JADEI kept glancing at the door whoever I heard some type of movement. Hoping it would be Ray. Or some dark and hidden part of me that wanted it to be Atlas.When I did hear footsteps about two hours later, I instantly knew it was him. Must be from the way my heart skipped a beat at the sound. Or maybe something else. I’m not sure, but I was almost trembling with excitement.I managed to hold the feeling down until he walked into the room. There was something in his eyes that I couldn’t explain but they looked bright as he stared at me. And I was fully clothes, but I couldn’t help feeling naked undressed his gaze.Satisfaction surged through me when his eyes lowered to my legs. I was sure the appreciation I saw there was not just in my head. His eyes slowly traced back to my face, stopping for a moment on my belly that was hidden with the big shirt, and breasts before he finally met my eyes. His gaze had gotten hot from the last time he looked at me.He cleared his throat, ran his ha
JADERay didn’t come back, even an hour alter and I was starting to get worried. I wasn’t only panicking because I needed her to help me get dressed. I’ve become so used to asking for her opinions on thing, especially my clothes that it somehow felt weird to not get her input.I managed to pick a designer dress. I wasn’t sure it fit Atlas’s criteria for sexy. But it was the only thing that hid my bump well enough that no one would know it even existed. I wasn’t ready for the media to know. Seeing how crazy they were already getting just seeing Atlas and I together.I haven’t been on social media for that exact reason. I didn’t want to see anything I wouldn’t be happy about. And with how I have been sick, my baby’s health is the most important thing to me. And I know how I feel directly affects the baby.I straightened my hair. Not doing a very good job but I didn’t look like a clown which I took as a win. I was in the process of trying to fix the back of my hair when the door opened a
JADEIf the heat in Atlas’s gaze could burn the clothes I was wearing, I would be atoning naked right now. And something tells me he would be happy about that.I found Aya before we left and told her when Ray comes back, she should tell her I have got but I’ll she back before she gets to bed. Since I didn’t know how late we were going to stay out, it felt better to warn her. Although, ray doesn’t sleep early. So, there was a very high chance she would still be up whenever I come back.I just hope I’ll make it to my room. Atlas doesn’t look like he would let me out of his sight for the rest of the night. To be completely honest, I didn’t want to stay away from him either.My need to always be with him and close to him increased tenfold after he marked me. And I wished I could say there was a part of me that wasn’t happy about it. But then, that would be a lie. I loved it. Loved how he was all over me. I loved how butterflies swarm my stomach whenever he is close to me.Knowing his atte
ATLASMaybe it would be considered petty, or even toxic, that I chose this specific spot for our first date only because that fucking Antonio. Had brought her here. I just didn’t want her to be thinking of him when she saw it. And I was buying shares and partnering with the owner on some projects. I didn’t want any memories of her and him to remain in her mind.And did I also want to have a say so I’ll ban him from all the pother locations? Yes. I am petty and toxic. I don’t care. I don’t want him anywhere near my woman.Saying my woman while referring to her and seeing my arm on her had to be the most erotic thing ever.I pulled her closer, kissing the top of her head while we walked in. She looked up, her brows scrunched in thought but I just smiled as we got to the elevator and I pressed the button. It took us stage to the floor of the restaurant where the host sectored us to the rooftop.I wanted us to have a private dinner so it was fully booked. And I may have done a little thin
JADEThe man had already ruined the evening with his presence. So even as he left, there was that wave of awkwardness that hung in the air. And I just kept thinking of what he said. What did that even mean?Hostages? Atlas had hostages from my dad’s pack here? It didn’t make any sense.I tried to bring it up but he waved it off as nothing. I knew there was tension between the council and the sixth circle. But I haven’t really kept up with it, all in the hopes of avoiding earring about him and knowing what he was up to. Now that I’m here, I’m kind of wishing I had listened to even asked what was going on.I didn’t like what was gaping, not even one bit. And something told me it was only going to get worse.Atlas was definitely someone that didn’t like to be bossed around and told what to do. Especially when it came to his work. So, I knew that letter didn’t sit well with him. Not that he showed it, not right now.But when you know someone. You just know them. It was a blessing and a cu
ATLASThe night definitely was not going to end the way I had anticipated. First, to was that facing messenger, whom I wasted to kill. And now this.How did we not hear Jade some so close. Though, even if I had been calm enough to hear her footsteps, my mind wouldn’t have guessed it was her. I would have thought maybe it was Donald or one of his men, or even the maids. But not her. And now she heard what we said about her father.She was pissed. Rightfully so. The man portrayed himself as a saint so perfectly that if I hadn’t gotten hard proof he was a horrible shit, I wouldn’t have believed it.I have always known he was manipulative and he had sociopathic tendencies. The way he acted the way you would expectant upright human would. But he had mental issues. I may not have a diagnoses but it doesn’t matter. All you had to do was look closely into the things he did and it would be clear.My first sign shooed have been the fact that he was close to Brandon. My dad’s stepbrother and the
JADESomeone, we found ourselves in the bed, cuddling, as we waited for any news on Ray. Donald had returned and said she was nowhere on the property, that they searched everywhere but they didn’t see her. So, she must have left. The security cedars didn’t get anything which was a little weird. I was extremely worried and suggested we go and see for ourselves. Atlas managed to calm me down, reminding I needed to think of my baby. That made me forget very argument I wanted to come up with.To make me feel better and like they were really doing their best, he told Andrew to head out with the rest of the crew that were looking around the house for a second time.The fatigue, from the flight and all the other thing sharpening, finally caught up with me and I slept off. when I woke up, I saw that it was about three in the morning. Atlas was in the bed with me, though his shirt was gone and so were his pants, he was only in his underwear. And I was wearing his shirt. My dress was draped ove
JADEMy routine has been the same for the next few days. I woke up, worry about Ray. Speak with atlas about her, ask if there is anything new, he says no, and I worry some more. I eat my meals in silence while he watches because I need to it. For the baby. Is what he tells me when I say no, I’m not hungry. I’m always not hungry.Then in the night, after he come back from work, we’ll eat together and then cuddle, then sleep. I spend all my time while he is gone worrying about Ray. Coming with different scenarios of where she could be and what must have happened to her. It usually ended badly.On the third day, I was sitting by the window and staring out of it, imagining how I would feel if I saw Ray walking through it. I’ve imagined this scenario a million times now that it didn’t even excite me as much. I couldn’t lie to myself and say it could happen. It is looking more and more impossible as the days go by.I had tried to stay positive. The first few days. But after seeing how they
JADE“i needed to come see him.”“Why?” He collected the baby from me “I told you that there's no need to. Why do you feel the need to come here even after I told you not to?!”“Because it's not just your victory! It's not just your life that he was after! It's mine too! And it's Ray's too! So yes, I needed to come down here to get closure.”He needed to understand that this meant something to me too, just as it did him.“Closure? Is that why you put the baby at risk? How much more closure do you need?”What on earth was he talking about?“Risk? Incase you didn't notice, I was there with him! I was at risk too! I needed him to look me in the eye and tell me why he did what he did to my family.”“Or maybe it's because you're too hung up on the past and you just can't let go. Incase you havent noticed, you're so stuck in the past and you are obsessing over it. Move on!”Well, I'm glad he finally got to say what he wanted to. Now I know how he feels about me trying to find answers. I w
JADEI didn't think it was worth it at first. Going to see the man that had made me grow up without parents and without the concept of what a true family felt like.But after much thought, he needed to know that all his plans failed and I was going to rub it in his face..I'd gotten all three pieces of the stone together and wore it around my locket.It would hurt him so bad to see that in the end, I won.Iniko decided that that was the right moment to start crying and everytime I dropped him back in his cot, he cried even louder.“Young man, what is it that you want? You've been fed and burped and I just changed your diaper so there's no way you could have soiled it again -”I stopped and remembered what happened yesterday so I took a peak for myself. There was nothing im his diaper.“So what exactly do you want?”I wish babies could talk.I guess I didn't have any other choice than to take him with me then. Atlas would blow a fuse if he found out that I took his son to see Ford.Whe
ATLAS“By wasting any more time, we are not doing ourselves any good! Sixth Circle pack is vacant. We have their leader in our custody and I've taken down every opposition in our way, do you think it would be long before we get more interests?”Sometimes, having a cabinet infuriates me so much. It was like I was speaking to brick walls. I didn't see any reason why they couldn't just agree to me taking over the Sixth Circle.It would even be better for us because it would improve our army base, it would make our pack bigger and in general, it would be a plus for us.But they weren't seeing it that way. All they were seeing was the fact that Ford had committed something against the pack and they weren't going to take it.I mean, what better way to teach him a lesson by taking over his pack?“Alpha, we're not disputing the fact that you've gone a long way-”“But you're diminishing my efforts. What's the whole point of defeating him and taking him into custody when I can't even go ahead a
JADERay and I weren't speaking for now.How could she hide something like that from me?“Where is she?”“I have no idea. All I know is that she ran away when we were little. She knew that he would come after her and she didn't want to put you in danger. So she ran away and left your nanny to take care of you. I don't know where she is.”How could she do this?“Before I lost my memory, did I know?”“No, you never knew.”I couldn't believe this. I lost my appetite for the rest of that day and I just stayed in Iniko's room because I couldn't even speak to anyone right now.I'd spent my life thinking my mother was dead only to hear that she was alive and she ran away because of that beast.“It’s not her fault, you know. Your mother ran away to protect you and Ray didn't tell you because she wanted to keep you safe. You have to forgive her.”I didn't blame her. It wasn't her fault things turned out like this. I was just hurt that I didn't know.Later that day, I took Iniko on a walk so h
JADEI was just realizing that this baby has Atlas's eyes and hair and everything!“This baby is rigged.”He turned around in shock.“What are you talking about?”“You did something to make the baby look like you.”He laughed and shook his head.“No, I didn't. It's just a coincidence.”“Coincidence? Look at this baby and look at you. It seems like I didn't even have anything to do with his birth.”“Don’t worry, you can have the second baby.”I scoffed.“You think I'm going to let you have another chance to have photocopies? Big joke.”Iniko was so small and he seemed so fragile.Ray brought my food and she took him while I ate.“I wish my grandmother was here to see him.”She gave me a sad smile.“Me too. She would be so proud of you.I'm proud of you.”I'm so happy my sister was here with me. She was the one who had been by my side throughout and if the child had been a girl, I would have named her after Raya.“Thank you for everything you did. If not for you, I don't know how I would
JADE“I'm going to need your blood as well. Atlas, I promise it won't hurt her. Just a little nick.”He nodded and she dragged the knife across my finger.“Place your finger over the stone and let the blood cover it entirely. Do not take your hand away from the fire.”It was a simple instruction but it seemed so intense.It was almost over. My legs were beginning to feel well and it was getting harder to quiet my screams.“What do we have here?”That voice. He was here.“What are you doing here?”All I had to do was keep my hand over the fire until the stone bled.Ray helped me stand up straight while Atlas and Andrew faced my uncle.“So this was why I came here. How did you do that? How did you call the other stones?”I eventually removed my hand from the fire since we had found them.“I always knew it was with one of you. That stupid old hag told me she couldn't find the other piece but I guess she gave it to you. “Why were all the worst things happening tonight?I was in labor and
JADEAtlas returned later that evening.I was right with what I'd thought.“What have you been up to?”I knew he knew I'd been eating because of the smirk on his face.“You know you don't have to hide from me when you eat right?”Oh, I did.“If you see how much I eat and the way I eat, I don't think you'd want to be married to me anymore.”He burst out laughing.“What makes you think I care about the way you eat? As long as you're healthy and our baby is fine, I don't care.”“But then, what if I get fat? I'll be so big that I won't be able to eat. I don't know why I eat so much.”This was actually a worry of mine. Normally, I ate but my appetite was not this big.“Blame it on the baby. I figure when you give birth, the cravings will stop and even though you do get fat, you're still my wife. It doesn't change anything.”I was really married to the best man ever, wasn't I?“You’re the best.”“I know. Ray says that we have to get there before midnight so that she can prepare everything.
JADEAt this point, I was realizing that the earlier we did things, the better.“I’ll arrange for the sacrifice to happen tomorrow. We need to move as fast as we can before he gets Intel that were here.”I didn't want to have to run with this big belly of mine.“What are you going to need?”“Don’t worry, I'll take care of it. Just bring the stone.”We went to bed that night because we were all completely exhausted.“Hey, are you okay?” Atlas asked when we were in bed.“Yes, I am. Why do you ask?”“You didn't cry when you found out that he killed your father. You didn't cry when you found out that she was not your grandmother. I'm worried.”Now that I think about it, it's true. But it was because I didn't feel like crying.“I don't know. Maybe my body just hasn't proceses it yet. Maybe its because I hate him so I'm not bothered that he's not my father and I never really knew my father so i can't cry for him. I've already mourned for my grandmother.”I just didn't feel the need to cry b
JADE“Jade, step away from that.”I walked back towards them and stared at the pile.“What kind of animal would do this?”I had no idea but I think I was beginning to understand why she wanted us to find this place.This place held secrets.I went back to the wall to look at the drawings and try to understand them.I used my fingers to trace them again and this time around, I heard the voice clearer.“Look at the bigger picture.”I stepped away from the wall so I could see the entire thing. There were more drawings to the side and when I walked up, I noticed that there was a sign at the bottom of it.That sign…looked all too familiar but I couldn't just place my finger.“Ray, come see this. I've seen this before but I don't know where it's from.”She crouched beside me and stared at it for a moment.“I know it's familiar but I don't know where it's from, either.”Andrew and Atlas joined us and just within seconds, they knew.“We know.”They shared a look and it made me scared.“Jade,