Novels by Justina

Asher’s POV Asher gave a small nod and knelt in front of Neal, Noel still on his arms. Perhaps if he saw his brother excited, he would warm up to this, he thought.Keeping his voice gentle, he spoke. “Hey, buddy. You’re safe here, alright? I wouldn’t bring you anywhere that wasn’t. I promise.”Noel blinked at him, then slowly, cautiously, released his grip on Avery’s fingers. He didn’t speak, but he gave a small nod of his own, barely there, but it was enough.“That’s my brave boy,” Avery murmured, kissing the top of his head.Asher stood and reached for Avery’s hand, lacing their fingers together. He gave her a reassuring squeeze and glanced down at the boys again. “Let’s go meet Grandma Georgia, yeah?” he muttered.Neal bounced on the balls of his feet, practically glowing. “Do you think she’ll give us cookies?” he asked.Asher laughed, leading the way as they walked toward the grand entrance. “If I know my grandmother, she’ll give you cookies, juice, and a lecture about your postu

Asher’s POV Asher parked the car in front of the Storm mansion entrance and turned off the engine with a quiet sigh. Grandmother was already waiting at the door, her tall frame poised in elegance, arms folded over her coat. She never waited by the door for him. That job was always left to Wilson, the butler. If Wilson was no where to be seen, then she had intentionally stood there. He didn’t know if he should be glad that she was waiting for him, or if he should be cautious. The last time she had stood at the door for him, it had ended badly. Her presence today made one thing clear though, it was going to be a long day.He glanced at Avery in the passenger seat. She was unbuckling her seatbelt, but her hands trembled slightly. It wasn’t obvious, not unless you really knew her, and he did. This was the first time she’d be meeting his grandmother, Georgia Storm. It wasn’t just any introduction. It was the introduction.After last night, the proposal, Avery asking him to legally be

Avery’s POVThen suddenly, Asher leaned back slightly, a mixture of wonder and seriousness in his face as he looked at her.His jaw worked as if searching for the right words. “Avery, do you mean that? Because I’d do anything for those boys. Anything to protect them. If it means legally making them mine, I’ll do it in a heartbeat. Not out of obligation. But because I already love them. I already see them as mine. But this… this is big.” He said in a slow voice as if talking to a child.She nodded, her voice firm. She was more sure of this now, more than ever. “I know it is. But I don’t trust anyone else. And I trust you with them.” She said, her tone sure without doubts.For a second, Asher just stared at her, stunned into silence. “You… you want me to adopt them?” he muttered, blinking his eyes at her, like he wanted to stop the tears that she could now clearly see, from falling out.“If you’d be willing,” she whispered, running her hand up and down his arm. “You’re already more of

Avery’s POV Asher was quiet for a beat. Then he shifted closer and wrapped his arms around her again. If Asher hadn’t shown up that day, staring at her like he’d seen a ghost, calling her by a name she didn’t recognize, then none of this would have started. She wouldn’t have known she resembled someone else, wouldn’t have questioned the version of her life the Wellesleys had so carefully crafted around her. There would’ve been no search for the truth, no late-night doubts, no confrontation with the man she once believed to be her father-in-law, her grandfather. Avery would still have remained in that house, quietly existing under a false identity, raising her boys with no knowledge of the life, or the person, she had lost, except her memories came back to her.In a way, it was Asher who had set all of this in motion. He had cracked open the fragile illusion she was living in, and through that crack, the truth had poured in like sunlight, blinding, uncomfortable, but necessary.“Y

Avery’s POVAsher waited patiently as she gathered her thoughts. Her fingers played with the edge of her sweater, the fabric suddenly too warm, too heavy.“After dropping the boys off to school, I went to the estate,” she began softly after a few heartbeats. “It looked the same. Cold. Beautiful. And still… so unfamiliar. Like I didn’t belong there.”Asher said nothing, letting her speak at her own pace.“The maid let me in. She didn’t even flinch when she saw me, like she was expecting someone who didn’t belong, though she was surprised. Vivian was on her way out, of course she was. She looked at me like I was a smudge on her shoe.” She Continued.Asher let out a low breath, already frowning. “I don’t like that woman.”She gave him a small, dry smile. “Neither do I. But this time… something was different in the way she treated me, so I confronted her.” She said. Avery had no plans of confronting Vivian or even Joanna that day. She had come majorly to speak with grandfather Wellesley,

Avery’s POVThe garage was dimly lit, the golden glow of the evening sun stretching its arms across the driveway.The moment Avery pulled into the garage, her hands trembled slightly as she turned off the engine. The weight of the visit with Grandfather Wellesley pressed heavily on her chest, and for a second, she couldn’t move. Everything she’d just gone through swirled in her head, the confrontation, the truths spoken aloud, and the painful silences in between.She hadn’t fully processed it all, and yet, here she was, home. If it could still be called that.Asher was already waiting by the garage door. The second she stepped out, he was there, opening the door for her without a word. He didn’t smile, didn’t speak, just gently guided her out of the car and pulled her into his arms. Avery sank into him like a wave crashing into shore.She had decided earlier that day to do this without Asher physically by her side. Not because she didn’t trust him, God, no, but because deep down, sh

I year later The wind blew again, this time stronger than the first. Alister adjusted the thick fur cloak on Luciana’s shoulders and smiled as she buried her head in the crook of his arms. In her condition, she wasn’t supposed to be there but she was as stubborn as him. “Do you think she’s looking down on us and regretting what she did?" Luciana mumbled. Alister sighed; he knew that Ophelia regretted what she did and that was why she had killed herself, but he didn't know whether she had found peace in the afterlife. “I hope she found peace after all”, he mumbled. “ I miss her…the kids too” Luciana said. Alister nodded. He wouldn’t admit it, but he also missed her. He had forgiven her for what she did and would have loved it if Ophelia knew that she was forgiven. They stayed that way for a while before someone cleared their throat behind them. He knew who it was even before he turned to face the person. Elijah was standing there with a white rose in his hands, Ophelia’s favorit

Alister’s POVThe fight is in full force, and so far, the Black Moon pack seems to be holding their own. He looked around the fighting ground once again and couldn’t spot his uncle Helster. He knew his uncle’s wolf by now. If Helster’s wolf wasn’t on the battlefield, then where was he?A rogue charged at him, and he pounced on the wolf, tearing its spine away from its body and killing it instantly. The more Rogues they fight and kill, the more additional Rogues charge out of the woods.He saw Elijah finishing off another rogue, and his mind linked to him.“Helster is not here; why?”Elijah turned around and shifted into his human form. He ran back to where Alister was standing, already shifted into his human form.“I wouldn't want to believe that he’s hiding." Alister said.Elijah shook his head and said, “He wants the pack; he’s not hiding. I think he wants to sneak into the pack from another border. Catch us unawares." he said.Just then, as Alister wanted to respond, Peter’s

Luciana’s POVElder Haruto is dead. Wilson had said to her last night after he had returned to his house. He was now the head of the council and would preside over their case. She felt relieved that things were indeed working in their favor.Luciana shifted in her chair. She was waiting for their case to be called, like every other person who was there. She looked around, trying to see if Alpha Reed was already there, but she didn’t see him.Maybe it was a good thing that they would meet inside and not out in the open, she didn't know if she could control herself if she saw him out there in the open.“Black Velvet Pack!" a werewolf standing by the door called.She saw an Alpha stand up and walk into the room where the hearing was being held. Their case was the next one; she had seen the order earlier when Wilson had spoken to her.She pulled the folder out and held it firmly on her lap. The future of their pack depended on her, and as much as she had been the one who had caused all th

Alister’s POVIt was hard. Knowing that his mate was somewhere in the council, doing what he was supposed to be doing, was hard. It had been hard letting her go, and even now, he had to restrict himself from entering a car and driving to the council." Daddy… I want to pee." Keita said, tapping his leg.Alister rolled his eyes, looking down at the boy. “You just did that like five minutes ago”, he mumbled.Keita frowned. “I know, but I still want to go. Mom would be upset if I peed on myself,” he said, pouting his lips.Alister shook his head. Either Keita was missing his mother and didn’t know how to communicate his feelings, or he was trying to be difficult and frustrate him. He suspected it was both.“Fine, let’s go”, he said, picking Keita up. The moment he moved to leave, Omar jumped up from the chair and followed them. Alister sighed. It was going to be hard trying to pull Omar away from him when the time came to defend the pack, and Luciana was not yet back.Thankfully, the re

Reed’s POVReed arrived at the council the next morning. He could feel his victory, and that gave him the confidence to enter the council building. He still had time before the hearing, so he decided to pay a visit to Veronica, his mother.Her office was not far from the academy. He climbed the stairs and walked down the hallway until he got to her door.He knocked twice and waited for her response before pushing the door open and entering the small office. His mother was sitting behind her desk, and she looked like she had never aged since he last saw her.Veronica lifted her head and the surprise on her face was obvious. He didn't blame her for being shocked at him standing in her office; he too would be shocked if he were in her position.Growing up, they never had the best mother-son relationship. She was more like a figure who was just there beside his father. He hated her for that—for not loving him like every other mother loved their children.She pulled the glasses off her fac

Luciana’s POVLuciana closed the zipper of her luggage with a sigh. She was ready to leave, but her heart couldn’t bear to see them all as she was leaving. She could hear the different voices gathered in her living room to bid her goodbye.She sighed and dragged her luggage out of the room, walking down the stairs.“Oh Lucia." Ophelia mumbled, coming up to her to envelope her in a huge hug. Luciana buried herself in the hug.It wasn’t that she was going away from the council for long. Hell, she was just going to be gone for two or three days, so she didn't understand why they were all acting like she was going to be gone for a year.“Take care of yourself and my boys,” she muttered close to Ophelia’s ears.Ophelia nodded her head and released her. “I will. Stay safe,” she said, taking the luggage from Luciana and carrying it outside towards the waiting car.Alister was the next one to come up to her. He was holding Omar, who had refused to let him go and was clinging to him.“You can