SOPHIA'S POVWhat the hell?The world around me blurred.One moment, I was standing in my kitchen, rolling out fresh pasta dough for dinner. The next– Nathan’s voice was in my head.“Watch. Please.”The words weren’t a plea. It wasn’t a demand. It was something worse. A tether.I didn’t even have a chance to resist before the connection swallowed me whole.And suddenly, I was there.I wasn’t in my kitchen anymore. I was standing in the heart of the pack’s gathering, surrounded by wolves I once called family, in a place I had once called my home. My breath caught as I saw them – the tension, the division. Theon at Nathan’s side, his face unreadable. Beta Lewis, his usual arrogance burning hot but still the man I had once considered a father. Wolves murmured, some nodding in agreement, others scowling.And then, him.Nathan.Standing tall, unshaken, but not untouched.“I have led this pack for years,” H said, his voice carrying across the gathering. “I have fought for you. I have bled
NATHAN'S POVThe moment Sophia severed the connection, it felt like a door slamming shut inside my mind. The lingering warmth of her presence vanished, replaced by a cold emptiness that settled deep in my chest. My wolf growled in frustration, prowling restlessly beneath my skin, wanting – needing – to chase after her, to restore the link.But I didn’t move.I had said what I needed to say. I had made sure she saw it. Felt it. What she did with that now – that was her choice.The murmurs in the crowd rose, confusion and unrest rippling like a wave through my pack like a storm on the horizon. I could feel the weight of their gazes, the tension thick enough to choke on. Some wolves exchanged uneasy glances. Some looked at me with uncertainty, while others – like Lewis – glared outright.Beta Lewis stepped forward, his face twisted in fury. “This is madness.” He spat. “You stand before us, proclaiming your failures like some martyr, and you expect us to just accept it?”I turned my head
NATHAN'S POVThe scent of smoke hit me first.Not the kind from a fire pit or a distant hearth. This was different – thicker, off-putting, full of destruction. Wrong.✧✦✧✦✧✧A few hours earlier….Theon hadn’t moved since the crowd started to scatter. He stood beside me, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Some wolves lingered, throwing glances our way, murmuring about everything that had just unfolded. Others stormed off, obviously displeased but not bold enough to challenge me directly.Beta Lewis was one of the last to leave, his eyes burning with contempt as he pulled his daughter, Victoria, along with him. She didn’t seem as bitter as her father – more calculating, as if she were already planning her next move. But I paid her no mind. I couldn't even spare her a glance as she tried to get my attention, her presence the last thing on my mind. I exhaled through my nose, rolling my shoulders, feeling the weight of the moment settle in. I had done it. I had named Theon as my Bet
SOPHIA'S POVThe scent of warm spices and fresh herbs filled Il Cuore di Sofia, wrapping around me like a familiar embrace. Like home. The restaurant hummed with quiet efficiency – chefs moving in rhythm, servers weaving between tables as seamlessly as finely blended and brewed tea, the soft clink of glasses punctuated by murmured conversation. Everything was running smoothly, exactly as it should.And yet, I felt restless.I had thrown myself into work since the gala. Buried myself in it, really. There was comfort in the controlled chaos of the kitchen, in the precision of plating, in the meticulousness of balancing flavors. It was safe here – predictable. Work didn’t demand things from me that I wasn’t ready to give. That I wasn't going to give.Unlike him.I shook the thought away, focusing on the dish in front of me. “A little more saffron. Just a little bit more.” I murmured, tasting the broth. “And lower the heat. Let it simmer.”“Yes, Chef ma'am.” Came the quick reply from Ma
NATHAN'S POV It all happened in a series of events. From the smell of smoke still clinging to my skin to the smell buried so deep in my senses that I doubted it would ever fade. From the first action that set it in motion to my final actions. When I had given the order to arrest them, they had fled, Victoria and her father. But I had simply let them leave, a cold, cold smile on my face. “Should we go after them, Alpha?” A guard had asked me. “No. Let them leave.” And it shocked everyone there into silence. I had entered the killer mode, and nothing could bring me out of it. Not when the ruins of my home stood before me – charred wood, broken stone, and the memories within where I once called my home reduced to nothing but ash. I stood in the burnt wreckage, my fingers tightening around the burnt remains of the box. The last thing I had of my parents. Destroyed. Theon and a few others were handling the aftermath, but their voices faded into the background. My wolf was restless,
SOPHIA’S POVThe smell of simmering garlic and rosemary filled the kitchen, grounding me as I stirred the sauce in slow, deliberate circles. Cooking has always been a place of peace for me – a way to lose myself in the rhythm of chopping, stirring, and tasting. A way to keep my thoughts in line.Kate leaned against the counter beside me, chatting about something her friend had done earlier that day. I wasn’t really listening, but I nodded at the right times, letting out small sounds of agreement. She didn’t seem to notice my distraction.“You know, we should definitely do a bit of remodeling here. It would work wonders, I tell you.” She waited several beats for a response and when she got none, tapped me. “Sophia? You listening?”Shit. She noticed. “Hm hmm. Of course. You wanted to do something right?”“Yeah. For a second, I thought you were zoned out.” She looked at me skeptically.“Of course not. I was just a bit engrossed in this. Perfection doesn't come easy you know?” I threw he
SOPHIA’S POVI exhaled slowly, trying to steady myself. I kept my expression calm, steadying my breath as I knelt before Alex, running my fingers gently through his hair. His words still echoed in my mind.“I’ve been dreaming about him.”I wasn’t ready for this conversation. Not yet.“Dreaming, huh?” I forced a smile, keeping my voice light. “Does it scare you?”Alex hesitated, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “Not really.” He admitted. “It’s just… weird. It feels real, like he’s actually there.”I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. My chest tightened.I did this. By cutting Nathan out, I had tried to erase him from my life. From our lives. But now, it was finding a way back, slipping through the cracks, reaching the people I had sworn to protect.“You know how dreams work, sweetheart. Sometimes our minds play tricks on us.” I said, trying to make sense of it for both our sakes. “Maybe you saw him at the museum, and it just stuck with you.”Alex frowned, considering my
SOPHIA'S POVI got up and decided that enough was enough and there was no way I was going to let this occupy more space in my head than it already had. “Maybe the kids were up.” Then I looked towards their door and heard no noise coming from within. I frowned. No sound meant trouble. “Alex? Alexia? Are you up yet, my sweet babies?” I called out as I walked to their room. I paused in front of their door before suddenly going in. “Boo!” I said as I entered, meaning to startle them but did not move as I observed the scene in front of me. I watched Alex from the doorway, arms crossed, my chest tight with unease. He was sitting on the couch in the room, fidgeting – his fingers tapping a restless rhythm on his knee. His foot bounced, his jaw clenched, his expression one of intense focus as he stared at the blank television screen.Something was wrong.Lately, I had been noticing little things – things I had told myself were just coincidences, things I had desperately tried to ignore.Th
SOPHIA'S POVI stepped inside, the familiar scent of home greeting me, but something was... wrong. The door clicked softly behind me, and the silence that followed was almost suffocating. I hadn’t expected the house to feel so still, so quiet. But it was more than that. It felt empty in a way that twisted something deep inside me.I hesitated, standing in the entryway. The house was usually alive with noise – Alex and Alexia’s laughter, their endless chatter, the thumping of their footsteps as they ran through the halls. But now… nothing.I swallowed hard, the unease crawling up my spine as my fingers curled around my bag. I’d seen the note at the door, my heart already racing before I even touched it.“I'm here for you Sophia. Miss me?” The words had burned into my mind, and now, with the house so eerily silent, my stomach twisted painfully.“Alex? Alexia?” I called, my voice too small in the empty air. It felt like I was shouting into a void. No answer. Just that thick, pressing sil
SOPHIA'S POVLola was quiet for a moment, her hand loosely wrapped around her mug. Then, with a glance that was far too knowing for my liking, she said gently, “So… how do you really feel about him?”Her words settled like mist in the cozy room, quiet and unassuming, but thick enough that I couldn’t ignore them.I stared into my tea like it might offer a better answer than I could. It didn’t. “I don’t know.” I said, which was technically true, if you just didn't count all the parts of me screaming otherwise.Lola’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, please. That’s the most suspicious ‘I don’t know’ I’ve heard all week – and I’ve had three customer complaints and a guy who claimed his espresso was ‘emotionally cold.’”I laughed despite myself. “Emotionally cold?”“He said it lacked soul. I gave him a biscotti and told him to take it up with his therapist.”I nearly spit my tea. “God, I’ve missed this.”“What, sarcasm and caffeine-fueled delusions?”“Exactly that.” I smiled, then let it slip. “And…
SOPHIA'S POVThe warmth of the mug seeped into my fingers as I curled them tighter around it, watching the steam swirl into the quiet kitchen. It seemed like Elara had offered me tea more out of habit than anything else, but I had accepted with a small, grateful smile, and she nodded, a smile on her own face, the kind that made you feel like she already knew what you needed.We walked in silence from the woods, the smell of nature and moonlight still clinging to my skin. I didn't know moonlight has its own scent till today. Was this how freeing it could be? Was this what I'd been missing? Been denying myself in the name of protection? The streets beyond this clove were empty this late, the world hushed and still. And now, with a cup in hand and the ache of the shift softened into a gentle hum beneath my skin, I finally felt grounded.At peace.Well, almost.“Elara?” I asked, glancing up from my mug. “How often do you walk these woods?”She arched a silver brow, blowing on her tea. “A
NATHAN'S POVI didn’t slam the door.Didn’t storm off, didn’t shout or demand she choose me. That had been the old me – the boy who thought power alone could win devotion.I left Sophia’s house with my jaw clenched, my fists loose at my sides, and a storm brewing behind my ribs. Lucas had looked so damn settled in her space, and she hadn’t stopped him. Not really. Not even when the kids had lit up at the sight of me, not when the air had pulsed between us like a heartbeat.I got in the car and pulled away slowly, like I wasn’t unraveling inside.But I was.I couldn’t go home. Not to the penthouse with its cold silence and reminders of what I’d lost. So I drove with no destination until the buildings thinned and the edges of the city blurred.Eventually, I ended up at the overlook above the river, where the world fell quiet and I could breathe.Almost.The next day came with emails, missed calls, and two back-to-back meetings. Camille cornered me in the hallway with her usual stack of
SOPHIA'S POVThe laughter came first – sharp and clear, like little bells ringing through the living room.“Okay, okay, one more time.” I laughed, holding up the deck of cards.“No!” Alex shouted, laughing uncontrollably and holding his tummy as he fell over onto the cushions. “You’re cheating!”“I am not!” I defended dramatically, spreading my hands. “I’m just really good at Go Fish.”“You peeked!” Alexia accused with narrowed eyes and a smug little grin, arms crossed as if she were the judge and jury both.“I did not peek! That’s called strategic intuition.”“Mom.” Alex groaned from the floor, face stuffed into a throw pillow then turned to Alexia. “She’s using grown up words again. That means she’s lying.”I fell back onto the carpet in mock defeat, while both kids climbed over me like little wolves claiming victory. It was past their bedtime, the dishes from dinner was still in the sink, and I had at least two voicemails from Kate about tomorrow’s delivery schedule. But none of it
SOPHIA'S POVI couldn’t taste the waffles.Couldn’t even tell if they were burnt or perfect, though I watched Lucas flip them with his usual confidence and pride. I watched Alex drizzle syrup across his plate like it was a masterpiece. I watched Alexia pick at hers, pulling the edges apart like she was unspooling something too tightly wound.And across the table – Nathan.His presence alone changed the air in the room. Like a low growl under a wolf's breath . He sat with poise, talking softly to Alex as if they’d always known each other. Asking questions about school, about drawings, about dreams. And somehow – somehow – Alex opened up. Completely. Like he’d been waiting to be heard in exactly that tone, with exactly that warmth.It scared me. How easy it was.“You okay?” Lucas’s voice cut into the quiet.I blinked. He was watching me from the other end of the table, his jaw tight, his expression blank. Dangerous.“Yeah.” I said too fast. “Just tired.”“Didn’t sleep again?”I shrugged
NATHAN'S POVThe door swung open.And there she was.Sophia.Barefoot, wearing worn jeans and a soft sweater that still somehow managed to knock the breath from my lungs. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, her cheeks flushed like she’d been running — or panicking. Knowing the absolute fucking love of my life – probably both.Her eyes locked onto mine. For a second, neither of us moved.I tightened my grip on the paper bag and the small wooden box in my other hand. Gifts. Pathetic offerings for the things I really wanted — her forgiveness. My children’s acceptance. A place at their table. In their lives.“Hi.” I said, voice rougher than I intended.“Hi.” She breathed back.I saw it then — the war happening inside her. The way her body wanted to lean toward me but her mind pulled her back. Fear. Guilt. Hope.All tangled together. Dammit. Not still.“I brought something.” I said quietly, lifting the bag a little.Sophia blinked like she’d forgotten how to speak. Then she stepped as
SOPHIA’S POV The sun filtered gently through the curtains, casting warm stripes across the wooden floor. For once, the house was quiet – not with the eerie kind of silence that came from something being wrong, but the kind that only came after a storm. I stood in the kitchen, barefoot, a mug of tea cradled in my hands. “Ow, hot.” I burned my fingers as I dipped it in the mug to taste the tea. Then replied myself, “Of course it's hot you dummy. You just made it.” I sighed and leaned my head lightly against the cabinet door as I stared at the empty hallway beyond. The twins were still asleep, for now. I had let them sleep in. I’d taken the day off. No Kate, no kitchen, no demands. I texted her before dawn. “Can’t come in today. Family stuff. I trust you.” I didn’t say more, and she didn’t ask. She just sent back a thumbs-up and a heart. I knew she would understand even with no explanation. The truth was, I didn’t even know how to put words to what had happened last night. I wa
VICTORIA'S POVThe air reeked of stale beer, sweat, and desperation. Ew.But, it was exactly the kind of place I’d expect to find a disgraced Alpha drowning in his own failure. Go figure.The bar was tucked into the corner of a forgotten alley, away from prying eyes by broken neon signs and shattered dreams. How do the humans say it again? Ahh, yes. What a boulevard of broken dreams.I stood outside for a moment, letting my eyes adjust to the dim glow bleeding through the fogged windows. The faint thundering boom of music sounded from within – some cheap EDM beat vibrating through shitty speakers – and over all of that, somehow louder than it all, the rough voices of men exchanging bets, boasts, and laughter that reeked of low intelligence.I pushed the door open.The warmth inside hit me like a wall, thick with body heat and alcohol fumes. It was a human dive, alright. Ugh.Cheap wood paneling, flickering lights, a couple of dart boards with knives sticking out of them. A fight was b