Vienna's POV:I slipped out from beneath their arms as gently as I could. Kai murmured something incoherent in his sleep, his hand twitching where it had rested on my waist, but he didn’t wake. Fynn’s breathing was steady, warm across my back. They both looked peaceful. Safe.I wasn’t.The moment my feet touched the floor, that familiar weight settled back on my chest—tight and unforgiving. I padded barefoot down the hall, moving instinctively toward Zeke’s room. I had to see him first.He was curled up on his side in his crib, one fist tucked under his cheek, lips slightly parted as he breathed in soft, steady puffs. The moonlight filtering in caught the curve of his lashes, and my chest ached with the love I could never put into words.I brushed my fingers lightly across his forehead. Cool, not fevered. I adjusted the blanket around his tiny frame, checked the monitors again—everything stable. Everything normal.If only the rest of my world could reflect that.I turned and left quie
Vienna's POV:Soft morning light streamed through the gauzy curtains, painting the room in a gentle haze of gold and rose. I lay nestled between Kai and Fynn, my limbs tangled with theirs, the sheets half-draped across our bare bodies. The scent of last night still clung to the air—candles, sweat, skin, and desire. My thighs still tingled faintly, pleasantly sore, the kind of ache that reminded me of how thoroughly I had been worshiped.I blinked slowly, heart full, body warm, and took a quiet moment just to listen.Fynn’s breath was deep and steady beside me, one of his arms slung lazily over my waist. Kai lay on my other side, chest rising and falling with rhythmic calm, lips slightly parted, hair tousled in a way that made him look younger. Softer.My gaze trailed over their sleeping faces, my chest blooming with emotion.How could I ever walk away from this?I didn’t want to think about leaving—not now, not when the morning tasted like peace. I wanted to memorize everything: the h
Vienna’s POV I sat on the edge of the bed, the pen trembling slightly in my hand as I stared at the blank sheet of paper. The room was silent, save for the soft ticking of the wall clock. My fingers moved, and slowly, the list began to form.“Zeke’s Essentials”. That's what I titled it.His favorite snacks, his allergy-safe lotion, the extra pacifiers he only liked in blue, his storybooks, especially the ones with the talking owl, make sure they read it in a funny voice. I added instructions for his vitamins, the emergency contact number for the healer who knew his case best, and the exact temperature he preferred his bathwater.I paused and swallowed the lump in my throat before I started the second column: Future Needs. I noted the dates for his upcoming health checkups. A reminder for the first shift in his feeding pattern. A few words about how he liked to be held when he cried and how long he needed to feel safe again.When I finished, I folded the list and slipped it under Zek
Vienna's POV:Gemini had expected Vienna to scoff, roll her eyes, or respond with one of those dry, smartass comments she used when trying to mask hurt. But none came.Vienna stepped back slowly, her hand dropping to her side. Her gaze never met Gemini’s, as if even looking her in the eye was too much to bear. There was no anger in her face, no flash of defiance… just a hollow resignation, like something in her had gone cold and quiet.Gemini blinked, caught off guard. Her eyebrows rose in surprise, and she tilted her head as if trying to understand what just passed between them. But before she could say anything else, Vienna spoke, voice soft and empty.“I’ll ask one of the maids to prepare something fresh and send it to your room,” she said. “You should rest.”And just like that, she turned on her heel.She didn’t rush. Her steps were small, almost dragging. She shuffled across the floor like someone carrying a weight too heavy to speak of. Her head remained bowed, her shoulders sli
Author's POV:The sterile quiet of the healing ward was broken only by the low beeping of machines and the rustle of fabric as a team of healers stepped closer to Kai.He didn’t look up at first. His knuckles were white where his fists clenched on either side of his thighs, head bowed, gaze locked on the floor like it held all the answers he had failed to see in Vienna’s eyes.“Alpha Kai,” one of the healers said gently, “Miss Gemini is stable now. But she needs a lot of rest.”He barely blinked.“The patient has developed considerable weakness. We suspect that it could be a part of an ongoing internal imbalance. It is relatively a minor issue, but it’ll require monitoring. Frankly, she should’ve been under strict care already.”That made him lift his head, brows tightening. “I hope you know that some fatigue, dizziness, and stress-related strain are some common symptoms of her ailment as well as the side effects of the drugs she has been given. This incident just accelerated what
Fynn's POV:Enna.I saw her, and the expression on her face hit me like a brick to the chest.She stood at the doorway in that thin nightgown, hair tied up in a loose ponytail, carrying a strange emptiness about her. Her face was pale from sleep, but her eyes were wide open now, and they weren't just tired. They were distant.And then, she turned around and walked away.No words, no anger, no more tears like the ones she had been shedding when I found her earlier. But somehow, that silence cut deeper than any outrage ever could. And in that moment, everything she had said earlier slammed into me all over again. Except this time, I finally heard her words. The thing is, if even my mates don’t trust me…what the hell am I even doing here?!”Back then, I was too caught up in the chaos. Too focused on fixing the mess, protecting her from consequences, proving her innocence and soothing her anxiety. But I never stopped to look at her, or to actually see her.I hadn’t realized how much s