로그인Abby’s POV Ruby had to go to the hospital for a proper checkup after the purging kept coming and going.So, I took the kids to the restaurant instead.Derek didn’t come home last night. He only called to say he had things to handle and wouldn’t be back until later.I knew better. He didn’t need time for work. He needed space.Before leaving for the restaurant, I called Father to check on him. When we spoke the previous night, he complained that the twins had already fallen asleep before he could talk to them.So this morning, I let him speak to them before we left.His voice softened instantly the moment Amy and Asher started talking over each other through the phone.Amy kept trying to grab the phone from Asher just to scream louder into it.I couldn’t help smiling as he giggled over the phone listening to them.It reminded me of how he used to be with me before my eighteenth birthday changed everything between us.But I knew better now. We had both been hurting back then.I promise
Abby’s POV Thankfully, the twins unknowingly salvaged the situation before the tension could grow worse.“Derek, see!” Amy said excitedly, lifting Molly proudly. “Hayden buy it for me!”“Bought, sweetheart,” I corrected automatically.“Hayden bought it for me,” she repeated obediently.Derek chuckled softly. “Can I see it properly?”Amy immediately wriggled toward him.Hayden hesitated for the briefest second before finally releasing her hand.Asher followed right behind her without thinking twice.Something unreadable crossed Hayden’s face before he looked away.Derek crouched slightly as Amy shoved the stuffed bunny into his face proudly.“Nice,” he praised seriously before pretending to inspect it closer. “But what if I get you one even bigger than this?”He spread his hands wider dramatically.Amy gasped softly. “Really?”“Mhm.”Asher immediately tugged Derek’s sleeve. “Mine too. A big car.”Derek laughed under his breath, ruffling his hair lightly. “Sure, my boy.”I heard Hayden
Abby’s POV By the time the kids woke up, another course had already been served.After the meal, I decided it was time to go home.“I thought we agreed they were spending the whole day with me,” Hayden said, sounding almost disappointed.He was right, but I couldn’t stay anymore. I thought of something to say to escape but nothing came. “I already got tickets for them to an amusement park this evening,” Hayden finally said.My brow pulled. “Why again? They already had enough fun here.”“It’s what I arranged yesterday,” he replied simply.“Let it be tomorrow evening,” I said, a little too quickly. “They’ve had enough today.”He paused, then nodded. “…Alright.”It was only after he agreed that it hit me. I had just created another reason to be around him again tomorrow. My chest tightened faintly.Not so soon.Not after the kiss.I pressed a hand to my forehead.The memory still lingered stubbornly in my head. Worse… my lips tingled every time I thought about it, like it had happene
Hayden’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
Alex's POV“Hayden… don’t do anything stupid!”I blocked his path, but my strength was no match for his. He shoved me aside and stormed out.By the time I scrambled to my feet, he was already gone.I ran after him, but his car was already pulling out of the hotel driveway by the time I burst outsid
Abby’s POV “Abby… Nathan is an old, loyal pack member,” Alex said, shaking his head. “He can’t…”“I overheard them,” I cut in. “Nathan and Valentina. Talking about my pregnancy being Hayden’s. They’re working together.”Alex stiffened.“When I went to Nathan’s office, I saw the evidence,” I contin
Hayden's POV(Five days ago)“Abby,” I called, walking toward where I knew she was hiding. “Gotcha!”I caught her and pulled her into my arms, spinning her around as laughter spilled from both of us.“I don’t ever want to lose you again,” I murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her nose.Giggling voice
Abby’s POV I froze the moment my eyes locked with Hayden’s piercing blue ones.The door opened again, and Alex stepped in behind him, quiet and uncertain, like a man who didn’t know where he belonged anymore.Before I could react, Ruby moved. She stepped forward and planted herself firmly in front







