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
NATHAN'S POVWaking up the next morning, I sat up, the conversations of the early mornings playing in my head. Determination coursed through me as I balled my fists. I'm going to do whatever it takes to find her.Heading to the kitchen, I saw that Elara was already there, her back to me. Without turning to face me, she said, “You're leaving.”I stopped in my tracks. “How did you–”“Lola. She spoke to me briefly before leaving. She said she was going to be back soon. It's hard to tell with her.”“Soon? She said it was going to be today.”“Lola has always been something of a free spirit. That's why she's never been around much. It got worse with her mate's death, but if only it was that simple.”Something about the hint of the story pulled me in, making me want to know more. “What happened?”She sighed deeply, her attention still on the skies outside. “Her mate wasn't always the best. And I blamed myself for not seeing it until it was too late. The signs were there, but I missed it.”El
NATHAN'S POVIt took me a little time to get my affairs in order that morning. I was about to enter the kitchen when I caught a bit of their conversation, the words hinting at something. Then it dawned on me. It was about me.“Do you think he is ready, Mother?” I heard Lola ask Elara.Elara stayed silent for a long time before she answered. “I believe that there's more than meets the eye with Alpha Nathan and that he can rise to the challenge no matter the occasion.”“What a way to answer the question,” Lola said, and I caught her shaking her head as I finally entered the room, putting an end to their conversation.“We're good to go.”Lola nodded and left the kitchen.“I suppose this is the end of our journey. Thank you for everything. You've taught me a lot more than I knew about coming here.”She just came up to me, her hands resting on my shoulders. “It doesn't have to be the end of your journey, Nathan. The Whispering Willows is always open to those in need of it, no matter the ca
NATHAN'S POVThe morning came too quickly. The city’s noise seeped through the thin apartment walls, a constant reminder that I wasn’t in Whispering Willows anymore. I sat up, staring at the pale light creeping through the blinds. Today would be different. I would adapt, as Lola had said. The city’s rhythm was foreign, but if I wanted to find Sophia, I had to learn its tempo.After a quick shower, I met Lola at the café. She looked as composed as ever, a sharp contrast to the fatigue weighing on me.“Rough night?” she asked, handing me a cup of coffee.“You could say that.”“Good,” she said, a smirk tugging at her lips. “You’re going to need that edge. Hey, Ronnie, I'm gonna need another cup to go.”The server brought it over. “Here you go, boss.”I turned to look at Lola in askance. “Boss?”She just lifted her cup to her lips, a small smile on them. “I suppose I do own the place. One of a few.”Now that she said it, I played out the few interactions I had seen with the people here, a
NATHAN'S POVThe third morning in Brooklyn dawned cold and crisp, the city alive with its usual hustle. I met Lola at the café, already feeling the weight of another day in this labyrinth of steel and stone.“Alright,” Lola said, handing me a steaming cup of coffee. Her tone was different, lighter, but laced with intent. “Today, you’re flying solo.”I raised an eyebrow. “What’s the catch?”“No catch,” she said, leaning against the counter. “You’ve been sticking to me like turtles to their shells, and it’s time to break out of that comfort zone. The city has its own lessons to teach, Nathan, and you won’t learn them with me holding your hand.”I sipped the sweet brew, her words settling in. “And what if I crash and burn?”Her smirk was sharp and confident. “Then you get up and try again. That’s what being an Alpha is about, isn’t it? Adapt, learn, lead.”I nodded, knowing she was right. “Fine. Where do I start?”“Anywhere,” she shrugged, throwing on her coat. “The city’s your map today
NATHAN'S POVTIME FRAME: A few days earlier to present time.SURVIVE. ADAPT. LEAD.These words had been drilled into me since I could walk, yet now they carried a new weight. Finding Sophia wasn’t just about earning her forgiveness; it was about proving to myself that I could be the Alpha she needed.Brooklyn was unforgiving. Its pulse, its chaos, its unrelenting pace – it was a beast, unlike anything I’d ever faced. I’d grown up leading a pack, commanding respect and wielding strength. But here? Strength meant nothing unless it came with wealth. The city spoke a language I didn’t yet fully understand, but I was determined to learn.It all felt like a puzzle that was finally coming together.Sophia was out there, lost to me in this urban maze, and I needed more than instinct to find her. I needed resources, influence, and power in a form that this human city respected.The thought came to me one restless night, standing by the window and staring at the endless sea of lights. My mind w
NATHAN'S POVThe suit felt tight against my skin as I walked through the museum’s grand entrance. There was something about the way it fit now – tailored, sharp, perfect – that made me feel like I belonged here. Not just in this high-end part of Brooklyn, but in this world of culture and influence, where appearances meant everything and nothing at all.But today, I wasn’t here for business. I was here to see the city’s pulse, to observe the people who filled its streets and made it what it was.I had a few hours to kill, and the museum seemed like the perfect place to lose myself. Art, history, culture – it was a sanctuary from the chaos outside, a place where I could think without being bombarded by the world.As I wandered through the exhibits, I let my mind drift, thinking of Sophia, the emerald business, and the city’s endless noise.There had to be a way to make it right.Then, as I rounded a corner, I spotted something familiar. Or rather, someone.A young boy, no older than six
NATHAN'S POVMy steps echoed hollowly through the museum’s stone halls as my mind spun in every direction. I couldn’t shake the image of Alex and Alexia – their faces, their eyes, their energy. Something about them had stirred a primal part of me that I hadn’t felt in years.Could they really be... mine?The idea was absurd. I hadn’t been with anyone since Sophia, and when I had, I had never let it get to that stage. And I knew for certain she hadn’t been pregnant when she left. Those days had burned themselves into my memory like a brand. Sophia’s tear-streaked face, the pain in her eyes as I let her go – it haunted me still.So how could I have children?I stopped in front of a marble statue, its blank gaze offering no answers. My chest tightened, the weight of the possibility pressing down on me. If they weren’t mine, then why did I feel such a strong pull toward them? Why did my wolf, who had been silent and dormant for so long, suddenly roar to life in their presence?Could fate
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