~Ruby's POV~I blinked, feeling confused, as I looked down at my twins. They were holding onto me tightly, their small arms wrapped around me as if I was the only thing keeping them safe. My body felt weak, and my thoughts were jumbled, but I managed to lift my hands and gently place them on their heads.“I’m okay,” I whispered, though my voice was barely audible, hoarse from whatever had just happened.“Don’t scare us like that again, Mum,” little Ruby said, her voice trembling as if she was holding back tears. Hearing the crack in her voice broke something in me.“I promise,” I murmured, my lips trembling as I pulled both of them closer. Their warmth was grounding, pulling me back from the abyss I felt teetering on.I glanced up and saw him—Roman—sitting back on his heels, watching us. There was something raw in his expression, something I hadn’t seen before. Relief, maybe, but it was more than that. He looked shaken, like what just happened had hit him almost as hard as it hit me
"Are we going to keep staring at each other, or are you actually going to kiss me?" I whispered.Roman didn't need any more encouragement. He cupped my face, and our lips crashed together, sending a shiver down my spine. His hands were on my body, exploring every inch of me.My own hands were tangled in his hair, pulling him closer. I could feel his heart racing against my chest, his ragged breath on my neck.The tension between us was undeniable. It was like a fire, consuming us, making us forget about the world around us."Are you sure about this, Ruby?" Roman whispered, his voice thick with desire."I'm not. So go on before I change my mind."His eyes lit up, a sly grin tugging the corners of his mouth. "As you wish."And then his lips were on mine again, claiming them in a way that sent a wave of heat through my body. I lost myself in the moment, in the feeling of his touch, his scent, his taste.My mind was swimming with desire, and the only thing that mattered was being with him
~Roman's POV~I watched from the couch as Little Ruby, Rhett, and Kai stood back to admire their handiwork. The dining area sparkled under the soft glow of the overhead lights, the scent of dish soap still lingering faintly in the air.“Whoa… I think we did a great job here,” Kai said, crossing his arms and puffing out his chest like he’d just finished building a skyscraper.“Hmmm… I’m impressed,” Ruby said, leaning against the wall with a proud smile.“Welcome to the team, Kai,” Rhett said with mock seriousness, offering his small hand for a handshake.Kai crouched slightly to meet Rhett’s height and clasped his hand. “Thank you for having me. It’s an honour.”The formal tone of their exchange sent everyone into a fit of laughter. Even Ruby, who was clearly still a bit tired, couldn’t hold back her chuckles. Moments like these reminded me how much warmth and chaos this house had brought into my life.Once the laughter died down, we all made our way to the living room. The kids darte
~Ruby's POV~After breakfast, I grabbed my phone and dialed Keely’s number. The familiar dial tone filled the room before her voice answered, bright and warm.“Hey Ruby… good morning,” she greeted.“Hi Keely. How are you doing?”“Doing great, Ruby. What about little Ruby and Rhett?”“They’re doing well, thanks for asking,” I said with a small smile. “Are you free today, by any chance?”“Umm… yeah, I totally am. Why do you ask?”“I was thinking about bringing the kids over. You know, spend some time together, catch up a little.”“You are?” Keely’s tone lifted in surprise.“Yeah, you know… it’s been a while.”“Why not? Please come over, Ruby. I’d love that,” she said excitedly.“Thanks, Keely. I really appreciate it,” I replied.“Don’t mention it. You’re always welcome. Oh, and Esperanza?”“She's still asleep, I think,” Keely said.“That explains why she didn’t pick up when I called earlier,” I said, chuckling softly.“Yeah, she puts her phone on silent when she’s sleeping. I’ll let her
~Ruby's POV~The sun streamed through the windscreen as I steered the car along the winding streets. It was one of those mornings when the world felt alive—everything aglow under the golden rays. Little Ruby and Rhett’s laughter bubbled up from the backseat, their chatter a light, melodic rhythm that warmed my heart.“Are we really going to see Aunt Keely and Esperanza?” Little Ruby asked, her face practically glowing with excitement.“Yes, we are,” I said with a soft smile, glancing at her in the rearview mirror.“Do you think they’ll let us build a fort in the living room?” she asked, leaning forward in her seat.Rhett scoffed, nudging her with his elbow. “The backyard’s better. Bigger space for a proper fort—and better hiding spots.”I chuckled, shaking my head at their endless imaginations. “Whatever you decide to do, just make sure you listen to Aunt Keely and Esperanza, alright?”“Of course, Mommy!” they chorused in unison, their voices filled with playful mischief.The drive p
~Ruby's POV~“What could be on this?” I whispered to myself. The answer felt just out of reach, tantalizing but terrifying.The sound of footsteps snapped me out of my thoughts. I shoved the flash drive inside my pocket, then put the box back in the vent, and hurriedly pushed the wardrobe back into place.“Ruby?” Uncle Evan’s voice startled me, and I spun around to see him standing in the doorway, his brows furrowed in confusion.“Uncle Evan!” I said, forcing a smile as I tried to steady my breathing. “Good afternoon.”His eyes scanned the room before settling on me. “What are you doing in here?”“I… I was on my way to the bathroom,” I stammered, pointing vaguely down the hall. “But I wanted to come in and… uhm… you know, take a look. I hope you don’t mind.”“Of course not, Ruby.” His gaze softened slightly, though there was still a hint of suspicion in his eyes. “It’s strange, isn’t it? Being in here without her.”I nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah. I miss her so much.”He sighed, his
~Ruby's POV~The drive back to Roman’s house was quiet, the hum of the engine filling the space between my thoughts. I kept glancing at the kids in the rearview mirror—Little Ruby staring out the window, lost in thought, and Rhett fiddling with his seatbelt absentmindedly. When we pulled into the driveway, the kids immediately perked up. “We’re home!” Little Ruby announced as she unbuckled her seatbelt.We stepped inside, the warmth of the house wrapping around us. Roman was already waiting in the living room, his arms crossed but a soft smile on his face.“Hey… how are you doing?” he asked, his gaze lingering on me, searching for any sign that something was wrong.“I’m good,” I answered.He turned his attention to the kids, crouching down slightly as they ran to him. “And what about you two?”“We’re fine, Roman!” they chorused, practically bouncing with excitement.“We had so much fun today!” Little Ruby beamed.“Oh, I see,” Roman said, ruffling her hair. “That’s good to know.”The
~Little Ruby's POV~I pushed open Rhett’s door and peeked inside. He was lying on his bed, eyes glued to his tablet, fingers tapping away.“What are you doing, Rhett?” I asked, stepping in and closing the door behind me.“Just relaxing,” he mumbled, not even looking up.I frowned. “But you’re playing a game.”“Yeah, and?”“That’s not relaxing. Relaxing means doing nothing—just sitting still, breathing, and being peaceful,” I explained, hopping onto his bed.Rhett finally paused his game and looked at me with one raised eyebrow. “That’s your definition of relaxing?”I nodded. “I think so.”He smirked. “There are lots of ways to relax, Ruby. Watching movies, going for a walk, praying, exercising, meditating, getting a massage—”“Massage?” I giggled.“Yes, massage,” Rhett said, rolling his eyes. “But for me, relaxing means playing my games.”I hummed, pretending to think really hard about it. “Hmm… I see.”Rhett sighed. “I know you already know all this. You just wanted to disturb me.”I
~Ruby's POV~"And I am his Luna.”The room erupted. Chairs scraped the floor, and voices overlapped each other."You'll drag us all down with him!""Think of the pack, not your pride!""Abel won't wait forever!"I held my ground. "Roman has always protected this pack. You think Abel will show you mercy if you turn on your own Alpha? You’re fools if you believe that."Dorian slammed his hand on the table. "Your loyalty will cost lives!""My loyalty," I said slowly, each word sharp enough to slice the tension around me, "is the only reason you are still standing here arguing and not running for your lives already."A silence fell, heavy and loaded.I saw the fear etched deep into their faces. It wasn’t me they feared. It wasn’t even Roman.It was Abel.Cowards.I felt it in my blood—the old part of me, the part connected to the bond Roman and I shared, still strong even now."If anyone wants to challenge me for the right to speak for this pack, step forward now."Silence.Not a soul mov
~Ruby’s POV~"No, no, Roman!" I yelled, my voice breaking. "This is a mistake! You have to tell them!""Stay with the kids," he said instead, like he already knew there was no talking his way out of this.The enforcer kept going. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."Roman stayed still as stone."You have the right to an attorney."His hands—those strong hands that had once shielded me, carried me, built a life around me—were now locked behind his back like he was some criminal."If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you."“Someone do something!” I pleaded, spinning toward the council members standing nearby, toward the familiar faces of our pack, hoping—begging—for someone to step in. "This is a misunderstanding!"But they didn’t move. They didn’t even lift their heads.One by one, they dropped their gazes to the ground, shame or fear—or both—etched into their faces. Silent. Powerless. Complici
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