SOPHIA'S POVBy the time I parked in front of my house, exhaustion had its claws deep in my skin. The restaurant had been a whirlwind – missing shipments, an important guest, and the possibility of disaster that hung in the air. But somehow, by some miracle, everything had worked out.Not that I was naive enough to think it had worked out on its own.No, there was a very particular potion of interference that had Nathan’s name written all over it. The problem was, I had no proof. Just a gut feeling. A familiar, annoying gut feeling.I sighed, rubbing my temples before stepping out of the car. It wasn’t even about that. Right now, all I wanted was a shower, a glass of wine, and–“Oh, shit!”I stopped dead in my tracks, remembering something important. Mrs. Jackson.She had watched the twins for me tonight. And for the weekend getaway. I can't believe I had forgotten. I’d been so caught up in everything that I hadn’t even checked in with her before leaving the restaurant. “Great parent
SOPHIA'S POVThe tea was good – really good. Mrs. Jackson always had a way of making the simplest things feel like home, like comfort wrapped in a warm mug.Sitting at her kitchen table, I let out a deep breath, letting the last of the adrenaline leave my bones. Sitting opposite me, Mrs. Jackson looked like she was still recovering from the shock of me assaulting her son, while Daniel, who liked to think of himself as the unfortunate victim here, sat with his arms crossed, looking both amused and mildly offended.“You know,” he began, eyeing me over the top of his cup, “most people introduce themselves with a handshake. Not a flying object to the face.”I gave him a tight-lipped smile, almost sarcastic. "Most people don't break into their mother’s house in the middle of the night and rummage through her kitchen like a burglar."Mrs. Jackson, ever the peacekeeper, sighed. "Oh, Sophia, really now. He wasn’t rummaging, he was making tea."“Loudly. He was making tea, loudly.” I pointed ou
SOPHIA'S POVI hadn’t planned on walking home with Daniel, but somehow, that’s precisely what ended up happening.Mrs. Jackson had all but shooed us both out the door, saying something about needing peace and quiet before she lost her mind. I’d protested, of course, pointing out that I lived nearby, literally right next to her, and didn’t need an escort, but Daniel had just shrugged and said, “Indulge me. I need to make sure you don’t attack any more innocent civilians on your way home.”So now here we were, walking side by side under the dim glow of the streetlights, after his insistence for us to take a little stroll. The air was crisp and filled with the lingering scent of freshly cut grass and a damp walkway.I pulled my jacket tighter around me, side-eyeing Daniel as he strolled along like this was some kind of leisurely evening walk instead of a completely unnecessary detour. “You know, I’ve survived plenty of walks home alone before tonight.”Daniel smirked. "True, but given yo
SOPHIA'S POV By the time I reached my front door, exhaustion had settled deep in my bones. Between Mrs. Jackson’s relentless teasing, Daniel’s unexpected charm, and that strange feeling I’d had on the walk home, I was ready to shut my brain off for the night. That was the plan. Or so it was – till reality had other ideas. The moment I stepped inside, something felt… off. Not in the same way as before – there was no eerie silence or weird sensation along my spine. No, this was different. This was the kind of “off” that meant my children were up to something. A faint clatter came from the kitchen, followed by hushed whispers. I frowned. My twins were supposed to be asleep. Kicking off my shoes as quietly as possible, I crept toward the kitchen, my senses sharpening. If they were trying to sneak snacks past bedtime again, they were about to get caught. Another clatter. And then– “Oh no! Alex, it’s falling!” “I got it! I got it – uh, nope, I didn't get it.” A loud clatter echo
SOPHIA'S POV The morning was loud. Not in a bad way – just in the way it always was when Alex and Alexia were full of energy, their voices bouncing around the kitchen as they blew through their breakfast. “Mom, are you coming to school today?” Alex asked between bites of toast. “Yes, but I can’t stay the whole day.” I reminded him for what felt like the tenth time this week. “But the fun stuff is later.” He groaned. “You mean the part where you get to run around like a lunatic after getting your award?” Alex grinned. “Exactly.” Alexia, more focused on tying her shoes than the conversation, perked up. “Mrs. Jackson stopped by earlier! She left something for you.” Oh. That's strange. I was just at her house yesterday and she didn't mention anything. Before I could ask what, the front door opened, and the woman herself strolled in. “Well, well, well, look at this madhouse.” Mrs. Jackson, already teasing right out the gate, said as she stepped inside. Trailing behind her was
SOPHIA'S POVThe school parking lot was packed. Parents expertly navigated their cars into the last remaining spots, courtesy of life skills taught by New York's finest, teachers directed those walking, and excited children ran ahead of their families toward the entrance. The buzz of conversation filled the air – greetings flying, people calling out to their friends, laughter ringing out, and the occasional frantic parent calling after a child who had gotten a little too excited.Which was the path Alex was slowly heading down.I barely had time to take in the scene before Alex tugged at my hand.“Mom, hurry!” He whined, practically bouncing on his feet. “We need to get inside first.”Alexia, holding my other hand, rolled her eyes but didn’t let go. “We don’t have to be first, Alex.”Daniel, walking just behind us, chuckled. “You got a hot date with the stage or something, kid?”Alex turned, eyes narrowed, his cute six-year-old mind clearly trying to figure out what a date was. “It’s
DANIEL'S POVI’ve sat through my fair share of ceremonies – long, bordering on insufferable things filled with speeches no one really listens to, polite applause, and stiff conversations. But this one was different.This was for Alex and Alexia. Sophia's kids. If anyone had told me yesterday when I boarded that flight to New York, that I would be at a kid's award ceremony, particularly the kid whose mom had tried to hit me with a decorative vase my mother had bought on a trip to Japan, I would told them to shut the fuck up and stop being full of shit.“Life is full of funny surprises, isn't it?” I smiled as I said to myself.I leaned back in my seat, watching as students filed across the stage one by one, collecting their awards. The school had gone all out for the event – decorations in the colors of their mascot, fliers with words of encouragement, and a slideshow playing pictures of the kids throughout the year. Parents filled the hall, some recording with their phones, others flo
SOPHIA'S POVThe evening air was warm, with the golden hour rays in me as I walked with Daniel, the tension from the restaurant still humming through my veins. I let out a slow breath, watching it curl in the cold.“Well, that was something.” Daniel muttered, shoving his hands into his coat pockets. His voice was casual, but I caught the flicker of amusement in his eyes.“Which part?” I shot back. “The part where You and Lucas nearly turned my kid's school into a warzone, or the part where you and Kate decided to have a moment in the middle of a warzone in my restaurant?”Daniel winced. “I wouldn’t call it a moment exactly.”I arched a brow at him. “Oh? Because it looked like a moment to me.”He rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “Okay, maybe it was a little… something.” He sighed, then smirked. “She called me charming. What was I supposed to do?”I rolled my eyes. “Right, because you have no choice but to react when a woman finds you charming.”“Exactly.” He grinned. “Now
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