"Are you sure?" Roman’s voice dropped to a low, rough whisper.I didn’t let myself hesitate. I nodded. "Yes."He clenched his jaw as if he were battling something within himself."Kiss me, Roman," I whispered once more, this time more gently but still just as sure.A low growl rumbled in his chest, a sound so deep it vibrated through me. And then—His lips crashed against mine.It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t gentle. It was raw, desperate, and demanding. His fingers tangled in my hair as he pulled me closer, as if closing the distance between us could somehow drown out the fear clawing at me.And maybe it could.I held onto him tightly; my body pressed against his warmth while the cold fear in my veins melted away from the passion he awakened in me. His lips moved against mine in a perfect rhythm, devouring and giving affection all at once.Roman shifted, his arms wrapping fully around me, his strength enveloping me completely. The smell of cedarwood, smoke, and a unique scent that reminde
"Tell me what you want," he said softly in a dark voice that sounded full of promise.I swallowed hard, my body trembling from the intensity of it all."More," I whispered, breathless. "I need more."A slow, wicked smirk curled on his lips."Then let me give it to you."Roman’s smirk was nothing short of sinful, hinting at everything I desired and even more. His hands tightened on my waist as he shifted beneath me, his hard length pressing insistently against my core, even through the thin fabric of my shorts. The sensation sent a jolt of heat through me, a desperate ache curling deep in my belly."You feel that?" he murmured in a voice thick with need. "That’s what you do to me."I whimpered in response, my fingers sliding down his chest, tracing over the ridges of muscle, feeling the heat of his bare skin beneath my touch. I wanted to memorize him, every dip and every shudder I could pull from him.Roman’s lips were on me again, moving from my breasts back to my neck, nipping and
~Roman's POV~Ruby slept peacefully, her breathing slow and calm, her body warm next to mine. The stress she felt earlier had faded, leaving a tranquil stillness. Her head lay on my chest, her gentle breaths touching my skin, and for the first time in a long while, she appeared completely at ease.But I wasn’t.Sleep refused to come.Her words kept echoing in my head. The kids are in trouble.I gently held her tighter, trying not to wake her, but feeling the need to reassure myself that she was here and safe. However, her warning still rang in my ears.And then, there was him.The cloaked man on the bridge. The memory of our meeting played back in my mind, every detail clear as if it had just happened. His voice was empty yet powerful, both old and familiar."A great evil is coming, Roman. One that will tear through everything you know. And only you and your twins stand a chance to stop it. All will be revealed in time."I clenched my jaw, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing.It
Ruby’s POV“So, what’s your plan?” Roman asked, his deep voice pulling me from my thoughts.I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “Honestly? I have no idea.”And that was the truth. There were too many moving parts, too many unanswered questions. I needed more information before I could even begin to form a solid plan. Right now, all I knew was that something dark was coming, and Damien’s sudden decision to cut ties with his allies had only escalated things further.Roman studied me for a moment, his gaze unreadable. Then, he nodded. “We’ll figure it out.”I hummed in response before swinging my legs off the side of the bed. “I know one thing, though. I need to freshen up.”“Mind if I join you?”I shot him a glare over my shoulder, but Roman only smirked, feigning innocence.“What?” he asked, his lips twitching.“Stay. Put.” I pointed a firm finger at him before getting up.But he wasn’t done. “You were practically pleading for something different last night.”My body went still.Immediately
~Ruby's POV~I was still leaning against the bathroom door when my stomach let out a loud, traitorous rumble.I immediately looked down at it, as if I could glare it into silence. Ishhhhhhh. I bit my lip, hoping Roman didn’t hear—"Someone's hungry," Roman teased from the bedroom.I rolled my eyes, even though he couldn't see me. "No, I'm not.""Oh, Ruby, you don't have to deny it every time." I could practically hear the smirk in his voice.I pressed my back against the cool bathroom wall, letting out a small breath. "I'm actually not."Roman chuckled. "Then what was that noise?""Umm… it was—"Before I could even finish, my stomach growled again—louder this time.I squeezed my eyes shut. Traitor."Oooops," Roman said, clearly enjoying himself.I cracked open the bathroom door and peeked out, narrowing my eyes at him.Roman was sprawled on the bed, propped up on one elbow, his dark eyes dancing with amusement. "You were saying?"I huffed, stepping out fully. "Fine. Maybe I’m a little
~Ruby’s POV~I couldn’t wipe the smirk off my face as I stepped into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me with a satisfying click. That had been fun.Roman had played his little teasing games long enough, always pushing just far enough to make me squirm, to leave me breathless. But this time? This time, I had won.And the look on his face? Priceless.Still, I leaned back against the cool wood of the door for a moment, pressing a hand to my chest as I tried to calm my racing heartbeat. Because holy hell, that kiss.It had started as a joke, a way to turn the tables on him, to make him suffer just a little for all the times he had left me flustered. But the moment his lips met mine, the game blurred into something else entirely. Something dangerous.Roman kissed like he had all the time in the world, like he was savoring a meal he’d been craving for years. And the way his hand had moved—firm, warm, possessive—I had almost forgotten my own plan.Almost.I shook my head, biting my li
Ruby’s POVI swallowed a bite of my food, chewing slowly as I pretended to think over Roman’s words."We’ve never really sat down and talked. Like, you know? What this is… between us."Oh, I knew exactly what he meant.But I wasn’t going to make this easy for him.I tilted my head slightly, feigning innocence. "What do you mean?"Roman’s eyes flickered with something unreadable, but his smirk remained. "Don’t do that, Ruby.""Do what?" I asked, stabbing my fork into a piece of steak.He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table, his gaze locking onto mine. "Pretend like you don’t get what I’m saying."I exhaled slowly, setting my fork down. "Fair enough… but we haven’t really gotten the chance to talk about this with everything that’s been happening."Roman arched a brow. "We definitely had the chance, Ruby. Before all of this started. You just… never gave me one."I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Here we go again."His voice softened, but his intensity remained. "Trying wouldn’t hav
~Esperanza's POV~A few moments back…I grabbed my purse, giving myself one last glance in the mirror as I finished applying my lipstick. Keely, however, had her arms crossed, leaning against the dresser with a suspicious look.“Are you sure that’s exactly where you’re going, Esperanza?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at me.I sighed, putting the makeup brush down. “Sure, Keely. Where else could I be going?”“You could be sneaking off to Ruby’s without telling me,” she accused.I turned to face her fully. “Why would I do that?”Keely raised an eyebrow. “Probably to be the first to give her an update on what we discovered.”I gasped dramatically, clutching my chest. “Oh no, no, no! Come on, Keely. I’d never do that.” I paused, dabbing my lips together to set the colour. “We both agreed to tell her together, remember? No two ways about it.”Keely didn’t look convinced. She studied me for a moment before placing her hands on my shoulders. “You sure?”“Absolutely,” I said, giving her my b
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