~Ruby's POV~The restaurant had settled into a quieter rhythm as the lunch rush died down. Just as I was considering how soon I could escape this awkward gathering, Esperanza’s phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at the screen, frowning slightly before picking up the call.“Hello, am I speaking with Esperanza Blackwood?” a voice asked from the other end.Esperanza leaned back in her chair, rolling her eyes playfully. “Yeah… depends on who’s asking.”There was a brief pause before the woman replied, “The lady from the store. Just wanted to inform you that your package is here.”Esperanza let out a breath. “Okay… alright. Be right there.”She ended the call and turned to us, already rising to her feet. “Now, of all times. Let me just quickly get it.”Then, as if realising something, she glanced between me and Roman. “Umm… will you two still be here?”Absolutely not.I didn’t even hesitate. “We were just about to leave,” I said quickly, eager to put some distance between myself and t
Keely’s POVAbout an hour ago…Esperanza shot me one last mischievous grin as she stepped outside. “Have fun doing absolutely nothing while I’m gone.”I rolled my eyes. “Just leave already.”She laughed, throwing up a wave before disappearing through the front doors.The estate was finally quiet again.I exhaled, stretching my arms above my head, already planning how I was going to sneak off to see Isaac when my phone vibrated in my pocket.I pulled it out and frowned at the screen.Dad.I quickly answered. “Hey, Dad.”“Keely,” my father’s deep voice came through the line. “I’m heading out with Damien.”I straightened. “Oh? Where to?”“Business,” he said simply, his tone giving nothing away.I frowned. “Business? What kind of business?”There was a pause before he responded, “Nothing you need to worry about.”That only made my curiosity spike. “Alright, so when will you be back?”“No idea.”I bit my lip, suppressing a sigh. Of course. That was always the answer.Instead of pushing fur
"Shut up and kiss me, Isaac."His answering smirk was brief before his lips captured mine again.This time, it was different—there was a hunger to it, an urgency, like he needed me to breathe.Our hands moved faster, our kisses became more heated, until all we could feel was each other.His skin against mine, his heart beating in time with mine.He pulled back, panting, his dark eyes searching mine before going down to stare at my breast."You're so fucking beautiful, Keely," he whispered, almost like a prayer.I flushed, the words washing over me, warming me to my core.Then his mouth was on me again, trailing a path down the curve of my neck, the dip of my collarbone, the swell of my breast.His lips closed around one nipple, sucking gently, eliciting a gasp from me. His hand moved up to palm the other, thumb brushing against the sensitive skin, teasing, taunting.I moaned softly, arching into him, desperate for more."Isaac, please," I breathed."So impatient," he murmured, his eye
I raised an eyebrow, confused. "What are you doing?""This," he replied simply, before hoisting me over his shoulder."Isaac!" I squealed, caught off guard by the sudden action.He chuckled, patting my ass. "Quiet, love."And then, before I could even comprehend what was happening, he strode across the room, tossed me on the bed, and crawled on top of me.I laughed, reaching up to stroke his cheek. "That was pretty smooth, Isaac.""Why, thank you," he said, grinning.Then he kissed me again.His lips were fire against mine, his body warm and solid above me. His hands roamed my body, touching, teasing, bringing me closer and closer to the edge.I moaned, arching into him, begging for more."Patience," he murmured, his lips curling in a smirk as he entered me, his gaze locked on mine.The feeling was exquisite, but still not enough as only the cap of his member was inside of me."Harder," I moaned.He grunted and thrust hard, fully sheathing himself within me."You're so fucking wet," h
~RUBY’S POV~“AHHHH!”“AHHHHHH!!”“AHHHHHHHHHH!!!”I swear my soul left my body for a second. My heart was racing, my hands clutching my chest as I stared wide-eyed at Keely.“What the hell?!” I shrieked, trying to catch my breath.Keely looked just as startled. “What the hell?! What are you two doing here?”Esperanza gaped at her. “What are we doing here? Keely, we live here!”I was still bent over with my hands on my knees as I gasped, “I think I just lost a year off my life.”Esperanza groaned, rubbing her temple. “Okay, seriously, what are you doing sneaking around like this?”Keely straightened, still looking flustered. “I—I thought you were an intruder!”Esperanza blinked. “An intruder? In my own house?”She hesitated before muttering, “Technically, yeah.”I squinted at her, just now noticing the state she was in—her hair a complete mess, her shirt haphazardly buttoned, and she was barefoot.And then it hit me.Esperanza noticed it too.She gasped dramatically, her eyes widening
~Ruby's POV~"We found out why he’s cutting ties with the other packs. And trust me, Ruby… it’s worse than we thought.”Esperanza moved toward the window, peeking through the curtains. Her fingers twitched as she adjusted them slightly. “Isaac is gone,” she murmured before letting the fabric fall back into place.I barely registered her words. My mind was still struggling to process what Keely had just said."So we found out that some other council members knew about Mom’s death," Keely continued, lowering herself onto the edge of the bed.I blinked, trying to feign surprise, but I couldn’t quite find the words to respond. My mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out.Esperanza nodded knowingly. “Yeah, same reaction I had when I found out.”I swallowed hard. "Do you mean they knew as in, just like we do? Or were they involved?"Keely exhaled. "I won’t say they were directly involved, but they saw it coming. And they didn’t say a word.”Esperanza crossed her arms. “Not even to Dad.”
~Ruby's POV~“So, we’re really breaking into Uncle Damien’s office?” Keely whispered, her voice laced with disbelief."Yep... definitely," Esperanza said, way too confident for my liking. "I mean, we’re not breaking in breaking in." She added with a casual wave of her hand."Oh, you mean sneaking in," Keely said, raising a brow."Yes, yes! Exactly." Esperanza snapped her fingers.I folded my arms. "And how exactly do we plan on doing that?"Esperanza shrugged. "We just walk in."I blinked at her. "Walk in? Esperanza, that room is practically a fortress."Keely and Esperanza exchanged confused looks."I mean guards, security measures, the whole you’re-not-welcome-here vibe," I clarified.Esperanza scoffed. "Oh, that? That was in the past. Not anymore.""Seriously? Like, no security at all?" I asked, raising a skeptical brow."Nope. Let’s just say a very strict example was made out of the last person who messed up," Esperanza said.Keely nodded. "And now? No one dares to even think abou
~Ruby’s POV~Dane looked at the three of us with a sharp gaze, his arms crossed over his chest. He seemed both confused and suspicious."What are you doing here?" His tone was serious as he demanded an answer.Esperanza, always the quick thinker, spoke first. "Umm… nothing, actually."Keely caught on fast. "Told you Dad wasn’t here, but you insisted," she said, shaking her head as if I had dragged them here.Ruby and Keely exchanged a quick glance, realizing what Esperanza was trying to do."Yeah… thought you’d lie about it again," Keely added, her tone laced with accusation."Just like you did last time," I threw in for good measure.Dane’s brows furrowed as he focused on me, finally recognizing who I was. "Ruby?"I forced a small smile and nodded.Dane shook his head, still trying to piece things together. "I'm sorry—what exactly is going on here?"Esperanza exhaled dramatically. "Oh, Ruby thought I was lying about Dad not being home, so I came to show her myself." She even added a
~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