The weight of his words hung in the air between us, heavy and suffocating. I could feel the walls closing in, the safe world I had built for my children suddenly fragile, like glass about to shatter.I closed the door slowly, leaning against it for a moment as I tried to collect myself. I could hear the kids still playing, blissfully unaware of the turmoil swirling just outside their little world.But I knew it wouldn’t stay that way for long.The sharp, unmistakable smell of something burning snapped me back to reality.“Oh my God!” I yelped, dashing into the kitchen. A cloud of smoke hung in the air, curling out from the pot. My heart sank as I reached over to turn off the gas, mumbling, “No, no, no… this can’t be happening.”With a grimace, I lifted the pot lid, only to be met with the charred remains of what used to be noodles. The half-burnt mess at the bottom clung stubbornly to the pot, taunting me. I sighed, pressing my fingers to my forehead, feeling the frustration rise.“G
ROMAN'S POV "Just so you know, you aren't running away from me again... Not again," I said before walking out. Ruby's words felt weighty as I stepped outside, the cool evening air contrasting sharply with the intensity of our just concluded conversation. With each step away from her door, I felt a strange mix of frustration and determination coursing through me.I heard the door close behind me with a definitive click, signaling the end of our tumultuous exchange.Glancing over my shoulder, I took in the sight of Ruby's house, a quaint little abode tucked away in the suburban neighborhood.I grabbed my phone from my pocket and called Kai, hoping to get an update from him. After a few rings, he answered."Hey Roman, I was about to call you. I stopped by your office, but Drew said you weren't in," Kai's voice came through the line."Yeah, I dropped by Ruby's place," I replied, still processing the encounter."You went to her place? Why?” Kai sounded slightly miffed."You didn't tell
Helen and I were just finishing up the last bites of our pancakes, the ones she claimed were “the fluffiest yet,” when my phone buzzed on the table. A glance at the screen made my stomach twist—the principal of the kids’ school.“Oh no,” I murmured, grabbing the phone.Helen looked up, instantly sensing my tension. “Everything okay?”I forced a smile but could feel the worry tightening my throat. “It’s the school.”I picked up, keeping my voice as steady as I could. “Hello, this is Ruby.”“Mrs. Blackwood, this is Principal O’Neil,” the familiar voice on the other end said, warm but with a hint of urgency. “I need you to come to the school right away. There’s been… an incident.”My heart dropped. “Is everything alright? Are the kids okay?”“They’re fine,” she assured me, though her tone was careful. “It’s Rhett… He was involved in a… disagreement with another student.”“A disagreement?” My voice came out sharper than I intended.“Yes. I think it’s best if we discuss this in person. Ple
The doorbell rang a second time, the sound cutting through the silence. My heart raced, though I wasn’t sure why. I took a deep breath, brushing the worry from my face, and called out, “Coming!” I crossed the hall, bracing myself for a visitor, but hoping it wasn’t him.Instead, I opened the door to see Liam standing there, a warm smile lighting up his face. Relief washed over me.“Hey, Ruby,” he greeted.“Hi… good afternoon.” I stepped aside, opening the door wide enough for him to come through. “Come on in.”He held two brown paper bags, each filled to the brim. I reached out to take one, chuckling. “Are you moving in or just feeding an army?”“Only the finest snack selection for my favorite twins,” he replied with a grin, handing me a bag.Together, we made our way to the living room, where I set the bags down on the table. I cupped my hands and called out to the kids, who I knew were hovering just out of sight down the hall. “Alright, Munchies… someone’s here to see you!”I could
LITTLE RUBY'S POV Today was the day—the day Uncle Liam was taking us out! He had told us yesterday he was going to, and I was so excited, I could barely sleep. When morning came, I hurried out of bed, took my bath and put on my best outfit. But I had a little problem, I couldn’t find my favorite shoes.“Mom, where’s my shoe?” I called, hopping down the hall with one shoe on and my other foot bare.“Have you checked under your bed, Ruby?” she said, smiling at me from the kitchen.“Not there, Mom.”“Try Rhett’s room then.”Just as I was about to head to Rhett’s room, the doorbell rang. I was so excited I didn’t even care that I was wearing just one shoe. I hopped all the way to the door, wobbly but fast.I opened the door, and there was Uncle Liam, smiling down at me. “Hey, Ruby. How are you?”“Good, Uncle Liam! How are you?” I said, feeling very grown-up.He chuckled, patting my shoulder. “I’m good too, thank you.”“Are you just going to keep him there in the doorway, Ruby?” Mom’s vo
LIAM’S POVThe sky was painted in shades of orange and purple as the sun dipped lower. We were almost home, and the quiet drive felt like a welcome relief after such a long day. I kept my focus on the road, enjoying the peaceful silence that had settled over the car.It didn’t last long, though. Rhett stirred in the backseat, rubbing his eyes and blinking slowly. I glanced at him in the mirror, a small smile tugging at my lips. “You awake?” I asked softly.“Yeah… I am, Uncle Liam,” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep as he scratched his eyes and yawned.We turned onto Ruby’s street, and that’s when I saw something that caught my eyes. A man was standing right in front of the house, and from the look of things, it wasn’t good. Ruby was with him, and whatever peaceful moment we had instantly shattered.“Who’s that?” Rhett asked in a curious voice, leaning forward as if to get a clearer view. His tired little face turned toward the window, and I felt a knot form in my chest. He didn’t
RHETT'S POVWhen Uncle Liam got back into the car, he looked at me with a look that was a combination of worry and something else… maybe sadness. He let out a shaky breath and gave me a soft smile. “You okay, buddy?”I nodded, even though my insides were still twisted up. “Yeah,” I said quietly, but really, I felt anything but okay.Liam carried my sister, Ruby, who was still asleep in his arms, while Mom helped me out of the car and grabbed the bags and packages from our day out. We made our way inside, entering into our quiet apartment. The evening was peaceful, but I could feel that something had changed.Mom followed me to my room, where she whispered, “Take your bath, okay?” before gently placing Ruby down on the bed next to mine. I nodded, and she gave Ruby’s shoulder a gentle shake. “And wake your sister up for hers when you’re done, alright?”“Got it,” I whispered back, watching as Mom closed the door quietly, leaving me alone with Ruby.I sat there for a moment, staring at m
RUBY'S POV I barely made it to the couch before the exhaustion hit. I let out a long, heavy sigh, sinking into the cushions as the weight of the day settled over me. Liam was sitting at the other end, appearing lost in thought, with a look of worry and uncertainty on his face.“What was that all about?” he finally asked in a gentle but firm voice, almost as if he was afraid of the answer.“That’s what I’ve been needing to talk to you about,” I said softly, not quite able to meet his gaze. I ran a hand through my hair, struggling to find the right words. “It seems… well, it seems Roman’s back.”Liam let out a slow breath, his brows knitting together as he took this in. “So I wasn’t mistaken,” he murmured, almost to himself.I nodded, swallowing down the familiar pang of anxiety. “You’re not mistaken, Liam,” I said, my voice sounding small and strained. “He’s back. And I don’t know what that means yet, but it worries me.”“Damn,” Liam said, running a hand over his face, his shoulders s
~Ruby's POV~The tires barely crunched over the gravel before I saw them—Helen, the kids, Keely, Esperanza—all standing outside the house like they were waiting for something spectacular.Well… maybe they were.They held handmade signs above their heads. One in Little Ruby’s unmistakable handwriting read: Welcome Back! and another, messily painted in glitter and marker, said: TELL US EVERYTHING!Roman laughed as he stepped out of the car, squinting against the afternoon sun. “Looks like we’ve got a welcoming committee.”I didn’t even get a chance to grab my purse before the twins launched themselves toward us. Roman caught both of them in his arms with ease, lifting them off the ground and spinning them around. They squealed with delight, tiny limbs flailing mid-air.“Good to see you two,” Roman said, his voice softer than usual. The kind of tone I’d only ever heard him use with them.“Same here, Dad,” they chimed in unison.“How was your vacation?” Rhett asked, ever the polite one.
~Ruby's POV~I woke to silence.No breath against my neck. No warmth tucked behind me. No Roman.My hand instinctively reached for the other side of the bed, but the sheets were cold, untouched. I blinked, sitting up slowly and brushing strands of hair out of my face.That’s when I saw it—folded neatly and left in Roman’s unmistakable scrawl on the pillow beside me.“Wear something pretty. I’m stealing you away at 6.”I stared at it for a second too long before letting out a quiet scoff. “Roman,” I murmured with a small smile, clutching the note for a moment before setting it down on the nightstand.The evening was quiet; the cabin was quiet—too quiet. No hum from the bathroom, no clinking of cups from the kitchenette, not even the rustle of papers or faint footsteps. Just me, the distant ticking of the clock, and… my stomach rumbling like it had a score to settle.“Damn,” I mumbled, placing a hand on my belly. “Calm down.”I grabbed one of the leftover cookies I found in the fridge a
The past three days have been wonderfully fun, and today, being the fourth, wasn't going to be any different. The moment we stepped into the cobblestone square of the old town market, I felt her energy shift.Ruby slowed down, taking in the quaint charm like it was something out of a fairytale. String lights crisscrossed overhead despite it being daytime, casting soft golden hues across the worn stones beneath our feet. Colorful stalls lined both sides of the street, selling everything from handwoven baskets to carved figurines and spices in little muslin pouches. The air smelled of roasted almonds, cinnamon, and woodsmoke.“Whoa… this is beautiful,” she murmured, eyes wide, voice soft with awe.I tried to hide the grin tugging at my lips, but failed. “Told you I had good taste.”She rolled her eyes, not even trying to fight the smile that followed. “Don’t be full of yourself, Roman. You just got lucky.”“Uh-huh. So yesterday’s waterfall was luck? And the valley before that?” I shot
~Roman's POV~The second day of our little escape began with nothing but sun, wildflowers, and an open valley. The scent of spring was thick in the air—crisp grass, blooming petals, and that earthy sweetness that only comes when you’re far from city noise. For once, everything felt… quiet. Still. Like the world had decided to hold its breath and just let us exist.We rode out into the valley after breakfast, the horses crunching over gravel and dry brush. Ruby looked ahead with this gleam in her eyes like she was ten again, wild and unbothered. She had insisted she was a "natural" at horseback riding.I should’ve known better.We had barely ridden into the open stretch when her horse wandered off-course, heading toward the ridge with a mind of its own. Ruby’s posture tensed, both hands gripping the reins like they were her last lifeline.“Whoa—okay. Alright, not funny,” she muttered, trying to redirect the horse, but it kept veering left.I didn’t even laugh. Not yet. I kicked my
Ruby’s POVThe next morning came faster than expected.Roman had been up early—earlier than me, which was a rare occasion, but it shouldn’t have surprised me too—and had already packed both our bags by the time I made it downstairs. He was standing near the door, arms crossed, looking smug as hell.“You ready?” he asked, that crooked little grin playing at the corners of his lips.I narrowed my eyes at the sight of the duffle bag slung over his shoulder. “What exactly are we packing for?”He raised a brow. “A break.”I folded my arms. “Roman D’Angelo, you said peace—not mystery.”He chuckled. “It’s a peaceful mystery. You’ll like it.”“You’re terrible at surprises.”He leaned in and brushed a kiss to my cheek. “And yet, I keep trying. That has to count for something.”Despite myself, I smiled.We left just before noon—Helen waving us off with a mock salute and a muttered “Godspeed” as Rhett and Little Ruby shouted goodbye from the porch. Esperanza had already set up an emergency gro
~Ruby's POV~“SURPRISE!!” We all shouted, popping up from every corner like confetti cannons.Helen froze, her mouth parting in surprise. Her eyes filled with something I hadn’t seen in days—real joy.Keely stepped out from behind the couch and shouted, “Welcome back, warrior!”Esperanza handed her a paper crown that read Queen of Comebacks, placing it gently on her head.Rhett and Little Ruby hugged her tightly around the waist, careful not to bump her leg.And I… I just smiled. For once, things felt light again. Not perfect. Not healed. But lighter.And that was a start.The house felt different—brighter somehow, warmer in a way that had nothing to do with the lighting. Voices echoing over each other, plates clinking in the kitchen, laughter spilling out of rooms like music. For the first time in a while, it felt like a real home again.Helen stood at the center of it all, beaming like she’d just stepped out of a miracle. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes still glassy with emotion eve
~Ruby's POV~It had been over a week now.The night outside was cold, quiet—too quiet for a mind like mine that hadn’t rested in what felt like years. I was curled up on the couch, the throw blanket pulled to my chin, knees pressed close to my chest. The television was on but muted, the flicker of images dancing faintly on the wall. I wasn’t watching it anyway. My eyes were wide open, but my mind was somewhere far away, running backward like an old film reel.Everything had happened so fast.Aunt Jean’s death. Bronwyn’s murder. The ambush at the cabin. The WE Project revelations. The attack on Helen in this same house. Even now, when everything was starting to settle, it still felt like a dream. A bad one. The kind that followed you into the morning, clinging to the edges of your thoughts even after the sun rose.I tucked my feet deeper under the blanket.When we moved back with Roman, it hadn’t been by choice. It was about safety. Protection. We were all targets. Me. My kids. Every
~Roman’s POV~The grand hall of the Pack House was colder than I remembered. Not in temperature—but in silence, in the tension that gripped the walls like ice. I stood at the center of it all, straight-backed and unyielding, though every step inside felt like trespassing across the bones of my past. Familiar faces stared back at me—pack warriors, curious onlookers, council elders seated in their formal robes like ancient statues.They whispered. Of course they did.“What’s he doing here?”“He was banished.”“Is he insane?”“He’s going to get himself killed.”I kept my eyes ahead, ignoring the murmurs from the crowd. My hands were steady. My pulse was not.Elder Cael stood slowly from the council bench. “You violated your sentence, Roman D’Angelo. You were banished. To return is an act of rebellion punishable by death.”The words lingered in the air, serious and heavy. I didn’t react at all.“I didn’t come here to defy,” I said in a controlled voice, “I came in peace. I came to protec
~Ruby's POV~I didn’t even realise I was crying until I felt the sting of salt against the cuts on my cheek. My arms were full—one child cradled on each side—and my legs barely kept pace as I pushed forward, praying we’d make it out before something else went wrong.Rhett’s limp grew heavier with each hurried step, but he clung to me with everything he had. Little Ruby had her face buried in my neck, her tiny breaths trembling against my skin. Blood had dried beneath her nose, crusted against her upper lip. I kept brushing her curls from her face, murmuring like a chant—words meant more for me than for them.“Almost there, babies. I’ve got you. I’ve got you. Just a little more.”The hallway ahead was a blur of dim light and flickering shadows, but I caught the movement before the face. Kai. He was hobbling toward us, his lip split, bruises painting one side of his face, but gods—he was smiling.“Hey!” he called out, breathless, in a hoarse but warm voice.The twins stirred in my arm