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037. Breathe... and plan.
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2024-12-05 22:57:13Related chapters
The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 038. No name, no return address...
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
Last Updated : 2024-12-05The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 039. Your choice...
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
Last Updated : 2024-12-06The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 040. Tell them the truth?
"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
Last Updated : 2024-12-07The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 041. Wrong choice...
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
Last Updated : 2024-12-09The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 042. A Call...
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
Last Updated : 2024-12-10The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 043. Packing...
Helen and I sat back on the couch, exhausted but relieved to have the packing nearly done. A small mountain of boxes and travel bags stood stacked neatly on one side of the living room."Thank you so much for doing this," I said, putting my hands on my hips as I looked over the pile, the upcoming trip was weighing heavily on me.Helen waved it off, falling back dramatically onto the couch as if the effort of packing had drained her completely. “It’s all good, Ruby. That’s why I’m here. Besides, you know I can’t resist a good packing challenge.”I chuckled and joined her, collapsing into the chair beside her with a grateful sigh. We both looked at the pile of luggage quietly for a moment, the room filled with the unspoken tension that hung between us like a thick fog.“It’s a lot,” Helen finally said, shaking her head as she gestured toward the mountain of bags. “I mean… it’s just a week trip, right?”“Yep,” I muttered, the worry creeping into my voice despite my best efforts to sound
Last Updated : 2024-12-13The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 044. Here's the plan...
“You're traveling alone… right?” Rhett asked, staring at the packed bags, his protective instincts kicking in.“Yeah… I sure am,” I replied, my voice firm but gentle.“But you also packed our bags,” Rhett said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he pieced together the puzzle.“Umm…” I paused, looking back at the bags, my heart heavy with the weight of my words. “Yeah I did. While I’m gone, you two will be staying with Aunt Helen,” I added, glancing at Helen, who smiled reassuringly, her presence a comforting shield against the storm.The kids’ faces brightened slightly at that, the thought of spending time with Helen lifted their spirits. “Aunt Helen is the best!” little Ruby declared, her small voice filled with genuine enthusiasm.Helen laughed, her eyes sparkling with warmth. “You bet I am! We’re going to have so much fun!”“But you’ll come back soon, right?” Rhett asked, his voice quieter now, a hint of worry creeping back into his eyes.I reached out, placing a hand on his. “Of cours
Last Updated : 2024-12-13The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 045. No response...
ROMAN'S POVThe weight of the day's reflections hit me as I leaned back in my chair. The shadows from the large windows stretched across the glass table in front of me, mimicking the tangled mess of emotions swirling in my head.I couldn’t stop thinking about the kids—Rhett and Ruby. Their warm, unguarded smiles, the way they talked with such enthusiasm, their innocent eyes brimming with curiosity—it all struck me in a way I hadn’t expected. When they held my hand or threw their arms around me in a hug, something inside me shifted. For a few fleeting moments, I felt connected—truly connected—in a way I hadn’t in years. As I watched them play and laugh, their happiness was so pure that it made me face the huge gap I had let form between us.I’d failed them. Not as a provider or protector, but as their father. How had I let myself drift so far from something so vital? "Dad" was a heavy title to carry, one I had not done right in years… I hadn’t done at all. I’d missed too much—birt
Last Updated : 2024-12-14
Latest chapter
The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 049. Back in Howling Heights...
RUBY'S POV The cab pulled into the city, and as the familiar skyline came into view, a tightness crept into my chest. I clutched my bag a little closer, staring out the window as the streets passed by in a blur of muted colors and ghosted memories.I was back.The place where everything began, where everything fell apart. The city that held every piece of me—the good, the bad, the broken. Each corner seemed to echo with memories of smiles, laughter, and heartbreak. It felt as though the air itself weighed heavier here, thick with the past.I blinked away the feeling and reached for my phone, dialing Liam’s number.“Ruby,” he answered almost immediately. His voice was warm, like a balm to my frayed nerves.“Hey. I’m here,” I said in a steady voice despite the emotions bubbling beneath the surface. “Is it still the hotel I told you about?”“Yeah, same place,” he confirmed. “I’m already here waiting for you.”I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “Alright. I’ll be there
The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 048. If I have to...
ROMAN’S POV I stepped into my apartment, the city lights bleeding in through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, the last thing I expected was Kai lounging on the couch. ]He had his feet kicked up on my coffee table, a glass of whiskey in hand, looking entirely too comfortable for someone about to deliver bad news.“Kai,” I said flatly, tossing my keys onto the counter.“You’re late,” he replied, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. His tone was light, but the tight set of his jaw betrayed his usual bravado.“What is it?” I asked, already sensing something was off.“You asked me to be here in an hour… remember?”Kai reached for a tablet sitting on the table and handed it to me without a word. The screen came to life under my touch, displaying grainy security footage from the airport. My stomach twisted the moment I saw her—Ruby—walking through the terminal. She was holding Rhett’s hand while Little Ruby clutched Helen’s. They were laughing, bags and boxes trailing behind them
The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 047. Departure...
“Stay where you are. Watch them, but don’t let her see you. Text me the flight details as soon as you can.”“Alright,” Kai said before the line went dead.I set the phone down, my hand shaking a bit from trying to control my feelings.I slammed my hand against the desk, the sound echoing in the quiet room. Ruby wasn’t going to do this. She wasn’t going to take my children and disappear.I took a moment to collect my thoughts. Ruby had made her decision, and realizing that she was leaving with the children filled me with an unexpected sense of urgency. I pushed my chair back and stood up, pacing to and fro. The walls felt like they were closing in on me, and I needed to breathe. I glanced at the clock on the wall; it was nearly 7 PM. If they had already checked in, they could be boarding any minute. I had no time to waste… PING!The sound of my phone drew my attention back to the device laying on the desk. It was a text from Kai, short and to the point: “Flight 237 to Howling Heights
The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 046. Are you sure it's them?
“There’s something else.”“What?” I asked almost immediately.“You asked for updates on the other business contracts,” he said in a neutral tone, careful not to overstep.I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the polished wood of the desk. “Go on.”Drew’s eyes flicked down to his tablet. He scrolled briefly before meeting my gaze. “Three of the contracts were declined—two in Paris and one in New York. Seven were approved, and the rest are still pending, awaiting signatures or further negotiations.”The numbers rolled over in my mind like a slow wave, and I nodded thoughtfully. “Not bad,” I said finally, though the rejections nagged at me. “Looks promising.”Drew’s shoulders eased, a subtle but telling shift in his normally rigid posture. He wasn’t the kind of assistant to show cracks, but I could read him better than most.“Anything else?” I asked, leaning back in my chair. The leather creaked softly under the shift of my weight.“Nothing else for now,” Drew said with a slight shake o
The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 045. No response...
ROMAN'S POVThe weight of the day's reflections hit me as I leaned back in my chair. The shadows from the large windows stretched across the glass table in front of me, mimicking the tangled mess of emotions swirling in my head.I couldn’t stop thinking about the kids—Rhett and Ruby. Their warm, unguarded smiles, the way they talked with such enthusiasm, their innocent eyes brimming with curiosity—it all struck me in a way I hadn’t expected. When they held my hand or threw their arms around me in a hug, something inside me shifted. For a few fleeting moments, I felt connected—truly connected—in a way I hadn’t in years. As I watched them play and laugh, their happiness was so pure that it made me face the huge gap I had let form between us.I’d failed them. Not as a provider or protector, but as their father. How had I let myself drift so far from something so vital? "Dad" was a heavy title to carry, one I had not done right in years… I hadn’t done at all. I’d missed too much—birt
The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 044. Here's the plan...
“You're traveling alone… right?” Rhett asked, staring at the packed bags, his protective instincts kicking in.“Yeah… I sure am,” I replied, my voice firm but gentle.“But you also packed our bags,” Rhett said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he pieced together the puzzle.“Umm…” I paused, looking back at the bags, my heart heavy with the weight of my words. “Yeah I did. While I’m gone, you two will be staying with Aunt Helen,” I added, glancing at Helen, who smiled reassuringly, her presence a comforting shield against the storm.The kids’ faces brightened slightly at that, the thought of spending time with Helen lifted their spirits. “Aunt Helen is the best!” little Ruby declared, her small voice filled with genuine enthusiasm.Helen laughed, her eyes sparkling with warmth. “You bet I am! We’re going to have so much fun!”“But you’ll come back soon, right?” Rhett asked, his voice quieter now, a hint of worry creeping back into his eyes.I reached out, placing a hand on his. “Of cours
The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 043. Packing...
Helen and I sat back on the couch, exhausted but relieved to have the packing nearly done. A small mountain of boxes and travel bags stood stacked neatly on one side of the living room."Thank you so much for doing this," I said, putting my hands on my hips as I looked over the pile, the upcoming trip was weighing heavily on me.Helen waved it off, falling back dramatically onto the couch as if the effort of packing had drained her completely. “It’s all good, Ruby. That’s why I’m here. Besides, you know I can’t resist a good packing challenge.”I chuckled and joined her, collapsing into the chair beside her with a grateful sigh. We both looked at the pile of luggage quietly for a moment, the room filled with the unspoken tension that hung between us like a thick fog.“It’s a lot,” Helen finally said, shaking her head as she gestured toward the mountain of bags. “I mean… it’s just a week trip, right?”“Yep,” I muttered, the worry creeping into my voice despite my best efforts to sound
The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 042. A Call...
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
The Alpha's Castaway Mate: Mummy, Is He Our Daddy? 041. Wrong choice...
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
