The doorbell rang a second time, the sound cutting through the silence. My heart raced, though I wasn’t sure why. I took a deep breath, brushing the worry from my face, and called out, “Coming!” I crossed the hall, bracing myself for a visitor, but hoping it wasn’t him.Instead, I opened the door to see Liam standing there, a warm smile lighting up his face. Relief washed over me.“Hey, Ruby,” he greeted.“Hi… good afternoon.” I stepped aside, opening the door wide enough for him to come through. “Come on in.”He held two brown paper bags, each filled to the brim. I reached out to take one, chuckling. “Are you moving in or just feeding an army?”“Only the finest snack selection for my favorite twins,” he replied with a grin, handing me a bag.Together, we made our way to the living room, where I set the bags down on the table. I cupped my hands and called out to the kids, who I knew were hovering just out of sight down the hall. “Alright, Munchies… someone’s here to see you!”I could
LITTLE RUBY'S POV Today was the day—the day Uncle Liam was taking us out! He had told us yesterday he was going to, and I was so excited, I could barely sleep. When morning came, I hurried out of bed, took my bath and put on my best outfit. But I had a little problem, I couldn’t find my favorite shoes.“Mom, where’s my shoe?” I called, hopping down the hall with one shoe on and my other foot bare.“Have you checked under your bed, Ruby?” she said, smiling at me from the kitchen.“Not there, Mom.”“Try Rhett’s room then.”Just as I was about to head to Rhett’s room, the doorbell rang. I was so excited I didn’t even care that I was wearing just one shoe. I hopped all the way to the door, wobbly but fast.I opened the door, and there was Uncle Liam, smiling down at me. “Hey, Ruby. How are you?”“Good, Uncle Liam! How are you?” I said, feeling very grown-up.He chuckled, patting my shoulder. “I’m good too, thank you.”“Are you just going to keep him there in the doorway, Ruby?” Mom’s vo
LIAM’S POVThe sky was painted in shades of orange and purple as the sun dipped lower. We were almost home, and the quiet drive felt like a welcome relief after such a long day. I kept my focus on the road, enjoying the peaceful silence that had settled over the car.It didn’t last long, though. Rhett stirred in the backseat, rubbing his eyes and blinking slowly. I glanced at him in the mirror, a small smile tugging at my lips. “You awake?” I asked softly.“Yeah… I am, Uncle Liam,” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep as he scratched his eyes and yawned.We turned onto Ruby’s street, and that’s when I saw something that caught my eyes. A man was standing right in front of the house, and from the look of things, it wasn’t good. Ruby was with him, and whatever peaceful moment we had instantly shattered.“Who’s that?” Rhett asked in a curious voice, leaning forward as if to get a clearer view. His tired little face turned toward the window, and I felt a knot form in my chest. He didn’t
RHETT'S POVWhen Uncle Liam got back into the car, he looked at me with a look that was a combination of worry and something else… maybe sadness. He let out a shaky breath and gave me a soft smile. “You okay, buddy?”I nodded, even though my insides were still twisted up. “Yeah,” I said quietly, but really, I felt anything but okay.Liam carried my sister, Ruby, who was still asleep in his arms, while Mom helped me out of the car and grabbed the bags and packages from our day out. We made our way inside, entering into our quiet apartment. The evening was peaceful, but I could feel that something had changed.Mom followed me to my room, where she whispered, “Take your bath, okay?” before gently placing Ruby down on the bed next to mine. I nodded, and she gave Ruby’s shoulder a gentle shake. “And wake your sister up for hers when you’re done, alright?”“Got it,” I whispered back, watching as Mom closed the door quietly, leaving me alone with Ruby.I sat there for a moment, staring at m
RUBY'S POV I barely made it to the couch before the exhaustion hit. I let out a long, heavy sigh, sinking into the cushions as the weight of the day settled over me. Liam was sitting at the other end, appearing lost in thought, with a look of worry and uncertainty on his face.“What was that all about?” he finally asked in a gentle but firm voice, almost as if he was afraid of the answer.“That’s what I’ve been needing to talk to you about,” I said softly, not quite able to meet his gaze. I ran a hand through my hair, struggling to find the right words. “It seems… well, it seems Roman’s back.”Liam let out a slow breath, his brows knitting together as he took this in. “So I wasn’t mistaken,” he murmured, almost to himself.I nodded, swallowing down the familiar pang of anxiety. “You’re not mistaken, Liam,” I said, my voice sounding small and strained. “He’s back. And I don’t know what that means yet, but it worries me.”“Damn,” Liam said, running a hand over his face, his shoulders s
RUBY'S POV The church service had just ended, and the familiar buzz of people talking and laughing filled the air as everyone filed out of the sanctuary. Helen and I had just caught up to the kids near the doors, and they looked up at us expectantly.“So, my place or your place?” Helen asked, giving me a sly smile as we made our way outside.I looked at her, raising an eyebrow. “What do you think?” I countered, knowing full well what her answer would be.“You’re seriously answering my question with a question?” she replied with mock exasperation, and we both burst into laughter, earning curious looks from the kids.“Alright, let’s settle this the usual way,” she said, finally catching her breath. “My house or your house?”Before I could answer, Rhett raised his hand in a vote. “Definitely Aunt Helen’s,” he said with a grin.“Yeah, Aunt Helen’s house!” Ruby added, flashing her brother a wide smile as she joined in.Helen and I exchanged a knowing look, trying not to laugh. She raised
ROMAN'S POVThe morning air felt fresh as I parked in front of Ruby’s company. I hadn’t expected the building to be so… impressive. The tall glass building shone brightly in the morning light, smooth and sharp against the city skyline. I stepped out of my car, straightening my coat, taking in the sight. “So, this is all Ruby’s,” I murmured, almost admiring the place. Even after all this time, it was remarkable. Now, I was catching up, piecing together bits of a life that had moved on without me, seeing how far she’d come.Inside, I made my way to the reception desk, and as I walked, I could feel all eyes on me. Whispers floated around from the employees and passersby, most of them looking somewhere between curious and thrilled.“Oh my God, it’s Roman D’Angelo,” One of them murmured, her voice barely above a breath.I smirked slightly, ignoring the gazes and whispers. “What did they expect?” I thought to myself. Fame had never really left me. But none of that mattered right now. I wa
RUBY'S POV I looked up, instinctively bracing myself, and there he was—Roman. As he stepped through the door, his familiar frame filled the doorway, and for a split second, I was frozen. My mind spun,why was he standing here, in my office, unannounced.“Roman?” I asked, my voice more stable than I actually felt.He sighed, letting his gaze linger on me as if we were catching up over coffee. “How you doing, Ruby?”Anger surged within me, quick and intense, making it hard to control my voice. “What the hell are you doing here, Roman?”He tilted his head, feigning innocence, and his voice was so casual it grated on my nerves. “Not even a welcome? Is that really how you treat guests?”“Guests?” I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes. “You’re an uninvited guest, Roman. I didn’t invite you here.”“Ouch,” he said, pressing his hand over his chest in a mocking display of hurt. “That’s harsh. Still, good to see you.”“Trust me, the feeling isn’t mutual.” I took a step forward, meeting his gaze
~Teen Ruby's POV~The wind on Silver Frost Peak has a fresh smell in spring—crisp pine, lilacs, and a hint of warmth. It feels calm and settled. It's been almost twelve years since the last war ended. Twelve years since blood was spilled, and we lived in fear. After all this time, our world can finally breathe easy again.And now? The Silver Frost Pack isn't just a stronghold. It's home. It’s laughter echoing from stone balconies. It’s children playing without looking over their shoulders. It’s wolves racing through wildflower fields, not for battle, but for joy.Mom and Dad—they’re not just my parents. They’re legends.Everyone knows Ruby Blackwood D’Angelo and Roman D’Angelo. The Luna who once stood on cracked bones to protect her blood, and the Alpha who bent his power to hold her heart.But at home? They're just Mom and Dad.Dad still smirks when he catches Mom rolling her eyes. Mom still mutters “I swear I’ll murder him” when he forgets to close the back door. He still doesn
Ruby's POVRoman was quiet after the fight. Too quiet.He didn’t complain about the bruises, the slow way he moved, or how he occasionally winced when standing too fast. He just… watched me. Every time I brought him water or pressed a cool cloth to his shoulder, every time I adjusted his bandage or touched his arm longer than necessary—he watched me.Not like a patient. Like a man memorising his reason to stay alive.He didn’t ask for help, but I gave it. Just like he once nursed me when I was broken, lost, confused, and afraid of what I’d become. Back then, his hands had steadied me without demanding anything in return. So now, I gave him the same.It felt… right.The pack had settled for now. No threats. No chaos. No one knocking on the door screaming for blood. Just silence and this fragile space we were building together, like walking on a glass bridge in bare feet.And then, one evening—when the bruising on his cheek had finally faded to a yellow-brown smear and the dark exhaus
~Roman's POV~The scent hit me first.The smell was heavy and strong—like a mix of blood and smoke in the wet earth. Even though it had rained yesterday, the dampness couldn’t cover up that other smell. It was sharp and metallic, and it felt deeply unsettling.The moonlight filtered through the trees, creating bright spots on the ground while shadows from the low branches danced around us. As Kai and I made our way through the woods, I could hear the crunch of twigs and leaves under my boots, but I wasn't focused on the here and now. My thoughts were racing ahead, wondering what awaited us.And then we saw him.“Rhett?” I stopped short.He was just standing there. Still as stone, eyes wide like he’d seen a ghost. His lips were slightly parted, his skin a few shades too pale.Kai stepped up beside me. “How the hell—?”“I don’t know,” Rhett said quickly. “I swear I don’t. One minute I was in the room... and the next... I was here.”“Sleepwalking?” I asked, my chest tightening as I ste
~Ruby’s POV~The wind was sharp that night—cold and wild, like it knew what I was walking into.It didn’t howl. It whispered. Like the trees were holding their breath, the stars refusing to blink. A silence thick enough to hear your own heartbeat in your throat.I left the letter folded neatly on the kitchen counter. One for Roman. One for the twins. I didn’t write much—no drawn-out goodbyes, no sentimental fluff. Just enough for them to understand I had to do this alone.I couldn't risk Roman holding me back. Not with his heart, not with his fear. Not this time.And now I stood beneath the broken arches of the ruined sanctuary, deep in the forest where no streetlights dared to shine. The stones were old, their carvings worn down by the wind and time. Moss covered everything, feeling thick and damp beneath my boots. The shattered stained-glass window above let in bits of moonlight, casting patches of red and blue on the floor like blood and bruises.She was already there, of course.
~Ruby's POV~I knew something was wrong the second I saw Rhett sitting on the edge of the couch, shoulders tight, hands tucked beneath his thighs like he was trying to stop himself from shaking. His eyes darted to me when I walked in, then back to the floor.“Mom,” he whispered.I sat beside him. “What is it, baby?”He looked up, his little face pale and frightened. “There was… there was light. From my hands. Like real light, not in my head. It burned.”I bit my lips. Roman had actually told me what he sawI didn’t know what to say at first. I felt Roman’s shadow behind me, his presence instantly tense.“What do you mean, it burned?” I asked carefully.“I dreamed again,” Rhett continued. “Shadows and fire. But this time… when I woke up, my hands were glowing. Like fire, but not hot. And then it stopped. And it happened earlier today during training.” I reached out, gently cupping his cheek. “Did anyone else see it?”He shook his head. “Just me, Aunt Esperanza and Uncle Evan.“Okay,”
~Roman’s POV~The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the open training field. The air was filled with the sounds of light grunts, the thud of feet on the ground, and the rustle of grass being disturbed by determined movements. I stood just outside the entrance to the field, my hands in my pockets, quietly watching everything happen.In the centre of the clearing, Rhett was hard at work. Sweat trickled down his forehead, and his cheeks were bright red from the effort. His moves were sharp. They weren’t perfect—he was only six, after all—but the fact that he was out here, going up against Evan and Esperanza, said a lot."Keep working on those forms, Rhett!" Evan called out."You're doing really well," Esperanza added from the sideline, her arms crossed, a satisfied smirk on her face.I watched as Rhett adjusted his footing, shifting his weight like Evan taught him. He maintained a wide stance, with his knees bent just enough, his spine straight, and his f
~Ruby's POV~“Miss me, Ruby?”My breath caught. My throat went dry. That voice—smooth, mocking, sharp like a blade drawn slowly from its sheath.“Sarah,” I whispered.She laughed. “Still sounds good coming out of your mouth. But don’t worry—I’m not here to play games. Not yet.”And then, just before the line went dead: “Roman is mine and I’ll make sure of it. So be ready, Ruby. I always get what I want.”It echoed in my ears long after the silence took over. The words weren’t new. She’d said them once before, months ago at that party.That night still haunted me.Her red dress. Her wineglass clutched with elegance. Her gaze, like a sniper’s, locked on Roman and burning holes through me.“I don’t know what little fairytale you’re living in,” she’d whispered that night, smiling like we were old friends. “But Roman belongs to me. And I don’t lose.”I hadn't taken it seriously. I’d told myself she was just jealous. Obsessed. Bitter.But now?Now I knew better.I stormed down the hallway.
~Kai’s POV~The dim blue glow of my laptop screen was the only light in the office, throwing strange shadows across the scattered papers and empty coffee cups. My fingers flew across the keyboard, heart hammering in my chest as I pulled the last of the encrypted files from Damien’s hidden folder.Almost there. Just a few more seconds.Lines of code scrolled faster than my eyes could follow, the Tribunal’s secure database unravelling in front of me like an old, fragile map. I had hacked into high-clearance systems before—military, government, and even private wolf packs—but this felt different. More dangerous. More... necessary."Come on," I muttered, tapping my foot anxiously.Finally, the upload bar blinked green: SUBMISSION COMPLETE.I sat back with a sharp breath, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand. The files—everything: illegal experiments, secret auctions, conspiracies — were now public. Leaked under a fake, high-level Alpha Court signature. The Tribunal had no choic
~Ruby's POV~We were under attack.The cold night air hit my face as I stood on the balcony, the wind tugging at my clothes. My heart raced in my chest, pounding hard. Below, I watched as soldiers and warriors sprang into action, their weapons shining in the dim light. I could hear their shouts and the commands being yelled over the growing tension.No time to waste.I quickly turned and raced down the marble stairs, the sound of my boots pounding against the floor ringing in my ears. I wasn’t thinking about the warriors gathering or the enemies getting closer; my main concern was the kids.Always the kids.I reached their room and flung the door open, my breath coming fast.“Mom?” Rhett sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes, confusion twisting his young face.“What’s going on?” Little Ruby asked.I forced a smile — a poor disguise, but the best I could manage. I crouched quickly beside their beds, gathering them close.“Nothing too serious," I said lightly. "Just a small fight. Nothing t