I could feel the tension in the air as I stood firm, looking into Uncle Damien's glowing eyes. His presence was always intense, a heavy feeling I could never shake off. But this time was different."Choose your next words and actions carefully... Uncle Damien," I said firmly. For once, I wasn't afraid."You've grown some nerves, Ruby." His tone was as sharp as a blade. He leaned in closer, squinting as his eyes began to shine more brightly.I didn’t flinch. “You can growl and flash your glowing eyes all you want, Uncle Damien. You don’t scare me anymore.”His silence stretched, each second feeling like an eternity. He stared at me down, his chest heaving as he struggled to rein in his temper. Then, with a cold resolve, he stepped back, pressing his lips into a thin line."We're done here. Time we head back," he said, his voice cold and clipped."Gladly," I replied, brushing past him with a surge of adrenaline coursing through me. For the first time in my life, I had stood up to Unc
Liam leaned in, his lips quirking into a teasing grin. “Something like this?” he asked, pretending to lean in for a kiss.My heart skipped a beat as our faces drew closer. I swallowed hard, my gaze flicking between his eyes and his lips.“Hmmm hmmm,” I coughed, pulling back slightly. “Yeah, something like that. But only in front of Uncle Damien—not when we’re alone.”Liam laughed, leaning back. “Relax, I was just kidding. But... didn’t you say your uncle has eyes and ears all over the city?”I nodded. “He does.”“Then we’ll have to keep up the act all the time,” he said with mock seriousness, though the twinkle in his eye betrayed his amusement.I smirked. “Even Uncle Damien’s ears and eyes has limits. They can’t fit inside a cab with us.”“Hmmm hmmm,” Liam echoed, clearing his throat theatrically before leaning back.I pulled out my phone, scrolling through my contacts. “I need to call Helen,” I muttered.“You haven’t called her since we arrived?” Liam asked, his eyebrows shooting up
The morning air was cool, with a light smell of rain remaining after the early shower. Liam walked beside me as we made our way to the hotel gates. I let my thoughts wander, only for them to be interrupted by the sound of a car pulling up in front of us."Good morning, Mr. Reeves," he greeted, his voice steady."Morning, Austin," Liam replied casually, though his tone carried authority.I glanced between them, confusion knitting my brows. "What’s this about?”“Everything in place?” Liam asked the man, ignoring my question for the moment.“Yes, sir. Tested and trusted,” Austin confirmed with a small nod before slipping into the cab that had been trailing him.I crossed my arms and turned to Liam. “You bought a car?”“Rented,” he corrected, tapping the hood of the sedan with a slight smirk.“For what, Liam?” My tone carried more disbelief than curiosity.He shrugged. “I don’t like the idea of you hopping from one cab to another. So I rented this. For as long as we’re here.”“Liam—”“Whe
The elevator doors slid open, and I stepped out, my mind a haze as I planned for the rest of the day. That’s when I saw him.Roman stood there, his tall figure blocking the path, as if he’d been waiting for me.For a split second, my breath caught. I wasn’t shocked—no, I’d expected this. Sooner or later, we were bound to cross paths. The timing was surprising.“Roman.”“Ruby.” His tone was low, almost conversational. “We finally met.”I said nothing, holding his gaze as I shifted my bag higher on my shoulder.“So,” he continued, a sardonic edge creeping into his voice, “after all the tricks you pulled at the airport, pretending to travel alone…”“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied, my voice level.“Cut the crap, Ruby,” he hissed. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. That little stunt you pulled—acting like you were traveling with the kids when, in reality, you left them behind.”I tilted my head, feigning thought. “Yeah… it worked, didn’t it?”His lips pressed int
"But this is a different situation," Roman added quickly, his tone pleading."I'm listening," I said, trying not to let my guard down but still, I couldn't help but notice Roman stealing glances at me.He seemed to hesitate for a moment before finally coming out and saying what he had intended to say. "Ruby, we don't have to go through all that.""Let's not waste our time and cut straight to the point."A smirk appeared on his lips as he replied with what I wasn't expecting. "Same way we didn't waste time on our wedding night?I felt my cheeks burning, and it was only when I felt his breath against my neck that I realized how close we were."Are you flirting with me, Roman?""What if I was?""Well, you can keep doing it. It's not like we're in a hurry."His eyes lit up as a smile spread across his face. "You were always a bit of a rebel, weren't you?"You don't know the half of it.""Then show me," he whispered.It wasn’t intentional, but somehow, the conversation had shifted. The tea
"Make yourself at home."As I watched Roman walk into my suite, I tried to ignore the way my wolf stirred uneasily inside me. It wasn’t the first time it had happened since he’d barged back into my life, but tonight… tonight it was different. The air felt charged, like electricity buzzing under my skin, and the longer he stayed, the harder it was to ignore.A quiet part of me hated how easily he slipped into my life—as if the years between us had vanished.I turned away, running a hand through my hair and focusing on unpacking my bag. The soft hum of the hotel’s air conditioning seemed louder than usual, creating a strange heaviness in the room. Shaking my head, I chalked it up to exhaustion and the long day.Then it hit me—the moonlight streaming through the window. Full and bright, it cast silver streaks across the carpet, bathing the room in a glow that made my skin tingle.So it’s the full moon, heightening my senses.Not that I’d noticed it before he arrived—why would I? I hadn
The kiss went on for God-knows-how-long before Roman pulled away, and I felt a pang of disappointment."Don't worry, love. We'll get back to where we left off."The low rumble of his voice sent shivers down my spine, and his words sent a jolt of anticipation through me.I could feel my resolve weakening, my wolf clawing at the walls I'd spent so long building."I...I..." I stumbled over the words, trying to find a coherent thought.Before I could continue, he pulled me into his arms again, his lips finding mine in a gentle kiss. He kissed me, softly at first, but soon his lips began to move hungrily over mine.He sucked and bit down on my lower lips, making me moan in response.He moved his mouth to my ear and whispered, "I want to show you how much I love you. I want to make you happy. I want to make you feel good."All I could do was nod my head as he kissed me, taking steps forward which forced me to move backwards until I hit the bed frame. Roman pulled back a bit and pushed me do
“I see you're very patient, my love. But don't worry, when I'm done…”"Just fuck me already," I interrupted, my voice trembling with desire as I was unable to endure his teasing any longer.There, I said it.My body was screaming for his touch and I have no intention of waiting any longer. I wanted this and I can't wait any longer. Roman on the other hand, seems to be enjoying my pleas as a wilder and wider smirk crept on his face as he shook his head.He didn’t rush, though. Instead, he seemed to revel in my frustration, taking his sweet time as he shook his head.“My lady, don't be in a hurry. Patience, you see, is a virtue. Let me…“ he murmured and then paused in his speech as a sharp gasp, followed by a deep moan filled the room.Roman wasn't shocked at this, mid-sentence as he had used his fingers while he spoke to shift my panties to the side, inserting two fingers into my hot, wet, aching core with a deliberate slowness that sent shivers cascading through me.I gasped sharply,
~Ruby’s POV~I woke up suddenly, gasping for air. My chest felt tight as I struggled to breathe. I was shaking, soaked in sweat, and felt a chill run down my spine. I held onto the sheets tightly while my heart raced.The fear still lingered, creeping under my skin like something alive.Roman was suddenly next to me. I hardly noticed him move from the couch to my side, his hands gently holding my arms to help steady me."Ruby, what is it?" His voice was urgent, filled with concern. "Talk to me."I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "I… I had a dream. A bad dream." My voice wavered, my hands clutching at his shirt as I looked at him with wide, terrified eyes. "The kids… Roman, the kids are in danger."His grip on me tightened slightly, grounding me. "It’s okay, Ruby," he said in a firm but soothing tone. "You’re safe. The kids are safe. Just breathe, alright?"I forced myself to take slow, deep breaths, trying to ease the pounding in my chest."Let's call Helen," he suggested, reaching for
~Ruby's POV~I woke up suddenly, breathing fast as I gasped for air. My room was dark except for a soft glow from the moon shining through the curtains. I quickly turned on the bedside lamp. My heart raced, and I felt a cold shiver run down my spine.But I didn’t remember why.I had been dreaming—of that I was certain. But the details slipped through my fingers like grains of sand. All I felt was a persistent fear in my chest and a suffocating unease that filled the silence of my empty room.I didn’t want to be alone.Reaching for my phone on the nightstand, I dialled the first name that came to mind.Roman.He picked up after the second ring."Hey, Ruby," he said, his voice still heavy with sleep but quickly becoming more awake. "Everything… okay?”I hesitated, my fingers gripping the sheets. "I'm… not sure," I admitted. "Sorry for calling this late.""Not at all," he said quickly. "What’s wrong?"I exhaled shakily. "I can’t really say… but can you come over?"A brief silence follow
Ruby’s POVI left Uncle Damien’s house with my mind spinning. Each new revelation added to my confusion, turning my thoughts into a tangled mess that I couldn’t sort out.So this was it.Dad had been onto something—something dangerous. And because he refused to align with them, the Werewolf Council had removed him... permanently. I had spent years questioning whether his death was the result of bad luck, an unfortunate accident. But it wasn’t. It was deliberate.And Damien? He had been part of it.I felt a sour and infuriating knowledge twist in my chest. Damien knew the people responsible; he had worked with them and considered them allies. Yet, he never avenged my father, as his own power and position mattered more to him than justice.But Aunt Jean? She must have found something—enough to make her a threat. Enough for them to take her out, just like they had done to Dad. And now, after all this time, Damien was finally cutting ties.But cutting ties wasn’t enough.They had take
~Ruby's POV~"It wasn’t a dead end, Ruby," Keely added, her voice just as quiet.I felt my stomach tighten.Damien lied to me.I took a deep breath, steadying myself before I spoke. "How? What happened?"Keely and Esperanza exchanged a glance, and you could tell they were unsure of what to do or say."Come have a seat," Keely finally sighed."We don’t want anyone overhearing this," Esperanza added in a whisper.I nodded, following them to the bed, where we all sat in a tight circle. I could feel the goosebumps on my skin, my body itching with anticipation."So… from what I heard," Keely began, rubbing her temple, "the lead actually led them to a man. What was his name again?" She bit her index finger, thinking."Umm… Ramsey Hearts, I think," Esperanza chimed in."Yeah, yeah… Hearts," Keely nodded. "So, he gave them some details, but of course, I couldn’t get the full story out of him—at least, not yet.""Wait, wait…" I raised a hand, narrowing my eyes. "Who is he?"Keely hesitated, gl
~Ruby's POV~Some Minutes Earlier…I smirked, opening the car door. “Thanks for the ride, Roman.”And just like that, I stepped out, shutting the door behind me before he could respond.I walked up the steps steadily, with a straight posture. It was clear that I wanted to keep our conversation brief, and fortunately, Roman was nice enough not to insist. When I reached the door, I unlocked it and stepped inside. I exhaled slowly, my gaze sweeping over the space.“Been a while,” I whispered to myself.The air still smelled faintly of amber and vanilla—probably from the last time I’d cleaned. Everything was exactly as I had left it, but somehow, it felt… different. Maybe it was because my life was slightly less complicated the last time I was here.Shaking the thoughts away, I headed to the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water. I made my way to my bedroom, feeling really exhausted. I rubbed my temple absentmindedly, knowing sleep wouldn’t come easily tonight.Maybe a bath would help.I
~Roman's POV~“Did you do everything I asked?” I asked, my eyes still on the quiet street as Kai shifted beside me.“Yeah, everything’s in place.” He nodded and handed me a tablet.I took it, my fingers scrolling across the screen as live footage from inside Ruby’s house appeared. The cameras were subtle, nearly invisible to the untrained eye, capturing different angles—the living room, the kitchen, the hallway, and the bedrooms.“Mini surveillance cameras all around and inside the house... except the bathroom, of course,” Kai said with a smirk.I glanced at him. “No one will know they’re there?”“Not at all. Not a single clue.”Satisfied, I continued swiping through the views, watching as Ruby moved through the house. She walked into the kitchen, grabbed a glass of water, then made her way to her bedroom. She looked… tired. I could see the way her shoulders slumped slightly, the way she rubbed her temple absentmindedly.Yet, even in exhaustion, she was beautiful.I exhaled, leaning
~Roman's POV~“The one who, by the way, threatened me to stay away from you so she could have you all to herself,” Ruby said.My head snapped up, and I turned to face her fully. “She what?”Ruby leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, lips pressed together in something that looked like annoyance—but I could tell there was something else beneath it. Frustration? Hurt? Maybe even jealousy.Not that she’d ever admit it.“Yeah,” she continued, picking at the edge of her napkin. “She pulled me aside, smiled all sweet like she was about to give me some business advice, and then told me I should step aside so she could have you. Like I was just some obstacle in her way.”I clenched my jaw. That sounded exactly like something Sarah would do.“And you just let her say that to you?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.Ruby scoffed. “Oh, please. You think I just stood there and nodded? No, Roman, I made it very clear that I don’t take orders from women who act like desperate high school girls.”A small
~Ruby's POV~The car rolled to a slow stop, and I glanced around, confused. The engine hummed softly but there was no red light, no sign of traffic.“Umm… why are we stopping?” I finally asked, leaning slightly forward.Roman adjusted his seatbelt, glancing at me through the rearview mirror. “We stopped because I’m hungry.”I blinked. “Hungry? Like… right now?”“Yeah, right now.” He turned to look at me fully this time, and he was completely serious.I followed his gaze and realized we were parked in front of a restaurant. “Oh, come on,” I whispered under my breath.Roman smirked, as if hearing my frustration was the highlight of his day. “When I found out you were leaving town, I had to leave what I was doing, take a helicopter, and get here before you.”I scoffed. “Like seriously, Roman?” I shook my head. “You sent yourself on that errand, not me.”“You could at least say thank you for my efforts,” he quipped.I crossed my arms and huffed, looking away.Kai, who had been unusually
~Ruby's POV~Kai stood there, casually leaning against the car as if he had all the time in the world. His usual smirk played on his lips, amusement twinkling in his eyes.“Good evening, Ruby,” he greeted, his tone smooth and composed.I forced a smile. “Hey, good evening, Kai. How are you doing?” I asked with a forced smile, trying to play along.“Nice to see you, Ruby,” he said, standing up a little taller, a playful look in his eyes.I glanced around, pretending to look for someone. “What a coincidence. Who are you waiting for?”Kai smirked. “Umm… a young lady. She just arrived.”I narrowed my eyes at him. Of course, he’s playing along.“May I have your bags then,” he said, stepping forward to take my luggage.“No, no… not at all, Kai.” I pulled my bags back.His smirk faded slightly. “Roman actually sent me, Ruby. He asked me to pick you up.” His tone was more serious now.I sighed. Of course, he did.“Nah, no worries, Kai. I can take care of myself.”“Umm… Ruby, he specifically a