LOGINAbby’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 of them, her back to me, facing Hayden, and deliberately ignoring Alex as if he didn’t exist.I would be lying if I said I didn’t know the mate Ruby had mentioned before was Alex.I wasn’t slow-witted. The last time Alex, Brian and Hayden had shown up at my restaurant, I remembered clearly how Ruby had smiled when I walked in, leaned close, and whispered that he was the one. But the shock of seeing Hayden that day had shattered everything else.After that, I never brought it up again. Ruby didn’t either. I knew she was holding back for my sake, especially after realizing Alex was Hayden’s friend. She didn’t want to make things messier than they already were. Still, I couldn’t deprive her of
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 heir’s future authority.“Fine,” I said at last, my gaze fixed on the elders seated before me. “But she remains in the dungeon until the investigation is completed.”“I don’t think that would be appropriate…” Elder Regan began.“Elder Regan,” I growled, slamming my fist against the table.The room fell silent.“If you insist on an investigation,” I continued, my voice carrying my full Alpha aura, “then she is not leaving the dungeon. That is my final word.”I rose from my seat before anyone could object and walked out of the meeting, Alex following silently behind me.When I got back to the house, Hayes’s nanny met me on the way. “Alpha, Hayes has refused to eat.”I arched a brow at her. “Re
Hayden's POV “What?!” I frowned, struggling to process her words. That made no sense. Maggie’s daughter had confirmed Abby pushed Marbel off the stairs. Abby knew that, that was why she fled. The maid’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. “Miss Abby pushed her, but she didn’t die then. It was Miss Valentina… she pressed a white handkerchief over Miss Marbel’s nose until she suffocated.”My blood ran cold. I stepped closer and grabbed the girl’s clothes, lifting her off the floor. “Why?” I ground out through clenched teeth. “Why are you only telling me this now?”“I’m sorry, Alpha… I was afraid,” the girl whispered.My head went haywire. “Afraid? Afraid of saying the truth?” I dropped her gently, seeing she was already choking back tears. “Did I ever mistreat you? Or did I ever punish anyone without cause?” I snarled.“No, Alpha…” she trembled.“Then why? Why didn’t you speak up and let everyone believe Abby killed her?”She sobbed silently. Then Maggie’s voice came softly, cau
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. If she had been on a call, I would have heard it. But she hadn’t been.“Really?” I said coolly.“Yes. I have no reason to lie to you.” Her expression remained perfectly composed, practiced.I kept my eyes on her, ignoring the way she blushed under my gaze. My jaw flexed as I studied the woman behind the fake composure.Derek’s mockery words echoed in my head, about Valentina tormenting Abby right under my nose while I did nothing. Had I truly been so careless? So blind? That something like that could happen in my own house? But…Valentina wouldn’t dare, not when she knew I would never choose her. The only reason she had stayed in my pack then was the child between us. And she knew it.Still…
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 voices broke through the moment. I turned to see Amy and Asher racing through the house, their laughter filling the air, and a smaller baby crawling after them.My chest fluttered with warmth.I turned back to Abby, but she was gone.“Abby?” I called, smiling. “Are you hiding again, darling?”Silence.“Abby?”A cold fear slid down my spine. “Abby!”My eyes jerked open to blinding lights and blurred figures hovering above me.“Alpha?” Lucius’s voice cut through the haze.My head throbbed as I tried to focus.Where am I?Then memory slammed into me. Derek’s trap.Chains. And how Abby saved me.I tried to sit up, but a sharp agony ripped through my torso, slamming me back onto the bed.“Argh!” I gro
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 company, which was facing challenges because of the scandal, but nothing about him personally.As the day passed and he still didn’t show up, I concluded he must have returned to Europe. Maybe he was finally letting go of punishing me for Marbel’s death because I saved him… or maybe he had to attend to his business.Either way, I was glad he was away from this place. Even so, part of me still wanted to know he was alive.The days that followed felt like hell. No sales at all. Food kept spoiling. I tried advertising little by little, even using the same strategies I had when I first opened the place, giving discounts, but nothing worked. Only a few of Derek’s pack members came in.It was the opposi







