Aveline "You look beautiful." He remarked, taking a seat opposite me."What will you like? The cheeseburger here bangs. I recommend that." He said, looking back at the menu.I was still trying to recover from him pulling out the chair for me before he hit me with a compliment I'd only heard from my friend for the past nine years."So, what are you doing now? Did you get a job elsewhere?" He asked after we placed our orders."Nothing yet, for now, it's hard getting a job around here with this big bump," I said, laughing at myself but he wasn't amused.I could see the sympathetic look on his face."Is there anything you'd like to do?" He asked again, making me lose the smile on my face.Thinking about all the dreams and plans I'd had before finding out that I was still pregnant, it felt like a bad memory but I shrugged it off."I wanted to own my own business, my empire. Satisfying the needs of the public while making enough money in the process." I replied with a distant smile on my f
AvelineMy eyes widened and a gasp escaped my lips. This was not the time I was supposed to give birth, not in this kind of situation…not in this kind of place…not even in the midst of these bastards. I swiftly turned my face sideways; even after they saw the water rolling down my legs, they still had an indifferent look on their faces. "Trust me we don't give a fuck about what is happening to you right now," it came from my left side, and I turned to him. He seemed like their boss if we were to place them by their body size. His eyes were deadly, so was his face, and he had a scar just under his right eye. "Yeah, we don't!" Another one from my right-hand side barked. I was surrounded. 'What…what do you think we should do?' I heard my wolf stutter. She could not hide her fear. Neither could I, but there was nothing I could do; I didn't know what might happen to the baby if I messed up, so I just stood in a particular spot. "Please," I was barely able to find my voice but they
AvelineSlowly, I turned to the woman but her gaze was not even on me. She packed the trays and other items before turning to take her leave. "Thank you, ma'am," I managed to voice out, and she turned to me. "You're welcome," she spoke in a calm tone. With that, she took her leave from the room after she and Lucas exchanged a smile. "How did I get here?" My face was etched with worry. I looked at the child in my hands; she had fallen asleep. Lucas walked further into the room with his hands in his pocket and he sat down on a metal chair close to the bed. "Did you have any idea where you were before I came to save you?" "I do remember that I was surrounded by some thugs," my words were slow but steady. "I passed out…too quick."He nodded slowly. "You were unconscious when I found you." "How did you know where I was?" My curiosity piqued the more I threw questions at him. "Were you tailing me?"A silent chuckle escaped his lips and he brought out his phone before handing it to me
AvelineI held Kade by his wrist and dragged him to a corner in the huge room. "What do you mean by Draven Harrington?"He slowly removed my hand from his wrist and smiled. "You kept on refusing to meet with his company, why?"My hands were across my chest and I sighed, Kade's gaze still fixed on me, he was obviously waiting for an answer. An answer that he might never get. "It's been three years Ms Nova," he smoothed his hair by pushing it backward slowly. "Three years." "Are you sure it's three?" I let out a light chuckle. He heaved a frustrated sigh. "Yes, three. They are not as successful as they used to be about four to five years ago but we can benefit from them also." I sat by the edge of the long table in the meeting room and my eyes were fixed on the floor. "I thought they said I was able to do nothing without the help of those bitches." I felt my finger going into my palm. "What did you say?" Kade pulled me out of my thoughts and I just lifted the corner of my lips. "U
AveAcknowledging the moderator on the stage with a wave of hands, I smiled brightly at the congregation that cheered at the mention of my name, and also at the lady who had suddenly gone pale.Emily. She looked like she'd seen a ghost or was probably in a nightmare. With a confused face, she looked around the hall, trying to comprehend the strange news that was dished.The moderator continued to acknowledge more prominent people in the meeting but Emily didn't move an inch from where she sat. Her gaze pinned on me.After years of seeing her, I knew that she was going to be at the conference and a part of me was anxious about seeing her. Thinking about the possible outcome of our meeting.Thinking about how pretty she would probably be looking especially as someone who hadn't gone through the kind of stress I did these past few years. But seeing her that day, I knew that there was no way I could be compared to her. She looked basic. And I was just not about basics anymore. The event
Aveline Shifting my attention to the audience who waited for me to speak, I began, reflecting on how far I'd come but not forgetting about the business struggles the city had to face over the years. Working with Draven for years has helped keep me conversant with the business world and all the happenings in it. So even when I was away for three years, I knew the development in the business world. After my speech, as the applause rose in the crowd, I saw Draven walk back into the hall, but this time around, without Emily. I didn't want to think about the many different reasons why she didn't follow him back in. Maybe he sent her back home, or maybe he told her he didn't want her for the rest of the occasion. I didn't know but one thing I knew was that I was glad. I was glad she didn't return with him. I was glad he sent her away for a change.Happy with the turnouts of events. I got to my feet and headed towards the door.Darting my eyes to where Draven sat, I saw him talking to s
Aveline I heaved a sigh when I got to the office. Certain that Draven and some people from his company would be inside already, waiting for me courtesy of the stern condition I gave them the last time.Thinking back to it, it felt like I was a little too harsh, but one reminder about the worse he'd done to me, I shoved the guilty thoughts away.Nodding slightly to the bows of the staff at the door, I walked past them into the hall that led to the meeting room.Mr Kade stood at the entrance of the meeting room. "Good day ma, trust you had a good night rest?" He asked but I could hear the impatience in his voice."I slept alright Kade. Are they in already?" I answered, referring to the reason behind his tension."Yes ma, they've been here for thirty minutes at the very least." He replied, looking worried."Very well then." I replied, wanting to make my way into the meeting room but he step ahead of me, stopping me in my tracks."Is there something wrong?" I inquired, with a firm voice
AvelineI walked into my office and shut the door behind me. I would give Emily a taste of what she deserves; she has to know that the Aveline that disappeared three years ago is no longer the same as the one she trampled upon. After hours of working and going through files, I gently rubbed my eyes. A sigh escaped my lips, and just as I was packing the files, I heard a soft knock on my door. "Yes?" There was no response. Instead, the person just knocked again and I transferred my gaze to the door, curious.Who could that be?"Who is there?" My gaze was still plastered on the door. "It's me." That was no other person than Draven. A soft exhale escaped my lips and I pushed my hair behind me. "Come in." The doorknob turned slowly and he walked into the office with his hands behind him. "It's a nice one.""You should tell me why you came here," my voice was hoarse. "I don't have that luxury of time, my tables should tell you that."Draven wore a shocked and confused expression at my
Aveline."Why is the car driving towards us? And with that amount of speed?" Sabrina asked, wide-eyed and alarmed. "Hold tight," I instructed and turned the steering wheel to change the direction of the tires so the moment I stepped on the accelerator, my car escaped the oncoming car by a little shift. They could've run into us if I hadn't acted fast. I stared at my rearview mirror to observe the white van that was behind us and noticed that the engine was still on and it was still coming for us.I sped off with hopes of losing the car but another one came from one of the bushes in front."Shit!" I cursed but didn't take my legs off the accelerator."Were they trying to kidnap us right now? Or was this Kade's doings? It had to be placed since we couldn't place a finger at what or who exactly was behind it.If I was the only one, I could've let them take me but I had my family with me and I wasn't about to let any of them get hurt. Not on my watch."The car doesn't seem to be stoppin
AvelineIt's been four days since Draven told me about what he saw and what he thinks might happen and even though Sabrina thinks we should go to Draven's pack and stay under his watch, I don't think I'm ready yet to go there.Not when Betty is involved. I could go alone or even bear taking Sabrina with me but with Betty coming along, it's a different ball game.The last years I spent there were hell to me and the memory still haunts me after years. I wouldn't want Betty to experience the slightest toxicity. "What do you think about this dress huh? You'd slay in it I'm sure. Necks would turn to you if you go in this." Sabrina was at one of her talks to try to convince me to move to Draven's park."I told you before already, I'm not going to let Betty go through what I went through.""Who said she's going to go through that? Besides, Draven's now on your side and so is Sofia." She protests."What if Sofia's just pretending to get me on good notes with her? What if Draven's in on it wi
Aveline Hours after Betty's birthday, I was sitting in my garden under a shade, alongside Sabrina. Betty had gone to school, the maids had come over to clean and cook, and they had all been dismissed; their services wouldn't be needed throughout today.The only service that would be needed is that of the guards who were at the gate. They had been there ever since the day that the news got released, with no dismissal for them. With Kade out there, my life was still in danger; he had threatened me. I need all the security and protection that I can get for as long as I can. “What's up with you? You have been lost in thought for quite a while now,” Sabrina said after tapping me to get my attention. “Really?” I questioned with a slightly stunned expression on my face; the question was a genuine one, though. Truthfully, I had no idea that I had been lost in thought, not until Sabrina tapped me.“Yeah. So, are you going to share what it is that is troubling you?” she questioned.“Obvious
DravenI told Aveline to go inside with Betty while I spoke with Kade and her eyes communicated how grateful she was for my intervention. She must've been so scared to see Kade here after their fight and it pissed me off to see the negative effect he had on her.Things are different now that I have another chance with her and I will not allow another man to threaten Aveline or her child. I couldn't protect them before and I am going to do everything in my power to protect them now."Go on and play in the swing section." Kade dismissed his niece with a soothing smile before pocketing his hands and shifting his attention to me."What the fuck are you doing here Kade?" I began, my expression stiff and unimpressive. "What do you think? I'm here for my niece's best friend's birthday party." He says with a nonchalant smile. "Cut the crap, I know that's not why you're here. And I know that you're being that stunt in there." My voice became raspy as my anger grew."Did something happen in
AvelineI make a swift glance behind Draven to see two serving carts rolling towards us, one was empty while the other was packed with plates and utensils with food in them.The guests were screaming and running out of the way. From the look of things, the carts collided with force and were coming our way. For some reason, I couldn't seem to move. My feet felt like they were glued to the ground. I looked at Draven's face which held a frown.The logical thing to do was to move out of the way but I couldn't -- we couldn't. It was as if we were being controlled by some remote."What's going on?" Draven blurts out and I know that it was as I thought. We both couldn't move.Something with the force of a magnet was pinning us to the ground.The carts roll in so close I think we're going to be run over but just then, strong hands and bodies push us to the side and fall over us."What the fuck was that?" Sofia asked after the carts rolled past us."I don't know." Getting on my feet was strai
Aveline. The day for Betty’s birthday finally arrived after what seemed like a really slow week. A lot of people were invited, and it was hosted in my house. The people that showed their face here were more than the ones that I had invited; some of them were Betty’s friends. I walked around to make sure that everything was in order just before the party started; it was less than an hour away from starting. There was a knock on the door. I watched Sabrina walk up to the door to open it. I didn’t bother turning back to stare at who it was; instead, I continued with my search. The person who knocked might just be someone I had invited or maybe one of the friends Betty had made in her class. “Aveline,” a familiar voice called, causing me to turn back with a smile on my face, one that stretched with a little bit of surprise. Immediately, I saw what she was holding. “Where’s your little girl? I have something to present to her myself,” she said, raising the box of cupcakes in her han
Draven. “Ok then, that would be all for now,” Draven said over the phone to someone who was on the other end of the line. He listened to the person’s reply, pulled the phone away from his ear, and slipped his phone into his pocket. Staring at the view of the city through his floor-to-ceiling window, he spaced out, remembering how the past few days had been. Aveline’s pack members' attack on his pack has finally been halted, and the peace has finally returned, all thanks to Aveline. She had also been the one to deal with the issue that had been trending on the internet, though she had been the one benefitting negatively from it, while it had only had a little impact against him. At that moment, the emotion occupying his heart was that of sadness, due to the fact that he was unable to help at all the past few days. That act was so unlike him; he was known well for always helping out in times like this and also coming up with solutions. The look in his eyes suddenly lit up; immedi
AvelineI cocked my head to the side with a raised smile and an amused expression on my face."Say what now?" I asked even though I heard her clearly.And she must've known and chosen to ignore or was just oblivious to the fact that she acted very strangely."I said I want a truce, between us." She repeated. Her face is straight.She must've been touched since I accepted to help her pack. Her beef with me was unreasonable. She should've known from the start but I do not tell her that and I certainly do not trust her call for a truce.We've been enemies for too long I'd gotten used to seeing her like one.However, it must've taken everything in her to approach me for a truce and blocking her out might not be the best thing to do since it's better to keep the enemies closer."My daughter's birthday dinner party is this weekend. Come if you're not busy." I said with a smile.There, I can watch her closely and find out if she has an ulterior motive. I expected her to frown and snap at me
Aveline. Immediately after I walked out of the house, I let out a long exhale to calm my raging nerves. I ignited the engine, and at the same time, connected my phone with my car and was about to place a call across to the huge guy I had fought in my pack to convince the remaining pack members. Mason. That was his name; I had learned it from him after the fight, which had been obviously humiliating to him.Just as I was about to dial the number, I decided against it and just decided to play music instead.I was really trying to avoid anything that would get me more pissed than I was.‘You will need to get your emotions in check before you do something that you might regret out of anger,’ V said in my mind with her usual calm tone.‘I am really trying to get them in check, but the words that Sofia said keep repeating in my head, and that is the exact thing keeping me pissed.’ I replied to her, my face tensed, forming a frown. ‘Think of something else, then,’ V replied and fell in