SOPHIA'S POVWhen I woke the next morning, the first thing I noticed was the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the curtains. The storm had passed. The house was quiet, save for the honk of a horn and the faint chirping of birds outside.I stretched, my muscles still heavy with sleep, and for a moment, everything from the night before felt like a dream. But then I remembered the way Lucas’s lips had felt against mine, the warmth of his hand holding mine, and a faint blush crept up my neck.The smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the house, pulling me from my thoughts. I slipped on my robe and walked to the kitchen, the floors cool beneath my feet.When I reached the kitchen, Lucas was there, his back to me as he poured coffee into two mugs. He’d found one of my aprons, which was far too small for him, and the sight of it tied around his broad frame made me smile.“You’re up early,” I said, leaning against the doorway.Lucas turned, his face lighting up when he saw me. “
NATHAN'S POVThe scent of moss and damp earth filled my lungs as I stepped back into Whispering Willows. The night air here was thick with secrets—the kind that whispered to you in the quiet moments between breaths. It was nothing like the urban wilderness I’d explored in Brooklyn, where nature fought for every inch of space. Out there, the trees were bruised, their roots cracked through concrete, but here, they thrived—ancient sentinels guarding something far older than myself. Only the pocket of nature I'd found with that strange woman held any hint of resemblance to this place. It felt sacred and unlike anywhere I'd ever known.Elara stood at the edge of the clearing, her silhouette backlit by the pale silver light of the moon. Her raven-black hair flowed like ink down her shoulders, and her eyes caught the moonlight in a way that made them look almost feral. She had an aura of quiet power, one that demanded respect without uttering a word. I just knew that her age added to the air
SOPHIA'S POVIt was another busy night at Sophia's Heart. The soft glow of hanging lights illuminated the dining room, their warm light bouncing off the mahogany tables. I watched from the kitchen’s edge as customers laughed, sipped wine, and savored the food I’d poured my heart into creating. This was my dream, alive and thriving.“Table seven is asking for you, Sophia,” Elise, one of the waiters, said, balancing a tray of desserts.I wiped my hands on my apron and made my way over. “Good evening! How’s everything?”“The risotto is incredible,” the woman said, her eyes sparkling. “This is our third time here, and it just keeps getting better.”I smiled, my chest swelling with pride. Compliments like these reminded me why I started this journey. Lately, however, a storm has been brewing in my otherwise perfect little world.Negative reviews had begun appearing online, tarnishing the reputation I’d worked so hard to build. The complaints were cruel – undercooked food, rude staff, even
SOPHIA'S POVA week after Emilia’s visit, Sophia’s Heart, felt like it was finally getting back on track. Customers were pouring in again, and the glow of the Taste of Sofia’s Heart event still lingered. Online, new five-star reviews had begun to drown out the negativity. I let myself breathe, thinking the worst was over.Then, the whispers started.It began innocently enough – comments from customers about how similar some dishes at another local restaurant in Brooklyn, The Scarlet Spoon, were to mine. “They’re serving a wild mushroom risotto now,” one regular said, raising a curious brow. “Almost identical to yours, Sophia.” Something about the name sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it just yet. I hadn't seen it yet on my radar, so I brushed it off as something that I shouldn't be bothered with.I laughed it off. Plenty of restaurants served risotto. It wasn’t exactly a secret recipe. But when another guest mentioned that The Gourmet Table – a place owned by none other than Emi
SOPHIA'S POVI spent the next few days in a whirlwind of planning. Emilia’s games had gone too far, and it was time to end this once and for all. The revelation about her mole in my kitchen had been a gut punch, but it also gave me a lead. If she thought she could steal my recipes and ideas without consequence, she was about to learn differently.But I wouldn’t fight her with anger. I’d outsmart her, using what I did best – creativity and community.I was on the phone some hours ago with my mentor, Antonio Gabriele. I had been feeling stumped, not knowing what to do.He just chuckled in my ears after hearing what was going on.“The big bad Sophia Lancaster is in a little cat-and-mouse game? Now I have truly seen everything.” He laughed, the sound booming in my ears. For a man nearing his sixties, he certainly didn't seem like it in any way whatsoever.In fact, I almost felt like the man was enjoying this.“You're enjoying yourself way too much, old man,” I said, pretending to be angry
NATHAN'S POVThe wind whistled through the towering trees of Whispering Willows, carrying with it the faint scent of rain. I stood in the center of a weathered stone circle, the ancient runes beneath my feet humming softly with an energy I could feel in my bones. Elara paced around me like a restless shadow, her piercing eyes flicking between me and the forest beyond.“You’re the last of the Lunar Pack, Nathan,” she began, her voice low but steady. “But that doesn’t mean you’re alone. The pack’s strength runs through you, even if you don’t see them beside you.”Her words echoed in my mind, a stark reminder of the weight I carried. The Lunar Pack, once a legendary force, had been reduced to a single soul – me. Or so we believed. There wasn't really much to go on, but according to Elder Jesper, the ancient stories spoke of their unity, their ability to fight as one mind, one heart. But how could I be part of something that no longer existed? What use would it be?I could tell Elara coul
NATHAN'S POVThe forest felt sharper after training, each detail illuminated as though the moonlight itself had etched the world in silver. My muscles ached from Elara’s grueling drills, her voice still echoing in my ears.“An Alpha’s strength isn’t just in his claws – it’s in his choices.” She hadn’t been wrong, but I doubted she knew how deeply her words cut.I walked the familiar trails, the scent of rain lingering in the cool night air. It was the first time in days I’d been alone with my thoughts, but the quiet did little to ease the weight pressing on my chest. Sophia’s name echoed in my mind, tangled with guilt and the ache of missed chances.I veered off the trail, drawn toward the whisper of water. The stream that wound through Whispering Willows always calmed me. Its gentle murmur spoke of patience, of time smoothing the sharp edges of the stone. As I approached, a flicker of movement caught my eye.She stood on the edge of the stream, her reflection rippling in the water. S
NATHAN'S POVThe forest felt quieter as Lola disappeared into the shadows. Her words echoed in my head like an unrelenting drumbeat. “You have to decide – do you want her to meet the same man who banished her? Or is she going to meet someone better?”I stood by the stream for hours, watching the moonlight ripple across its surface. Sophia’s face swam before my eyes, her expression from that last day seared into my memory. She hadn’t fought back. She hadn’t argued or begged. She had simply bowed her head and walked away.Thinking back on it now, it was the look of someone who had been deeply betrayed. I had been too blind to see it.And to pay the price, I hadn't seen her since then.That memory haunted me more than any battle scar.I sighed and turned back toward the heart of Whispering Willows, my steps slow as I tried to untangle the thoughts in my mind. It was basically dawn before I got back there. My wolf stirred faintly, but other than that, nothing. I knew he wanted her back as
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