로그인Abby’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 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 “For the last time, Maggie, do you know this man or not?” Jessica’s voice was firm, her warning sharp.Maggie dropped to her knees, rubbing her hands together like she was begging for her life. Her voice cracked. “Please, Mrs. Roche… Miss Valentina knows where my daughter is. I’ve been
Hayden’s POV ‘Alex, open the gate,’ I mindlinked, standing outside his house. Pack members bowed as they passed, but their greetings barely cut through the storm in my head.If there was a bar or club in my pack lands, I’d have gone there. Anything to drown out the noise in my head. The last thing
Abby's POV I was silent for some seconds weighing the consequences. “I… I don’t know who to trust right now,” I finally admitted, my voice barely a whisper. “I have no idea who is behind all this.”“All this?” Jessica leaned back, crossing her arms thoughtfully. “You sound like there’s more to th
Abby's POV I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until I closed the door behind me in Sasha’s office. I was still reeling from the tension when I noticed several eyes fixed on me, most of them people I’d never seen before, or at least never paid attention to in the pack. Still, I was sure they







