~Ruby's POV~The restaurant had settled into a quieter rhythm as the lunch rush died down. Just as I was considering how soon I could escape this awkward gathering, Esperanza’s phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at the screen, frowning slightly before picking up the call.“Hello, am I speaking with Esperanza Blackwood?” a voice asked from the other end.Esperanza leaned back in her chair, rolling her eyes playfully. “Yeah… depends on who’s asking.”There was a brief pause before the woman replied, “The lady from the store. Just wanted to inform you that your package is here.”Esperanza let out a breath. “Okay… alright. Be right there.”She ended the call and turned to us, already rising to her feet. “Now, of all times. Let me just quickly get it.”Then, as if realising something, she glanced between me and Roman. “Umm… will you two still be here?”Absolutely not.I didn’t even hesitate. “We were just about to leave,” I said quickly, eager to put some distance between myself and t
Keely’s POVAbout an hour ago…Esperanza shot me one last mischievous grin as she stepped outside. “Have fun doing absolutely nothing while I’m gone.”I rolled my eyes. “Just leave already.”She laughed, throwing up a wave before disappearing through the front doors.The estate was finally quiet again.I exhaled, stretching my arms above my head, already planning how I was going to sneak off to see Isaac when my phone vibrated in my pocket.I pulled it out and frowned at the screen.Dad.I quickly answered. “Hey, Dad.”“Keely,” my father’s deep voice came through the line. “I’m heading out with Damien.”I straightened. “Oh? Where to?”“Business,” he said simply, his tone giving nothing away.I frowned. “Business? What kind of business?”There was a pause before he responded, “Nothing you need to worry about.”That only made my curiosity spike. “Alright, so when will you be back?”“No idea.”I bit my lip, suppressing a sigh. Of course. That was always the answer.Instead of pushing fur
"Shut up and kiss me, Isaac."His answering smirk was brief before his lips captured mine again.This time, it was different—there was a hunger to it, an urgency, like he needed me to breathe.Our hands moved faster, our kisses became more heated, until all we could feel was each other.His skin against mine, his heart beating in time with mine.He pulled back, panting, his dark eyes searching mine before going down to stare at my breast."You're so fucking beautiful, Keely," he whispered, almost like a prayer.I flushed, the words washing over me, warming me to my core.Then his mouth was on me again, trailing a path down the curve of my neck, the dip of my collarbone, the swell of my breast.His lips closed around one nipple, sucking gently, eliciting a gasp from me. His hand moved up to palm the other, thumb brushing against the sensitive skin, teasing, taunting.I moaned softly, arching into him, desperate for more."Isaac, please," I breathed."So impatient," he murmured, his eye
I raised an eyebrow, confused. "What are you doing?""This," he replied simply, before hoisting me over his shoulder."Isaac!" I squealed, caught off guard by the sudden action.He chuckled, patting my ass. "Quiet, love."And then, before I could even comprehend what was happening, he strode across the room, tossed me on the bed, and crawled on top of me.I laughed, reaching up to stroke his cheek. "That was pretty smooth, Isaac.""Why, thank you," he said, grinning.Then he kissed me again.His lips were fire against mine, his body warm and solid above me. His hands roamed my body, touching, teasing, bringing me closer and closer to the edge.I moaned, arching into him, begging for more."Patience," he murmured, his lips curling in a smirk as he entered me, his gaze locked on mine.The feeling was exquisite, but still not enough as only the cap of his member was inside of me."Harder," I moaned.He grunted and thrust hard, fully sheathing himself within me."You're so fucking wet," h
~RUBY’S POV~“AHHHH!”“AHHHHHH!!”“AHHHHHHHHHH!!!”I swear my soul left my body for a second. My heart was racing, my hands clutching my chest as I stared wide-eyed at Keely.“What the hell?!” I shrieked, trying to catch my breath.Keely looked just as startled. “What the hell?! What are you two doing here?”Esperanza gaped at her. “What are we doing here? Keely, we live here!”I was still bent over with my hands on my knees as I gasped, “I think I just lost a year off my life.”Esperanza groaned, rubbing her temple. “Okay, seriously, what are you doing sneaking around like this?”Keely straightened, still looking flustered. “I—I thought you were an intruder!”Esperanza blinked. “An intruder? In my own house?”She hesitated before muttering, “Technically, yeah.”I squinted at her, just now noticing the state she was in—her hair a complete mess, her shirt haphazardly buttoned, and she was barefoot.And then it hit me.Esperanza noticed it too.She gasped dramatically, her eyes widening
~Ruby's POV~"We found out why he’s cutting ties with the other packs. And trust me, Ruby… it’s worse than we thought.”Esperanza moved toward the window, peeking through the curtains. Her fingers twitched as she adjusted them slightly. “Isaac is gone,” she murmured before letting the fabric fall back into place.I barely registered her words. My mind was still struggling to process what Keely had just said."So we found out that some other council members knew about Mom’s death," Keely continued, lowering herself onto the edge of the bed.I blinked, trying to feign surprise, but I couldn’t quite find the words to respond. My mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out.Esperanza nodded knowingly. “Yeah, same reaction I had when I found out.”I swallowed hard. "Do you mean they knew as in, just like we do? Or were they involved?"Keely exhaled. "I won’t say they were directly involved, but they saw it coming. And they didn’t say a word.”Esperanza crossed her arms. “Not even to Dad.”
~Ruby's POV~“So, we’re really breaking into Uncle Damien’s office?” Keely whispered, her voice laced with disbelief."Yep... definitely," Esperanza said, way too confident for my liking. "I mean, we’re not breaking in breaking in." She added with a casual wave of her hand."Oh, you mean sneaking in," Keely said, raising a brow."Yes, yes! Exactly." Esperanza snapped her fingers.I folded my arms. "And how exactly do we plan on doing that?"Esperanza shrugged. "We just walk in."I blinked at her. "Walk in? Esperanza, that room is practically a fortress."Keely and Esperanza exchanged confused looks."I mean guards, security measures, the whole you’re-not-welcome-here vibe," I clarified.Esperanza scoffed. "Oh, that? That was in the past. Not anymore.""Seriously? Like, no security at all?" I asked, raising a skeptical brow."Nope. Let’s just say a very strict example was made out of the last person who messed up," Esperanza said.Keely nodded. "And now? No one dares to even think abou
~Ruby’s POV~Dane looked at the three of us with a sharp gaze, his arms crossed over his chest. He seemed both confused and suspicious."What are you doing here?" His tone was serious as he demanded an answer.Esperanza, always the quick thinker, spoke first. "Umm… nothing, actually."Keely caught on fast. "Told you Dad wasn’t here, but you insisted," she said, shaking her head as if I had dragged them here.Ruby and Keely exchanged a quick glance, realizing what Esperanza was trying to do."Yeah… thought you’d lie about it again," Keely added, her tone laced with accusation."Just like you did last time," I threw in for good measure.Dane’s brows furrowed as he focused on me, finally recognizing who I was. "Ruby?"I forced a small smile and nodded.Dane shook his head, still trying to piece things together. "I'm sorry—what exactly is going on here?"Esperanza exhaled dramatically. "Oh, Ruby thought I was lying about Dad not being home, so I came to show her myself." She even added a
ROMAN’S POVWeeks turned into months, but the thought of Ruby never left me. The girl I had cast out, humiliated, and tossed aside had taken root in my mind like an ache that wouldn't fade. I didn't know when it started—when guilt became regret, when regret became longing. And when longing turned into something I never thought I'd feel.I had fallen for her… even in her absence.But she was nowhere to be found.At first, I convinced myself she was hiding, waiting for things to blow over before she returned. But as time passed, that hope crumbled. She wasn’t at her uncle’s. She had no friends who would take her in. She had nowhere to go.So where the hell was she?Desperation clawed at me. I sent out word myself, asking anyone who might have seen her. I searched the city, turning over every stone, checking every street she might have wandered. But it was as if she had vanished into thin air.The thought that she might have wandered into the woods haunted me. I sent patrols out, ordere
~Romans POV~Seven Years Ago…The Pack House stood tall and intimidating, its walls filled with years of memories—some good, some bad. But today, I felt nothing but cold detachment. The air inside was heavy with judgment, and the smell of incense couldn’t hide the tension in the grand hall.I stood before the council, my face expressionless, my hands clenched into fists at my sides."You are no longer one of us."The words echoed in my mind, cutting deeper than any blade could. "You are dead to this pack, and if you return, it’s death."This moment—this exile—had started long before today. It had begun weeks ago, with a mistake, a misunderstanding, and a choice that had set everything into motion.******I stood in my bedroom, my hands sifting through his wardrobe. The scent of old fabric and polished wood filled the air as I searched for something to wear. My eyes sighted a small cloth, tucked away between neatly folded clothes.Ruby’s clothes.My chest tightened, memories of days a
~Roman's POV~Minutes ago…The hospital lights above me buzzed softly, their harsh glow doing little to ease the anxiety churning inside me. I clenched my phone tightly as I walked back and forth in the hallway, my thumb repeatedly pressing the screen in frustration. The call just wouldn’t connect. I dialled once more, my patience thinning with each unanswered ring.“What the hell was he thinking?” I muttered.“Calm down, Roman. Relax for a second.” Kai’s voice was steady, but I could hear the wariness laced beneath it.I turned to him, my glare cutting. “Don’t—don’t tell me to calm down, Kai.”Kai sighed, rubbing his forehead. He knew me well enough by now to understand there was no reeling me back once I got to this point.“This was between me and him,” I seethed, stuffing my phone back into my pocket. “No one else. He had no business dragging anyone into this.”Kai exhaled, arms crossed over his chest. “Helen was obstructing, I guess.”“No.” I shook my head. “Even if she wasn’t,
~Ruby’s POV~The room was quiet, with only the soft hum of the laptop filling the space. On the screen, surveillance footage from eight different angles showed the attack happening in real time. I felt a knot in my stomach as I watched it all unfold.The front door burst open first—five masked men storming in like they owned the place. Helen was the first to react. She fought them off or at least she tried to, but she was outnumbered. One of them struck her hard across the face. She staggered but didn't fall. Another one lunged at her with a knife. Helen dodged once, twice—then pain shot across her face as the blade found its mark from behind.I gripped the edge of the chair.I barely heard my own breathing over the frantic pounding of my heart. The glow from Kai’s laptop screen bathed our faces in cold blue light, but nothing about this moment felt real. Roman, Kai, and I sat frozen, watching in horror as the nightmare unfolded before us.Rhett grabbed the nearest thing—a lamp, m
~Ruby’s POV~As soon as Roman and I stepped into the house, a suffocating weight settled over me. The silence wasn’t just empty—it was wrong. Heavy. It crawled over my skin, sinking into my chest, making it hard to breathe.My breath caught, my chest tightening as my eyes darted wildly over the destruction before me. The couch lay overturned, shattered glass crunched beneath my boots, and streaks of blood—dark, smeared—marred the walls like something, or someone, had been dragged.A cold shiver clawed up my spine. My stomach twisted into knots.And then it hit me.The kids.I sucked in a sharp breath, my voice breaking as I called out. "Helen? Rhett? Ruby?"Nothing.No footsteps. No voices. Just the eerie stillness of a house that should’ve been filled with laughter, with noise, with life.Panic gripped my throat, making it hard to breathe. I moved without thinking, pushing through the mess of broken furniture and accidentally knocking over a lamp in my desperate search. My heart rac
~Roman's POV~Abel’s voice carried through the speaker in a manner that was both smooth and taunting. "Good evening, little bro."I tightened my grip on the phone, jaw clenching. "What do you want, Abel?" I went straight to the point. No need for games—not that he ever played fair.“A little greeting won't hurt.” He mused. “I have no time for such.” I countered. “Christ, ever serious. Put the phone on speaker. I’m sure you’re not alone."Ruby's voice was soft but filled with suspicion as she shifted against me. "What’s he saying?"I raised a finger, signaling her to wait.Abel chuckled. "Oh, Ruby's there too? Nice. Go on, Roman."Damn it. Of course, he heard. He always did. I set the phone down on the table, hitting speaker.Abel’s voice filled the space around us, casual but laced with arrogance. "Figured you’d all be together after that little stunt you just pulled."Everyone exchanged glances but remained silent."You thought you were in control, didn’t you?" Abel continued, then
~Ruby’s POV~The basement was poorly lit, the single hanging bulb casting long, wary shadows along the damp concrete walls. The air was thick with the scent of rust, sweat, and something more metallic—blood. It clung to the space, making the atmosphere suffocating.Roman and Damien towered over the two men tied to the chairs, their faces revealing nothing as they contemplated what to do next. The men were restrained in worn metal chairs, their wrists and ankles firmly secured with heavy-duty zip ties.Their clothes were torn, blood seeping through the fabric where Roman and Damien had already introduced their fists.One of them, a stocky man with a split lip, glared up at Roman, his breathing heavy but controlled. The other, leaner with dark, piercing eyes, had a smirk despite the cut above his brow.Roman cracked his knuckles, the sound sharp in the silent room. “Who do you work for?”The stocky man didn’t answer. He only winced, his jaw tightening in defiance.Damien let out a shor
WARNING: GRUELSOME AND A BIT BRUTAL FOR SOME PEOPLE. PROCEED WITH CAUTION~Roman’s POV~The port had a salty, rusty smell mixed with something more foreboding—the scent of a deal about to go down. The waves gently hit the docks, creating a tense atmosphere. Flickering overhead lights cast long shadows between the stacked shipping containers.I adjusted the lens of my camera, angling it just right to capture the blurry figures exchanging briefcases. Each soft click of the shutter sent a jolt of adrenaline through me. This wasn’t just some shady deal. It was bigger—dangerous. And I could feel it in my gut.Beside me, Damien shifted restlessly, his fingers twitching near the concealed weapon at his side. His eyes scanned the scene, always watching, always ready."Standing here beside me isn't of any help," I muttered, focusing on getting the best shot."You think so?" Damien replied in a low voice."Obviously. And you know that.""I'm actually watching your back while you take the shots
~Ruby's POV ~Damien’s office was still as I last remembered—perfectly lit, a little too neat, and carrying that ever-present scent of leather and expensive cologne. It was the kind of place that made you feel like you were either about to be recruited into something dangerous or interrogated for something you didn’t even know you did.The tension was already thick before we even stepped inside. Roman entered first, with his hands in his pockets and a relaxed posture, but his eyes were alert. Kai came in right after him, unusually quiet and not his usual talkative self. I stayed by the doorway, feeling nervous.Damien sat on the edge of his desk, arms crossed, watching us as we filed in. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes flickered with curiosity—no, scrutiny. He barely let the silence settle before speaking. "Glad you could make it. Thought you’d have a change of heart."I met his gaze, unfazed. "We should be the ones worried about that."He let out a low chuckle. "Be res