed to the two of them.Hayden stood at the edge of the hospital bed, arms crossed over his chest, his white coat unbuttoned and slightly rumpled from the long shift. His dark eyes were sharp, calculating, yet threaded with something dangerously close to amusement.“You’re not dying,” he stated, voice flat.Ohas, lounging against the pillows, tousled curls framing his face in careless disarray, pouted like a petulant prince. His golden-honey eyes gleamed under the dim lighting, half-lidded in mock distress.“But I could be,” he countered, pressing a hand over his chest with theatric
Tangled In Scales Side Story (The Bikers I)
The clinic smelled like antiseptic, faint traces of lavender from the recently cleaned floors mixing with the sterile scent of medicine. It was a familiar scent, one Hayden barely noticed anymore.The night shift was slower than usual, leaving the halls eerily quiet, the fluorescent lights casting cold, clinical glows along the polished floors.Outside, the city hummed with life, but inside, time felt still, the silence broken only by the occasional beeping of a heart monitor or the hushed voices of nurses making their rounds.Hayden moved through the hallways at a steady, unhurried pace, clipboard in hand, while Ashwin trailed behind him, scribbling down notes with the practiced ease of someone used to his older brother’s rhythm.“You’re slowing me down,” Hayden teased, glancing over his shoulder.Ashwin shot him a flat look. “I’m writing everything down so you don’t forget.”Hayden smirked. “That’s what nurses are for, huh?”Ashwin rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. They both knew Ha
Tangled In Scales 122
Amira's entire body locked up. She could handle a scolding. She could handle Ishaan's wrath. But Dhruv? Her father would lock her up. Her heart pounded as Ishaan pressed further, his voice a dangerous hiss. "You know what he'll do, don’t you?" he hissed. "You won’t see the outside again without his permission. He’ll make sure you never slither a single inch past the borders unless he allows it." Amira's throat went dry. Ishaan wasn't bluffing. She knew her father’s overprotectiveness was nothing short of suffocating. If he found out she'd been sneaking around with Imara—if he even suspected she was involved in something reckless—he would lock her up. Panic surged through her. "Uncle, please," Amira whispered, gripping her arms. "I swear it wasn’t like that. I just... I was just making sure Imara was okay." Ishaan exhaled sharply through his nose, nostrils flaring. "You are just as reckless as she is," he snapped. "If you value your freedom, Amira, you will stay out
Tangled In Scales 121
Shadows stretched long and deep as he and his brothers, Rakesh and Arora, stepped past the towering stone archway marking their home.The courtyard was alive with movement—eight younger siblings darting around, their laughter bouncing off the walls like echoes of a time when the triplets had been just as carefree.The youngest two had somehow clambered onto their father’s thick, coiled tail, giggling as Ohas lazily let them swing back and forth. Their mother, Hayden, sat nearby, sharp eyes flickering over them, his gaze like a predator’s waiting for the right moment to strike.Irvin had barely taken three steps before Hayden’s head snapped toward him, his pupils narrowing.“Irvin.”That was it. Just his name. And yet, it sent an entire chill down his spine.Rakesh and Arora immediately took a single step back, clearly knowing what was coming. Hayden lifted a finger, curling it in a slow, beckoning motion. “Com
Tangled In Scales 120
The moons hung high in the sky, casting mixed hues over the dense jungle, the scent of damp earth and blooming nightflowers thick in the air. A soft breeze rustled the leaves as Imara slithered through the shadows, her long, pale hair shimmering like silk against the deep green of the foliage.She knew he was near before she even saw him.A strong arm shot out from the darkness, wrapping around her waist and pulling her against a warm, solid chest. Imara gasped, her hands instinctively pressing against the hard muscle beneath her palms.“You’re late,” Irvin murmured, his voice rich and low, vibrating through her.She huffed, tilting her head up to meet his gaze, the moonlight catching the sharp planes of his face, his dark eyes glinting with mischief. His hair, usually tied back, was loose in places, strands framing his angular jaw.“I had to be careful,” she whispered, though her pulse quickened from more than just the secrecy
Tangled In Scales 119
Five years later...The sun hung low over the courtyard, casting golden light over the lush garden. The once-pristine flower beds were now in ruins, trampled by three mischievous little troublemakers who slithered around, their dark, mamba-like tails blending into the foliage.Their giggles filled the air as they played, completely unbothered by the destruction they left in their wake—until a sharp voice rang out."Get out of my garden!"The triplets froze, exchanging wide-eyed glances.“Uh-oh. Papa is angry,” one of them whispered.Without hesitation, all three turned and bolted, their little tails dragging leaves and dirt behind them as they raced toward the house.A moment later, Hayden slithered out, his movements fluid and graceful despite his irritation. His hair was pulled into a loose man bun, but a few strands framed his sharp features, sticking slightly to his forehead from the heat of the e
Tangled In Scales 118
Ohas' golden-hazel eyes shone with an intensity that had never been there before. It was almost a year later and the sickness that had once drained him of his strength, his will, his very life, had vanished. His skin was warm again, no longer cold and brittle, no longer laced with the veins of the curse that had once gripped him. He was whole. He was alive.And right now, he was watching Hayden move above him, his gaze locked onto the way his mate's sweat-slicked body trembled with every bounce.The sight was mesmerizing—Hayden, flushed and radiant, his long hair clinging to his back and chest in damp waves, eyes hooded and lips parted as he panted. Every movement sent a rush of pleasure between them, a slow, teasing drag of heat that had Ohas gripping Hayden’s hips with reverence.He was healing well, but Hayden still insisted he drink the disgusting bitter concoctions he had prepared. Ohas had refused—until his cunning mate
Tangled In Scales 117
A deep, gasping breath tore through Ohas’ lungs as he jolted awake. His body trembled violently, his tail—once blackened and rotten with the curse—striking against the frozen ground. But something was wrong.The pain that had been his constant companion for years was… gone.His mind reeled, trying to grasp the agony that had shaped him, the sickness that had made his every moment unbearable. But there was nothing. No burning under his skin, no black veins creeping through his flesh, no suffocating weight pressing on his chest. Instead, there was only exhaustion, a hollowness that left him gasping for air.His vision swam as he tried to adjust to the blinding reflection of the glaciers. Ice walls towered around him, jagged and pristine, no longer a prison but a reminder of what had just happened. He blinked rapidly, his pulse hammering—Hayden.His body reacted before his mind could fully register the sight. H
