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
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
“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
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
“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
“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
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
~Ruby's POV~The drive back to Roman’s house was quiet, the hum of the engine filling the space between my thoughts. I kept glancing at the kids in the rearview mirror—Little Ruby staring out the window, lost in thought, and Rhett fiddling with his seatbelt absentmindedly. When we pulled into the driveway, the kids immediately perked up. “We’re home!” Little Ruby announced as she unbuckled her seatbelt.We stepped inside, the warmth of the house wrapping around us. Roman was already waiting in the living room, his arms crossed but a soft smile on his face.“Hey… how are you doing?” he asked, his gaze lingering on me, searching for any sign that something was wrong.“I’m good,” I answered.He turned his attention to the kids, crouching down slightly as they ran to him. “And what about you two?”“We’re fine, Roman!” they chorused, practically bouncing with excitement.“We had so much fun today!” Little Ruby beamed.“Oh, I see,” Roman said, ruffling her hair. “That’s good to know.”The
~Ruby's POV~“What could be on this?” I whispered to myself. The answer felt just out of reach, tantalizing but terrifying.The sound of footsteps snapped me out of my thoughts. I shoved the flash drive inside my pocket, then put the box back in the vent, and hurriedly pushed the wardrobe back into place.“Ruby?” Uncle Evan’s voice startled me, and I spun around to see him standing in the doorway, his brows furrowed in confusion.“Uncle Evan!” I said, forcing a smile as I tried to steady my breathing. “Good afternoon.”His eyes scanned the room before settling on me. “What are you doing in here?”“I… I was on my way to the bathroom,” I stammered, pointing vaguely down the hall. “But I wanted to come in and… uhm… you know, take a look. I hope you don’t mind.”“Of course not, Ruby.” His gaze softened slightly, though there was still a hint of suspicion in his eyes. “It’s strange, isn’t it? Being in here without her.”I nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah. I miss her so much.”He sighed, his
~Ruby's POV~The sun streamed through the windscreen as I steered the car along the winding streets. It was one of those mornings when the world felt alive—everything aglow under the golden rays. Little Ruby and Rhett’s laughter bubbled up from the backseat, their chatter a light, melodic rhythm that warmed my heart.“Are we really going to see Aunt Keely and Esperanza?” Little Ruby asked, her face practically glowing with excitement.“Yes, we are,” I said with a soft smile, glancing at her in the rearview mirror.“Do you think they’ll let us build a fort in the living room?” she asked, leaning forward in her seat.Rhett scoffed, nudging her with his elbow. “The backyard’s better. Bigger space for a proper fort—and better hiding spots.”I chuckled, shaking my head at their endless imaginations. “Whatever you decide to do, just make sure you listen to Aunt Keely and Esperanza, alright?”“Of course, Mommy!” they chorused in unison, their voices filled with playful mischief.The drive p
~Ruby's POV~After breakfast, I grabbed my phone and dialed Keely’s number. The familiar dial tone filled the room before her voice answered, bright and warm.“Hey Ruby… good morning,” she greeted.“Hi Keely. How are you doing?”“Doing great, Ruby. What about little Ruby and Rhett?”“They’re doing well, thanks for asking,” I said with a small smile. “Are you free today, by any chance?”“Umm… yeah, I totally am. Why do you ask?”“I was thinking about bringing the kids over. You know, spend some time together, catch up a little.”“You are?” Keely’s tone lifted in surprise.“Yeah, you know… it’s been a while.”“Why not? Please come over, Ruby. I’d love that,” she said excitedly.“Thanks, Keely. I really appreciate it,” I replied.“Don’t mention it. You’re always welcome. Oh, and Esperanza?”“She's still asleep, I think,” Keely said.“That explains why she didn’t pick up when I called earlier,” I said, chuckling softly.“Yeah, she puts her phone on silent when she’s sleeping. I’ll let her
~Roman's POV~I watched from the couch as Little Ruby, Rhett, and Kai stood back to admire their handiwork. The dining area sparkled under the soft glow of the overhead lights, the scent of dish soap still lingering faintly in the air.“Whoa… I think we did a great job here,” Kai said, crossing his arms and puffing out his chest like he’d just finished building a skyscraper.“Hmmm… I’m impressed,” Ruby said, leaning against the wall with a proud smile.“Welcome to the team, Kai,” Rhett said with mock seriousness, offering his small hand for a handshake.Kai crouched slightly to meet Rhett’s height and clasped his hand. “Thank you for having me. It’s an honour.”The formal tone of their exchange sent everyone into a fit of laughter. Even Ruby, who was clearly still a bit tired, couldn’t hold back her chuckles. Moments like these reminded me how much warmth and chaos this house had brought into my life.Once the laughter died down, we all made our way to the living room. The kids darte
"Are we going to keep staring at each other, or are you actually going to kiss me?" I whispered.Roman didn't need any more encouragement. He cupped my face, and our lips crashed together, sending a shiver down my spine. His hands were on my body, exploring every inch of me.My own hands were tangled in his hair, pulling him closer. I could feel his heart racing against my chest, his ragged breath on my neck.The tension between us was undeniable. It was like a fire, consuming us, making us forget about the world around us."Are you sure about this, Ruby?" Roman whispered, his voice thick with desire."I'm not. So go on before I change my mind."His eyes lit up, a sly grin tugging the corners of his mouth. "As you wish."And then his lips were on mine again, claiming them in a way that sent a wave of heat through my body. I lost myself in the moment, in the feeling of his touch, his scent, his taste.My mind was swimming with desire, and the only thing that mattered was being with him
~Ruby's POV~I blinked, feeling confused, as I looked down at my twins. They were holding onto me tightly, their small arms wrapped around me as if I was the only thing keeping them safe. My body felt weak, and my thoughts were jumbled, but I managed to lift my hands and gently place them on their heads.“I’m okay,” I whispered, though my voice was barely audible, hoarse from whatever had just happened.“Don’t scare us like that again, Mum,” little Ruby said, her voice trembling as if she was holding back tears. Hearing the crack in her voice broke something in me.“I promise,” I murmured, my lips trembling as I pulled both of them closer. Their warmth was grounding, pulling me back from the abyss I felt teetering on.I glanced up and saw him—Roman—sitting back on his heels, watching us. There was something raw in his expression, something I hadn’t seen before. Relief, maybe, but it was more than that. He looked shaken, like what just happened had hit him almost as hard as it hit me
~Little Ruby's POV~“Rhett?” I stopped laughing as I went under the water. I came up a little while later, feeling scared and weak. “Mum! Help! I think Rhett is drowning!” I screamed, my voice shaky with fear.Mum jumped out of her chair so fast it looked like she flew. She ran to the pool and, without thinking twice, dove right in—even though I knew she didn’t know how to swim. My heart pounded so hard I thought it would jump out of my chest.I swam toward Rhett as fast as I could. Mum splashed wildly beside me, and together, we grabbed him and pulled him to the shallow end of the pool. I could barely breathe by the time we got him out.Rhett coughed and blinked, sitting up. “Whoa… that was close,” Mum said, gasping for air.“It sure was!” I said, relieved but still shaking. “You scared us, Rhett!”“Sorry…” Rhett muttered, rubbing his head. Then he looked at Mum. “Wait, Mum… you’re swimming!”I turned to her, and suddenly, her face changed. Her eyes widened, and she looked at the w
~Ruby's POV~I was lying on my bed, soaking in the quiet, when the door creaked open; Rhett and Little Ruby popped their heads inside. Their mischievous smiles were enough to set off alarms in my head.“Hey, Mum. What are you doing?” Rhett asked casually. “Umm… nothing, exactly. Just trying to relax,” I said cautiously, narrowing my eyes at them.“Oh, that’s nice. What a coincidence,” Little Ruby said, her voice too sweet to be trusted.“Coincidence?” I asked, sitting up. “What are you two planning?”"Well... we were thinking the same thing too. So... you can relax outside—with us,” she added, her grin broadening.“No. Not a chance.” I shook my head firmly, but they didn’t even flinch.“Come on, Mum! You can even swim with us,” Rhett chimed in.“Oh… so that’s why you’re both dressed like that?” I asked, eyeing their swimsuits.“Exactly! Trust us, it’ll be fun,” Little Ruby said, bouncing on her toes.“Remember, I can’t swim, guys,” I said, raising an eyebrow.“Oh… that's true. But th