Aveline Kade had started to get impatient. It had just been two minutes since he asked me that question, and he had started to get impatient, which showed how serious he was. As I hesitated, I couldn't shake the feeling that my response would be a turning point in our friendship. If I said yes, it could bring about an unforgettable memory, but also potentially lead to consequences I couldn't yet foresee. On the other hand, saying no might spare me from uncertainty, but also risk disappointing him and altering the delicate balance of our relationship.I felt the weight of this decision acutely, knowing that either response would inevitably leave its mark on our friendship. I was trapped in a web of possibilities, unsure of what to say but certain that my choice would forever change the dynamics between us.‘I am also dying from the suspense so go on and say whatever you want to say.’ V teased me with a soft chuckle. Kade’s eyes never left mine all this while but I tried avoiding
Aveline“You should go straight to the point, Ave,” I halted in my steps immediately I heard him call me that. “Why did you have to go behind me to do that?”“What did you just call me?” I furrowed my brows in annoyance. “I think I've told you times without number to stop calling me that. Or do you think you can call me that because of what we shared in the past?” I saw him stand upright, and for a second, he seemed like he was sorry, but his brows shot up in what was anything other than regret or apology. “And I've told you times without number that I'm willing to put the past behind me, but the question is would you?" He said with a smirkMy heels clicked after I stopped at the front of my chair and took my seat with a sigh giving no answer to what Draven just asked me. I stood my ground, my eyes locked on his as he spoke in a sharp tone. "All I came here for was to find out if you were the one who did it." His footsteps echoed through the room as he approached me, his eyes blazin
AVELINE’S POVI turned to stare at Kade and stretched my lips to form a smile. “Please, excuse us for a bit,” I said to him.“Aveline, are you… Sure, that’s okay, and you are cool with that?” Kade questioned with a concerned tone.“Sure, I am; you don’t have to worry about anything,” I answered him with a tone enough to convince him that I meant what I said and a relaxed facial expression.“If you say so, then,” he replied and pursed his lips together before he turned away from me to stare at Draven with a pissed gaze; he sized him from head to toe before turning away and walking out of my office.Just before Kade left, it was quite obvious that he wasn’t pleased with my decision to send him out; he made sure he let it be known through his body language, and I was probably the only thing keeping his hatred for Draven in line.Anyways, I had to do what I did; I needed alone time with Draven for now.“So, what is it that you were saying?” I questioned and placed my arms on the table, pa
AvelineKade smiled before taking his hands out of his pocket, maybe I should have created one all by myself after all. I think talking to him about it was a mistake I should not have made."Don't worry I would—-" I trailed off after Kade shook his head. "Let's do it." His baritone voice echoed in the four corners of the room and a sinister smile appeared on his face. "Let's form one." "Are you sure?" I asked again; this time, I was louder, and my brows shot up. "It's not a must-do thing just so you–""I know, but it's my choice, isn't it?" He asked with a shrug and I nodded. "I want to join you on this path and I don't think the consequences would be enough to make me back out." Every word that proceeded out of his mouth was coated in determination, disdain, and assurance of things that were yet to come. Kade has always been the type that was always resilient to his goal but this look… this look on his face says a lot that was difficult for me to explain. He had a malicious look
DravenEven though Emily denied being jealous of Aveline, Draven knew it was a lie, a confident one.And he was sure Sofia and Beatrice thought the same but the moment was too heated up for any of them to say a word.Beatrice had been protective about it and it made Draven suspect that there was something she wasn't telling him. As it stood, he couldn't trust the women who were close to him. Not only because they were keeping things from him, they'd hated Aveline from the onset and there was no reason why they wouldn't attack her if they found the opportunity."I can't believe you'd think such a thing Draven." Emily had said when Draven pressed for the truth, tears had begun to Weil in her eyes but Draven wasn't moved by it. If anything, he was pissed that she wanted to play the emotional card on him. But he didn't call her out for that, at least not with Beatrice and Sofia standing beside the female and always ready to support her.That would pull them into another round of back and
DravenAfter the incident in Aveline's office, Draven decided it was wise not to show up in front of Aveline for some time at least until he had something relevant to tell her.Truly, he'd acted out of character and he only imagined how it made Aveline feel. She had the right to be with whoever she wanted to buy he'd acted like he had rights over her.However, a part of Draven still wanted to skin Kade alive for laying hands on Aveline in such a delicate spot that only he had access to. Who knew what he had done to Aveline behind closed doors?The thought of Aveline moaning under the sheets with another man riding her made his heart sink."Hello officer, any update yet?" He asked the man on the other end of the call. The faster he got an update concerning the kidnap, the sooner he could show his face to Aveline and he needed to do that soon cause he was losing it with all the many thoughts his mind harbored."There's nothing yet, we're still looking but the case is a strange one. The
DravenWithout waiting a moment, Aveline pulled her hand from his grip and shot him a glare."What's come over you Draven? I am none of your business, if you keep this up, I'll ask for a restraining order." The lady threatened but Draven seemed unbothered by her threats."Please answer me Ave, I need to know why you're being like this. It's unlike you to follow other men." Draven pressed, worry was etched in his voice this time around.Aveline heaved a sigh and shook her head as she scanned him."Do you remember when you told Emily that she was just paranoid and acting jealous because she always saw you with me?" The woman's question caused Draven to arch a brow."That's exactly what you're doing now." She continued."You're just being paranoid and jealous because you can't stand seeing me with anyone but you should get used to it because you're going to be seeing more of Kade now." With those words, she turned around, yanked her car door open, sank into sit and within a few minutes,
Aveline"Do you think you're any different from Emily?" I repeated, my tone dripping with annoyance. "Tell me!!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, my voice echoing off the walls. Draven took a step backward, his eyes widening slightly as he regarded me warily.After all he had put me through, did he really think he had a shot at winning me back? The very idea was laughable. If he thought he could just waltz back into my life and expect me to forgive and forget, he was sorely mistaken. Not while I still had a pulse."What is that supposed to mean?" Draven asked his squinted eyes a testament to the confused look on his face. He took a step forward, his eyes locked on mine."You're seriously asking me what I mean?" I shook my head in disappointment, my eyes rolling heavenward. There was a high chance he was lying, and I could see it in his eyes. All he wanted was to hear it from my mouth, to manipulate me into revealing more than I intended."Yeah," he said finally, breaking the minute-lo
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