âYou're traveling aloneâĶ right?â Rhett asked, staring at the packed bags, his protective instincts kicking in.âYeahâĶ I sure am,â I replied, my voice firm but gentle.âBut you also packed our bags,â Rhett said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he pieced together the puzzle.âUmmâĶâ I paused, looking back at the bags, my heart heavy with the weight of my words. âYeah I did. While Iâm gone, you two will be staying with Aunt Helen,â I added, glancing at Helen, who smiled reassuringly, her presence a comforting shield against the storm.The kidsâ faces brightened slightly at that, the thought of spending time with Helen lifted their spirits. âAunt Helen is the best!â little Ruby declared, her small voice filled with genuine enthusiasm.Helen laughed, her eyes sparkling with warmth. âYou bet I am! Weâre going to have so much fun!ââBut youâll come back soon, right?â Rhett asked, his voice quieter now, a hint of worry creeping back into his eyes.I reached out, placing a hand on his. âOf 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 couldnât stop thinking about the kidsâRhett and Ruby. Their warm, unguarded smiles, the way they talked with such enthusiasm, their innocent eyes brimming with curiosityâit all struck me in a way I hadnât 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 connectedâtruly connectedâin a way I hadnât 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.Iâd 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 yearsâĶ I hadnât done at all. Iâd missed too muchâbirt
âThereâs something else.ââWhat?â I asked almost immediately.âYou asked for updates on the other business contracts,â he said in a neutral tone, careful not to overstep.I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the polished wood of the desk. âGo on.âDrewâs eyes flicked down to his tablet. He scrolled briefly before meeting my gaze. âThree of the contracts were declinedâtwo in Paris and one in New York. Seven were approved, and the rest are still pending, awaiting signatures or further negotiations.âThe numbers rolled over in my mind like a slow wave, and I nodded thoughtfully. âNot bad,â I said finally, though the rejections nagged at me. âLooks promising.âDrewâs shoulders eased, a subtle but telling shift in his normally rigid posture. He wasnât the kind of assistant to show cracks, but I could read him better than most.âAnything else?â I asked, leaning back in my chair. The leather creaked softly under the shift of my weight.âNothing else for now,â Drew said with a slight shake o
âStay where you are. Watch them, but donât let her see you. Text me the flight details as soon as you can.ââAlright,â 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 wasnât going to do this. She wasnât 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 wasteâĶ 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: âFlight 237 to Howling Heights
ROMANâS 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.âKai,â I said flatly, tossing my keys onto the counter.âYouâre late,â he replied, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. His tone was light, but the tight set of his jaw betrayed his usual bravado.âWhat is it?â I asked, already sensing something was off.âYou asked me to be here in an hourâĶ remember?âKai 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 herâRubyâwalking through the terminal. She was holding Rhettâs hand while Little Ruby clutched Helenâs. They were laughing, bags and boxes trailing behind them
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 meâthe 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 Liamâs number.âRuby,â he answered almost immediately. His voice was warm, like a balm to my frayed nerves.âHey. Iâm here,â I said in a steady voice despite the emotions bubbling beneath the surface. âIs it still the hotel I told you about?ââYeah, same place,â he confirmed. âIâm already here waiting for you.âI let out a breath I didnât realize Iâd been holding. âAlright. Iâll be there
RUBY'S POVLiam and I stood outside the hotel, waiting for the car we had ordered. The morning air was both clear and heavy. I tried to focus on the simplicity of the momentâthe soft breeze brushing against my skin, the faint hum of traffic in the distanceâbut it was impossible. My thoughts were racing, my stomach in knots.âSheâs going to be fine,â Liam said beside me.I looked at him, trying to take comfort in his calm demeanor. âI hope so,â I murmured.The ride to the hospital was quiet, almost painfully so. I watched the buildings blur past the window, every street corner bringing me closer to memories Iâd buried for years. My fingers fidgeted with the hem of my coat, a nervous habit Iâd picked up as a child. Liam sat next to me. His steady presence helped me stay grounded when my thoughts felt like they were going crazy.When we got to the hospital, the tall, white building stood in front of us. It looked cold and clinical. My heart sank as we entered the lobby, the antiseptic
Liam turned toward me with that reassuring smile of his, the one that always managed to make things feel lighter, even when they werenât. âIâll just be outside, alright?âI gave him a small nod. âIâll see you in a bit.âHe turned around and walked away. The door clicked shut behind him, sealing us in calm silence. For a brief moment, I let myself breathe, only to turn back and find Aunt Jean watching me. Her gazeâsteady and probingâheld something I couldnât quite decipher.âHeâsâĶâ Jean began but trailed off as if searching for the right words.âStraightforward,â I supplied, offering her a faint smile.Jean nodded slightly, a knowing look flickering in her eyes. âDisciplined. Open. He has every good quality you could ask for in a person.ââHe sure does,â I admitted softly, unable to hide the small smile tugging at my lips. I could still feel the lingering warmth of his presence in the room.âYou two seem very close.â Jean's voice was careful, but there was a question in it that she di
~Rubyâs 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 wasnât the man I remembered. He lookedâĶ 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 hasnât been sleeping. He wasnât the composed, calculating man I once knew. He was rawâon the brink of collapse.I studied him for a long moment before stepping aside, silently inviting him in. He didnât speak as he entered, his shoulders tense.As soon as he stepped into the living room, all eyes turned to him.âDad?â Esperanzaâs voice was a mix of shock and uncertainty.Keelyâs brows furrowed as she took in his disheveled state. âWhat the hell happened to you?âDamien hesitated, as if realising only now that they were here. His jaw tightened slightly.âWhaâĶ what are you doing here?â Esperanza s
~Damienâs POV~The evening was strangely quietâthe 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 photographâone that had started to fade from the countless times I had traced the outlines of their faces. My wife and my brotherâboth goneâboth 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 oursâmine and my brotherâs.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 motherâs frantic warnings from below. "Damien! Slow down! Youâll break your neck before you even learn to be responsible!" She used to scold, but we never
Rubyâs 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 sideâa 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 hadnât 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."Iâm fine," I replied, though we both knew that wasnât entirely true.He ran a hand through his dishevelled hair, letting out a deep breath.
~Rubyâs 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 scentâcedarwood, 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. âRoman?âHis 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 wouldnât 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 thisâwounded, barely holding onâmade 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 Kaiâs number. The moment he answered, I cut straight to the point."Kai, tell Helen there wasâĶ a situation. Donât let the kids worry, but Ruby and I wonât be back tonight."There was a pause, then Kaiâs voice sharpened. "What happened? Is she okay?"I clenched the steering wheel. "Sheâll be fine." My voice was harder than I intended
~Rubyâs POV~Everything had been going according to planâat least, as much as it could when sneaking into a black-market masquerade auction filled with the worldâs 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 lungedâhis body moving with unnatural speedâas 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 handâprops, 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. âReady?âI 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 didnât skip a beat. He confidently held out the pass, his voice steady and calmâimpossible to challenge."Weâre expected."One of the guards took
~Rubyâs 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 goneâor how he and Liam had settled their little misunderstanding.And to be honest?I don't actually mind.As long as Roman didnât do anything out of the ordinaryâwhich, knowing him, was asking for too muchâI wasnât about to get involved.All I needed was a break.A moment of peace.Away from their drama.Or, should I sayâĶTheir 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 hadnât eased since the confrontation with Liam earlier,
~Rubyâs POV~The evening had been going smoothlyâalmost too smoothlyâuntil 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.âWhat the hell is he doing here?â 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.Liamâs 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