Se connecterRafe’s POVHer lips were fire against mine, defiant yet trembling with something she refused to name. I deepened the kiss, tilting my head and sliding my mouth harder over hers until her muffled protest turned into a soft gasp. That single sound broke through me like a spark in dry wood.She clutched at my shirt, fisting the fabric as though she wanted to push me away, yet her grip pulled me closer instead. My hands tightened at her waist, feeling the fragile rise and fall of her breath as I pressed her firmly against the glass. The cold surface at her back only made the warmth of her body burn hotter beneath my touch.When her lips parted, I took the opening without hesitation, sliding my tongue past her resistance to taste her fully. She met me with surprising fierceness, her tongue tangling with mine in a reckless battle neither of us seemed willing to end. It was wild, messy, nothing like restraint—an explosion of years of hate, fury, and something we didn’t wish to name.Her fing
Rafe’s POVAfter a quiet dinner, we all drifted outside into the garden. It was still early, and no one seemed ready for sleep. The lounging chairs had already been arranged in a broad circle around the fireplace, where Roman and Jason busied themselves with the wood and kindling.Kael stayed with Raven, allowing the boy to watch and learn about what the other two were doing, guiding him with the patient air of a father teaching his son.Lucian had let Fluffy loose, finally giving the pup some attention after neglecting him for days. Though Fluffy had always been Lucian’s, Eira had claimed him as her own now, and everyone knew it."Want to try it?" Jason asked, holding a few small logs out to Raven.Without hesitation, Raven stepped forward and arranged the wood neatly."Good," Jason praised, nodding approvingly. "Now, we have to light the fire..." He crouched down, explaining step by step as they lit up the fire.I arched a brow. Since when had Jason changed like this? On the journey
Lucian’s POVI looked at the peaceful view of Eira and her child watching TV while sitting side by side. She looked at peace as she must be watching TV after so many years. Even in our home, she just cooped herself in that very corner. The arrival of her son might start a change in her.Rafe was sitting next to Raven, commenting once in a while at certain foolish things in the movie, and Raven nodded to him, as if agreeing.Raven was holding a hamster in his lap, which he got from Eira when she came to him. And she allowed him.I was worried about the kid, and it somehow unsettled my heart in a way I couldn’t control. The thought of what they might have done to him was killing me inside.What happened with Eira, because of our fault, I wasn’t over it yet. And if it was the same with her child, I was not sure how I or any of us were going to forgive ourselves. The weight of our guilt was only increasing, instead of lessening anymore."Alright! Everything’s ready," Roman announced, and
Jason’s POVI watched how Kael and Rafe were taking care of Raven. How Kael assured her Raven is the son of this family and she agreed.In the past, I once dreamed of having a family and lots of kids with her, but didn’t expect the day would come like this. She and her kid were there, but I felt distant. I couldn’t bring myself to go to her and tell her let’s be like a family.Others told her, but I couldn’t, and that was more hurtful. I wish things weren’t like this."Hey bud, want to watch TV?" I heard Rafe ask as both of them went towards the sofa.Raven didn’t reply, but anyway both of them settled on the sofa close to each other, Rafe’s one hand resting on the backrest of the sofa behind Raven, as if sitting like a protective father.Rafe picked up the remote. "How about an animated movie?" he asked, "Good for little kids," he concluded on his own and started already.Rafe’s connection with the kid looked so natural and flawless, the way he treated him and called him bud. Even du
Lucian’s POVThe smirk on Roman’s lips widened as he said, "Oh! It’s truly so easy, and the most effective method to date, and enjoyable for both parties...uhm..."I stuffed a tomato in his mouth before he could say more. "Shut up! Unless you want me to flip this entire home upside down."Roman finally submitted, and I looked at Kael to explain him. "It was...""As long as it’s fine with you," Kael said and walked away with the bottle of water.What? What did he mean? Does he know it?I looked at the other two. "You two, you told him?""I’m sure he just guessed it given how you and Rafe are always at it...though with words," Roman said. "Or he just didn’t want to bother knowing, since you were so adamant on not letting me reveal it. You know Kael never forced us to say what we don’t want to."Later must be the case. I thought.I finally calmed down. Not like what I did with Rafe was something bad, nor something I regretted, but somehow I didn’t want to talk about it.I looked at Rafe,
Lucian’s POVAfter having a bath and changing into fresh clothes, Jason and I headed straight to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Roman joined us as well. We had a little guy with us now, and his first meal in the home should be like a feast.We had traveled together for almost twenty-four hours, eating only outside food. Raven ate everything without any complaint, so it was difficult to guess what he actually liked. Neither did he talk when I asked him about his preferences, nor there were many options as we were on the run anyway.He hadn’t spoken the entire journey, and I concluded it was maybe because we were strangers to him. Even now that we were at home, he was the same.My people told me that even when they frisked him away from school, the kid didn’t make a sound or say a single word. He was with them for a whole day, and still, he spoke nothing. During the time they had kept an eye on him, they never saw him talk to anyone.Now, I had started to wonder if he was mute. I hoped
Eira’s POV(Flashback — Six Years Ago)After the final class of the day, I rushed toward the back of the school to meet him.I looked at my wristwatch. ’It must be at least half an hour—he must be waiting for me. I need to run.’Thankfully, today I had worn a casual T-shirt, jeans, and sports shoes
Roman’s POVJust then, a full grown, big-sized golden retriever entered the drawing room, barking in delight as Lucian followed behind.Fluffy—Alice’s dog. After she was gone, Lucian and Jason always kept him with them, and he spent most of his time along the border security camps. Even now, he was
Roman’s POVI left the side house to get food for Eira. It was clear Liam wanted to speak with her alone, which was why he sent me off. I didn’t protest. If she was willing to talk to anyone, that was already progress. And I trusted Liam enough to know he wouldn’t say or do anything that went again
Kael’s POVThis woman had always been a fucking nuisance, and the only reason I ever tolerated her shit was because she used to my mother’s friend. But after my parents passed away, she turned into a goddamn pain in the ass.I was being patient these years out of the respect for my mother, but now?







