SOPHIA'S POVThe aroma of melting butter filled the kitchen, a comforting scent that always brought a smile to my face. Rain lashed against the windows, a perfect excuse for an indoor adventure. Today, my two little pumpkins, Alex and Alexia, were celebrating having turned five, and although that was months ago, I still wanted to make it extra special for them."Okay, my little chefs," I announced, gathering them around the counter."Today, we're making the most delicious banana pancakes you've ever tasted."Alex, with his bright gray eyes sparkling, clapped his hands. "Pancakes! With bananas?""Well, that is what you guys ordered, is it not?" I said with a playful grin on my face.Alexia, ever the serious one, furrowed her brow. "But Mommy, how do we make them stick together?""That's where the magic happens, Alexia," I chuckled, handing her a bowl. "We're going to whisk flour, sugar, and milk together.""That's right, Alexia, that's where the magic happens!" He stuck his tongue out
NATHAN'S POVStill watching the path Victoria had left on, my mind wandered, going through the memories.Five years ago, two months after Sophia's banishmentThe full moon hung heavy in the sky, casting long, eerie shadows across the pack grounds. I paced restlessly in my chambers, the silence deafening—not the external silence of the night, but the internal one.My wolf, a fierce protector and loyal companion, had fallen silent after I banished my mate, Sophia. I thought it had been a joke, a cruel joke but one nonetheless—but I couldn't have been more wrong. My wolf still didn't answer my calls, no matter what I did. I had stood for hours under the moonlight, hoping it would cajole him out.I had run laps around the pack for days on end, hoping against hope that it would prompt him out, that the feel of my feet pounding against the grounds would ignite his feeling to touch the earth again. But nothing.He had ignored my calls, my summons, my pleas. All for what?Because of our mate.
NATHAN'S POVNow, as I walked back to my home, the heaviness of the consequences of my decision lay heavily on my shoulders. The conviction of that day had lasted only so long before it crumpled under the weight of the hopelessness of the situation.I had gone through different stages. At first, I was hopeful I would find her. No one knew I had been searching. I had kept up pretenses, my facade one that showed I had moved on, embodying the persona of one not mated at all.Only Victoria had known I still hadn't rejected her, and even so, she had only suspected.I had spent weeks searching, going on runs where I could secretly search for her, but all my attempts were in vain, as she had been nowhere to be found. It was like she had disappeared from the face of the earth.Slowly, my hope had turned into frustration, as finding her had been the only way to seal the rift between my wolf and me. I had gotten it in my head that it was the only way to reconcile with him, for the doors that ha
NATHAN'S POVThe bath had been peaceful, my head free and carefree for the first time in weeks. All my worries were at the back of my mind. I was choosing to dwell not on my worries but only on the good things in life. I was focusing on the here and now, as opposed to being stuck in the past. Just for this moment, I wasn't Nathan, Alpha of Moonstone pack now. The one whose mate had betrayed him and the one whose wolf had abandoned him.I was simply… Nathan.The state of simply being was peace – unparalleled. It was bliss that was unrivaled by no other.Or it was, until the presence I felt some moments ago. I decided to ignore them, thinking they had lost their way or they were on the wrong path. Not a lot of people knew about this place and the few who did know that it was under my personal territory.I waited several minutes, but the presence lingered. I growled, sending out a warning to whoever was there. The presence vanished from my radar immediately.I sighed, intent on relaxing
Nathan's POV“You're right. We shouldn't.”My ears heard the words, and I breathed a sigh of relief. But it was short-lived.“Only because it's so right, Nathan. Don't you want this, Nathan? Don't you want me?”She grabbed my hand where it was in the water, raising it and resting it on her tits. Her nipples were taut already, puckered and ready. The primal urge in me rose without any prompting, and I could feel myself harden—an involuntary reaction to her. And she could feel it too.“Nathan, you want this. You want me. Do you like it when I do this?” She leaned in, her mouth planting open-mouthed kisses on my neck, trailing all the way to my ear. She whispered in them, murmuring nonsensical words. I stayed immobile, my hold on my control stretched to its limit. It was all I could do to not move. I held myself together, knowing if I let go, I would snap.“Let go, Nathan. I'm here. Just, let go.” She started to stroke me, and that was all it took to cut the thin thread that was my contr
NATHAN'S POVShe flinched, her hands dropping at her sides. I was equal parts confused and angry. I could barely contain my anger, my body visibly shaking from the effort of it.“Why, Victoria? Why would you do that?”I couldn't understand it. We've been friends for so long. How didn't I even get a hint of this?“I've been telling you to get rid of it for years now! I couldn't help myself. I've been telling you to reject her too, but I bet you haven't.”Something in my expression must have betrayed the answer because she scoffed at me. “I was right. You still haven't.”“That is none of your business, Victoria. You crossed a line.”“What makes her so special, Nathan? She cheated on you, for goddess' sake!”“That doesn't matter, Victoria. She's still my mate. And she would never do something like this!” I yelled at her, needing her to see what she did. “And, Victoria, you don't rub on sage—the ones only I have in my garden—if it was a spur-of-the-moment thing.”I could see the minute th
NATHAN'S POV“Victoria, tell me you wouldn't have.”She shrugged, no response from her. The sun had begun to stir behind her, making the birds chirp in the enclave of trees. The light intensified, chasing away the remaining darkness, the sliver of golden growing brighter until the sun burst forth, casting its golden rays along the landscape, making the water shimmer. It was a sunrise that would have been beautiful under normal circumstances.And this conversation was far from normal.“Victoria, answer me.”Despite everything, I still held out hope, praying that this was all some cruel joke, willing to accept it all as a mistake.“Nathan, I did it so that we could be together.”“So you did it. I don't care why you did it. You did it regardless. How could you?”The weight of what was being revealed almost made me crumble, but I still stood. I didn't even know what to process. What else could I have missed? What else happened right under my nose? What else didn't I know?Victoria walked
NATHAN'S POVThe magnitude of the situation was ever so present as I considered what to do. While my emotions were all over the place and rage blinded me, I decided that I also had a decision to make as the Alpha of this pack.“You know the punishment for betraying your Alpha.” I stood over her, towering over the figure that used to be one of my closest friends.“So what? You're just going to throw away everything we have together?”Although, as much as it would be satisfying to, she was my Beta’s daughter, and I had known her all my life. Lewis… He was going to be so heartbroken when he found out.“Victoria. You know what you did was wrong. You cost me my mate, you cost me my wolf, and you cost my trust.”“You can't be serious.”“Out of respect for your father and all you've done for this pack over the years, I will not banish you.”I waited for a moment for her reaction. She began to laugh, low at first, then developed into something more sinister. “So what? This is your mercy? Out
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