NATHAN'S POVTheon scoffed, crossing his arms as he leaned against the workbench. "You're telling me you dragged me out here to help you make gifts for six-year-olds?"I ignored the sarcasm. “Not just any gifts. They need to mean something.”I had been sitting in my office, my mind not really focused on anything. Not even thoughts of work could get them out of my mind.My twins.My children.I was– no, am, a father.All this time. I had children and they had to grow up thinking they had a father who didn't care about them. Or worse, was dead. My jaw ticked at the thought and I could feel my wolf growl within. He was not happy with that thought.And even though we had no one to blame but ourselves, it doesn't mean I couldn't do anything about it. Purpose fueling each step, I strode out of my office, calling out to Priya, “Cancel all my meetings for the day. I have something important to attend to.”“Thank the Lord. Does that mean we can go home too?” She called out to me.Without tur
NATHAN'S POV Inside, the house smelled warm. Lived in. It wasn’t just a place where Sophia and the twins stayed – it was a home. That realization hit harder than I expected. The warmth of Sophia’s home wrapped around me the moment I stepped inside. It was lived in – filled with soft laughter, scattered toys, and the faintest lingering scent of her. Alex wasted no time, grabbing my hand and dragging me toward the living room. “Come see what we made.” He said excitedly. Alexia followed at a more measured pace, watching with careful eyes. She was wary, but she didn’t shy away. That was progress. Mrs. Jackson closed the door behind us with a slight huff. “Well, don’t just stand there like a statue, Nathan. Shoes off before you track dirt in here.” I blinked at the scolding but complied, taking off my boots. It had been a long time since someone had spoken to me like that. Alex pulled me toward a small table covered in papers, crayons, and what looked like… sticks? No, not sticks.
SOPHIA'S POVThe first thing I noticed when I woke up was warmth.Not just the warmth of the sheets or the soft morning sunlight streaming through the window, but the solid, steady warmth of a body next to mine. A body that, if I shifted even slightly, I would be pressed up against.And I did. Shift, that is.Not on purpose. At least, that’s what I told myself.But the second my leg brushed against his, I froze.Lucas.Memories of last night came rushing back. The slow, deliberate way he had kissed me, the way his hands had traced my skin like he was memorizing me. The way I had let go, completely, without hesitation.No past. No future. Just us.And now… morning had arrived.I let out a slow breath, staring up at the ceiling. This was the part no one ever talked about – the after. The part where reality set in and I had to figure out what the hell this meant.Before I could think too much, Lucas stirred beside me.I could tell the exact moment he woke up. His breathing shifted, and t
SOPHIA'S POVBy the time we made it to the airport, Lucas had already received three more calls from his mother. Each one sharper than the last.“You’re late.”“Do you even remember what I look like?”“Oh, look at that, your sisters are placing bets on whether you’ll actually make it today.”Lucas had groaned at that last one, shooting me a look that said, “See what I deal with?” But the truth was, I kind of liked it. There was something comforting about how effortlessly his family could tease him, how easily they pulled him into their world, even from miles away.Now, as we stepped off the plane and made our way to the rental car, Lucas let out a dramatic sigh. “Alright, sweetheart. Last chance to run before you’re dragged into full-blown Sinclair family madness.”I gave him a dry look as I slid into the passenger seat. “You forget, I deal with hungry customers every single day. Your family doesn’t scare me.”Lucas chuckled as he started the car. “Oh, just wait.”And that was how th
LUCAS' POVI should’ve known better.The moment my mother announced game night, I should’ve grabbed Sophia and run straight for the door. But no, I let my guard down, got comfortable, and now – now I was sitting in the middle of the Sinclair family war zone, aka the living room, with Sophia at my side and absolutely no way out.“We’re playing Secrets and Lies.” Maddie declared, practically bouncing on the couch. “House rules.”I groaned. Of course, we were playing Secrets and Lies.It was a Sinclair family original, designed to break spirits and expose weaknesses. Obviously coined from Two Truths and a Lie, we put our own little spin on it and made it our own thing. The rules were simple. One person made a statement about themselves, and the rest of us had to decide if it was the truth or a lie. If we guessed wrong, the liar got to dare someone to do something ridiculous. If we guessed right, the liars had to do the dare themselves.And with my sisters? These dares were never harmless
SOPHIA'S POV The house had finally quieted down. After an evening filled with laughter, teasing, and fierce competition over board games, the Sinclair family had retreated for the night. Emily had taken the baby to bed, Maddie had declared herself the undefeated champion of trivia – despite Lucas arguing otherwise – and their mother had given me a knowing wink before disappearing down the hall. Now, I stood outside on the back porch, letting the night air cool my flushed skin. The sky stretched endlessly above me, dark and speckled with stars. It was peaceful – the perfect contrast – to the whirlwind of an evening. A soft squeak of the door behind me signaled Lucas’s arrival before I even turned. “Stealing another moment?” He teased, stepping up beside me. His voice was quieter now, more thoughtful. I smiled, glancing at him. “Guess I am. Your family is… A lot.” Lucas let out a short laugh. “You can say it – they’re overwhelming.” “They are,” I admitted, but then I nudged him p
SOPHIA'S POVThe morning air was thick with the scent of coffee and maple syrup. The wisps of aroma weaved through the Sinclair household like a gentle nudge from the arms of slumber, stirring me awake even before I fully opened my eyes. For a moment, I simply lay beneath the covers, savoring the unfamiliar yet strangely comforting feeling of waking up somewhere that wasn’t my own home.The previous night had been filled with warmth – laughter, teasing, the kind of easy chaos that only close-knit families could create. It had been nice, more than nice, and I wasn’t quite ready to step away from it just yet.Still, reality had a way of creeping in. I knew I couldn’t avoid my thoughts forever. Nathan’s unexpected reappearance in my children’s lives, Lucas’s unwavering presence, the weight of everything left unsaid – it all loomed in the back of my mind. But here, at this moment, with the sound of voices filtering through the walls, I let myself breathe.I climbed out of bed and stretche
NATHAN'S POVAlex had no shortage of energy.After fixing the sink and surviving Mrs. Jackson’s sharp tongue, I expected a moment of quiet. But Alex had other plans. He wanted to show me everything – his drawings, his books, even his attempt at a handstand that ended with him toppling over and laughing like it was the best thing in the world.But I knew I wouldn't trade this moment with him for anything in the world. It reminded me just how much of his life I'd been missing and I could have been a part of. Even my wolf lay content as he watched everything unfold. It reminded me why we were doing this. To be a family again. With our mate. To make up for lost time To prove we were worthy. Alexia, on the other hand, sat curled on the couch, her locket resting against her chest, watching me with sharp, knowing eyes. She was thinking. Analyzing. I just knew that a great deal was going on behind her young, bambi-doe eyes, the blue of them that always seemed to look into your soul when they
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