~Ruby's POV~The morning light streamed through the shattered windows, casting uneven patterns across the chaos we were still struggling to fix. The living room was chaotic. Pillows were ripped apart, furniture was overturned, and shards of glass sparkled spookily in the sunlight. It had looked like this since last night when we came home to find everything in disarray.I tied my hair up in a messy bun and sighed, dusting off a chair before pushing it back into place. The kids worked beside me, picking up books and scattered papers. We were making progress, but the house still felt violated, like an open wound refusing to heal.Then the doorbell rang.We all froze, exchanging quick glances.“I’ll check it,” I said before either of them could protest.They nodded hesitantly, their gazes following me as I walked toward the door. My heart pounded a little faster than usual, my fingers tightening around the doorknob as I cracked the door open.Roman.His dark eyes studied me carefully,
~Ruby's POV~By morning, I had packed our bags, and before the sun had fully risen, we were already on our way to the airport. Roman had been quiet when we left—he hadn’t argued, hadn’t fought me on it. But I could feel his disapproval like a heavy weight pressing against me.The kids were excited about the trip, chatting nonstop on the plane, but I could tell they were trying to ignore the deeper reason behind our sudden departure.Hours later, we landed in Howling Heights.As we stepped out of the plane, the fresh air hit me like a comforting embrace, carrying the familiar scent of pine and earth. It had been too long since I’d been back.A sleek, black, and unfamiliar car was parked just ahead.“Mum, did you book a cab?” Little Ruby asked, tugging on my sleeve.“Yeah,” I replied, glancing at my phone. “But it’s still two minutes away.”Before I could question anything further, the car door opened, and a tall, blonde-haired man stepped out.For a moment, my breath caught in my thro
~Ruby's POV~“Roman?” I blinked, barely believing he was standing in front of me.“Good morning, Ruby,” he said in a neutral, almost unreadable tone.I glanced back into the house, then stepped outside, pulling the door shut behind me. “What are you doing here?” I asked in a hushed voice.“I just wanted to make sure you and the kids are safe,” Roman said simply.I scoffed, crossing my arms. “Are you our guardian angel now or what? The danger is over there, not here, Roman.”“Maybe,” he admitted, his gaze steady. “But I needed to make sure you weren’t tracked or followed here.”I studied his face, trying to figure out what he wasn’t saying. “Oh, I see. So you drove to the airport, booked a flight and flew all the way here—” I paused, narrowing my eyes, “—all just to check on us?”“Yeah, exactly,” Roman said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.A small scoff left my lips, followed by a reluctant smile. “That’s… nice, I must say.” I nodded, pressing my lips together. “Guess
~Ruby's POV~Helen sat facing me with her arms crossed, her face giving away nothing. "So, what should we do now?” she asked.I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair. “We’re going to reject the contract.”Helen’s brows shot up. “We are?” she asked in confusion. “But it’s too late for that already. The agreement is practically sealed.”“It’s still my choice,” I said firmly. “I don’t have to go through with it.”Helen shook her head, clearly unimpressed. “Come on, Ruby. I don’t buy this whole rejecting-the-contract thing.”I scoffed. “Can’t you see? He had this all planned, Helen.”Helen gave me a sceptical look. “We can’t be sure of that. And I definitely didn’t know it was his company when I accepted. Think about it—you’re going to lose a lot of clients if you let personal feelings interfere with business. And it’s perfect to get new clients.”I frowned, thinking it over. Helen had a point. My company had built a reputation for professionalism, and backing out now would send
~Ruby's POV~"I'm Sarah Merlin, by the way," she said, her voice smooth and confident.I reached out, and we shook hands. Our handshake lasted a bit longer than usual, and our eyes met in a quiet evaluation. There was something about her—something thoughtful and strategic. A hidden challenge lay behind her practiced smile.Before the tension could stretch any further, Roman coughed, breaking whatever silent battle had started between us. We both released our grip, and Sarah turned back to him with a smile—one far too familiar, far too comfortable.I didn’t miss the way she leaned into him, her body language hinting at something possessive."Roman, you look even better than the last time I saw you," Sarah said, running a manicured finger down his sleeve. "You know, I’ve missed our little late-night talks. You always did have a way of keeping things… interesting."Roman forced a chuckle, shifting slightly away from her. I clenched my fists at my sides, keeping my expression neutral.Th
~Roman's POV~A few minutes ago…I watched as Ruby walked away, the tension in her shoulders obvious even through the graceful sway of her gown. I had noticed her reactions during the conversation—how her polite smile faltered, how her eyes darkened every time Sarah touched me.I knew she hadn’t been enjoying a single second of it.Moments later, Helen excused herself, leaving me alone with Sarah. I turned to face her, my patience wearing thin.“What’s the meaning of all this, Sarah?” I asked, keeping my tone as calm as I could.Sarah raised a brow, feigning innocence. “The meaning of what?”I exhaled sharply. “You’re really going to play innocent now?”“Oh, come on, Roman.” She waved a manicured hand dismissively. “I was just telling the truth.”“The truth you chose to believe,” I countered, stepping closer.Sarah smirked. “You think so?”“I know so. And whatever game you’re playing, it’s obvious you’re trying to get on Ruby’s nerves.”“That’s definitely not what I was trying to do,”
~Ruby's POV~Helen and I sat at a small table near the balcony, glasses of wine in hand. The party carried on around us—laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses filled the air—but I barely heard any of it. My mind was elsewhere, stuck in a loop of frustration I couldn’t quite understand.Helen took a slow sip of her drink before turning to me. “Are you okay, Ruby?”I forced a smile, hoping to brush it off. “Yeah… I’m definitely fine, Helen.”She arched a brow. “Come on, Ruby. You know that doesn’t work on me.”I sighed, swirling the wine in my glass. “It’s just… nothing serious.”Helen studied me for a moment. “Is this about Sarah?”I hesitated, then exhaled. “I think so. I know I shouldn’t be bothered, and I have no reason to care, but… I don’t know why I can’t help it.”Helen didn’t say anything at first. Instead, she reached out and placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.I looked down at the table, feeling ridiculous. “I sound crazy, don’t I?”Helen shook her head. “No. I to
~Ruby’s Pov~“Undoubtedly.”We laughed as I put my phone back in my purse and started to head back to the party. Just then, I looked up and saw Sarah heading toward the exit.Her heels made a sharp sound on the marble floor. The red dress fitted her figure perfectly, drawing attention, with a slit along her thigh that moved as she walked. She moved like a performer, aware that everyone was watching her. Even now, she acted as if she had an audience.She stopped a few feet away from me, turning slightly. A slow, honeyed smile curled her lips—practised, polished, and insincere.“I must say, Ruby,” she purred with a sweetness that felt more like poison, “I absolutely adore your work. The costumes, the venue’s design, even the choice of materials—it’s all exquisite. You have quite the talent.”I raised a brow, my expression neutral. “Thank you.”Sarah tilted her head slightly, studying me as if I were a painting she was debating whether or not to purchase. “You know, I have some powerful
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