MasukAbby's POVI tossed my phone onto the bed after ending the call from Ruby. I didn’t care if Hayden was missing or not. He couldn’t fool me into believing that lie.That man had almost killed Derek. In my restaurant, in front of customers. Worse, in front of my children. He would never change. Never.I leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Amy’s forehead, then moved to Asher and did the same. I always checked on them before they slept, sometimes even reading them bedtime stories.But tonight, they wouldn’t listen to a story. I’d been soothing them nonstop since we left the restaurant. Amy had even developed a fever from all the crying after witnessing that horrible scene.I hissed softly as I tucked the blanket around them properly, my hands shaking with restrained fury. I wasn’t wrong to call Hayden a monster. No one in their right mind would behave like an animal in front of children.I slipped out of their room and walked down the hallway, my steps sharp, controlled, furious. I n
Alex’s POVI managed to stop some of the people who were recording, and persuaded others to delete the videos from their phones, offering money enticing enough to silence them.The humans agreed easily, but a few werewolves didn’t. Either they were Derek’s men, or Hayden’s enemies, sniffing for any loophole they could exploit.Whichever it was, damage control was already slipping through my fingers. The videos had made it online in an edited and twisted version. And they were spreading fast. Wildfire fast.I informed Hayden’s PR and legal teams immediately. The narrative online was deliberate, crafted to paint Hayden as a violent, unstable powerful figure intimidating weak people. The werewolf council would easily grab this and the naive humans would make matters worse.When I finished inside the restaurant, I stepped out and nearly collided with Ruby as she walked in. Her face shut me out completely before I could even open my mouth.She was definitely siding with Abby. I didn’t blam
Hayden’s POV After I left Abby’s restaurant this morning, my entire system flipped upside down. Throughout the conference meeting, I couldn’t focus on a single thing being said. Every question thrown at me dragged a stammer out of my mouth before I could force together something that might sound reasonable. If it even sounded reasonable at all.By the time the meeting finally ended, I was grateful, relieved enough to feel it in my bones. I didn’t wait, I mindlinked Alex and Brian immediately, telling them we were leaving. I was already in the car before they stepped out. I slid behind the wheel like a man escaping something he couldn’t outrun.The moment the two settled in, I drove off.“You’re going back to the restaurant?” Alex asked, stating the obvious. I didn’t bother answering.One hand gripped the steering wheel, the other rested against my lips as my thoughts spun in circles. I didn’t want to irritate Abby further, or push her the way I did this morning. That was why I’d aske
Abby's POV I couldn’t go back home anymore. Not after running straight into the one person I wanted to avoid today. Now all I could do was stay strong, keep my mask on, and pray he didn’t get even one more hint that I was the woman he thought I was.But as I stayed in the restaurant, my heartbeat never settled. Every time the entrance door opened, something painful splintered through my chest. Every deep male voice, every tall figure felt like it could be him.Ruby noticed. Of course she noticed. My head had snapped toward the door at least a hundred times.“Abby,” she murmured softly from behind the counter, “I really think you should go rest in the office. Just for a bit.”“No.” My voice sounded steadier than I felt. “I’m fine. I can’t keep hiding forever. I can’t keep being a coward when my kids’ safety might be at stake.”Ruby exhaled, her eyes softening.“Okay… but I’m watching you,” she whispered, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.So I stayed outside, supervising the staff along
Abby's POV I swallowed hard as I picked up the necklace from the ground. The same necklace Hayden once bought for me, with promises he forgot the moment they left his mouth. A gift I’d held onto like it meant something, while he didn’t even remember buying it.And now, out of nowhere, it’s lying here in front of my restaurant like some cruel reminder.I scoffed under my breath. Had he dropped it yesterday? Ruby said only regulars were inside this morning. So, Hayden wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near here but be at the conference. Even Derek also left early for the morning meeting. I turned the necklace over in my palm. Why would Hayden even keep this thing? He probably gifted it to some other woman, and she dropped it without thinking. My throat tightened. Maybe he even brought her here yesterday.I dragged in a shaky breath and headed for the restaurant door, but paused when I heard my name.“Abby.”My body reacted before my brain could process the voice. I turned, and my gaze co
Hayden’s POV I turned and found the little boy from yesterday boldly staring at me. There were no other customers inside, only the uniformed staff arranging tables for the morning rush. I wanted to act petty and scare the little boy off, but instead I heard myself explaining.“Hey, little guy! I'm no bad man!”“You are!” he declared, jutting his chin forward stubbornly.I sighed.Alex chuckled behind me. “This boy reminds me of you when we were small. Fierce and unapologetically bold.”“They even look alike,” Brian added, snickering.I shot them both a sharp look and turned back to the boy. “Where’s mama?”“Good morning, sir. Welcome,” a staff member approached with a polite smile. “Here are the menus. We’re still setting up, but we can take your order.”“Is…uhmm…Ruby on duty?” Alex asked shamelessly, smiling like a teenager freshly hit by Cupid.The staff didn’t get the chance to answer before a tall brunette stepped out of an office, carrying a little girl who giggled loudly in he







