Novels by AuthorVee

Dylan's POVI was halfway to the hospital when my phone started ringing. Nadia. I let it go to voicemail because I could not handle that conversation while driving and my hands were shaking too hard to be safe. The baby might be coming early and every second counted.When I arrived at the emergency room, a nurse directed me to the maternity ward. My heart pounded against my ribs as I walked down the sterile white hallway that smelled like antiseptic and fear. I found Cassandra in a private room, hooked up to monitors that beeped steadily. Her face was bruised on one side and tear-streaked."Dylan." She reached for me and her voice cracked. "I am so scared."A doctor in blue scrubs looked up from checking the monitors. "You are the father?""Yes." The word felt heavy in my mouth."She is having contractions. We are trying to stop early labor but at six months

Dylan's POVDr. Tedd did not waste time on pleasantries. "You are both being petty and it is destroying your marriage."I flinched but Nadia just stared at the floor. We had called an emergency session after our fight about Roman's ceremony and now sat on opposite ends of the couch like strangers."Dylan, you are jealous of a man who moved on and is getting mated to someone else." Dr. Tedd's voice was sharp. "That jealousy has no logical basis. The only threat here is your own insecurity."The words hit like a punch but I could not argue. She was right.Dr. Tedd turned to Nadia. "And you are using Roman's ceremony as a power play to prove your independence. But you are not proving independence. You are proving you are still hurt and angry.""I have a right to be hurt." Nadia's voice was small."Yes, you do." Dr. Tedd leaned forward.

Nadia's POVRoman's voice was warm through the phone and it made something in my chest loosen. "I am glad you called, Nadia. Sophia is excited to meet you."The mention of his fiancée should have stung but it did not. "She knows we dated?""Briefly, yes." Roman laughed softly. "She is secure enough not to care. We all have pasts."His ease about it made me realize how completely he had moved on. Roman had found love and left whatever we had been in the past where it belonged. Meanwhile, I was still drowning in mine."How are you?" Roman's question was gentle."Honestly?" I sank onto the bed. "I am a mess. Trying to fix things with Dylan but I keep having panic attacks. I cannot let him touch me without freezing. His mother thinks I am not good enough. Cassandra still needs help with the baby. Everything is falling apart.""You dese

Nadia's POVA cream envelope sat on my kitchen counter like an accusation. I stared at the elegant script announcing the mating ceremony of Roman Steele and Sophia Laurent and felt something twist in my chest. Not jealousy exactly. Something else I could not name.Inside was a handwritten note from Roman. His words were simple and kind like everything about him had been. “Nadia, you were important to me during a difficult time. I would be honored if you attended as a friend. No pressure. Roman.”I traced the ink with my finger and remembered his gentle smile. His patient eyes. The way he had made me feel safe when I thought I would never feel safe again."What is that?" Dylan's voice came from behind me.I turned and held up the invitation. "Roman is getting mated. He invited me to the ceremony."Dylan's jaw tightened instantly. The muscle in his cheek twitched and his hands clenched at his sides. "You are not going."The command hit me like a slap. Something hot and angry flared in m

Luna's POVI showed up at Nadia's house with coffee, wine, and a decision to fix what had been breaking my sister for months. Enough was enough. I had watched her suffer and shrink and lose herself piece by piece and I was done staying quiet."Kids outside." I pointed to where Kael was already kicking a ball with Aiden. "Dylan, please take Lyra. This is sister time."Dylan looked between us and seemed to understand this was not negotiable. He scooped up Emma and followed the boys into the yard. I watched through the window as he sat on the porch steps with our daughter in his lap and kept his distance from the older kids."Sit." I pushed Nadia onto the couch and handed her coffee even though it was four in the afternoon."Luna, I am fine." She started but I held up my hand."Do not lie to me. I am your sister and I have watched you fall apart." I sat next to

Nadia's POVThree days after Margaret finally left and her words still clung to me like smoke in my hair. Dylan was trying to reconnect and I saw the effort in every gesture. He brought me coffee in the mornings, he tried to start conversations, and he reached for my hand when we passed in the hallway. But every time he touched me, my body betrayed me.His hand on my back made me flinch. His arm around my shoulders made me go rigid. When he leaned in for a kiss, I pulled away so fast I saw hurt flash across his face. I kept apologizing but the words felt empty because I could not stop my body's reaction."I am sorry," I said it for the hundredth time that week. "I do not mean to.""I know." Dylan's voice was patient but I heard the strain underneath. "Take your time."One evening after all three kids were finally asleep, Dylan found me on the couch staring at nothing. He sat down carefully and left space between us like I was a wild animal that might bolt."Can we try something?" His