JADEI have noticed a lot of sunrises, since I woke up earlier than everyone and all. So sometimes I just sit outside and watch the sky gradually open up. It was always therapeutic.No matter how many sunrises I saw, it didn’t prepare for what it would be like here in Palm Springs. That was the name of my father’s—well, now my new home.And it didn’t matter how many times I saw the sunrise or sunset. It stole my breath every time.I breathed out a small sigh and take the drink to my lips.This really is the life. Drinking cocktails and watching the setting of the sun, surrounded by the most beautiful things in the world, and my family. I couldn’t forget that.Ray was beside me, also lying down on the lounge and sipping her non-alcoholic cocktail. This has become sort of our ritual the past few days and I’m loving it.She has also warmed up to me so much more since I got here. Generally, she seems a lot calmer here and I guess, you feel that way when you’e in a place you love.“Did you
JADEI looked in the mirror, my eyebrows creasing a little in uncertainty.Dad said they were hosting a welcome party for me and a lot of important figures in the country were attending. So naturally, I was nervous. Not because I want’t used to being around them. But I was ever the subject of their attention.I was always just a guest, or they were honouring Atlas and I’m his wife. I was more focused on making sure everything was going well, rather than thinking of how to socialise with them.I know a lot of their faces would be familiar. But that would be the end of it. I may not even remember their names.Now, I’m getting my hair and makeup done because I have to look the part. According to ray. She picked out my dress for me, much to my dismay. I hate to admit that what she picked out was definitely something I would have decided on by myself.It was simple and elegant and the green color made my eyes pop. She had given it a thumbs up before running off. She was giddy and excited f
JADE“You sure you want to leave that out there?” Ray motioned to my locket, which was glowing for some reason.I have become used to the random things the thing does that I barely even noticed them anymore. As long as it didn’t get scalding hot the way it did the other day. I had considered doing research on it to find out why it does all these things, but for now, I have’t really decided if I want to find out or not.Ignoring is bliss and all.“Dad said it is okay.” I replied.And I actually like having it with me. It felt like I had a piece of my mother and grandmother here with me. Even though they aren’t. I could feel their presence. Like they have their arms wrapped around me in a soft hug.“Okay.” She said and stopped outside a double door.It was similar to the one at the entrance but not quite as large. I knew this was the ballroom. Of course, they had a ballroom. It was a castle with almost two hundred bedrooms and I had my own apartment in the house. So yes, a ballroom is e
JADEAntonio stepped back, probably to give us privacy while dad winced, clearly not happy with what she said.When I got over my shock, I tried to plaster on a fake smile. My lips wobbled when she gave me a withering glare. She really does’t like me.I guess, I wouldn’t like me either if I was in her shoes.“Or are you going to keep hiding her form me?” More venom coated her words, it made the first one seem like child’s play.If looks could kill a person, I would have been dead by now from the way she was looking at me. She had no regard for the people standing all around. Some were definitely looking at us. Trying to overhear what was being said.&
ATLAS My head was banging. Or maybe that was the sound of whatever they were hitting outside my room. I groaned and pushed my leg off the bed, not caring to open my eyes. I knew my room like the back of my hand, so even if I was unconscious, I could make it to the door. I stood straight, my entire body protesting to the movement because it felt like too much. I took no more than two steps before my foot hit something and I went tumbling to the ground. If I was in my right senses, my relaxed would have saved me perhaps. But my head was pudding pounding and now the world was shaking. I felt around me, now realising it wasn’t my choice to not open my eyes. They have refused to open and I had nothing to do with it. I felt something, like wood so I held onto it and hoisted myself up. Or tried to, rather. Because instead of pulling myself up, I pulled something and it crashed over me, making me hit the back of my head on whatever I had tripped on the first time. “Shit.” My growl is ful
ATLAS“Get off your ass, Atlas. You’re not going to rot here.” I groaned at the sound of Andrew’s voice.I knew he was going to come for intervention sooner or later. I guess I was hoping it would be later. Much, much later.I’m still lying in bed. After I sent Arya away, I mind linked one of the warriors to give her more hard labor to do. Not something inside the house. Outside the fields which would actually take her time and energy so she won’t have much left to come and bother me with.“Hello? Do you hear me or have you gone deaf now too. Selective deafness?” He asked, staring at me with an annoyed expression. I only give him a blank uninterested look.Just because I was dreading his intervention didn't mean it was going to get me to cave and agree with whatever he wanted.“Leave.” I pointed at the door. “You’re giving me a headache.”He picked the damned bottled of scotch I had tripped on earlier and held it up.“I think it is this and not me.” I waved his off and covered my eyes
JADERay’s squeal and excited laughter was what woke me up.i was groggy and still tired form the party and I couldn’t feel anything from my knees right down to my toes.I would have amputated my legs if I’d worn those heels. Even the ones I wore had felt like deathtrap by the time I danced with the third persona and they kept coming until I lost count.Antonio was the last person I had danced with, and we did two sets. I would admit, I hadn’t seen noticed because I liked his company. But Incas definitely regretting that decision now.“What is it Ray? it’s the crack of dawn.” I groaned, pulling my comforter over my head.I really wished she was so busy like Aiden, then I would at leats get a full mooring sleep.i felt bad for thinking that but my conscience while sleeping is not very morally upright.“No, silly. It is twelve noon.” My eyes widened and I threw the comforters off. I didn’t believe her. Heck, I also didn’t believe the digital clock beside my bed that showed 12:21.This cou
JADE Antonio looked like he just walked out of a dream in a tailor-made designer suit, his hair brushed back, with so strand out of place, and a smile showing off his perfect teeth. I got up from the couch, my eyes narrowing as he stepped into my living room. I couldn’t even turn to look around the place and see what the hell is to of place. Because right now, looking between the both of us. He is everything that is in place and I’m the opposite of it. No need to check. “Hi, I’m sorry to barge inline this.” He clears his throat. I couldn’t do anything but stare at him with mu jack slackened. “Ray told me you were in here and I needed to see you.” See me? Why? I didn’t know I said that out loud until he cleared his throat again. And dare i say, he looked nervous? I’m equally surprised. “I’m sure you’ve seen the articles. I just wanted to clear that up.” “Oh,” was al I could mutter. He motioned to the couch and I nodded, quickly moving my bowl of popcorn and the blanket I’d br
ATLAS“Atlas, lets go.” Feyre touched my arm lightly. I collected the bag from her. “Thank you. For your help. I'll never forget it.”I grabbed Feyre's hand and walked out of the room. Thankfully, there was no one outside and we tried not to make it look obvious that we were running away. “Keep your head down and just walk fast.”The car wasn't a far distance from the house. “What do you think is going on?” If I said I had any idea, it would be a lie. “I don't know.” I turned the engine. “But first we need to get out of here.” As soon as we're gone, then we can think of what the girl said. “Who’s Anika?” I asked Feyre. I thought she didn't hear me so I didn't repeat myself. When she blinked, I was very sure that she had heard me but refused to answer. So I let it go. Hopefully, by the time we get home, Jade will be awake and I'd be able to ask her what the hell is going on because I didn't understand why the young girl would be telling me that her mother was alive when all
ATLASThe girl looked at me like she didn't just scare the life out of me. I put the knife back in its sheath and looked around to make sure that no one was behind her and using her as bait. I heard Feyre's voice behind me. “Who is it?”I raised a hand to silence her, not talking my eyes off the girl. “Who are you and what do you want?” She didn't say anything and stared at me with a blank face. Letting my guard down, I opened the door a little more to let Feyre see who it was. She looked into the room and made contact with Feyre. Without answering me, she pushed into the room and I just watched her and then closed the door behind me. “What do you want?” I repeated. “You need to get out of here.” Her voice was quiet but we heard her. Feyre and I made eye contact, both sharing confusing looks. “What are you talking about? And who are you? You haven't answered my question.”My eyes swiftly moved to the door to see if I should be expecting any more surprises but it was clear.
JADEI wàs hungry but then again, I couldn't exactly be bothered to eat anything. I was in pain, excruciating pain that I couldn't even get any sleep last night. The nurse had come in to give me something for the pain but it was like this baby wanted me to be in pain. Eventually, the pain went away and I just sat up on the bed, thinking about what the hell was going on. It felt like I passed out and all of a sudden, Atlas was in love with me, I couldn't find Annie hanging around him like a monkey from a banana tree and I was pregnant. Heavily pregnant and in pain. I needed answers and I needed them fast. I'd been asking for Andrew all day but I couldn't find him anywhere and then speaking of Atlas who could tell me where he was, I also couldn't find him. What was I expecting? That man that hated me with passion, how would he come in to check on me? I'm sure that he wouldn't care if I died. I was alone in this hospital room, with no clue what was going on. The door to my room
ATLASI was staring out of the window with an unclear mind and a raging headache. I'd thought about so much that I was tired of even thinking. This whole situation was getting to me and the fact Jade didn't even remember what happened in the last few months was killing me. What the hell happened?I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to see Zade behind me. “You look like you're a thousand miles away.” He brought me a glass of something and as I lifted it to my lips, I scrunched up my nose and pulled the glass away from me. “What the hell is that?”He had a smirk on his face.“Something that will wake you up and calm you down. You look like you haven't gotten any sleep in a while. You need to take it easy.”That was easy for him to say. It wasn't his wife and child who were at risk here. I felt like if I took a break, then it meant that I wasn't serious. Looking at the glass one more time and deciding that I could kill Zade if anything happened to me, I threw my head back and
JADEI knew I wasn’t alone in the room even before I fully woke up. So, when I open day eyes, I wasn’t surprised to find Atlas sitting on a chair beside the bed. My mood immediately plummeted.I really didn’t need him and his fairness right now. We both know he would much rather be with Annie than here. Why was he even here and how long has he been waiting? I’m sure he has work to do and watching me sleeps’t one of then.No, Jade. He is not your business anymore. He is having a child with the woman he loves and cheated on you with. This is the last time you’ll worry yourself with his affairs.I nodded to myself, agreeing with the voice in my head.“Jade.” He breathed my name out. He has never spoken to me like that, I couldn’t deny the butterflies that swarmed my stomach at hearing that. But I could pretend him speaking didn’t have any effect on me which is what I did.“Can you please leave?” I said, making sure my voice came out cold.I tried to sit up and a stiffness in my back remi
ATLASThis couldn’t be real. It couldn’t fucking be happening.I could feel my blood roaring in my ears, my body was shaking but then it all felt like it wasn’t even real. Like I was just imagining this and I really hoped this was a fucking nightmare.“Alpha,” I heard a hesitant voice. It pulled me from my train of thoughts and everything started becoming more real now.I didn’t know my mind had blanked out until she spoke and I was pulled out of my trace. I could hear the voices and all the commotions going on around me.The doctor was still standing above Jade. I didn’t know when my body had moved earlier when she was falling. But my body moved before my mind could register all that was happening.“Do you mind stepping out please, alpha?” The doctor spoke. When I gave her a look, she stepped back and cleared her throat. “You can stay if you want too.”She stepped back and then they started doing more tests.“You still can’t do the surgery now.” The healer spoke, looking to me to sup
JADEMy head was heavy when I first woke up. I looked around the place confused, wondering how I ended up here. The last thing I remembered was going to my grandma’s room and checking on her. Then…Oh no.The conversation played out in my head again.Atlas’s cool voice and Annie’s ecstatic own.“Look at that. Our baby.” She had said, her voice choking with tears. “He’ll be the most handsome baby with his father’s eyes.”“Well, we can’t tell the gender this early.” Another voice had said, it was a female, she sounded kind of familiar.One of the actors. I told myself. I couldn’t bring myself to move because the entire thing felt like a fever dream and I didn’t want to believe that it was really real. But it was.“Is she okay?” Atlas sounded worried. Concerned.I could see him looking at Annie with so much care. When he only looks at me with disdain.I couldn’t hear more, I ran in the opposite direction and neared the first door I saw. I ended up in the supply closet but I could barely
ATLASAs much as I wanted to rush through the process of dressing just so I could go back to where Jade was, I forced myself to do everything right. For her sake. I would not want my lack of prepping well because I couldn’t be patient cause harm to her or the baby.A nurse was waiting for me outside after I finished and she took me to the OR where I had to wash my hands again and then wear the full coverings.There were speaking in medical terms I didn’t understand. I just stood back with my hands in Jade’s own, never leaving her side just as I had promised. The doctor was kind enough to explain what they were going to do.“It is a simple procedure, alpha. Your wife and baby will be up and going in no time.” She said with a kind smile, the sides of her eyes crinkling.I nodded, exhaling a breath through my mouth.“Ten blade.” She had moved to Jade’s abdomen and I could feel my wolf moving in my head when I saw the blade she was talking about. His mind didn’t register that this was a p
ATLASThe reality that the baby was coming made by kind go blank for more than five minutes. It probably wasn’t up to that but it felt like my world had stopped so everything seemed longer than it is in reality. I was excited. Deep down below the worry and fear and everything in between. I couldn’t wait to meet my son. The baby that was half of me and half of Jade. But I wasn’t happy too. Because she wasn’t in the right state of mind right now. And I don’t know how she’ll be when she wakes up. She would be ecstatic. I knew she wanted to experience every part of this. But I guess you plan and then life happens. “We’ll have to get her to the hospital soon. So she isn’t under for too long. It might be bad for the baby and her.” Feyre stood close to me as she explained. Her voice was soft and eyes filled with worry. She hasn’t known Jade for a long time but she as already really protective of her.“Okay.” I swallowed as I said the words. Then gave Jade’s hand a little squeeze. Before