THE RETURN

New York.

The city looked exactly as Aria remembered it, but she was no longer the young, helpless Omega who had left five years earlier.

This time, she was returning as a successful billionaire, a powerful White Alpha and, most importantly, a mother of two beautiful children.

Her private jet descended through the clouds before landing on a large field close to the Romano mansion.

The aircraft cost three hundred thousand dollars, but its value meant nothing compared to what the journey represented.

Aria had returned.

And she wanted Dante Romano to know it.

As the aircraft came to a stop, the mansion's security guards turned towards the runway. Several men immediately moved closer, wondering who could possibly have landed such an expensive jet so close to the Alpha's property.

The aircraft door opened.

A flight attendant stepped out first, followed by a man carrying Aria's luggage.

Then Aria appeared.

She wore a beautifully tailored white designer suit, dark sunglasses and expensive heels. Her long hair flowed over her shoulders, and her confidence was unmistakable.

Jayden and Brenna followed her down the steps, holding their mother's hands.

They were five years old, beautifully dressed and full of curiosity.

At the bottom of the stairs, Aria paused.

Her eyes settled on the man standing near the mansion.

Dante Romano.

He stood with a dozen men behind him, wearing a black designer suit. His beard had grown thicker, and he looked more mature than she remembered.

But his grey eyes were unmistakable.

For several seconds, Dante couldn't move.

He stared at the woman before him, struggling to reconcile the powerful businesswoman standing in front of him with the frightened young Omega he had once rejected.

"Aria?"

She removed her sunglasses.

"Good afternoon, Alpha Dante."

His eyes moved towards the two children holding her hands.

He frowned.

"Who are they?"

Aria smiled coldly.

"Children, say hello."

"Good afternoon, sir," the twins greeted.

Dante stared at them.

Something about their faces unsettled him.

Their noses, their eyes and even the shape of their faces reminded him of himself.

He looked back at Aria.

"Are they...?"

Before he could finish, she interrupted.

"I didn't come here to exchange greetings. I'm here to inform you that we'll be having dinner at seven this evening at the restaurant in Diana Event Hall."

Dante remained silent.

Aria continued.

"I believe you can see the resemblance. They're your children. At least, you cannot deny that you and I were together several times."

His mouth opened slightly.

"Aria, wait..."

"That's all I came to say. I'll be expecting you."

She turned around and walked towards her waiting vehicle.

Her steps remained confident until she reached the car.

Only then did she allow herself to release the breath she had been holding.

Her knees were trembling.

Seeing Dante again had brought back memories she had spent five years trying to bury.

But she reminded herself why she had returned.

She wasn't the same woman anymore.

---

At seven o'clock, Aria sat at a corner table inside the restaurant at Diana Event Hall.

The place had been renovated, but certain things remained familiar.

She remembered the first time she had met Dante there.

She remembered the way he had looked at her, the conversations they shared and the promises he made.

She slowly turned her glass between her fingers.

She had returned for a purpose, and that purpose had to be fulfilled.

A few minutes later, the restaurant doors opened.

Dante entered.

His eyes immediately found her.

He walked towards the table and stopped beside her chair.

"So, you're back."

Aria looked up.

"Clearly."

He pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Dante's gaze shifted towards the empty chairs beside them.

"Those children..."

"Yes?"

"Are they mine?"

Aria gave a short laugh.

"Do you really need to ask?"

He lowered his eyes.

"Wow. You left without telling me you were pregnant."

Aria's expression hardened.

"So you deserved to know? Even if I had wanted to tell you, how was that possible? You didn't give me a chance to explain anything before throwing me out."

Dante looked down.

She continued.

"Nevertheless, I brought your children here so you could see them once. After today, you won't have access to them again."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"Every day, I regret the day our paths crossed. You were the biggest mistake of my life."

She pushed her chair backwards and stood.

"Aria, please..."

But she was already walking away.

Dante remained seated.

He stared at the empty chair opposite him, unable to understand how the woman he had once controlled so easily had become someone he couldn't even persuade to stay for dinner.

---

When Dante returned to the mansion, Serenna was waiting for him.

She noticed his expression immediately.

"What's wrong? You know you can talk to me."

He removed his jacket and dropped it onto the sofa.

"Aria is back."

Serenna froze.

"What?"

"Aria Cole. She's back in New York."

Serenna forced herself to remain calm.

"And?"

Dante looked at her.

"She has my children."

For a moment, Serenna couldn't speak.

Then her voice rose.

"What? You got Aria pregnant? When? How?"

Dante's expression darkened.

"Stop shouting."

"But—"

"I knew Aria before you. You know very well that I never wanted this marriage in the first place. I was forced into it, so stop behaving as though you were the first woman in my life."

Serenna's expression changed.

She looked away briefly before speaking again.

"In that case, you should make sure you have access to your children."

Dante frowned.

"How?"

"You're their father. You have a right to know them."

He rubbed his forehead.

"I don't even know where she lives."

Serenna thought for a moment.

"Then find out. You have enough men to locate her."

Dante looked at her.

"I don't want to frighten them."

Serenna smiled faintly.

"Then find a way to meet them."

She continued talking until he finally agreed to make another attempt.

But Dante had no idea that Serenna's sudden interest in his children was not entirely innocent.

---

The following evening, Dante waited near the fashion venue.

He knew Aria would be attending an event there, and he wanted to speak to her before she returned home.

Several hours later, her vehicle appeared.

Aria sat in the back with the twins.

She was reviewing some documents when Lyra suddenly became restless.

He's near.

Aria frowned.

Who?

Dante. I can smell him. He's coming with dangerous intentions.

Aria's skin prickled.

She immediately looked towards the driver.

"Please, drive faster."

The driver glanced at her through the mirror.

"Yes, ma'am."

Lyra continued pacing inside her.

Be careful. Protect our pups.

Aria looked towards the twins.

"Are you both comfortable?"

Brenna nodded.

"Yes, Mommy."

Jayden was busy looking through a toy catalogue.

Suddenly, three black vehicles appeared at the intersection.

Before their driver could react, the cars moved across the road and boxed them in.

Aria's heart tightened.

One of the doors opened.

Dante stepped out.

He approached her vehicle and knocked on the window.

"Open it. We need to talk."

Aria lowered the window slightly.

"How may I help you, Alpha Dante?"

"Get out of the car. I need to speak to my children."

"Your children?"

The twins looked at each other.

Brenna turned towards her mother.

"Mommy, what children is he talking about?"

Jayden leaned closer.

"What does he mean?"

Brenna looked back at Dante.

"Mommy, is this the man you said was responsible? Who is he?"

Aria took a deep breath.

"My darlings, your father isn't here. Remember what I told you? He's dead. This is just someone Mommy knows."

Dante's expression changed.

He leaned closer to the window.

"Listen to me, children. I'm your father. Your father is alive. I've been trying to spend time with you, but your mother refuses to let me."

Aria laughed bitterly.

"You cannot be serious."

She looked directly at him.

"Which children are you talking about? The ones you raised or the ones you rejected along with their mother?"

Dante lowered his voice.

"I had no idea you were pregnant. If I had known, I wouldn't have acted that way."

Aria's eyes hardened.

"That's your excuse? Dante, you rejected me without allowing me to defend myself. You threw me out in the rain and watched everyone humiliate me. You don't get to appear five years later and behave as though nothing happened."

"Aria, please..."

"Get out of my way."

Dante slammed his palm against the roof of the car.

"If you dare move out of here, you won't like what I'll do."

For a moment, the atmosphere changed.

Aria's eyes began glowing silver.

The car windows fogged slightly as her breath became colder.

Lyra stirred.

Warn him.

Aria looked directly into Dante's eyes.

"Touch my twins, and I'll show you why the White Wolf is feared more than the Black Wolf."

Dante's expression changed.

He had heard stories about the White Alpha, but he had never imagined that the woman standing before him possessed such power.

Aria continued.

"The rejection and everything you did to me weren't enough? Do not test me, Dante."

He slowly stepped away from the vehicle.

"I'm not your enemy, Aria."

"Then stop behaving like one."

She turned towards the driver.

"Let's go."

The vehicle moved forward, leaving Dante standing in the middle of the road.

He watched until the tail-lights disappeared.

For the first time, he understood that the woman he had rejected five years earlier was no longer someone he could intimidate.

---

A month passed.

Dante was barely eating.

He spent most of his time in his office, staring at documents without understanding what he was reading.

Every night, he remembered the twins' faces.

He remembered their grey eyes and the way they had looked at him.

He had missed five years of their lives.

Five birthdays.

Their first words, first steps and countless childhood moments.

He had not been there for any of them.

He began sending Aria letters, expensive gifts and messages.

She rejected everything.

He called repeatedly, but she refused to answer.

One evening, Aria sat on her bed staring at her phone.

Dante's name appeared on the screen again.

She considered blocking him permanently.

But something stopped her.

She picked up her phone and called Mrs. Fortune.

"Good evening, Ma."

"Good evening, my daughter. How are you and my grandchildren?"

"We're fine."

Mrs. Fortune paused.

"Your voice doesn't sound fine. What's wrong?"

Aria sighed.

"Dante is back in my life. He has been calling, sending gifts and asking to see the children. I don't know what to do."

Mrs. Fortune remained quiet for a moment.

Then she spoke gently.

"Aria, I know how much that man hurt you. I was there when you arrived at my house with nothing but a suitcase and broken dreams."

Aria lowered her head.

"But you cannot allow bitterness to make every decision for you. If he genuinely wants to apologise, at least give him an opportunity to speak."

"What if he hurts me again?"

"Then you will know that you gave him a chance, and you can make your decision accordingly. But hear him out first."

Aria thought about her words.

Finally, she nodded.

"All right, Ma. I'll meet him."

---

The following morning, Aria sent Dante a message.

We can meet tomorrow at eight in the evening. Choose a restaurant suitable for a proper conversation. Somewhere quiet, away from your security men and unnecessary drama.

Dante replied almost immediately.

Thank you, Aria. I won't disappoint you.

He arrived at the restaurant exactly at eight.

It was a beautiful rooftop establishment in Manhattan, surrounded by glass windows overlooking the city.

He sat at a table with both hands resting on the white tablecloth.

He kept checking the entrance.

Twenty minutes later, Aria arrived.

She wore a beautiful red dress, with her hair falling gracefully over her shoulders.

Dante stood immediately.

"You're late."

She pulled out her chair.

"You're early."

He smiled faintly.

"Billionaires don't usually wait."

Aria raised an eyebrow.

"Apparently, they do."

She called the waiter and ordered a drink.

After the waiter left, she crossed her legs and looked at Dante.

"Talk. I'm listening, but I have a meeting to attend, so please be quick."

Dante stared at her for a moment.

Then he asked the question that had been troubling him.

"How old are they?"

"Five years and two months."

He slowly lowered his head.

"That means you were already pregnant when I rejected you."

Aria said nothing.

Dante swallowed.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

She laughed bitterly.

"Tell you? Dante, after everything you did to me? You didn't even give me the opportunity to explain myself. You threw me out into the rain and allowed everyone to treat me like a criminal."

She leaned forward.

"Besides, I didn't even know I was pregnant at the time. And even if I had known, I wouldn't have told you. You didn't deserve to know."

Dante looked down.

He still didn't know who had orchestrated the events that destroyed their relationship.

But he knew that his own actions had caused Aria unimaginable pain.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

Aria stared at him.

"Sorry doesn't feed my twins for five years."

Her voice began to break.

She remembered standing under the hot sun selling water while carrying her pregnancy.

She remembered rushing to the hospital when Jayden became sick.

She remembered the funeral of her best friend, Brenna.

Her eyes filled with tears.

She quickly looked away, but Dante had already noticed.

He reached across the table and gently wiped a tear from her cheek.

This time, she didn't move away.

For a few seconds, they remained silent.

Then Dante spoke.

"Please, Aria. Allow me to see my children."

She closed her eyes.

Finally, she nodded.

"Tomorrow. You can visit them tomorrow."

Dante's face softened.

"Thank you."

"But don't mistake this for forgiveness. I'm doing it because they deserve to know their father."

"I understand."

---

The following afternoon, Dante arrived at Aria's house carrying several shopping bags.

He had bought toys, cookies, chocolates, children's books and beautiful clothes.

He was nervous.

He had faced dangerous enemies without fear, but the thought of meeting his own children made his palms sweat.

Aria opened the door.

"Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon."

She stepped aside.

"Come in."

Dante entered slowly.

The twins were sitting on the carpet, playing with building blocks.

When they noticed him, they immediately moved closer to their mother.

Brenna looked up.

"Mommy, isn't this the man you said was responsible?"

Aria knelt beside them.

"My darlings, this is your father."

The children looked at Dante.

Jayden folded his arms.

"You're our father?"

Dante nodded.

"Yes, sweetheart."

"Why haven't you been with us?"

Dante struggled to answer.

"I made mistakes, Jayden. Very serious mistakes. I didn't know you existed, and I hurt your mother."

Brenna looked at him suspiciously.

"Did you make Mommy cry?"

Dante lowered his eyes.

"Yes. And I'm very sorry."

Aria gently touched Brenna's shoulder.

"Your father has apologised, my loves. I've decided to forgive him, and I want you both to give him a chance too."

Jayden looked at his sister before turning back to Dante.

"We forgive you because Mommy says we should. But promise you won't make Mommy cry again."

Dante swallowed.

"I promise. I will never deliberately hurt your mother again."

Brenna studied him for a moment.

Then she slowly approached the shopping bags.

She opened one and found a packet of cookies.

Her eyes brightened.

She picked one up and took a bite.

"We forgive you, Daddy."

Dante turned his face away.

His shoulders trembled.

He had imagined this moment many times, but nothing could have prepared him for hearing his child call him Daddy.

He opened the remaining bags, and the twins rushed towards the toys.

"Look, Jayden! A racing car!"

"And I got a doll!"

Their excitement filled the room.

Dante watched them with tears in his eyes.

"We love you, Daddy!" the twins shouted.

He smiled through his tears.

"I love you too. More than you can imagine."

---

After some time, Aria asked the children to go to their bedroom.

She wanted to speak privately with Dante.

When they had left, he turned towards her.

"What are their names?"

"Brenna and Jayden."

He smiled.

"Beautiful names."

Then something occurred to him.

"Brenna... that was your best friend's name, wasn't it? How is she doing?"

Aria's expression changed.

She slowly shook her head.

"She's resting in peace."

Dante frowned.

"What? What happened?"

"She died in a car accident."

His eyes widened.

"When?"

"On the night you rejected me. She was rushing back to see me when the accident happened."

Dante stared at her.

"What?"

Aria's hands curled into fists.

"She was the only person I had left. When I lost everything, she was still there for me. And then she died."

Her voice cracked.

"You have no idea what I went through, Dante. You have no idea how many nights I cried, how many times I wished I could speak to her again."

He stood slowly.

"Aria, I..."

She raised her hand.

"Don't. I don't want another apology."

She stood up and walked towards the staircase.

"Brenna! Jayden! Come downstairs and play with your father."

The twins came running.

Dante looked at them, then towards the staircase where Aria had disappeared.

He understood that winning the children's affection would be easier than winning their mother's trust.

And he knew he had a long way to go.

But he wasn't ready to give up.

Not this time.

Not on his children.

And certainly not on the woman he had loved and lost.