For a brief moment, I question how Dean could possibly know what my uncle had said, but then I remember the link we share, and Dean simply smiles and nods at me. "I love you so deeply that it almost feels insane," I declare, my emotions spilling over.
"And I'll never cease loving you," he reassures me. "You know... I'm coming to understand that by marrying you, I didn't break my promise to Eliza. In fact, by marrying someone who's been a cherished friend my entire life, I may have failed in making a promise to you," Dean's words smooth out so many of my worries in an instant.
As Caleb enters the gate code, the immense metal gate granting access to the villa swings open. The SUV glides effortlessly through and follows the long, tree-lined path until the trees part, revealing a circular driveway that perfectly complements the grand residence.
Upon arriving at the villa, I am overcome with joy at being home; a place that, for the firs
Blossom POVAs I step into the enclosed back porch, I find Dean lounging in a lawn chair, gazing thoughtfully into the wilderness beyond. I settle into the chair beside him and teasingly say, "Boo."Dean turns his head slowly to look at me, feigning fear with a deadpan expression. "Ahhhhh, I'm afraid..." he replies without so much as an increase in volume or any added inflection."No, smart-ass, I mean the puppy. I think his name should be 'Boo'," I declare, grinning with pride at the cleverness and cuteness of the idea. Dean says he loves it. Despite the fact that this dire wolf puppy was entrusted to him by a pack of actual dire wolves, something tells him that "Boo" is destined to be more my companion than his."Just wait till you have to clean up the logs he's going to drop in the yard," Dean quips, grinning."Hey, remind me because I must have been in a stupor—was it me who stumbled upon this big bundle of responsibility wrapped in fur?"
Blossom POVFina, ever the pragmatist, leans back in her chair, engrossed in her number puzzle. Disturbance is not on her agenda. "Honestly, it makes me want to sit here and continue this Sudoku. So please, leave me be," she replies, weariness evident in her tone.Liza, unwilling to let it go, nudges her, "Have you gone soft?"Fina peers over her reading glasses, removing and folding them deliberately before placing them neatly on the table. Her gaze fixed on Liza, she responds in a measured, calm manner, "Look, I once despised that woman for simply residing in my sister's house. I resented her for pulling Dean away from his commitments. I frowned at her for having her own celebration. I saw her as a mere substitute. But here's where it gets interesting—I harbor no real grudge against her. She's done me no wrong, if truth be told. Honestly, I'm happy for Dean because I've always known how much he yearned for children," Fina confesses with sincerity. She ad
Blossom POV"Boo!! Come here, kid!" Dean called out with a whistle that could rival the blast of a freight train. From the thick underbrush emerged Boo, rumbling towards us from about thirty yards away. His massive body collided with the ground with such force that it felt as if a small earthquake had erupted beneath us. We exchanged glances of surprise and amazement. Dean remarked, "Has he grown since we got here? I swear he looks bigger.""I think you're right," I agreed, feeling a sense of awe myself. "Do you have any questions you'd like to ask me?"Dean paused to ponder, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. I couldn't help but notice the sound his stubble made as it moved beneath his fingers, a distinct hook-and-loop noise, reminiscent of sandpaper. I liked that thought; it made him seem even more rugged and adventurous."Do you remember your parents well?" he inquired gently.I appreciated his thoughtful question and shared that my parents ha
Blossom POVMaria, observing our playful exchange, leans in slightly and mutters to Dean, "That's the kind of joke that could get a man kneed in the groin."Dean and I burst into laughter, almost doubting whether we truly heard her correctly. Yet, from her cheeky smirk, we knew we had. She adds, "Well, if you're fortunate, you might just get nudged with the knee-pits."Dean clutches his stomach, laughter turning into mild agony from an injury he sustained the other day. "Oww, Maria, you're too much," he protests, trying to stifle his amusement.Despite the laughter, a warm feeling spreads through me. Dean is genuinely delighted that my sister, Diana, managed to get in touch. He had almost lost hope that any of my blood relatives would play a role in our lives. Yet Diana, with her courage and boldness, went through the effort not only to contact me but also to send uniquely sealed letters to the house of the Alpha, despite having broken a marriage co
Blossom POV A few hours later, I finally arrive at the castle, and I can't help but mutter to myself, "No wonder Dean wanted to drive so fast." I briefly wonder why Dean hasn't reached out to me through our mind link, but I dismiss the thought, figuring he must be the one who orchestrated this whole getaway. Besides, he's out of town on business, so I decide it's best not to intrude on him right now.As I approach the castle, I notice the drawbridge is down, allowing me to drive right in without any obstacles. Once I park in the garage, I suddenly realize that it was rather foolish of me to leave home without packing a bag. "I'm sure Jovielyn will have something I can wear," I think optimistically. After a brief walk through the empty courtyard, I make my way into the castle, feeling a sense of anticipation bubbling within me.However, as I enter, I hear something that makes me pause. Footsteps echo in the hallway. The castle feels starkly empty, much quieter than the last time I vis
Dean POV I arrive at the villa completely unaware that my wife is missing. It strikes me as strange that she hasn't tried to contact me, but I assume she must just be at home, relaxing. A full day has passed since her abduction.As I search the villa, a sickening sense of dread creeps over me when I realize she's nowhere to be found. I check the backyard and notice the remote control lying near Boo's play area. In the kitchen, I sift through the mail and come across a letter from Jovielyn. "That's odd," I murmur to myself. "My mom hasn't written a letter since telephones were invented."Growing anxious, I ask the security team where she is, but they haven't seen her since yesterday and assumed she was in our room. "Really, guys? This is what I pay you for, and you can't even keep an eye on her?" My frustration simmers, but I have no idea how furious I'm about to become.I call my mother, but she doesn't answer the first two times. On the third attempt, she finally picks up, sounding
Dean POV At that moment, Maria steps outside with drinks and snacks for the search parties. She notices the brewing conflict between Aries and me but wisely refrains from intervening. Instead, she walks up and offers us food and drink. Aries glances at her but remains silent, while I keep my gaze fixed on my father without even blinking."Dean, why not just marry Liza and be done with it? She loves you dearly, and Blossom is a bad influence. I've heard plenty about her," Aries presses."Over my ancestors' ashes, if you don't stop this nonsense right now, I swear I will remove your head with my bare hands," I retort, my anger boiling over.Caleb returns to the villa and, upon learning about the situation in the backyard, rushes around the house to find Aries and me just inches apart, shouting at one another. He hurries over and starts to pull us apart, insisting that this is not the time for our argument.But Aries pulls Caleb into the fray, fueled by what Liza had said. "Son, how coul
Dean POV As we anxiously wait for Mom to call back, Caleb and I sit at the kitchen table, our nerves on edge. It's only been ten minutes since we hung up, but when the phone rings, I leap to answer it. It's my mother on the line."Hey, baby, I have both good news and bad news. The bad news is that someone stole the security hard drive, and there are no backups. The good news, however, is that because it was taken, I can confidently say it was someone we know. Someone we know well." Her voice sounds a bit off."Yeah?... How well do you know them?" I ask, my heart pounding."When was the last time you spoke to your father, Dean?" she inquires."Tell me it's him. Please, I want you to," she suggests, sensing that I might be losing my grip."I can't guarantee it was him, but he's one of the few besides the guards who have access to that footage," she clarifies. "So don't jump to conclusions just yet."I thank her and hang up, feeling a sense of despair creeping in. Everything inside me s