~Ruby's POV~“Mummy, Is he our dad?”The question hung in the air, sharp and piercing, like a dagger poised to strike. My heart froze, and I felt Roman’s gaze snap to me. I could see the faint tension in his jaw, the slight furrow in his brows. He was waiting—just like they were. But I couldn’t bring myself to speak. What could I possibly say? Whatever answer I gave would change everything.I shook my head, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Why would you… think that? Why would you say something like that?” I asked, my eyes darting between Rhett and little Ruby.Rhett, always the bold one, stepped forward. “Well, the first time Uncle Roman arrived, you said he was an old friend, Mom. But the way you two talk to each other… it’s obvious there’s something more. Like you have some kind of unsettled fight or secret.”My mouth opened to respond, but before I could, little Ruby chimed in. “And now Roman says he has kids who are our age,” she said, her small hands resting confidently on he
~Roman's POV~I stood by my car, watching as Ruby gently ushered the kids inside the cab. I had offered to take her home, to talk things through, to ease some of the tension lingering in the air. She refused it all, every offer brushed aside with a polite but firm smile.As the door shut behind her, I leaned back against the hood of my car, staring up at the darkening sky. My mind drifted to the kids’ words earlier in the day.“Mummy, is he our daddy?”The question had hung in the air like an echo. It wasn’t just the question itself—it was how they had heard enough to ask it.The conversation Ruby and I had was private, held in the living room while the kids were supposed to be in their rooms. Judging by the layout of the house, the walls, and the distance between the rooms, it should have been impossible for them to overhear anything. Yet, they had.The drive home was a blur. My thoughts raced, connecting the dots faster than I could process. The kids' heightened senses, their unca
~Ruby's POV~When we got home, I slammed the door harder than I intended, letting out the frustration I had bottled up. I turned to Rhett and Ruby, who were standing awkwardly in the hallway, their faces a mix of confusion and guilt.“What was that all about?” I asked sharply, placing my hands on my hips.The kids exchanged glances but said nothing, their silence only adding to my irritation. They looked like two deer caught in headlights, frozen in place under my intense glare.“Hey, I’m talking to both of you,” I said, snapping my fingers in front of them, trying to draw them out of their stupor.“Uhmm… it was nothing, Mom,” Rhett said in a whisper, staring at the floor, as if speaking might unleash my anger further.“We were just curious,” Ruby added in a small and hesitant voice, her eyes darting between her brother and me.“Oh, curious,” I scoffed, shaking my head. “Curious enough to ask someone deeply personal questions without any regard for boundaries?” My voice rose. “Persona
~Little Ruby's POV~Mom’s words were stuck in my head, going round and round like my favorite merry-go-round at the park.“Rhett, Ruby… Roman is your father.”I looked at Rhett, and he looked back at me. For a moment, we were both quiet, as if trying to confirm if what we heard was exactly what Mom just said. But then it hit me.“I knew it!” I shouted, jumping up so fast that I almost slipped. “I told you!”“Yes, I said it first! Guess I was right all along,” Rhett said, bouncing off the couch and landing on the floor.“Same here!” I said, putting my hands on my hips.“But I found out before you!” Rhett said with a smirk.“Sure, but I was the one with the plans,” I argued, my head held high.We started laughing and spinning around. I felt like I could fly.Roman and Mom just stared at us, like they didn’t know whether to laugh or say something serious.“Finally, we have a dad!” I said, clapping my hands and spinning again.“We’re going to tell everyone at school!” Rhett said.“No more
~Ruby's POV~"That will be all... for now, I guess," I said to Roman, hoping to end our discussion before it spiraled into something I wasn't ready to handle.Turning to the hallway, I called out, "Rhett! Little Ruby! Come say goodbye to Roman."Their response was immediate. They came bounding into the room with uncontained energy."You're leaving already?" Little Ruby asked, her face twisting into a pout."Yeah," Roman said, his smile softening as he crouched slightly to their level. "We're done with our discussion, so I think it’s time for me to head out."I started to retreat to the kitchen. “I’ll let you three say your goodbyes. I need to finish up breakfast.” But before I could disappear entirely, Little Ruby’s voice stopped me."Why don’t you join us for breakfast, Roman?" she asked in a casual tone that sounded almost surreal.I quickly turned my head, clearly surprised. “And how do you know if he hasn’t eaten already?” I countered.“Even if he has,” Rhett chimed in, “consideri
~Ruby's POV~I held the phone to my ear, Esperanza’s voice steady on the other end.“What’s up?” I asked, hoping this wasn’t about more bad news.“I just thought you’d want to know… Keely’s in the city,” she said, her tone cautious but firm.“Oh my God.” My heart sank. “When did she arrive?”“This morning,” she said.“How is she? How’s she processing the news?” I asked, pacing the living room.“She’s… better than we expected,” Esperanza replied after a brief pause.I let out a heavy sigh, running my hand over my forehead. “Oh, Keely…”Esperanza’s voice softened. “What’s done is done, Ruby. We just have to heal. What we have now is each other.”She was right, of course, but it didn’t make the situation any less daunting. “Yeah, you’re right, Esperanza. You’re absolutely right.”“Dad wants us to meet up to discuss the burial plans now that Keely’s here,” she continued. “Think you can make it?”I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “Yeah, I’ll be there in an hour or two.”The moment
~ROMAN’S POV~The kids sat at the kitchen table, their brows furrowed in concentration as they worked through a series of math problems I had written out. Leaning over Rhett’s shoulder, I pointed to the equation he was struggling with. “Alright, look here. Start by simplifying the numbers inside the parentheses,” I explained, tapping the paper lightly with my pen. “Ohhh, I get it now!” Rhett said, his face lighting up as he scribbled the answer. You can tell he was obviously excited. Across the table, Little Ruby raised her hand triumphantly. “Done! Check mine, Roman!” Her voice was filled with pride, and I couldn’t help but admire her enthusiasm.I took her sheet and scanned it. “Perfect. You got it all right.” Her grin stretched from ear to ear, and I could see the confidence swelling within her. She tilted her head, her pigtails bouncing with the motion. “Have you ever considered teaching?”“Teaching?” I repeated with a laugh, raising an eyebrow. “Me? A teacher?” The idea felt f
~Ruby's POV~“So what have you been doing all day?” I asked, closing the door behind me. “Mom!” Little Ruby squealed, running to hug me “Roman’s been helping us draw. Look!” She held up a page filled with a colorful creature.“Is this supposed to be Raphael from TMNT?” I said with a raised brow. “Yes, Mum.” I smiled faintly, ruffling her hair. “Looks like you’ve been busy.”Rhett stood up, holding out another drawing. “This one’s mine. Roman said it’s the best.”I raised an eyebrow at Roman, who shrugged with a chuckle.“Well, it’s not bad,” I said, feigning a critical look. “But maybe next time, draw them with fewer teeth.”“Not a chance!” Rhett said, laughing.Roman met my gaze over their heads, his expression warm but unreadable. For a brief moment, the stress of the day faded, and I let myself imagine—just for a second—what it might feel like for this to be normal.But reality was never that simple.I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Thanks. I really appreciate you doing this.”“It’
~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