RubyWhat????I froze, unable to comprehend his words. Did I hear him correctly?"Ava. My dead mate. I will bring her back to life like I promised," he muttered before closing his eyes.The shock hit me like a tidal wave. My heart raced, leaving me speechless and utterly bewildered. How could he say something like that? No, I must be mistaken. I must have heard wrong because, honestly, his words were like a punch to the gut—an insult that shouldn't be taken lightly.No. I would never accept this.My shock was quickly replaced by a surge of anger that coursed through my veins like wildfire—hot and consuming. How dare he make such a reckless promise? How dare he consider bringing back his ex-mate from the dead while making me live with him? How could he even consider such a reckless and selfish act?The audacity of it all left me trembling with fury, and the anger that surged through me was overwhelming, threatening to consume me entirely.He had to be joking, right?"You're joking, rig
Ruby"I've got the flower right here," he replied, pointing at a bag tied around his waist. I gazed at him suspiciously, my brows furrowing as I wondered how he managed to retrieve the flower so quickly. It seemed too convenient, especially considering the fact that Damian had risked his life just to obtain it."And why are you with it?" I pressed, my tone edged with skepticism. James's response would determine whether I could trust him or not."It's not what you think," he said, noticing my doubtful expression. I remained silent, waiting for him to explain himself further."The truth is, Damian went to the forest of darkness to get the Flower of Life, not just to bring back his dead mate but also to save his sister.""His sister?" I echoed, surprise evident in my voice as I processed James's revelation."Yes, he has a sister, and he would tell you about her himself when he wakes up—if he wakes up," James muttered, his tone tinged with concern,and I could see the fear flickering in hi
Ruby I woke up to a room bathed in soft moonlight, casting a gentle glow over everything. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, I sat up and surveyed the room. My heart skipped a beat when I noticed Damian looking at me with a tender expression. It took me a moment to realise that I was sleeping on the bedside with him.Had he brought me up to lay by his side? How long had he been watching me? It was an awkward situation; I couldn't recall the last time I shared a bed with someone who wasn't my son."You look so peaceful when you sleep," he remarked, breaking the silence between us. For a moment, we simply stared at each other, the weight of reality hanging heavy in the air.I cleared my throat in awkwardness, unsure of how to respond. Without a word, Damian reached out and brushed stray hair from my face, his touch sending shivers down my spine. As his hand lingered on my cheek, I felt a rush of warmth spread through me.Despite everything that had happened, there was a sense of peac
Daiman.I lay in bed, relishing the rare moment of solitude after Ruby left to pick up her son from school. I had asked her to do the same for my daughter, Anna, knowing how excited she would be to see her angelic friend waiting for her.The thought of Anna's joy warmed my heart, and making her happy was my intention and the least I could do after leaving her to go on a life-threatening adventure.I felt grateful to Ruby for being here for her, even though it wasn't her responsibility. Despite everything, I couldn't shake off the awe I felt towards Ruby for saving me.Waking up to find her sleeping beside my bed touched me deeply and made my heart flutter in a weird way, and I couldn't resist pulling her closer to me. She looked so serene and beautiful in her slumber, and when she confessed she had saved me despite knowing I had risked my life just to save my dead mate, I knew at that moment I couldn't help but feel undeserving of her kindness. It was evident that Ruby hadn't been tr
Damian"Daddy!" she exclaimed, dropping her bag and rushing over to me. I couldn't help but smile wider as I stood up, opening my arms wide to welcome her embrace."Hey, sweetheart. I missed you so much," I said, scooping her up into a tight hug."More than the air you breathe?" My daughter questioned me with a smirk on her lips, and I grin at her mischievousness."Yeah, more than the air I breathe," I chuckled, and she squeezed me tightly, burying her face against my chest."Where did you go, Daddy? I was so worried," she mumbled, her voice muffled against my shirt. I held her close, feeling a rush of love and gratitude for her presence."It's okay, honey. I'm here now," I reassured her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head."But you were gone, Daddy, and I was lonely," she muttered sadly."I just had an unexpected adventure, that's all," I explained. She pulled back slightly, her eyes wide with curiosity."An adventure? Tell me all about it!" she exclaimed, her excitement contagio
Three days later.RubyI knocked softly on the door, feeling the nervousness coursing through me, evident in my sweaty, shaking hands. After a few seconds, the door creaked open, revealing a beautiful middle-aged woman with a quizzical expression. She wore a floral-print blouse and jeans, her hands resting on her hips as she looked at me with a raised eyebrow,her eyes filled with curiosity. I stood before her, nervously adjusting the strands of my newly acquired fake blond hair. With a deliberate blink of my fake blue eye, I attempted to exude confidence, despite the uncertainty swirling within me.What if my plan fails and she sees through my disguise?Clearing my throat, I pushed aside my doubts and mustered a polite smile as I met her gaze."Hello, ma'am," I began, my voice steady."I'm here to speak with Mr. Smith. Is he available?" I kept my gaze steady, hoping to convey a sense of professionalism despite the unease I felt.The woman's brow furrowed in confusion as she glanced a
RubyFeeling completely drained, I stepped into Damian's office, finding him completely engrossed in his work. When he looked up and caught sight of me, a faint smile graced his lips, but it quickly faded into a look of concern. His blue eyes softened with worry as they met mine, sensing the exhaustion written all over my face."Fuck, you must have had a rough day," he remarked, his tone sympathetic. He rose from his chair, a gesture of solidarity, as I made my way to the inviting, comfy couch in his office."Trust me, I fucking did," I managed to joke, a weary smile playing on my lips. Self-consciously, I brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear, feeling suddenly vulnerable under his intense gaze.I had made a conscious decision to regard Damian strictly as a business partner and not a mate in order to feel more comfortable around him. However, the intense gaze he was giving me now ignited an unexpected feeling of warmth inside me, causing me to reconsider my initial stance.For
Ruby:"Anna, sweetheart, what's happening? Why are you so upset?" Damian asked, reaching out to gently touch his daughter's trembling shoulder. His brows furrowed, and his eyes filled with worry as he searched her face for answers.Tears streamed down Anna's cheeks as she tried to compose herself, her voice shaking with emotion. "It's nothing, Daddy," she managed to choke out between sobs. "I just miss Mommy so much. I need her."Her words cut through the air like a knife, filled with raw emotion that tugged at my heartstrings, knowing I could never replace her mother, nor could she ever perceive me as such.Soon, Damian's own eyes welled up with unshed tears, and he wrapped his arms around Anna, pulling her into a comforting embrace, feeling utterly helpless in the face of her pain.Feeling my gaze on him, his eyes met mine, and he gave me a nervous smile. I could sense he was struggling in this moment, unable to find the right words to comfort his daughter. It wasn't long ago that h