Se connecterAbby’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
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 POVI woke with a sharp gasp, only for panic to slam into me.My hands were tied behind the chair. My ankles too. Thick rope bit into my skin. I tried to scream, but a gag muffled the sound, reducing it to a broken whimper.The place reeked of dust and decay. Cobwebs clung to the walls, thic
Abby’s POV Luna Marie!” Freya barked, shock cracking her voice. “What the hell are you doing here?”“Freya…” Mother’s voice trembled as she stepped forward. “What are you doing? She's your sister!”Valentina moved instantly, blocking her path. “I don’t have patience for your family drama,” she sn
Abby’s POVRuby glanced at me, clearly not interested in what Alex was saying over the phone. I wasn’t either, especially now that he mentioned Hayden. They might be trying to manipulate Ruby just to get to me.“Hello, Ruby? Are you still there?” Alex’s voice came again.Ruby took the phone from me
Abby’s POV I stared at Hayden like he’d spoken in a language I didn’t understand, searching his face for sanity.“Tell me why you hid my children from me, Abby,” he repeated, as if I hadn’t heard him the first time.“Which… children are you talking about?” I asked.“Amy and Asher,” he said, his to







