~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~The smell of sizzling onions filled the kitchen as I stood at the counter, preparing breakfast. The kids busied themselves around me, handing over ingredients.“Rhett, pass me the eggs,” I said, retrieving the groundnut oil from the cupboard.“Here you go, Mom,” Rhett said, carefully passing the bowl of eggs.“Thanks. Little Ruby, the pepper, please.”“Um, Mom,” Little Ruby began as she handed me the pepper, “when are we going to see Aunt Jean?”The question struck me like a bolt of lightning. I froze, nearly letting the onion slip from my grasp. “Aunt Jean?” I repeated, buying time to collect my thoughts.“Yeah, we still haven’t visited,” Rhett added with a curious tone.I set the onion down, turning to face them. “About that…” My voice faltered, and I ran a hand over my forehead.“What is it, Mom?” Little Ruby asked, concern lacing her small voice.I crouched to their level with a heavy heart. “The thing is…I’ve been trying to find the right words to tell you both. It’s
~Damien's POV~The smell of gunpowder filled the air as I focused on the target board a few yards away. I lost my concentration when I heard the sharp sound of Evan’s shot, as his bullet hit the bullseye perfectly.“You're better at this, I must say,” I said, lowering my gun and eyeing the target board with a grudging nod.“You think so?” Evan smirked, clearly enjoying the compliment.“That’s the bitter truth,” I admitted, adjusting my stance and taking another shot. My bullet struck the chest of the painted body diagram—just slightly off-center.“Is that a confession or you admitting I’m better than you in this field?” Evan teased.“Don’t let it get to your head,” I shot back, trying to focus on the board in front of me.“But if we’re being honest, Dane is the best,” Evan said, glancing at the man standing quietly to the side.Dane, who was always humble, shook his head. "No, I don’t think so."“I mean it. Even with that hand situation, you’ve got better,” Evan added, reloading his w
~Ruby's POV~The phone buzzed on the countertop as I finished folding a fresh stack of laundry. I glanced at the screen: Esperanza.“Hey, what’s up?” I replied, feeling the warmth of my clothes fresh from the dryer.“Hi, Ruby. I’m heading out to get some things in preparation for Aunt Jean’s burial. Do you want to come with me? I could use some company,” she said in a cheerful tone, but I could sense the sadness behind her words.I paused for a moment, feeling the heaviness of the day weighing on me like a thick fog. The weekend was coming, and it brought up feelings of loss and sadness. But I also remembered that I could really use something to take my mind off things. Going out into the world might help lift my spirits, even just a little bit for a little while.“Sure,” I said, forcing a note of enthusiasm into my voice.“Great. Where should I pick you up?” she asked, her voice brightening.“I’m not home right now,” I lied, the guilt curling in my stomach. “Let’s meet at Freddy’s
Ruby’s POV“Who the hell was that?” I whispered, though my voice might as well have cracked the tension wide open.The room fell silent after that question. You could feel the tension in the air. I looked at Roman, and he looked back at me with a tight jaw and darker eyes than usual. I hadn’t even noticed I was clenching my fists. The twins across the room stayed completely still, not reacting at all.Roman stepped forward, his voice dropping low but firm. “Wait… why didn’t you two tell us about this?”Little Ruby raised her chin, defiant but not disrespectful. “You wouldn’t have taken us seriously if we did.”Rhett nodded, crossing his arms. “If we didn’t have proof, you'd have thought we were just being paranoid. You all would’ve.”“No, honey. We would’ve listened,” I tried gently, but the moment the words left my mouth, I knew they rang hollow.Little Ruby gave a tiny scoff. “You definitely wouldn’t, Mom.”My chest tightened.“It all started after Aunt Jean died,” Rhett said, voice
~Kai’s POV~I crossed the living room, heading toward the counter where I had last dropped my tablet. I was still trying to go over the document but right now, I just needed something smaller and lighter.Except when I reached the table, something felt… off.“Good afternoon, Kai,” two familiar voices chirped in unison.I looked up—and there they were. Little Ruby and Rhett, seated like innocent cherubs on the chair, surrounded by toys and wide-eyed expressions that were just a little too wide.“Afternoon to you, too,” I said, trying not to sound suspicious. “What are you two up to?”“Nothing,” Little Ruby said, fiddling with a small plush bunny.“Just playing with our toys,” Rhett added, stacking blocks as if he were being filmed for a commercial.I nodded slowly, eyes drifting to the table.“Where’s my tablet?”Rhett glanced at his sister.“We have no idea,” Little Ruby said quickly, far too quickly.“Really?” I asked, arching a brow. “Because I left it right here. “Are you sure you
~Roman’s POV~I wasn’t even fully out the front door when I caught sight of Kai’s car pulling into the driveway. I stopped, watching as he parked with none of his usual chill. That was my first red flag.Kai wasn’t just my Beta or my best friend or just a tech genius—he was my anchor in chaos, always playful, always steps ahead. But right now? The way he slammed the car door and stalked toward me… something was off.I didn’t even need to ask. “What’s going on, Kai?”He glanced around briefly, eyes sharp, voice low. “We need to talk. Like, right now.”I nodded and gestured toward the house. “Alright. Let’s go inside.”“No. Somewhere private.”That made my stomach twist a little. Kai never needed “private” unless it was something massive—something ugly.As we made it into the house, he scanned the hallway like a detective on edge. “Where’s Ruby?”“Probably upstairs or around. Why?”Kai didn’t stop walking, just muttered, “She should be here too.”I frowned. “You can just tell me. I’ll p
~Roman's POV~I woke up suddenly, heart racing and sweat dripping down my forehead. I was breathing heavily, as if I’d been running in my sleep. Abel's smirk was all I could see behind my closed eyes, clear as day. Even though he was behind bars in my dream, I felt the real sense of being trapped. I could still hear his voice echoing in my mind.“You’re building a kingdom you can’t control, little brother.”I ran a hand down my face, shaking off the memory. Just a dream. Just a dream. I glanced at the digital clock blinking on the nightstand: 9:42 a.m. Damn early for this much mental chaos.Beside me, Ruby stirred softly, her arm slipping over my chest. Her fingers brushed my skin absentmindedly, warm and grounding. I turned to her, letting the sight calm me—dark lashes resting on her cheeks, that faint line between her brows when she dreamed. She looked peaceful, untouched by the nightmare that had clawed through my head. I let out a long breath and tucked a strand of hair behi
~Little Ruby’s POV~It was really, really late when the ceremony ended. My eyes were so sleepy that they kept trying to close on their own. Rhett was walking like a zombie beside me. The grown-ups said goodbyes and thank-yous, but all I wanted was a pillow and a blanket.“Are we not going home?” I asked, rubbing my eyes.Mom looked at Dad—well, and they did that grown-up eye talk thing.“Not at all,” Mom said, fixing my hair gently.“It’s late already. We’ll deal with all that tomorrow. For now, you have to rest,” Dad said, and his voice sounded kind of soft like it did when he used to read us stories.They led us into the guest room together and tucked us in—one by one. Mom kissed my forehead, and Dad did the same.“Alright then, have a good night,” she whispered.“Goodnight, kiddos,” Dad added, and the light clicked off.Now we were alone. And my eyes are wide open. I tried to sleep. I really did. But my brain didn’t wanna listen.Because I saw her.That lady.The one from the party
~Little Ruby’s POV~Few hours ago…“Come on, kids, we're running late!” Aunt Helen's voice echoed from the living room.I pulled my socks on in a rush. “Coming, Aunt Helen!” Rhett shouted before I could say it first.I pouted as I looked in the mirror. “We should’ve just slept over after the wedding,” I said, brushing my hair quickly.Rhett sat on the bed, trying to fix his shoelace. “Oh yeah? And we couldn’t just because you forgot your gown.”I narrowed my eyes. “So you’re trying to put the blame on me?”He shrugged like it was nothing. “Not exactly. But we do know whose fault it was.”Before I could throw my hairbrush at him, the door swung open.“Oh you two,” Aunt Helen said, her hands already on her waist. That meant trouble. “On your feet. Now.”We both jumped up like soldiers. Rhett almost tripped over his own shoe.“Remind me again—why are we going there?” Rhett asked as he walked out behind her.“I thought the wedding was done,” I mumbled, still grumpy.Helen turned to us as
~Ruby’s POV~Sunlight streamed into the room, shining brightly through the light, flowing curtains that danced in the breeze. I blinked slowly and felt the soft silk sheets against my skin, reminding me that I wasn’t in my old home anymore. This place felt new, different, and—most importantly—safer.Being back here in the Silver Frost Pack House brought back memories—memories that I’ve tucked down deep in the abyss of my mind. But none of that mattered as much as the warmth that pulsed quietly through my heart. A warmth I hadn’t felt in years.I sat up, running a hand through my hair, exhaling deeply. The scent of sage, firewood, and freshly baked bread drifted in from somewhere down the corridor. Even with the grandeur surrounding me, it wasn’t the luxury that settled my nerves—it was the laughter I could hear in the distance. The twins. Safe. Happy.And Roman.A soft knock echoed from the door before it cracked open. “You’re awake,” came his voice, deep and calm.He stepped insid
"Want to go for another round? Slowly this time?" he asked, his voice low and husky."Sure."He slowly pulled out, his cock slipping from me. He scooped me up and brought me to sit on his lap. I straddled him, his hard cock pressed against me. He pulled me closer, our lips meeting in a passionate kiss. His hands roamed over my body, cupping my breasts, squeezing gently.He broke the kiss and looked at me, his eyes full of lust."You are so fucking sexy," he murmured, his fingers teasing my already hard and sensitive nipple."Mmm," I moaned, my hips rocking, his cock sliding along my wetness."Do you want me to make you come again?" he asked, his other hand moving between us, his fingers finding my clit."Yes," I gasped, my hips bucking as his fingers stroked over the sensitive bundle of nerves."Such a good girl," he murmured, his teeth nipping at my neck.I moaned, his touch sending jolts of pleasure through me."Are you going to be a good girl and ride my cock until we come together
"I'm yours," I breathed, giving myself over to him, letting him take control."And I'm yours," he murmured, his teeth grazing my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.I could feel his cock pressing against me, hard and throbbing. I ached to feel him inside me, filling me, stretching me.Roman released his grip on my hair, his hand moving down to cup my breast, teasing the nipple.I moaned, arching into his touch, craving more.He groaned, his fingers pinching and rolling the sensitive bud."Fuck, Ruby," he growled, his lips finding mine again, kissing me hard."Please, Roman," I breathed, kissing him back with equal ferocity, my body trembling with need.He broke the kiss and grinned down at me, his eyes glittering with desire. "Patience, Luna," he teased, his fingers ghosting over my nipple."No," I protested, my body arching, trying to get more. "Please, Roman."He chuckled and grabbed the top of my dress, tugging it down, revealing my breasts. He cupped one, squeezing firmly, his t