로그인Hayden’s POV It took everything in me to stay still while she spoke about her trauma… knowing the root of it traced back to me.And seeing her cry that way–Something in me cracked irreparably.Her lips were still against mine, trembling slightly beneath the restraint I was barely holding together.Fear held me in place.I had crossed a boundary she set. I knew that much.I thought of pulling away before this became another mistake she would hate me for later.But then her fingers tightened faintly against my shirt.Not pushing me away.Holding on.Like she didn’t want me to leave.My restraint slipped before I could stop it.I deepened the kiss slightly.Her breath caught softly against my lips.The sound nearly broke what was left of my control.My hand moved to her back on instinct, pulling her in just enough that she fit against me again. Slower this time. Heavier. Like I was trying to convince myself this wasn’t something I was stealing.She tasted like salt and warmth and every
Abby’s POV I inhaled and rose to my feet, his height immediately overshadowing mine. I tilted my head slightly just to meet his eyes.Even when he tried to steady his expression, I could still see it… the struggle in him. The restraint he refused to let slip.My gaze dropped to his midsection beneath the shirt.“Your wound…” I started. “I want it to heal first.”His brow lifted slightly, as if he wasn’t sure he heard me right.I stepped closer, my fingers brushing lightly over his shirt where the wound was hidden beneath.“I’ll think about the bond later,” I said softly. “Right now… I want you to heal.”For a moment, he didn’t respond.His eyes stayed on me, unreadable in a way that made my chest tighten all over again.“You don’t have to worry about me… about my wound,” he said quietly. “It will heal with time.”My fingers slipped away from his shirt slowly.“I wish I could stop worrying about you…” The words slipped out before I could stop them.Silence followed.I swallowed, quick
Hayden’s POV For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.I exhaled slowly.“Abby… listen, we can't do this.”“We can,” she said, folding her arms calmly across her chest.My mind spun, already knowing what this would cost me.“Abby,” I tried again. “Hear me out, please. The bond…”“I said we can,” she cut in, her tone final.My jaw tightened.“I made things clear already,” she continued. “I’m here because of the kids. I want you in their lives… not mine.”The words landed exactly where they always did. Painful and unavoidable. Every time she drew that line, I found more reasons to hate myself. And there was nothing I could do about it. Another silence settled between us.The defiance in her expression didn’t waver.“If that’s what you want…” I ran a hand through my hair, nodding once. “Give me a minute.”I didn’t wait for her answer.I stepped out onto the balcony.The city stretched endlessly — glass towers, quiet lights, distant movement far below.Everything looked… calm.But nothin
Abby’s POV “What?!” The word came out sharper than I intended.“You…” I stopped, my thoughts scrambling. “You heard that?”Hayden didn’t say anything. The laughter had faded, but there was a faint, knowing look in his eyes.Which somehow made it worse.My mind raced back to everything I’d just said to Carla.Heat rushed to my face.“Oh no…” I muttered, dragging a hand over my face.A low chuckle slipped from him again.“I swear…it’s not funny,” I said quickly, forcing a glare that didn’t quite land.He nodded like he agreed, but his eyes betrayed him.I rolled my eyes, giving up on pretending as a small smile tugged at my lips.Then I went still.I forced my mind blank, trying not to think at all, waiting for my traitorous wolf to show me how to put up a mental wall and shut him out.It lasted all of a few seconds.“I can help…” Hayden said after a moment, then paused before adding more carefully, “…if you’ll allow me.”I narrowed my eyes at him. “Did you hear that too?”I exhaled sh
Abby’s POV “How did this happen? You have…” I swallowed the rest of the words as I took in the position of the wound, just beneath his ribs. The shape…It dawned on me.The stab he had taken for me… when Freya tried to kill me.My chest tightened as I stared at it.The flesh hadn’t closed. It was still raw, the edges darkened and slightly swollen, like his body was trying and failing to heal it.“Hayden…” His name slipped from my lips as my hands moved instinctively toward the wound.“It’s nothing serious…”“It is,” I cut in, my eyes fixed on the wound. “You should have healed by now. Why is it taking this long?”The question came out before I could stop it.I knew how fast he healed. He was an Alpha, for Goddess’ sake.“It should have,” he admitted quietly, staring down at the wound. “But… there’s dark magic involved.”My brow pulled. “Dark magic?”“A witch I know checked it,” he continued. “She found traces in my bloodstream. It’s slowing the healing.”My stomach dropped.The mem
Abby’s POV “It’s from her old pack… they wanted me to fund a project she had envisioned… a foundation for aged wolves and orphaned children.”I hadn’t asked for an explanation, so I didn’t understand why he was giving one.“It was her idea… something she started before she passed away. Her pack wants to see it through in her memory.”My eyes widened.“Amara’s dead?”He nodded.I blinked, still trying to process it.“I’m sorry about that…” I said quietly. “She helped Clara and me escape. I’ll never forget that.”“Yeah… she told me,” he said. “When I went looking for you there.”I studied him, noticing the way his jaw ticked. Jessica had once mentioned that Amara was his first love.The loss must have stayed with him.I didn’t know why it mattered to me.But it did. And before I could stop it, the question slipped out.“You still love her?”It was a ridiculous question. I knew that.But I needed to hear the answer.He had once punished me for breaking a cup she gave him… even lied abo
Hayden’s POV The meeting with the elders wasn’t going the way I wanted, but it was fair. They insisted on a proper investigation before any punishment could be decided. I understood their reasoning. Valentina was the mother of the pack’s heir, and there were customary rules meant to protect the
Abby’s POV After the conference ended, a wave of relief washed over me. Hayden and his men would finally leave this place. Yet, a gnawing worry lingered. I still didn’t know if Hayden was truly alive.Of course, he must be. There had been no reports of such online. The news only covered his compan
Hayden’s POV Valentina flashed a sickeningly sweet smile, her face still damp from the fake tears she shed. “I—I was on a call…with a friend.”I stared at her, wondering if she truly thought I was that stupid. Had she forgotten I was an Alpha? I could hear and smell things far beyond this range. I
Hayden’s POV I didn’t plan it.Didn’t rehearse the words or decide how I’d say them. I just found myself driving to her restaurant, my grip tight on the wheel as my vision blurred, no matter how hard I fought them.Everything I thought I knew had just collapsed in a single breath.I had children…a







