Closed Hearts MILES’ POV “Miles, the reporter from Alante is in the mansion. Remember what we discussed,” Evans’ voice came through the phone. “This is good for the business. Please don’t scare the poor woman away with your frosty alpha demeanor.” I grunted in response and ended the call without another word. Evans had spent weeks convincing me to let a reporter come into my home, considering how little interest I had in reporters snooping around my personal space, and I still wasn’t sure why I had caved. The last seven years had been rough on me, although internally. With Rhea gone and nowhere to be found, I had poured all my love and dedication into developing my pack, especially after that fatal blow I had from a rogue’s spear. I had developed Snowfall so much that we had tourists from all parts of the world coming in to spend holidays. Rico and I had expanded our businesses together, going into different ventures. Real Estate, stocks, technical assistance, name it. Mondragon h
Collision RHEA’S POV “Wow! This place is a wonder,” Stella exclaimed as we stepped out of the car and made our way toward the entrance of the medical research center. She wasn’t exaggerating. The place was nothing short of breathtaking. The sleek skyscraper stood tall, and the glass facade reflected the sunlight beautifully. Whoever funded this project clearly had deep pockets. The attention to detail was stunning, and as I stood there taking it all in, I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of pride. Being chosen as one of the event speakers was no small feat. Dr. Ivan emerged from the reception area before we could even get inside. His smile was so wide it practically radiated sunshine. “You’re here early, Ree,” he said, extending a hand. I returned his smile, shaking his hand warmly. “Oh, yes. I like to familiarize myself with the place before delivering a speech. It helps me feel more grounded.” “That’s great,” he said, holding the door open for us. “Thank you,” I replied as S
Collision 2 MILES’ POV “We’ve arrived just in time. The launch isn’t starting for another thirty minutes,” Rico announced as Holmes parked the hired car in the lot of the towering research center. I gazed out the window at the skyscraper, and a swell of pride rose in my chest. It was magnificent, and the atmosphere was serene. A few people were walking into the reception area, heading for the launch. “This place is stunning, Miles,” Evans said as we stepped out of the car. “This is our first venture so far from home. Quite the leap.” “Exactly,” I replied. “It’s a strategic move. We’re not just building businesses; we’re expanding influence. That’s how you stay ahead. We need a network across the world—that’s our goal.” “This pack feels peaceful,” Rico chimed in as he scanned the area. “Calm. I doubt they even know what a rogue attack feels like.” We made our way into the reception area, where the young receptionist immediately straightened at the sight of me. Her h
False Alarm YURI’S POV We all stood outside, across from the gleaming medical research center, watching as the Bomb Squad moved out. Everyone had been safely evacuated, but the unease lingered. Miles and his team were a few feet away. I made sure to position myself between him and Rhea, like a human barrier. Rhea was putting on a flawless display of composure; her chin was slightly raised, her eyes fixed on the squad as they made their way towards us. But I couldn’t say the same for Miles. He hadn’t taken his eyes off us—off me for a second. His jaw was clenched so tightly I half-expected his teeth to shatter, and his fists were balled like he was ready for war. Not that I cared. Let him simmer. The Bomb Squad leader approached the director. “Sir, we didn’t find any bombs inside the building. It must have been a false alarm.” The director exhaled heavily with relief. “Thank you,” he said, nodding with genuine gratitude. False alarm? Yeah, sure. Of course, there hadn’t been a bom
One Step Too Close RHEA’S POV "Ms. Marston, that was a great speech," one of the visiting alphas said with a broad smile. His Luna clung to his arm like he might float away without her, and he balanced a drink in his free hand. “Thank you,” I replied, returning the smile. "I'm glad it impressed you," Dr. Ivan chimed in beside me, practically glowing. "Ree here is incredible." We were now at the reception now. All the speeches, introductions, and investor acknowledgments were done, leaving everyone free to mingle and network. Yuri had thankfully wandered off to chat with some other alphas, leaving me with Dr. Ivan and Stella whose presence grounded me, and I tried not to think too much about the fact that Miles and his friends were here, standing just a few feet away. I dared not look his way, but from all indications, I knew his eyes had never left me. It left me confused. Why would he be staring at me? I tried not to dwell on it and instead focused on the other guests who were
One More Chance MILES’ POV “What’s your next step now?” Evans asked, setting his shot glass on the counter. His expression was taut. “You’re not seriously going to drown yourself in alcohol like you did seven years ago, right?” I sighed heavily, lifting my glass and gulping down another shot. The burn was almost comforting, though it did little to dull the sting of what I had seen earlier. My chest tightened at the memory of Yuri kissing Rhea—my Rhea. The pride I had felt watching her earlier was now tangled with anger and something I couldn’t quite name. My ex-wife, the woman I had wronged in more ways than I cared to admit, was now the nurse of her dreams. She had made it. She was thriving. I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she stood on that podium, speaking confidently to a room full of alphas, betas, and dignitaries. She commanded the space effortlessly as though she were born to lead it. Rhea had grown into someone even more remarkable than I had remembered. Sophisticated,
A Monday Surprise RHEA'S POV “Good morning, Ree!” chirped Olivia, the ever-cheerful receptionist, with a broad smile as I stepped into the reception. “Good morning, Olivia!” I replied with equal cheer, making my way to her desk. “Don’t forget to grab a cookie. I made enough for everyone.” I extended the plate of freshly baked cookies toward her. Her face lit up as she reached for one. “Thanks, Ree! And by the way, congratulations on that killer speech over the weekend. Everyone’s been raving about it.” “Thank you, Olivia,” I said with a smile, adjusting my coat as I headed toward the staff lounge. “Morning, Ree!” a chorus of voices rang out as soon as I entered the lounge. “Good morning, everyone,” I greeted, setting the tray of cookies on the communal table. “Alright, people, fuel up. It’s Monday, and I don’t need anyone dragging their feet today!” A few chuckles broke out among the group as they swarmed the tray. I grabbed a couple of cookies for myself and left the lounge.
She Has My Son MILES’ POV Yuri and I are just friends. Yuri and I are just friends. That statement rang in my head continuously as I made my way out of the hospital lobby. Hope bloomed in my chest—that lying bastard. I knew Yuri was a bastard. No wonder my friends never liked him. Stepping through the glass doors, I turned back to glance inside. A broad grin spread across my face. I was leaving now, but I would definitely be back, and I was going to chase Rhea until she gave me a real chance to explain myself. To apologize. To make things right. I wasn’t going to overwhelm her with my presence. I knew she was still trying to come to terms with seeing me after hiding from me for seven whole years. I didn’t know how long it would take, but I was going to get Rhea looking at me again like I hung the stars. Call it arrogance, call it hope, hell, call it delusion. I didn’t care. I had faith. My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me out of my thoughts. The guy I had hired earlier to d
MILES’ POV My boots echoed off the concrete walls, the sharp, deliberate rhythm of my fury. The hallway stank of damp cement, rust, and sweat. A single bulb flickered overhead, throwing shadows across the narrow passage as Evans and Rico flanked me on either side. "Alpha," Evans began cautiously, voice low, "it’s been weeks. Word of Yuri’s disappearance has spread across multiple packs. He's still an Alpha, not a rogue. This could get—" "He acted like a rogue," I snapped without slowing my pace. "He doesn’t get to wear that title in my presence. He ran off with my woman. Hid my son. Lied to my fucking face for years.” Rico sighed beside me. “I’m not defending him, Alpha. I’m just saying—you’ve already won. Sekani loves you. He trusts you. He looks up to you like you put the moon in the sky. What else is there to prove?” I stopped in front of the steel door and turned, my voice quiet but lethal. “What about Rhea, Rico?” Rico and Evans exchanged a look, but I didn’t give them time
Storms Come in White CoatsRHEA'S POVThe morning meeting was supposed to be routine. We had just concluded rounds and gathered in the conference room for the weekly neuro case debrief. A handful of nurses, residents, and specialists sat around the long table. Dr. Mario stood at the head, flipping through the patient files with a clinical detachment that could freeze blood.I sat near the middle, trying not to feel too visible. I had submitted the case summary from the Neuro ICU late last night, working extra hours to ensure everything was accurate. I knew it was thorough. I knew it was clean. Knowing Dr. Mario proved a difficult nut to crack, I had taken my time to go through it. I would never give her any reason to think she was right about me. I had tried to remain as quiet as possible since she resumed.If only horses were wishes.Dr. Mario suddenly snapped the file shut, her eyes scanning the room before settling on me. “Nurse Marston,” she said in a sharp and clear voice. “Is th
A Wrong Kind of ComfortMILES POV I gulped down another shot of whiskey, eyes glassy, staring at nothing. It had been almost a week since I left Crimson Peak and returned to Snowfall, but the ache in my chest hadn’t dulled, not even a little. Rhea’s words still played on a loop in my head, like a song I couldn’t turn off. 'I'm sorry, Miles. I don't. I don't love you anymore.' So this was what it felt like. This must have been what she went through back then, those long nights I told her I didn’t love her. Now I was the one suffocating in it. And yet, somehow, she survived it. She lived through the same agony I was crumbling under. I poured myself another shot. Then another. Sekani would be coming for the weekend soon, and I needed to pull myself together. I couldn’t be a shitty father to my son. But even that thought wasn’t enough to stop me. The bottle in my hand was more familiar than comfort. News about Sekani had spread through the pack like wildfire. My mother, as expect
Not Everyone Gets a Happy Ending RHEA'S POV An uncomfortable silence stretched between us after that confession. Miles still looked stunned, like he hadn’t fully processed it yet. But I kept telling myself not to feel bad. I did the right thing. Not everyone gets a happily ever after. I stared down at my hands, twitching my fingers restlessly. It took only a few moments before he regained control. When he did, his expression hardened, jaw tight, unreadable. Just like I had always known him to be. This was the part of Miles I had married. Business mode. He straightened up as we moved into talking about Sekani’s welfare. He said he would visit on weekends when Sekani wasn’t in school, and that Sekani would spend the full weekend with him. He also mentioned dropping by during the week if his schedule allowed, especially now that his project in Crimson Peak was still running. He said he would be around more often in these early days. I nodded along. I had no issues with that, as long
Fate Don’t Wait MILES' POV Even before full consciousness returned, my chest was already pounding. My wolf stirred first, restless, growling with excitement like it knew something I didn’t. Then came the warmth, a quiet, familiar kind that wrapped around me and soaked into my skin. The soft scent that followed was unmistakably Rhea's. My eyes fluttered open. Confusion hit first. My brows pulled together at the sight of the unfamiliar bedroom ceiling. Where the hell—? Then it all came rushing back. The storm. Sekani. The singing. Her voice. And suddenly, I realized I wasn’t alone. There was a weight on my chest. A soft, delicate kind. I turned slowly and carefully. And every muscle in my body locked up when I saw her. Rhea was lying against me. Her head was resting on my chest; her hand draped across me. My damn heart nearly jumped out of my throat. She wasn’t just beside me. She was in my arms. I froze. No sign of Sekani anywhere. How the hell did this happen? Before I cou
A Song for the Broken RHEA'S POV I walked back into my bedroom and climbed into bed, refusing to let my thoughts drift anywhere dangerous. I lay there, my hands folded across my chest, my eyes fixed on the blank ceiling. In my head, I started running through the list of my patients at the hospital, thinking about their recovery processes, anything to keep my mind from wandering to Miles and his presence here. I had been off work for three days now, and tomorrow, I would finally return to face a new head doctor. I was oddly looking forward to meeting Dr. Mario. With my contract at Crimson General ending in six months, I needed to win him over. I needed the recommendation of a sitting head doctor from my previous establishment to be eligible for a license to run an independent clinic of my own. Somewhere between worrying about licenses and picturing what Dr. Mario’s face would look like, I must have drifted off. Because the next thing I heard was Sekani’s small voice, tugging me bac
Drawing Boundaries, Breaking Hearts RHEA'S POV I was still dumbfounded by Miles' words that day. And it had been a long time since anyone left me that speechless. I can’t even explain why my brain stalled. Maybe it was how sudden it all came crashing down on me. Maybe it was the leftover emotions stirred up by his kind gestures: the lunch delivery, the videos of Sekani smiling, the quiet way he was trying to make up for lost time. It was nothing. And I was determined to draw the lines again. We had agreed to co-parent, not drift back into whatever dangerous territory that used to be between us. And we hadn't spoken in days. I only let him pick and drop Sekani off to school, and I made sure I wasn't the one handing Sekani over to him. I have no feelings for him anymore. For crying out loud, I moved on already. And I hoped, for his sake, that he would stop chasing after feelings that would only end up hurting him. Sekani was the only bond left between us. And it needed to stay that
MILES POVWeekend rolled quickly, soon, it was time to take Sekani back to Rhea. I didn't want to part with him. The weekend I spent with h was one of the best weekends of my life.Although I hated to be apart from Sekani...and his mother, I was happy that at least I had bonded with my son. I also got a invitation for dinner from Rhea. She had called me late afternoon after I had that lunch taken to her. She had been very grateful and for the first time since we met again we had a lengthy conversation over the phone.My leg had healed over the weekend, and I didn't need a crutch again. Who wouldn't heal after almost getting everything you wanted? We drove back to Rhea's residence after lunch. When we arrived, Rhea was waiting for us on a porch. She was a casual gown that stopped just above her knees and her now blonde hair flew in the air. Sekani barely waited for the car engine to die before he jumped down, running towards Rhea. I smiled, wore my shades and reached behind to get th
Rhea's POV "Well done, everyone." "Well done, Nurse Marston," some "Well done, Dr. Patel."We greeter each other after the surgery. I stepped out of the surgery room and headed to the dressing room, where I pulled off my scrubs, gloves and cap.My entire body felt like I had been jammed by two trucks. I had not rested since Friday. Well, that was the result of assisting in two major brain-cracking surgery, one of them was a stand in. Thank goodness it was all over. I heaved a breath of relief and washed my face with the water running from the tap. Now, all I needed was to eat, get a massage if possible and take a long required nap.I haven't spoken to Sekani or Miles since yesterday. I wipes my face and hands and started to leave the bathroom. Although I trust Sekani with Miles, I felt bad that I had not spoken to him since yesterday. That's not like me. "Sekani. Oh, my boy. I hope he is getting along with his father already," I muttered. As I walked down