“Goodnight, loves.” I said this before closing the door behind me.I thought about heading back to the car to offload the mountain of things Roman had bought for them, but damn, I felt tired—physically and mentally. I decided it could wait until morning. My bed was calling, and I was too tired to resist.When I stepped inside, I instantly felt uneasy, like something was wrong. The air felt heavy and it was kind of hard to breathe. I shook off the feeling and reached for the light switch to turn on the lights.The room flooded with warm illumination, revealing nothing out of place. The same dresser stood against the far wall, and the faded floral wallpaper, though peeling in places, held no secrets. A nervous laugh bubbled up inside me, the kind of laugh you give when exhaustion toys with your senses.Just the weariness playing tricks. I said to myself.However, as I turned towards the bed, I abruptly stopped.He was there.My breath caught in my throat. “Shit! What the fuck, Roman?
And now, with just one kiss, it had roared back to life.My legs felt like jelly, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could stay upright. Thankfully, Roman seemed to sense this, and without breaking the kiss, he slid his arms around my waist and pulled me closer.I was pressed against him now, the feeling of his body against mine sending a shiver down my spine. My mind was spinning, but there was one clear thought cutting through the haze.I didn't want this to end.I knew it was wrong, but right now, it didn't matter.Right now, all that mattered was this.This feeling.This moment.The feel of his lips against mine, the taste of him, the way his hands felt as they explored my body, sending sparks of pleasure through every inch of me.The sound of his heartbeat, thudding in time with mine.It was like coming home after a long journey.Suddenly, Roman broke the kiss, pulling back. His eyes were wild, and his chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath.I couldn’t breathe. I could bar
The door clicked shut behind him, leaving a deafening silence in its wake. My legs gave out, and I sank onto the edge of the bed, pressing trembling fingers to my lips. They still tingled, betraying me, reminding me of the heat and the weight of Roman’s kiss.“What the hell just happened?” I muttered, shaking my head like I could erase the last ten minutes of my life.But I couldn’t.Every second of it was seared into my memory—the way his lips felt, the fire in his touch, the way his voice wrapped around my name like it belonged to him.No. I couldn’t let this happen.I stood abruptly, pacing the room as if motion could undo the chaos swirling in my chest. My reflection caught my eye in the mirror, and I froze. My hair was disheveled, my cheeks flushed, my eyes wide with… something. Anger. Confusion. Longing. None and all at the same time.“Snap out of it, Ruby,” I scolded myself, gripping the dresser until my knuckles turned white. “He doesn’t get to do this to you. Not again.”But
The sound of bread sliding into the toaster filled the quiet kitchen as I packed sandwiches into the twins’ lunchboxes. The morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting a warm glow over the counter, but my mind was still stuck on last night.Roman.The kiss.The bond.I sighed, pressing my fingers against my temple as if I could rub away the thoughts. Grabbing my phone, I dialed Helen’s number. She picked up after the second ring.“Ruby? What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.“Everything,” I said, glancing toward the hallway to make sure the twins weren’t within earshot. “Helen, you won’t believe what happened last night.”“What?” she asked.“Roman was in my room.”“In your room?” Helen repeated, her voice rising in disbelief.“Yes,” I said, quickly recounting everything that had transpired—the kiss, the bond, my eventual demand for him to leave. By the time I finished, Helen was silent, a rare occurrence that made my stomach twist.“Well?” I pressed.Helen let ou
The words slammed into me like a freight train, leaving me breathless and reeling. "Notice of Custody Hearing" screamed at me from the page.I felt my vision blur, my heart racing as I struggled to process the implications. And then, like a cruel twist of the knife, I saw his name.Roman had filed for custody.My breath caught, and I stumbled back into my chair, clutching the papers tightly. A thousand thoughts flooded my mind, each one more overwhelming than the last.How could he?After everything, how could he try to take them from me?I leaned forward, pressing my forehead against the cool surface of my desk. Anger bubbled in my chest, hot and consuming, but beneath it was something else. Fear.Because no matter how wrong Roman was, I knew one thing for certain. He wouldn't give up easily.Taking a deep breath, I picked up my phone and scrolled to Roman’s number. My finger hovered over the call button for a moment before I pressed it.Gripping the phone so tightly my knuckles tu
"Have you ever thought of telling them?"“Tell who what?” I asked, my voice muffled by my hands.“The kids... The truth," she said, her words landing heavily between us.I lifted my head, meeting her gaze. “The truth?”“Yes,” Helen said firmly. “About who Roman really is. That he's their father. Abd about why he’s here. They’re smart, Ruby. They deserve to know.”My chest tightened at the thought. “They’re just kids, Helen,” I said in a wavering voice. “How am I supposed to explain all of this to them?”“You’ll find the words,” she said, reaching across the desk to take my hand. “Because they need to hear it from you, not from a court or, God forbid, Roman himself. You have to control the narrative, Ruby.”I swallowed hard, the weight of her words settling on my shoulders. She was right. As much as I wanted to shield Rhett and little Ruby from this chaos, they deserved the truth.But how do you tell your children that the man who’s suddenly appeared in their lives is their father? That
DANE'S POVThe damp air of the abandoned warehouse clung to my skin like a second layer, the bitter tang of blood and rust heavy in my nostrils. My body sagged against the pole, the rough ropes biting into my wrists as they stretched high above me. Pain throbbed through my swollen mouth, and blood trickled down my temple, salty and warm as it pooled into my cracked lips."Haven't you had enough, Dane?" Alpha Damien's voice broke the heavy silence, filled with a rage that sent a chill down my spine.I lifted my head slowly, feeling sharp pain shoot through my neck with the movement. "I swear on my life, Alpha Damien," I rasped in a trembling voice, desperate to be heard, "I didn't steal the money."His eyes narrowed, glowing faintly in the dim light. He hissed in frustration, turning away from me with a flick of his wrist. "You didn't steal the money?" He turned around, his face very close to mine, his words cutting sharply. "Then who did, Dane? Who?”"I’m telling the truth, Alpha Da
We had just pulled into the driveway, and the kids were already bouncing with energy despite the long day at school. As soon as we stepped inside, I handed Rhett and Ruby their bags and gave them a stern but playful look.“Straight to the bathroom, you two. No detours, no distractions.”“Yes, ma’am,” Rhett said with mock seriousness, and Ruby giggled as they raced up the stairs.Helen and I stood there for a moment, listening to their chatter fade into the distance. Then I turned to her. “Alright, let’s get everything unloaded.”We headed back to the car, opening the trunk to reveal the chaotic mess of shopping bags, toys, and goodies from the previous day. Helen grabbed a couple of bags, and I went for the bigger items, including Rhett’s oversized red remote-control car and little Ruby’s dollhouse.“I still can’t believe how much Roman spoiled them,” Helen said, shaking her head with a faint smile as she hefted the bags.“Neither can I,” I muttered, though my tone was less amused.A
~Ruby’s POV~A firm knock echoed through the house, diverting our attention. I hesitated for a moment before moving toward the door, my stomach tightening. When I opened the door, Damien stood there. But he wasn’t the man I remembered. He looked… worn. The usually confident, well-dressed figure was gone. His suit was wrinkled, his tie undone, and the bags under his eyes made it clear that he hasn’t been sleeping. He wasn’t the composed, calculating man I once knew. He was raw—on the brink of collapse.I studied him for a long moment before stepping aside, silently inviting him in. He didn’t speak as he entered, his shoulders tense.As soon as he stepped into the living room, all eyes turned to him.“Dad?” Esperanza’s voice was a mix of shock and uncertainty.Keely’s brows furrowed as she took in his disheveled state. “What the hell happened to you?”Damien hesitated, as if realising only now that they were here. His jaw tightened slightly.“Wha… what are you doing here?” Esperanza s
~Damien’s POV~The evening was strangely quiet—the kind of silence that didn't bring peace but instead a crushing weight that pressed down on my chest. I sat on the old wooden ladder leading up to the treehouse, my fingers gripping a worn photograph—one that had started to fade from the countless times I had traced the outlines of their faces. My wife and my brother—both gone—both because of choices I had made.A cold breeze swept through the woods, rustling the leaves, making the branches groan as if they, too, carried burdens too heavy to bear. I exhaled, watching my breath fog up in the cool air, my gaze fixed on the treehouse above me.It had been ours—mine and my brother’s.I could still hear his laughter echoing in the back of my mind, the way we'd race each other up the ladder, barely holding onto the sides, ignoring our mother’s frantic warnings from below. "Damien! Slow down! You’ll break your neck before you even learn to be responsible!" She used to scold, but we never
Ruby’s POVThe room was filled with a warm, golden light as the sun shone through the curtains. I sank back into the couch cushions, trying to get comfortable despite the pain in my side—a reminder of how close I had been to not making it. But for the moment, everything felt peaceful; there were no gunshots or chaos, just the soothing sound of Roman pacing around nearby.I watched him, unable to tear my eyes away. He slouched with his broad shoulders, and his jaw was clenched tight with stress. He hadn’t slept much at all. I could see the tired lines on his face, but there was also a restless anger simmering just below the surface."Roman," I said softly, breaking the silence.He stopped mid-step, turning toward me with an intensity that nearly stole my breath. "You should be resting," he said gruffly, but there was something tender beneath it."I’m fine," I replied, though we both knew that wasn’t entirely true.He ran a hand through his dishevelled hair, letting out a deep breath.
~Ruby’s POV~I felt a dull ache all over my body, reminding me of everything that had happened. My arms and legs felt heavy and sore, as if I had just run for miles without a break.My throat was dry, and even though I was a bit foggy at first, I slowly started to remember bits and pieces of the night before. The faint light coming through the curtains suggested it was morning, but I had no clue what time it was.The next thing I noticed was the scent—cedarwood, warm and familiar. Roman.Turning my head slowly, I found him sitting nearby, elbows resting on his knees, his face buried in his hands. His dark hair was disheveled, his usual confidence replaced by exhaustion. Even in the dull light, I could see the tension in his shoulders, the weight of everything still pressing down on him.I swallowed, my voice hoarse as I whispered. “Roman?”His head snapped up instantly, as if he had been on high alert despite looking drained. His dark and intense eyes softened the moment he saw me aw
~Roman's POV~My hands trembled as I carefully settled Ruby into the passenger seat of my car. The weight of her body felt so much lighter than usual, as if she had already lost too much blood. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay calm. Panic wouldn’t help her now.Her head lolled slightly to the side as I buckled her in. A faint groan escaped her lips, but she was too weak to say much else. The sight of her like this—wounded, barely holding on—made something vicious coil deep inside me. My wolf was restless, snarling at the scent of blood filling the air, at the reminder that I had failed to protect her.I yanked my phone from my pocket and pressed Kai’s number. The moment he answered, I cut straight to the point."Kai, tell Helen there was… a situation. Don’t let the kids worry, but Ruby and I won’t be back tonight."There was a pause, then Kai’s voice sharpened. "What happened? Is she okay?"I clenched the steering wheel. "She’ll be fine." My voice was harder than I intended
~Ruby’s POV~Everything had been going according to plan—at least, as much as it could when sneaking into a black-market masquerade auction filled with the world’s most dangerous people. Roman and I had stayed calm, observing, listening, and waiting for the right moment to act.Then, it happened.A low, growling snarl broke the chatter of the crowd. Before anyone could respond, the volunteer who had received the injection suddenly lost control.He lunged—his body moving with unnatural speed—as he sank his teeth into the throat of a nearby guard. The man barely had time to scream before blood sprayed across the floor.For half a second, the room stood frozen.Then, chaos exploded.Screams filled the air as people scrambled toward the exits, knocking over chairs and shoving past one another in a desperate attempt to escape. Glass shattered as expensive champagne flutes hit the floor. A woman in a deep red gown tripped over her heels, shrieking as she was nearly crushed underfoot.Roman
~Ruby's POV~I kept my eyes trained on the group ahead of us, watching as they disappeared into the elevator.A soft chime echoed as the doors slid shut, swallowing them whole.Roman and I stood near the edge of the ballroom, champagne glasses in hand—props, nothing more.This was it.Roman, ever composed, reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a small, sleek device.I barely glanced at it, keeping my gaze steady on the elevator, but I knew what it was.Roman turned slightly toward me, voice low. “Ready?”I inhaled, exhaled. Nodded.Without another word, we moved.Confidence was key.We approached the restricted area where two big men in black suits were standing guard. Their faces were hidden behind masks, making their expressions hard to read. Their eyes shifted toward us, carefully evaluating our presence.Roman didn’t skip a beat. He confidently held out the pass, his voice steady and calm—impossible to challenge."We’re expected."One of the guards took
~Ruby’s POV~I had been alone for a while now.The music from the ball still drifted faintly through the air, but I had put enough distance between myself and the chaos that it felt like a distant hum. The cool night air filtered through the open balcony doors, the faint scent of roses and expensive cologne still lingering in the air.Only God knew where Roman had gone—or how he and Liam had settled their little misunderstanding.And to be honest?I don't actually mind.As long as Roman didn’t do anything out of the ordinary—which, knowing him, was asking for too much—I wasn’t about to get involved.All I needed was a break.A moment of peace.Away from their drama.Or, should I say…Their action movie.I stood near the edge of the dance floor, watching the swirl of gowns and crisp suits move in perfect harmony. It was supposed to be a night of luxury and indulgence, but deep down, my mind was elsewhere. The tension in my chest hadn’t eased since the confrontation with Liam earlier,
~Ruby’s POV~The evening had been going smoothly—almost too smoothly—until I saw him.Liam.Standing at the bar, dressed in a crisp black tuxedo that fit him just right, he looked completely at ease in the lavish setting. The golden glow of the chandeliers cast soft highlights on his sharp features, making it impossible to ignore him. But it was the way his piercing gaze found mine across the room that made my stomach twist.And then Roman saw him.“What the hell is he doing here?” Roman muttered under his breath, in a dangerously low voice. He clenched his fist on the table, the muscles in his forearm standing out sharply.Liam’s lips curled into the faintest smirk as he raised his glass in a silent, taunting toast.I felt Roman tense beside me, and the shift in his posture was immediate. The air around us thickened, the weight of his Alpha instincts pressing against me like a storm waiting to break.I placed a gentle but firm hand on his arm. "Roman," I murmured. I had no idea why