~Rhett’s POV~We finally reached a big door. It was huge and dark, with heavy wood that made a low creaking sound when I pushed it open.Then we froze.A man was already there, standing tall in front of us. He didn’t move. His hands were behind his back like he was waiting. Watching. A slow, creepy smile grew on his face.My stomach flipped.“Uh-oh,” “Where do you think you’re going?” the man asked in a low and scary voice.“Umm… just trying to get some air,” Little Ruby said with a nervous laugh.“More like you were escaping,” he said, cracking his knuckles loud like breaking sticks.“Something like that,” I said, trying to smile like I wasn’t scared. But I was. So much.“But you’re gonna let us go… right?” Little Ruby asked, hopeful.“Why should I do that?” he asked, raising one eyebrow.“The others that tried didn’t end well,” Ruby said quickly.He laughed. It wasn’t a nice laugh. It made my arms feel cold.“Bluffing type, I see,” he said.Ruby and I looked at each other and tried
~Roman’s POV~ “The kids are missing.”I stood up quickly, and my chair scraped loudly against the floor, breaking the silence with a sharp sound. My heart raced in my chest.Everything stopped.The tension grew until it finally broke, similar to the moment when you turn a key in the lock just before the door swings open.“What do you mean missing?” I asked sharply—at least outwardly.Abel didn’t flinch. He never did. He was still leaning on his chair like this was any other conversation. As if what he just said wasn’t enough to rip through the fragile calm I’d been forcing down all day.“Calm down,” he said, brushing imaginary lint from his sleeve. “Could be nothing. You know the way children are.”“Could?” I repeated incredulously, pushing past that last thread of patience.He gave a lazy shrug. “Be rest assured, I sent people to look.”That was when I moved.My hand was already on his collar before my mind caught up. The force of my grip slammed him against the wall, rattling the
~Ruby's POV~The antiseptic smell of the hospital was starting to cling to my skin. That mix of alcohol, bleach, and something sterile that never lets you forget where you are. The steady beeping of the monitors was the only sound in the room, steady like a ticking clock, each one a reminder that this was real.Helen lay in the bed, her face pale, her leg elevated and wrapped in white bandages, bruises painting her skin in shades of angry violet and fading yellow. She looked so small under the thin sheet. Too still. Too quiet.I sat beside her, a damp cloth in hand, gently wiping the sweat from her forehead, though I wasn’t sure if it was from pain or the leftover adrenaline. She was stable. That’s what the doctors said. Stable. But it didn’t feel like enough."This is all my fault," I whispered, more to myself than anyone. "I shouldn't have left you alone, Helen."My voice cracked, and I held her hand tightly like I could anchor both of us here in this moment, away from the chaos
CHAPTER : Trackers~Roman’s POV~Kai had been quiet for a few minutes, walking around the old warehouse. The sky was cloudy, and the air smelled like rust and old oil—heavy and damp. It was the kind of smell that stuck to your clothes and made your mouth taste bitter.I tightened my jaw and looked again, half expecting something to jump out from the shadows. The windows were either shattered or boarded up, and the walls were mottled with old graffiti and creeping ivy. Somewhere nearby, a pipe dripped steadily—one of those sounds that grew more annoying the longer it went on.“Roman,” Kai’s voice called.I moved instantly, my boots crunching over gravel and broken glass as I rounded the corner of the building. Ruby followed close behind. Neither of us spoke, but I felt her tension just as I felt my own.Kai stood near a rusted panel of metal, his hand tracing something on its surface.“There,” he said, stepping back so I could see it clearly.Etched deep into the metal wall was a smal
~Ruby's POV~“Get the twins. I’ll handle this.”Roman’s voice cut through the tension. “Go.”I froze for just a heartbeat—long enough to hear the blood pounding in my ears, long enough to taste the panic rising in my throat.“Go, Ruby,” he said again, more firmly this time. I nodded, barely able to swallow the lump lodged in my throat. My hand found Kai’s arm instinctively, and the two of us bolted through the narrow side entrance, slipping past the perimeter before anyone could notice.The compound's interior was worse than I imagined. The air felt heavy and stale, filled with the smell of damp wood and something unpleasant. The flickering overhead lights suggested they hadn’t been fixed in a long time. Paint was peeling from the walls in long strips, looking like withering leaves. With each step I took down the narrow hallway, the sound echoed around me.“Which way now?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.Kai hesitated at the fork ahead, his eyes darting between two dim cor
~Roman's POV~"Get the twins. I’ll handle this,” I said, never taking my eyes off Abel.Ruby hesitated beside me. Her eyes flickered between Abel and me, searching my face for any sign that I was bluffing. I wasn’t. Not this time. She knew it too—because she nodded once, reluctantly, and turned on her heel, disappearing with Kai down the hallway to find the kids.And then it was just us.Me and him.The air seemed to thicken as the door clicked shut behind Ruby. Abel stood a few feet away, arms casually at his sides, but the smug curl of his lips gave away how much he enjoyed this moment.I cracked my knuckles, slowly, deliberately. “No more games.”He arched a brow, amused. “Isn’t that what you always said? Life’s a game?”I took a step forward. “Not when my family’s involved.”The smile stayed on his face, but something shifted in his jaw—a brief twitch, a crack in the polished mask he wore like armor.He knew. He knew I wasn’t bluffing either. This wasn’t just another chess ma
~Ruby's POV~I didn’t even realise I was crying until I felt the sting of salt against the cuts on my cheek. My arms were full—one child cradled on each side—and my legs barely kept pace as I pushed forward, praying we’d make it out before something else went wrong.Rhett’s limp grew heavier with each hurried step, but he clung to me with everything he had. Little Ruby had her face buried in my neck, her tiny breaths trembling against my skin. Blood had dried beneath her nose, crusted against her upper lip. I kept brushing her curls from her face, murmuring like a chant—words meant more for me than for them.“Almost there, babies. I’ve got you. I’ve got you. Just a little more.”The hallway ahead was a blur of dim light and flickering shadows, but I caught the movement before the face. Kai. He was hobbling toward us, his lip split, bruises painting one side of his face, but gods—he was smiling.“Hey!” he called out, breathless, in a hoarse but warm voice.The twins stirred in my arm
~Roman’s POV~The grand hall of the Pack House was colder than I remembered. Not in temperature—but in silence, in the tension that gripped the walls like ice. I stood at the center of it all, straight-backed and unyielding, though every step inside felt like trespassing across the bones of my past. Familiar faces stared back at me—pack warriors, curious onlookers, council elders seated in their formal robes like ancient statues.They whispered. Of course they did.“What’s he doing here?”“He was banished.”“Is he insane?”“He’s going to get himself killed.”I kept my eyes ahead, ignoring the murmurs from the crowd. My hands were steady. My pulse was not.Elder Cael stood slowly from the council bench. “You violated your sentence, Roman D’Angelo. You were banished. To return is an act of rebellion punishable by death.”The words lingered in the air, serious and heavy. I didn’t react at all.“I didn’t come here to defy,” I said in a controlled voice, “I came in peace. I came to protec
~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