~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 The drive back from the burial had been quiet. The kids seemed subdued, lost in their thoughts. I pulled into the driveway, the familiar sight of home bringing a small measure of comfort.As we entered the house, I placed the car keys on the counter and turned to them.“Alright, you both go to your room,” I said.“Alright, Mum,” they chorused, heading toward the hallway.“Make sure you take your baths and change into something comfortable,” I added.“Of course, Mum. You don’t need to remind us,” Rhett said with a hint of exasperation, glancing back at me.I smiled faintly, shaking my head at their retreating figures.Once in my room, I let out a long sigh. The day had been draining, emotionally and physically. The burial, the whispers, the stares—everything had weighed heavily on me. But somehow, it hadn’t been as terrible as I’d feared.As I stepped into the bathroom, I felt the warm water washing away my stress. While I scrubbed, my thoughts turned to the funeral. I rem
~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