~RUBY'S POV~The clang of dishes and the hum of conversation filled the kitchen as Helen and I prepared snacks for the kids. Their laughter and occasional shouts echoed down the hall, but it wasn’t until I heard Rhett’s voice—sharp with excitement—that I froze mid-sentence.“Roman!”Then it wa quickly followed by little Ruby’s giggling. My heart stopped mid-beat, and I froze in place, gripping the edge of the counter for support. Helen gave me a concerned look, but I didn’t have time to explain.“Stay here,” I muttered, quickly drying my hands on a dish towel. My pulse pounded as I made my way to the living room, dread and disbelief wrestling within me. Rounding the corner, I saw Roman by the door, with a casual confidence in his stance. Rhett was practically bouncing with excitement at his side, while little Ruby grinned from ear to ear.My stomach churned. How did he find us?“Kids,” I said as evenly as I could, masking the storm within me, “Go to your rooms. Mom needs to talk to R
~RHETT'S POV~The doorbell rang, a sharp, loud ding that echoed through the house. I stopped in the middle of a step and grabbed the action figure I was flying through a made-up battlefield. Ruby froze too, her eyes wide, her lips parting in surprise.“Who could that be?” she whispered.The bell rang again, longer this time, like whoever was outside was getting impatient. I jumped up and made my way to the door. My socks slid a little on the hardwood floor, but I grabbed the doorknob and yanked it open.“Roman!” I shouted, my voice so loud it made me wince. He smiled big—really big—like he’d just found the last cookie in the jar.Ruby darted past me toward the door, her pigtails bouncing as she ran. “Roman!” she squealed. Her face lit up like our Christmas tree last year. I dropped my toy and scrambled over too, curious.Standing there was Roman, tall and kind of scruffy-looking, with a leather jacket that smelled like old rain. His smile was crooked, like he wasn’t used to smiling mu
~Ruby's POV~The morning air was clear as I turned the car out of the driveway, the low hum of the engine blending with Helen’s soft voice as she chatted beside me. The city was just beginning to wake, the orange-pink glow of dawn painting the streets in warmth.Helen adjusted her scarf, her tone firm but not unkind. “So, please take what we discussed into serious consideration.”I glanced at her, offering a smile. “Alright, Helen. I’ll think about it.”The drive to the airport was smoother than I thought, with no traffic at this early hour. Helen and I discussed the details of her plan, her voice steady as she explained her temporary role as CEO.As we pulled up to the departures terminal, I parked and stepped out, hurrying to help her with the luggage. The suitcase felt heavy in my hands, steadying me, as I set it down carefully on the curb.“Thank you, Ruby, but I can take it from here,” Helen said, smiling warmly.I hesitated. “Are you sure? I don’t mind helping you inside.”“No,
~Ruby's POV~The car was silent, save for the gentle hum of the engine as Roman drove. I sat in the front passenger seat beside him, arms crossed, staring out at the passing trees. Behind me, Rhett and little Ruby whispered and giggled, clearly up to something.“Umm… Mom,” Rhett’s voice broke the silence, “why are you following us?”I turned slightly, catching their mischievous smiles in the rearview mirror.“Do you want Roman to also get you a teddy bear too?” little Ruby teased, her small hands clutching the back of my seat.I couldn’t help but smirk. “Well, you two are going to have fun. Can’t I join in?”“Or is this just your excuse to spend time with me?” Roman chimed in with that infuriatingly charming smirk of his.I shot him a side-eye glare. “Not everything revolves around you, Roman.”“Sorry,” he said, his grin widening.The kids burst into laughter at our banter, and for a moment, the tension melted away.************When we arrived at the park, Roman pulled over neatly in
~Ruby's POV~“Mummy, Is he our dad?”The question hung in the air, sharp and piercing, like a dagger poised to strike. My heart froze, and I felt Roman’s gaze snap to me. I could see the faint tension in his jaw, the slight furrow in his brows. He was waiting—just like they were. But I couldn’t bring myself to speak. What could I possibly say? Whatever answer I gave would change everything.I shook my head, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Why would you… think that? Why would you say something like that?” I asked, my eyes darting between Rhett and little Ruby.Rhett, always the bold one, stepped forward. “Well, the first time Uncle Roman arrived, you said he was an old friend, Mom. But the way you two talk to each other… it’s obvious there’s something more. Like you have some kind of unsettled fight or secret.”My mouth opened to respond, but before I could, little Ruby chimed in. “And now Roman says he has kids who are our age,” she said, her small hands resting confidently on he
~Roman's POV~I stood by my car, watching as Ruby gently ushered the kids inside the cab. I had offered to take her home, to talk things through, to ease some of the tension lingering in the air. She refused it all, every offer brushed aside with a polite but firm smile.As the door shut behind her, I leaned back against the hood of my car, staring up at the darkening sky. My mind drifted to the kids’ words earlier in the day.“Mummy, is he our daddy?”The question had hung in the air like an echo. It wasn’t just the question itself—it was how they had heard enough to ask it.The conversation Ruby and I had was private, held in the living room while the kids were supposed to be in their rooms. Judging by the layout of the house, the walls, and the distance between the rooms, it should have been impossible for them to overhear anything. Yet, they had.The drive home was a blur. My thoughts raced, connecting the dots faster than I could process. The kids' heightened senses, their unca
~Ruby's POV~When we got home, I slammed the door harder than I intended, letting out the frustration I had bottled up. I turned to Rhett and Ruby, who were standing awkwardly in the hallway, their faces a mix of confusion and guilt.“What was that all about?” I asked sharply, placing my hands on my hips.The kids exchanged glances but said nothing, their silence only adding to my irritation. They looked like two deer caught in headlights, frozen in place under my intense glare.“Hey, I’m talking to both of you,” I said, snapping my fingers in front of them, trying to draw them out of their stupor.“Uhmm… it was nothing, Mom,” Rhett said in a whisper, staring at the floor, as if speaking might unleash my anger further.“We were just curious,” Ruby added in a small and hesitant voice, her eyes darting between her brother and me.“Oh, curious,” I scoffed, shaking my head. “Curious enough to ask someone deeply personal questions without any regard for boundaries?” My voice rose. “Persona
~Little Ruby's POV~Mom’s words were stuck in my head, going round and round like my favorite merry-go-round at the park.“Rhett, Ruby… Roman is your father.”I looked at Rhett, and he looked back at me. For a moment, we were both quiet, as if trying to confirm if what we heard was exactly what Mom just said. But then it hit me.“I knew it!” I shouted, jumping up so fast that I almost slipped. “I told you!”“Yes, I said it first! Guess I was right all along,” Rhett said, bouncing off the couch and landing on the floor.“Same here!” I said, putting my hands on my hips.“But I found out before you!” Rhett said with a smirk.“Sure, but I was the one with the plans,” I argued, my head held high.We started laughing and spinning around. I felt like I could fly.Roman and Mom just stared at us, like they didn’t know whether to laugh or say something serious.“Finally, we have a dad!” I said, clapping my hands and spinning again.“We’re going to tell everyone at school!” Rhett said.“No more
~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