CHAPTER : Blood and Tension~Ruby's POV~"Right on time, little brother."I felt my breath hitch as my eyes snapped between Roman and Abel.Brothers?Roman stepped forward, his stance shifting—protective, defensive. His body was angled slightly in front of me, blocking Abel’s path."What are you doing here, Abel?" Roman’s voice was low and sounded dangerous.Abel smirked, tilting his head slightly. “Just paying her a visit."I didn’t like the way he said that."A visit? Why?" Roman pressed, his body tense."Nothing much," Abel shrugged. "I just wanted to see her in person.""This is no joke, Abel. Why are you here?"Abel exhaled dramatically, shaking his head as if Roman was exhausting him. "I was about to leave," he said casually. Then his sharp eyes flicked toward me, his smirk widening. "Isn’t that right, Ruby?"I swallowed hard, my gaze darting between them. The way he said my name sent an uneasy chill down my spine. I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to hold his gaz
Ruby's POV"You WHAT?!"My voice shot up, filled with disbelief as I took a sharp step toward Roman. He raised his hands slightly in surrender. "Relax, Ruby. It’s just outside the house.""For what?" I snapped. "You had no right, Roman!"Roman exhaled through his nose, trying to keep his voice calm. "For your own safety, Ruby. That’s why."I scoffed, crossing my arms tightly over my chest. "Without my consent? That’s called trespassing, Roman."His expression tightened slightly. "I only had them installed outside—""That’s not the point!" I cut in, shaking my head in frustration.There was a thick, tense silence between us.Roman ran a hand down his face, clearly frustrated but still trying to pacify me. "Alright, I’m sorry, okay? I should’ve asked before doing it."I narrowed my eyes at him, unimpressed. "Now you realize that?""I really am sorry, Ruby. But let’s be honest—you wouldn’t have agreed to it if I had asked," he said, tilting his head slightly.I opened my mouth to argue…
~Ruby's POV~"You’re leaving already?" I asked, watching Roman as he shifted his weight slightly."Ummm… perhaps soon. But I can stay if you want me to," he said, his gaze meeting mine.I waved a hand dismissively. "Naaaa… it’s alright."Roman studied me for a second. "You sure? Or are you scared Abel’s gonna return?"I exhaled, leaning against the couch. "Not really. Besides, if he was going to harm me, he wouldn’t have wasted time.""So you think he wants something else?" Roman asked, his voice dipping into a more serious tone."Yeah… but let’s wait and see first."Roman gave a slow nod. "Okay, if you say so."That caught me off guard. "You’re just… okay with that?" I asked, slightly surprised."Not entirely," he admitted. "But if your instincts tell you so, I’ll trust it… for now."I studied him for a moment before nodding. "Alright… and about how it ended.""What ended?" Roman asked, a crease forming between his brows."Esperanza. Following her home?" I trailed off, waiting for re
~Helen's POV~I adjusted my grip on the steering wheel as I glanced in the rearview mirror, watching little Ruby and Rhett chatter away in the back seat. The excitement in the car was a pleasant break from the tension that had been weighing on us all lately.I could have left them home with Mom or Marcus, maybe even asked them to make a list of what they wanted, but having them with me felt… safer. They’d be in a public place, surrounded by people. Less chance of anything going wrong."Make sure they don’t leave your sight." Ruby’s words echoed in my head.I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and forced a smile. Everything will be fine.As we drove to the store, the kids fired off random questions, their curiosity relentless as always."Aunt Helen, when is Mom coming back?" Little Ruby asked, her voice soft yet hopeful.For a moment, I hesitated. I hated lying to them. What am I supposed to say? That we have no idea when their mother will be back? That she’s tangled up in things
~Helen's POV~"SURPRISE!"A voice came from behind me, and I froze, my entire body stiffening. My heart pounded as my fingers curled around my phone. "Uncle Liam?" Rhett’s voice was barely audible, filled with disbelief."Uncle Liam!" he and Little Ruby chorused in excitement.I slowly turned; my breath caught in my throat, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. But as soon as I laid eyes on him, I felt the tension in my chest release."Liam?" I breathed out. "How is this even—?"Yet, there he was, crouched to the kids' level, his arms wide open, a grin on his face."How you doing, kiddos?" Liam asked, ruffling Rhett’s hair as they tackled him in a tight hug."We missed you!" Little Ruby said, her small hands gripping onto him like she’d never let go."What took you so long?" Rhett pouted."Sorry, kids. Been so, so busy with work. But I’m here now. How have you both been?" Liam said."We’ve been good!" they chorused."Thanks to Aunt Helen," Little Ruby added, looking up at me with
~Helen's POV~Shopping with two energetic kids and a man-child like Liam was an adventure in itself."Uncle Liam, are you here to also get us something?" Little Ruby asked, her eyes shining with hope.Liam placed a hand on his chest, feigning offense. "Of course! What do you take me for? Anything you want."Little Ruby gasped dramatically. "Really?""Yep, pick anything you wish," Liam confirmed.Rhett grinned. "Nice… double permission.""I'm so loving this day," Little Ruby added, practically bouncing in place.Liam and I exchanged amused glances, chuckling as we continued down the aisles.A few minutes later, after what felt like an eternity of indecisiveness, we were finally done."Is that all you want?" I asked, glancing at the overflowing cart."Yeah, it's all we want," Little Ruby said, nodding confidently."You sure about that?" Liam asked, arching an eyebrow.Rhett shrugged. "For now, though." He reached into the cart, holding up a familiar-looking package. "I also bought Mom’s
~Helen’s POV~Dinner had been peaceful. The kids helped me cook, and when Marcus and Mom finally got home, we all sat together, eating and laughing like any other night. It was the kind of normalcy I craved—simple, warm, safe.But when night fell and the house grew quiet, I found myself lying awake, staring at the ceiling. The "prank" Liam had pulled earlier still gnawed at me."What if it wasn’t him? What if next time it’s real?"I rolled onto my side, shaking my head. You’re overthinking, Helen. Go to sleep.The house was silent. Everyone was asleep.Then, a sound.A faint thud from outside.I sat up, heart hammering.Liam.I let out a sigh, rubbing my temples. Oh, come on. You have to do this again?Grabbing my phone, I squinted at the screen—1:14 AM.Wait…My stomach twisted. Would Liam really be playing games at this hour?Then I heard it again—another noise, closer this time.I slid out of bed as quietly as possible, tiptoeing toward the door. The floor was cool beneath my feet.
~Ruby’s POV~"Hey, Ruby… I'm here now." Liam’s voice came through the phone.I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. "Oh… thanks, Liam. I really appreciate you doing this.""It's alright, Ruby. Anytime."I glanced at the time on my phone—almost 3 AM. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to calm the storm in my chest."What about the kids?" I asked, my voice softer now."They're here with us in the living room. They couldn't fall asleep," Liam replied.My heart ached at the thought. "Oh dear, they must be scared.""Yeah… I guess so."There was a pause, a heavy silence stretching between us. I could feel the questions waiting on Liam’s tongue, but he held back."Is Helen there with you?" I asked."Yeah… she's right here.""Alright… good." I exhaled slowly. I had to do something. The kids weren’t safe there, not after what had happened. "I think you'll have to bring the kids over, Liam."There was a brief silence."Oooooookay… when?" Liam asked."First thing tomorrow morning."
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