Penelope’s POVDebbie waved her trophy in Tommy’s face, bouncing so hard her shoes squeaked on the pavement. Her red hair whipped around as she jumped. She flashed her gold medal in Tommy’s eyes.“See? I told you we’d beat you!” Debbie yelled, grinning from ear to ear. She held the trophy higher, making Tommy step back.Tommy’s face turned the color of a fire truck. He stomped one foot hard on the ground. “You only won because your ice cream uncle cheated! He broke all the thorns! That’s against the rules!”“Did not!” Debbie yelled back, clutching her trophy tighter. “He was just braver than your daddy! Your daddy was scared of the pointy things!”Tommy’s father stood ten feet away, pretending not to hear. His face darkened with each word. His competition outfit still looked clean, unlike Dominic’s blood-soaked clothes.I rubbed my forehead. The sound of children screaming made my head pound. I looked at Dominic, who stood nearby watching the kids fight. A small smile played on his lip
Penelope’s POVThe cool tile wall pressed against my back. Dominic stood over me, so close I felt his breath on my face. My heart pounded hard in my chest.He leaned down and sniffed near my neck. “I smelled it when I walked out,” he said in a low voice. “You want me.” He pulled back to look at my face. “You say you hate me, but you still know my size and favorite color.”I bit my lip, fighting the feeling that ran down my spine. “Don’t think so much of yourself,” I whispered angrily. “Debbie wanted to buy it for you.”Dominic’s knee suddenly pushed between my legs, his hard thigh muscle pressing through the thin fabric of my pants. The touch made me gasp.“Then why is your heart beating so fast?” he whispered in my ear.His smell—like pine trees and cold winter nights—wrapped around me. It was so familiar. My body moved toward him before I could stop it.I put my hands on his chest and pushed him back. “My daughter is outside,” I said sharply.Dominic stepped back. Something flashed i
Dominic's POVWe walked into the restaurant. The noise hit me first—kids yelling, parents talking, plates clanking. Families packed every table. The place wasn't fancy, but it looked clean and welcoming.Kids ran between tables while parents tried to make them sit down. A little boy at the table next to the door threw a piece of bread that hit his sister in the face. She screamed, and their mother scolded them both.I smelled melted cheese and fresh bread. My stomach growled. I hadn't eaten since breakfast, and after the competition, I was starving.“This is nice,” I said quietly to Penelope. “Being out together like this.”“Don't get used to it,” Penelope said. She kept her eyes forward, not looking at me.A waiter in a black uniform spotted us standing at the entrance. He walked over, notepad in hand.“Table for three?” he asked with a smile. His name tag said “Mike.”“Yes, please,” Penelope said. She kept one hand on Debbie's shoulder.“Right this way.” The waiter picked up three me
Penelope’s POVThe moment Dominic mentioned the DNA test, I dropped my spoon. It clattered against the bowl, splashing tomato soup onto the white tablecloth. Red dots spread across the fabric like tiny bloodstains.I stirred my drink without responding, my eyes fixed on the swirling liquid. The ice cubes clinked against the glass as they spun in circles. My throat closed up.Debbie shoved a spoonful of macaroni into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk and cheese sauce smearing across her chin.“Edward promised to come to my competition,” she announced. “But he didn’t show up. He doesn’t deserve to be my dad at all.”Dominic’s eyes lit up at her words. He leaned forward, a calculated smirk crossing his face. His gray eyes darted between us.“Your biological father, Edward,” he said in a deliberately mocking tone, “seems quite unqualified, doesn’t he? Can’t even attend his daughter’s important competition.”“Edward is not her biological father,” I snapped immediately before
Penelope’s POV“I had to leave temporarily due to important matters that suddenly arose within my father’s pack,” Edward explained apologetically. “That’s why I couldn’t attend the competition. I deeply regret missing it.”He turned specifically toward Dominic, raising his glass in a toast. His voice took on a subtle note of superiority. “Thank you for serving as a temporary substitute,” he said, “for accompanying my girls in my absence.”The way he said “my girls” while striking a pose clearly positioned himself as the legitimate partner and father figure in our lives.Dominic scoffed loudly. His fingers tightened around his wine glass, the stem looking dangerously close to snapping.“Your girls?” he repeated. “When exactly did they become yours? Last I checked, you’re not even the child’s biological father.”Edward calmly took another sip of wine. His face remained calm. “At least I’m not clinging to memories from five years ago,” he replied sarcastically. “Some people can’t seem to
Dominic’s POVPenelope didn’t know how to answer. Her eyes darted away from my gaze, refusing to meet it. She opened her mouth, then closed it again without speaking.Before she could find her words, Debbie’s arm shot out, accidentally knocking over her bowl of tomato soup. The red liquid splashed across the white tablecloth and onto her little dress, creating a spreading stain.“Oh no!” Debbie cried, looking down at her ruined clothes.Penelope immediately stood up, relief flashing across her face at the timely interruption. “Now isn’t the time to talk about this,” she said firmly. “Come on, sweetie. Let’s clean you up.”She grabbed a napkin and dabbed ineffectually at Debbie’s dress. “We need to wash this out before it sets. Let’s go to the restroom.”“But Mom—” Debbie protested.“Now, Debbie,” Penelope insisted, taking her daughter’s hand and leading her away from the table.That left only Edward and me alone at the table. We both glared daggers at each other. Neither of us spoke un
Dominic’s POVI leaned across the table, keeping my voice low enough that nearby diners couldn’t hear. “There are many suspicious points about Ruby’s death. The knife wound on her stomach didn't match the mutant’s attack pattern. Your convenient arrival at the scene. The fact that you were the only witness.”Edward’s face hardened instantly. “Are you implying I had something to do with her death?”“I’m simply pointing out facts,” I replied. “Strange coincidences surrounding you.”“That’s slander,” Edward said sternly. “Be very careful about making such accusations without evidence, Dominic. My family name carries significant weight in pack politics.”“Threats now?” I asked. “That’s telling.”Edward’s lips curved into a cold smile. He abruptly changed the subject. “Speaking of danger, I hear your pack territory has recently seen frequent occurrences of mutated werewolves. The Council has marked it as a high-risk area, hasn’t it?” His tone turned mocking. “Hardly seems like you could pro
Penelope’s POVI burst through the clinic doors, Debbie limping in my arms. “Help!” I screamed. “My daughter needs help!”Medical staff in white coats immediately surrounded us. A female healer with silver-streaked hair took Debbie from me.“Silver poisoning,” she diagnosed immediately, seeing the residue on my daughter’s neck. “Get her to emergency room three!”They whisked Debbie away on a gurney, leaving me standing in the hallway, my arms suddenly empty. The adrenaline that had kept me going evaporated instantly. My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto a bench against the wall.Trembling overtook my body as I stared at the wounds on my arm. Blood continued to seep through Dominic’s makeshift bandages, dripping onto the white tile floor. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the crimson drops. My vision tunneled, focusing only on the blood that matched what had stained Debbie’s little dress.Edward moved first, squatting in front of me. He took my hands in his, trying to catch my unfocus
Penelope’s POVThe world stopped turning. My lungs forgot how to breathe. Edward froze beside me, his face draining of color.Dominic leaned against the doorframe, his clothes torn and bloody, his skin covered in dirt and scratches. His gray eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my skin prickle. Despite his injuries, he stood straight.“You’re alive?” Edward asked, his voice oddly flat.“Are you disappointed?” Dominic replied coldly.Something in his tone sent a shiver down my spine. What did he mean by that? I glanced at Edward, whose hands had tightened into fists at his sides.Edward recovered quickly, his shocked expression morphing into relief so perfect it almost seemed rehearsed. “What are you talking about? We were all worried about you.”I stood up, my body moving without conscious thought. My feet took one step forward, then stopped. Every cell in me wanted to run to Dominic, to touch him, to confirm he was real and not a grief-induced hallucination. The relief ma
Penelope’s POV“Her condition has stabilized,” the healer told me, glancing at the monitors surrounding Debbie’s small bed. “The wolf vine extract neutralized most of the silver toxin. Your blood transfusion did the rest.”I nodded automatically, barely processing his words. My body felt hollow, like someone had scooped out my insides and left nothing but an empty shell.“She needs rest now,” he continued. “The IV will keep her hydrated. With luck, she’ll wake by morning.”“Thank you,” I mumbled.The healer patted my shoulder awkwardly before leaving the room. The door clicked shut behind him. Silence settled over us.I stared at my daughter’s face. Her color had improved. Her breathing came easier now. The immediate danger had passed. I should have felt relieved, but the weight on my chest only grew heavier.Dominic. Gone.My phone rang. Ryan’s name flashed on the screen. I grabbed it, heart leaping into my throat.“Did you find him?” I demanded.“We’ve searched the area below the cli
Dominic’s POVThe wind whipped around me as I plummeted through darkness. My stomach lurched into my throat. Time slowed. Each second stretched into eternity as gravity pulled me toward certain death.I reached out, fingers grasping at nothing but air. The cliff face disappeared above me, Edward’s silhouette growing smaller against the night sky.My life didn’t flash before my eyes like people claimed. Instead, a single face filled my mind: Penelope. Her green eyes, her stubborn chin, the way she protected Debbie so fiercely.“I’m sorry,” I whispered into the rushing air.The ground rushed up. I closed my eyes, bracing for impact. This was it.Something solid crashed into me mid-air. Not the ground—something warm and alive. My eyes flew open as strong limbs wrapped around my torso. A powerful body collided with mine, absorbing the momentum of my fall.We hit the ground hard but not fatally. The breath exploded from my lungs. Pain shot through my back, but it wasn’t the shattering pain
Penelope’s POVI looked around the room, scanning for any sign of Dominic. The hallway behind Edward remained empty. My gaze returned to Edward, a hint of urgency creeping into my voice.“Didn’t Dominic come back with you?”Edward’s face fell, his expression shifting to one of dejection. He lowered his head, unable to meet my eyes for several long seconds. When he finally looked up, his amber eyes showed what appeared to be genuine sorrow.“There was an accident,” he said softly. “We were both trying to reach the wolf vine. It was growing on the cliff face, difficult to access.” He paused, swallowing hard. “We accidentally fell off the cliff while fighting for the wolf vine.”My breath caught in my throat.“I managed to grab onto a ledge,” Edward continued. “But Dominic…” He shook his head slowly. “Competition is competition, but I never thought it would turn out like this.”His words crashed in my mind, echoing painfully inside my skull. My heart ached as if physically torn in two. A
Penelope’s POVI sat in the clinic room, the wound on my arm throbbing faintly beneath the bandages. The pain medication had dulled the worst of it, but nothing could numb the ache in my heart as I stared at Debbie’s small form on the hospital bed.My daughter lay unconscious, her skin unnaturally pale against the white sheets. Tubes and monitoring equipment surrounded her, beeping steadily with each heartbeat.I stroked her little hand with my fingers, willing her to wake up, to open her eyes and call me “Mommy” again.Outside the window, the sky was darkening. Night was falling, and still no word from Dominic or Edward. The wolf vine they sought was Debbie’s only hope, according to the healers.As I watched the shadows lengthen across the floor, a strange sensation washed over me. My heart gave a sudden, painful lurch, as if something important had been torn away. The feeling was so intense I gasped, my hand flying to my chest.“Are you alright?” A nurse checking Debbie’s vitals look
Third Person POVThe question about Edward’s Rogue characteristics distracted Dominic slightly, causing him to fall behind a few steps. He immediately refocused and accelerated his pursuit, pushing his muscles harder to make up the lost ground.The two wolves reached the cliff top almost simultaneously, both panting from the exertion. They reverted to their human forms, bodies materializing from fur and muscle.Standing at the edge of the cliff, they looked down at the steep rock face below. Several emerald green wolf vines swayed gently in the wind, their silver-edged leaves gleaming in the moonlight.Dominic and Edward exchanged a glance, mutual understanding passing between them despite their animosity. They simultaneously took a step toward the cliff edge, each determined to be the one to retrieve the life-saving plant.“Wait,” Edward said suddenly, his eyes widening as he looked past Dominic’s shoulder. “Look! Penelope’s coming?”Dominic turned reflexively, his head whipping aroun
Third Person POVAfter the bandaging was done, Penelope’s body temperature dropped dramatically. Her teeth chattered uncontrollably as shock set in. The silver toxin, though removed from her wounds, had sapped her strength and left her system vulnerable.Edward reacted quickly. He slipped off his expensive suit jacket and draped it gently over her shoulders. The fabric, still warm from his body, enveloped her like a protective shield.“Thank you,” Penelope said weakly, pulling the jacket tighter around herself.Dominic watched the exchange, a pang of jealousy twisting in his chest. He stood awkwardly by the examination bed, suddenly aware he had nothing to offer her—he’d already torn his shirt into bandages.The emergency room doors suddenly burst open with a bang that echoed through the corridor. A healer strode out, his white coat stained with alarming amounts of blood.Dark circles shadowed his eyes as he removed his surgical mask. His expression, grave and exhausted, sent ice throu
Penelope’s POVI burst through the clinic doors, Debbie limping in my arms. “Help!” I screamed. “My daughter needs help!”Medical staff in white coats immediately surrounded us. A female healer with silver-streaked hair took Debbie from me.“Silver poisoning,” she diagnosed immediately, seeing the residue on my daughter’s neck. “Get her to emergency room three!”They whisked Debbie away on a gurney, leaving me standing in the hallway, my arms suddenly empty. The adrenaline that had kept me going evaporated instantly. My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto a bench against the wall.Trembling overtook my body as I stared at the wounds on my arm. Blood continued to seep through Dominic’s makeshift bandages, dripping onto the white tile floor. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the crimson drops. My vision tunneled, focusing only on the blood that matched what had stained Debbie’s little dress.Edward moved first, squatting in front of me. He took my hands in his, trying to catch my unfocus
Dominic’s POVI leaned across the table, keeping my voice low enough that nearby diners couldn’t hear. “There are many suspicious points about Ruby’s death. The knife wound on her stomach didn't match the mutant’s attack pattern. Your convenient arrival at the scene. The fact that you were the only witness.”Edward’s face hardened instantly. “Are you implying I had something to do with her death?”“I’m simply pointing out facts,” I replied. “Strange coincidences surrounding you.”“That’s slander,” Edward said sternly. “Be very careful about making such accusations without evidence, Dominic. My family name carries significant weight in pack politics.”“Threats now?” I asked. “That’s telling.”Edward’s lips curved into a cold smile. He abruptly changed the subject. “Speaking of danger, I hear your pack territory has recently seen frequent occurrences of mutated werewolves. The Council has marked it as a high-risk area, hasn’t it?” His tone turned mocking. “Hardly seems like you could pro