Ruby’s POVThe room was filled with a warm, golden light as the sun shone through the curtains. I sank back into the couch cushions, trying to get comfortable despite the pain in my side—a reminder of how close I had been to not making it. But for the moment, everything felt peaceful; there were no gunshots or chaos, just the soothing sound of Roman pacing around nearby.I watched him, unable to tear my eyes away. He slouched with his broad shoulders, and his jaw was clenched tight with stress. He hadn’t slept much at all. I could see the tired lines on his face, but there was also a restless anger simmering just below the surface."Roman," I said softly, breaking the silence.He stopped mid-step, turning toward me with an intensity that nearly stole my breath. "You should be resting," he said gruffly, but there was something tender beneath it."I’m fine," I replied, though we both knew that wasn’t entirely true.He ran a hand through his dishevelled hair, letting out a deep breath.
~Damien’s POV~The evening was strangely quiet—the kind of silence that didn't bring peace but instead a crushing weight that pressed down on my chest. I sat on the old wooden ladder leading up to the treehouse, my fingers gripping a worn photograph—one that had started to fade from the countless times I had traced the outlines of their faces. My wife and my brother—both gone—both because of choices I had made.A cold breeze swept through the woods, rustling the leaves, making the branches groan as if they, too, carried burdens too heavy to bear. I exhaled, watching my breath fog up in the cool air, my gaze fixed on the treehouse above me.It had been ours—mine and my brother’s.I could still hear his laughter echoing in the back of my mind, the way we'd race each other up the ladder, barely holding onto the sides, ignoring our mother’s frantic warnings from below. "Damien! Slow down! You’ll break your neck before you even learn to be responsible!" She used to scold, but we never
~Ruby’s POV~A firm knock echoed through the house, diverting our attention. I hesitated for a moment before moving toward the door, my stomach tightening. When I opened the door, Damien stood there. But he wasn’t the man I remembered. He looked… worn. The usually confident, well-dressed figure was gone. His suit was wrinkled, his tie undone, and the bags under his eyes made it clear that he hasn’t been sleeping. He wasn’t the composed, calculating man I once knew. He was raw—on the brink of collapse.I studied him for a long moment before stepping aside, silently inviting him in. He didn’t speak as he entered, his shoulders tense.As soon as he stepped into the living room, all eyes turned to him.“Dad?” Esperanza’s voice was a mix of shock and uncertainty.Keely’s brows furrowed as she took in his disheveled state. “What the hell happened to you?”Damien hesitated, as if realising only now that they were here. His jaw tightened slightly.“Wha… what are you doing here?” Esperanza s
~Ruby's POV~The drive to the family's house felt longer than it actually was. The streetlights did no good at shedding light on what was on my mind, and the hum of the car engine was the only thing keeping my mind from spiraling. I tapped my fingers anxiously on the steering wheel, rehearsing in my head what I was going to say.This wasn’t going to be easy. Esperanza and Keely had every right to be furious with me. I’d kept a secret from them—one that shattered everything they thought they knew. But I hadn’t done it out of malice. I had tried to protect them, even if it had backfired spectacularly.I pulled into the driveway and cut the engine. The house was quiet as usual, save for the faint flicker of light in one of the upstairs windows. Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the car and made my way to their room. My heart pounded as I raised a fist and knocked gently.A groan came from the other side."For the last time, Dad, go away!" Esperanza’s irritated voice rang out."
~Ruby's POV~The moment I stepped into the apartment, a familiar warmth settled over me. The scent of cinnamon from a half-burned candle and the faint aroma of Helen’s tea made the space feel cozy despite the tension I hadn’t yet acknowledged.I tossed my keys onto the entryway table, shrugging off my coat when I noticed an unexpected guest sitting at the dining table, scrolling through his phone."Kai?" I narrowed my eyes, hanging my coat on the rack. "What are you doing here?"Without looking up, he responded, "I'm here doing something important."Helen, who sat across from him, gave me a helpless shrug, silently mouthing, I have no idea either.I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "Oooookay… and by that, you mean?"Kai finally lifted his gaze. "Shipment intel."I froze, my fingers still hooked in the collar of my sweater. My pulse quickened. Shipment intel. That meant trouble. That meant another mission. That meant another risk."What about the kids?" I asked, my voice tightenin
~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
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~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
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