Camellia“Osiris left?” I ask, sitting up as Nero approaches the bed. “Why?”He shrugs. “He said something about finding himself again, and I get it. But we’re all fucking worried about him he hasn’t been the same since his memories were returned, so hopefully this does help him.”Nero stands in front of the dresser, his movements casual, but my eyes can’t help but linger. There’s something about the way he moves—unconscious strength in every motion, the way his muscles shift beneath his skin, the ease with which he holds himself—that makes it hard to focus on what he’s saying.His earlier words are sinking in, but my eyes can’t help but follow the movement of his hands as he pulls his belt free. The leather slides through the loops of his pants with a soft hiss, and I know I should be focusing on what he’s saying—about Osiris, about everything that’s been weighing on his mind. But man, he’s distracting.“Do you think he’s okay?” I ask, forcing my voice to sound casual as my gaze flic
Camellia The first thing I notice is the warmth. Nero’s arms are wrapped around me, his body solid and steady against mine. My head is nestled in the crook of his neck, his scent—earthy and comforting—filling my senses. I lay there, letting the feeling of safety sink in for a moment. Last night had been… intense. Primal. Nero’s bite is still throbbing, right over the old claiming mark, a raw reminder of the way we’d come together.I turn slightly, just enough to see his face in the early morning light. He looks peaceful, his strong features relaxed in sleep. I can’t help but smile softly, my fingers tracing over the lines of his jaw. It’s hard to reconcile this calm, sleeping man with the one who’d unleashed such raw desire last night. But that’s Nero, isn’t it? Strong, protective, a force of nature when he needs to be, but also the man who holds me like I’m the most precious thing in the world.As I watch him sleep, memories start to bubble up—memories of the first time we were li
NeroI'm sitting on the back porch, watching Camellia and Nereo run around the backyard, laughing like they don’t have a care in the world. The sound of their happiness fills the air, and I can’t stop the smile that tugs at my lips. Camellia’s memories are back, and seeing her so carefree, so full of life, it’s more than I ever could’ve asked for.It’s a miracle, honestly. I would have loved her just the same, even if her memories never returned. But now, with everything she’s regained, it feels like we’re complete again—like the piece of her that was missing has finally fallen back into place.“Catch me if you can!” Nereo shouts, his little legs pumping as he runs across the grass, glancing back to see if Camellia is closing in.She’s laughing, her hair flying behind her as she chases him, purposely letting him keep a little distance. “I’m gonna get you! You better run faster!”I chuckle to myself, shaking my head. It’s hard to believe how much has changed in such a short time. A few
The warm breeze carries the scent of saltwater, and the rhythmic crashing of waves against the shore fills the air. I stand barefoot at the edge of the ocean, the cool water lapping at my toes. The sun is setting, and for the first time in what feels like forever, everything is calm. Peaceful.I hear Nereo’s excited laughter as he chases after a sand crab, his tiny legs kicking up sand as he runs. Nero’s deep voice follows, teasing him as he pretends to let the crab escape.“You’re too slow, Nereo!” Nero calls out, laughing. “Come on, you’ve got to be faster if you want to catch it!”I turn to watch them, my heart swelling with love. Nero’s crouched down in the sand, grinning as Nereo shrieks with laughter, trying to outrun the little creature. Seeing them together like this, carefree and happy, makes everything we went through worth it.“Mamma, look!” Nereo shouts, waving his arms in excitement. “I almost caught it!”“You’re getting closer every time!” I call back, smiling as I walk
I lean back in my chair, watching Nereo on the floor in front of my desk, pushing his toy cars back and forth across the hardwood. He’s deep in concentration, his little face scrunched up as he mimics the sound of an engine, totally absorbed in his own world. It makes me smile, seeing him like this. So carefree. So innocent.It reminds me of when I was his age, sitting in this same office, playing with my own set of cars while my father worked. I used to look up to him like he was untouchable, this larger-than-life figure who always knew what to do. He was my hero. I wanted to be just like him.But I also remember the day everything changed. The day I became Alpha.In our pack, the transition isn’t something that’s handed down peacefully. It’s a fight—brutal, bloody, and final. The son challenges the father, and if the son wins, he has to... finish it. Rip out the heart and consume it. It’s a ritual that’s been in the Leonetti pack since the beginning, meant to symbolize the passing o
OsirisThe engine growls as I pull the truck into a dusty parking lot, the tires crunching over wet gravel. I’m in some no-name town, the kind you pass through without thinking twice. That’s how it’s been for months—just driving, aimless. Trying to outrun something I can’t even fucking name.I kill the engine and sit there for a second, my fingers gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turn white. The silence inside the truck is deafening. My wolf, once a constant presence in my head, is quiet—too quiet. It’s been that way ever since I got my memories back.Everyone was so damn happy when I “came back.” But I wasn’t the same. They all wanted the old Osiris, the one who cracked jokes and kept things light. The guy who could make people laugh without trying. But that guy’s long gone. Buried under whatever the hell I am now.The town’s name isn’t important. I didn’t bother reading the sign as I passed it. I don’t know how long I’ll stay, if I’ll even bother unpacking the smal
OsirisThree days later, I’m still here, still in this small town that feels like it’s wrapped me in a weird sense of calm. I’ve kept to myself for the most part—wandering around, stopping in at the diner for food and shitty coffee, sitting by the river just outside of town. It’s been peaceful, and that’s something I haven’t had in a long time.Eva seems surprised every time she sees me at Rosie’s. I don’t blame her. I’m not the type to stay anywhere for too long. But this place... it’s different. It’s quiet. It gives me space to breathe, to exist without everything else crowding in on me.Today, I walk into the diner and find her behind the counter, pouring coffee for the old-timers who always hang out there. She looks up when I walk in, raising an eyebrow.“Back again?” she asks, wiping her hands on a rag.I shrug, sitting down at the counter. “Seems like a good town to forget about shit.”She smirks at that, leaning on the counter in front of me. “And what exactly are you trying to
OsirisI stare at my phone for what feels like hours, the screen dark and silent. My finger hovers over the group chat with Orion and Nero. I should’ve done this weeks ago. Hell, months ago. But something kept stopping me every time.Maybe it was shame. Or maybe I just didn’t want to admit that I wasn’t the same guy they used to know.I exhale sharply, leaning back in the booth at Rosie’s. Eva’s working today, as usual, and I catch her watching me from behind the counter, giving me that knowing look she always does. It’s like she can see right through me, knows exactly what I’m doing—putting off something important.I can’t run from this anymore.With a sigh, I unlock the phone and open the chat.[Osiris: You busy?]Orion’s reply comes almost immediately.[Orion: You’re alive?! Where the fuck have you been?]I smirk, shaking my head. I expected nothing less from him.[Osiris: I’m fine. Just been... sorting some shit out.][Orion: Sorting shit out?! You disappear for months, and all yo