~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
~Esperanza's POV~I stood still on Ruby’s doorstep, watching the two kids who had just called her "mom." Their bright eyes sparkled with excitement, and their laughter filled the quiet street.“Mom?” I said again, the word feeling strange as it rolled off my tongue. I glanced between Ruby and the kids, a sense of disbelief churning in my chest.“Yes, Esperanza. Here are my little ones,” Ruby replied, her calm demeanor feeling so odd in this moment.Her little girl—her daughter—stepped forward with a grin that could melt glaciers. “Hi! Who are you?”I blinked, still trying to reconcile this scene. “I’m Esperanza. I’m Ruby's… I mean, I'm your mum’s cousin,” I said, my voice faltering slightly.“Oh!” The little girl, a miniature version of Ruby, grinned even wider. “I’m Ruby, too! And that’s my brother… Rhett.”The boy was less bashful. “Hi! I’m Rhett,” he said confidently, sticking out his hand toward me.I knelt slightly to his level, forcing a smile as I shook his hand. “Hello, Rhett,
I stared at her, my thoughts racing. “Ruby…” I started but trailed off, unsure how to continue. “Why didn’t you tell me?”Her face crumpled slightly, her voice cracking as she replied. “I didn’t know how,” she said. “I didn’t want to burden anyone. And honestly, I was scared of what everyone would think.”Her words hit me hard. I reached across the space between us, taking her hand in mine. “You know you can trust me,” I said softly. “We’re family, Ruby. You didn’t have to go through this alone.”Tears glistened in her eyes, but she blinked them away quickly. “I know,” she whispered.The sound of Rhett and little Ruby laughing in the other room broke through the heavy moment. Their giggles felt almost surreal against the tension in the room.“Dad already has a hint about them,” I said cautiously, watching her reaction.Her eyes widened, and I could see panic flash across her face.“But I won’t say anything,” I assured her.Ruby exhaled deeply in relief. “Thank you,” she said.“But yo
~Ruby's POV~Saturday began with a sense of heaviness due to the upcoming event. It was the day of Aunt Jean’s burial, and there was a clear tension in the house. I had just come out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around me, with steam lingering on my skin. As I tied my robe, I made my way to the kids’ room, expecting to find them already dressed and ready.I pushed the door open slightly and peeked in. “Hope you two are almost ready?”The scene inside stopped me dead. There they were, sprawled on the bed with their tablets, eyes glued to their screens, completely oblivious to the passing of time.“Is it time already?” Little Ruby asked, not even looking up.“What do you mean, is it time?” I pushed the door open wider, hands on my hips. “We’re late already!”Both kids shot up, their wide eyes mirroring their surprise. “We are?” they chorused.“To the bathroom. Now!” I said, pointing emphatically to the door.Their tablets clattered onto the bed as they scrambled to obey. Towels slun
~Roman's POV~Kai lounged on the couch, one arm slung over the back as he flicked aimlessly through the channels on the TV. I was seated across from him, sipping coffee, my mind halfway between the room and the thoughts tugging at me.“Aren’t you attending the ceremony anymore?” Kai asked casually, not looking up from the screen.I frowned, trying to piece together what he was talking about. “What ceremony?”Kai raised his brows in mock disbelief. “Ruby’s aunt. The burial?”“Oh, right,” I said, straightening up in my seat. “Yeah, I’m definitely attending.”Kai smirked, his eyes narrowing with amusement. “Hmm… definitely, huh?”“What?” I asked, already sensing where this was headed.Kai tilted his head, the teasing grin growing on his face. “You and I both know the only reason you’re going is because of Ruby.”I scoffed, leaning back against the armrest. “Nonsense. It’s the right thing to do.”“Oh, really?” Kai said, leaning forward now, clearly enjoying himself. “You’re telling me thi
CHAPTER: Facing the crowd.~Ruby's POV~The moment I parked the car outside the venue, my hands tightened around the steering wheel. The murmur of distant voices carried through the air, mingling with the soft rustle of trees swaying in the wind. I glanced at the kids through the rearview mirror.“Remember,” I firmly but gently, “just greet. Do not talk or engage in any discussion with anyone except me or Aunt Esperanza. Okay?”“Alright, Mum,” Rhett and little Ruby chorused, their small faces earnest as they nodded.I smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. “Good. Let’s go.”Stepping out of the car, the clear air hit me, carrying the faint smell of freshly turned soil and lilies. I held Rhett’s hand in one and little Ruby’s hand in the other. Their tiny palms felt warm and comforting. Together, we walked toward the gathering.As we entered, I felt it immediately—the weight of eyes turning to us, the whispers that followed like a ripple through the crowd. Some
Damien’s jaw tightened. “What were you thinking, Ruby? Giving birth before marriage?” His voice was low, but the accusation in his tone was unmistakable.“And by that, you mean?” I shot back, my voice sharp.“You never mentioned having kids,” he said, his voice rising slightly.“I don’t need to tell you everything about my life,” I retorted.He took a step closer, his presence looming. “Sure, but with an outsider? Ruby, this is—”“That’s none of your business,” I cut him off, meeting his gaze with unflinching determination. “I owe no one anything.”“Oh, you think so?” he said, his tone dripping with derision.“What is your issue with me, Uncle Damien?” I demanded, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.“We wouldn’t have an issue if you’d just do the right thing,” he snapped.“And you think you know what the right thing is for me?” I countered, my temper flaring.His eyes narrowed. “Not exactly, but—”“But what, Uncle Damien?” I interrupted again, stepping closer.“But if
~Ruby's POV~The moment I spotted Roman across the burial grounds, a surge of frustration swept over me. Turning back to Rhett and little Ruby, I kept my tone steady. “I’ll come back to this,” I said, my eyes narrowing on Roman as I started walking toward him.As I approached, the man he spoke with stepped away, leaving Roman alone, hands casually resting in his pockets as though he belonged there.“Hey, Ruby,” he said gently..“What are you doing here?” I snapped, cutting straight to the point.“I came to pay my last respects to Aunt Jean,” he replied matter-of-factly.“Last respects?” I scoffed in disbelief. “You didn’t even know her.”Roman’s jaw tightened briefly before he nodded. “You’re right, I didn’t know her well. But she was family to you, which makes her family to me.”I shook my head, glancing away to gather myself. “Oh, I see. And staying at a distance today, is that your way of being respectful?”“It’s… complicated,” he said, his tone hinting at regret. “You wouldn’t und
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