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Chapter 6
Last Updated:
2024-12-12 15:19:12
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FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATE Chapter 7
Avery’s POVThe morning showed through the thick cover of the canopy, like the sun itself feared to shine into this area of the woods. I held tightly onto the map, brittle edges flaking off with every contact. Jameson strode a few steps ahead, his gaze roving over the ground with calculated precision.“This map is useless unless we know where we are,” I muttered, piercing the tense silence between us.Jameson didn’t look back, but his shoulders went stiff. “Then why are you clinging to it so much?”His tone was terse, and his patience was clearly fraying. I seethed behind the back of his head, fighting the impulse to retaliate. He always did that — shut people out, deflect, pretend he had it all under control. But the reality was apparent in his rigid posture and the keen edge in his voice. He was just as lost as I was.With every step the woods around us thickened. The trees towered like giants with darkened, scarred bark. Fog started to creep along the floor of the woods, wrapping a
Last Updated : 2024-12-12FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATE Chapter 8
Avery’s POVThe low menacing growl echoed through the quiet forest; It exposed its teeth like an unseen wind, freezing me to the bone. My breath seized in my throat, and I clutched the pack's strap so tightly that I thought it would break.“Jameson,” I whispered, the words barely audible above the loud pounding of my heart.He turned quickly, already gripping his knife handle. His expression changed from annoyance to sharp alertness, all in an instant. "Don't move," he ordered. His voice was absolute."But what's—" I tried to talk.“Shh, I’ll tell you later,” he added. His eyes glanced fiercely into the looming shadows ahead as if looking for some enemy in them.The growling reappeared, louder this time, and the forest shook. A boar emerged, huge and bristling, its tusks gleaming like ivory blades.I swallowed hard, tasting the lead at the back of my mouth.“We are going to back away,” Jameson said softly, in a voice that held both firmness and calm. "Take your time and keep your eyes
Last Updated : 2024-12-12FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATE Chapter 9
Avery’s POVAs the group walked along through the thick forest, the air felt strange. I looked straight ahead, pretending not to notice the frequent sidelong glances Jameson was throwing in my direction. My hands formed into fists at my sides. The last thing I needed was him coming and trying to establish some sort of dominance here.The others around us were whispering among themselves. It wasn’t difficult to feel the rising discomfort because the shadows felt like they were growing longer by the minute. Every rustle of leaves, every whisper of the wind, felt like hidden warning signs in this unnatural-feeling living forest.Amelia fell in step beside me, her face white and drawn. “Avery,” she said, leaning even closer, “I don’t like this. There’s something…off about this place.”I nodded, speaking below my regular level. “Stay close to me. Trust no one, least of all those who appear too self-assured.”In front of us, some of the more aggressive students, led by Sheila, barked orders
Last Updated : 2024-12-12FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATE Chapter 10
Avery’s POVThe voice froze my blood. Dripping with malice, it cleaved its way through the chaos like a knife. “Did you think you could just step in and take what belongs to the cursed?I turned toward the source of the voice, my throat choking on air. All I could see was a figure wrapped in shadow, their height, and their stance, crushing and monstrous. They were wrapped around us, and the air grew colder. I could feel my hands trembling.Jameson yanked me behind him, and although the quiver I heard in his voice showed his humanity, it embodied the image of a protective man. “Who are you?” he asked, although his hand on my arm showed that he was nervous, too.The figure laughed, a sound so hollow and bitter it nearly broke my chest. “It doesn’t matter who I am. What you’ve disturbed is what matters. What you’ve unleashed.”Before Jameson or I could respond, the ground beneath us popped to life again. A tremendous fracture appeared in the soil, and the faint, haunting reflection I had
Last Updated : 2024-12-12FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATE Chapter 11
Avery’s POVLong after the words had left the forest, the whisper buzzed in my head, rattling against the walls of my skull. “You cannot escape”.Jameson gripped my hand a little tighter as we walked back toward the forest trail. His silence weighed heavy, his thoughts a storm I could not see.For a while, I welcomed the silence. Bits of images I couldn’t make sense flashed in my head—images of the glowing symbols, of the twisted creature, of the figure cloaked in shadow. They were like shards of a nightmare puzzle, missing pieces, lying more disorganised than usual.But one thing was sure, the curse was not some joke. It was alive and it had its sights on us.“Do you think we’re safe now?” The silence was broken by Jameson’s voice.I looked at him, his profile sharp against the faint moonlight. He didn’t meet my eyes, his gaze straight ahead, but the tension of his jaw betrayed him.“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I don’t believe that it is over.”He sighed heavily and raked his hai
Last Updated : 2024-12-12FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATE Chapter 12
Avery’s POVI grabbed my satchel strap tighter, gravel and sticks crashing under the soles of my boots as Jameson walked in front of us. The depth in his step matched the tension that had been building since the morning.We were just out of supplies. Earlier, Amelia had mentioned in a polite whisper that our water supply had been reduced to just one flask, and the couple of strips of dried meat we had left could not last another day. I looked back at her — Amelia's usually calm attitude was breaking down, and her gaze shifted to Flair, who walked in her shadow.Flair, usually the jokester of the bunch, had an uncharacteristic seriousness to his face. He glanced into the shadows of the trees, as if he could feel something we couldn’t.“What’s the long face, Flair?” Jameson called out, the tone tinged with challenge.Flair shrugged but remained silent. Jameson halted, turning to him with a brow arched. “If you have something to say, now is the time.”I put a hand on Jameson’s arm before
Last Updated : 2024-12-12FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATE Chapter 13
(Sharing a tent)Avery's POV My heart suddenly began to face rapidly. I didn't know exactly was wrong but the air around me was strange.Suddenly, Jameson took my hand and started to run, "Stop! I don't want us to get lost," I said but he chose not to listen because he kept on dragging me, making me follow him."Do you want to get lost alone? Besides, I know the way around here," Jameson said but I shook my head and sighed.After running a long distance, he finally stopped causing me to stop running. I tried to catch my breath, taking my hand up to my chest while breathing rapidly."Why are you breathing like that? We just ran a little," Jameson said. I gritted my teeth in anger before dragging my hand away from him in anger, "You're unbelievable! Oh my God. Why am I even surprised?" I said and took my hand up to my hair."You're overreacting! What is your matter?" Jameson asked and arched his brows, wondering what was wrong with me while I was wondering what was wrong with him."W
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Avery's POV "Apparently, it's not looking like we have a choice," Jameson said. I shook my head continuously before saying,"I'll rather sleep out here in the cold than to sleep with you in that tent," I said causing Jameson to chuckle softly before saying,"Suit yourself,"He got into the tent, acting so annoying. I was feeling so much cold and I started to hear some rumbling in the bushes. They was no way I could prefer this than laying in the tent with him. Without thinking about it for the second time, I rushed into the tent and Jameson arched his brows, asking,"What are you doing in here?""What do you mean? Isn't this my tent?" I asked."Yeah but you said that you'll rather sleep outside your tent them sleep in it with me," Jameson said with a sly smile on his face. I knew what he was trying to do after seeing the sly smile on his face and I was in no mood for argument with him."Okay then, well... I can't stay outside, I was just overreacting," I said and immediately lay down
Last Updated : 2024-12-20
Latest chapter
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATE Chapter 58
Avery's POVMorning sunlight filtered into the room through these blinds, creating gold streaks on the walls. I momentarily lost myself for a second. And I virtually recollected the jungle, the terror, the perpetual edict of danger. But then the full strength of it hit, crashing me like a boulder in choppy waters.Noah had already rolled out of bed, laptop on the small kitchen table. He was intently focused, his hands darting across the keyboard. He didn't see me yet, and I hesitated to look at him.“Morning,” I whispered through the clumps.He raised his head, startled, gave me a quick smile. Morning?I shrugged. “Pardon, I was as capable as one might assume for my circumstances.He nodded, got the hang of it. “Well, I have been thinking about our choices,” he said, pointing at the laptop. On the information from that USB drive — not a whole lot, but enough to turn the situation on it’s head. If we could just get it to the right people then maybe this could be enough to stop her.“ B
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATE Chapter 58
Avery's POVMorning sunlight filtered into the room through these blinds, creating gold streaks on the walls. I momentarily lost myself for a second. And I virtually recollected the jungle, the terror, the perpetual edict of danger. But then the full strength of it hit, crashing me like a boulder in choppy waters.Noah had already rolled out of bed, laptop on the small kitchen table. He was intently focused, his hands darting across the keyboard. He didn't see me yet, and I hesitated to look at him.“Morning,” I whispered through the clumps.He raised his head, startled, gave me a quick smile. Morning?I shrugged. “Pardon, I was as capable as one might assume for my circumstances.He nodded, got the hang of it. “Well, I have been thinking about our choices,” he said, pointing at the laptop. On the information from that USB drive — not a whole lot, but enough to turn the situation on it’s head. If we could just get it to the right people then maybe this could be enough to stop her.“ B
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATE Chapter 56
Noah's POVAs I drove from the warehouse, I glanced back in the rear-view, expecting to see one of Lisa's henchmen hot on our tail. The car was so tense you could practically coat it with black oil and Avery sat in silence looking at the window blankly.Her hands were clutched in her lap as I could tell that the whites of each were white-knuckling.“I feel like I’m losing it,” I finally told her, breaking the silenceShe blinked like coming out of a daze. “I don’t know,” she said. Well, it's like… “ALL OF THIS. I can't DO this. Lisa… this drive… that blackmail…” She choked up.My hand landed on hers where I was grounding her—I reached over. “We can get through this,” I said firmly. “We have all we require now. This week is ours to turn the other cheek.Avery turned back to me only to look absolutely skeptical. But what if it isn’t nearly enough? What if she gets pissed, finds out we have it and hunts us down before we can get it over with? What if—we—“Avery.” I tone was even but firm
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATE Chapter 55
Noah’s POVWatching Avery stand, the resolve in her eyes making me feel nauseated. The burden of the truth was great, I could tell the road ahead would pretty much consist of uphill all day long. But I had sworn on her—on my own life that I would be with her, through anything.I saw the echoes of fear turning into resolve as I finally addressed her from behind. Ha, she had always been tough as nails but I was seeing the splinters already. This is way too much for anyone. And yet, i couldn't help but feel proud of her are courage to do it.“I will,” I said with certainty of my voice. “Carefully though. Each step from now on is a function.Avery nodded past me, the fear still evident in her eyes. “I do, it’s just so… Noah. I ask myself over and over why. Why me? Why did they bring me in?I walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. “No Avery, It’s not about YOU. About the lies they want to lie on. You were just in the way. Well now we are going to stop taking control of you agai
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATE Chapter 54
Avery’s POVThe room hummed with the palpable anxiety, each thing Noah said shivering me to the bones. I watched my mind frantically start putting the puzzle together of the pieces of information he just had given us. That my own mother was part of all of this was beyond belief.It didn’t make sense.“Lisa… my mother…” What are you saying Noah? “I said the words, and with them came almost disbelief the possibility of this weight that sank its claws into my fingertips.Noah moved a little, his eyes burning into me but I could tell by the way they were haunted with worry. Avery, I get it is hard for you to believe. Everything that has been going on— the threats, the tape, the vandalism—they are all part of a lot deeper shit. Your mother Lisa… That is their game.I shook my head, stunned by Noah just dropped the other shoe. ”So why? Why would they do this? And why now?”Noah breathed, leaned forward into his chair hands clenched. “Your mum and Lisa… They got themselves into things you wo
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATE Chapter 53
Avery’s POVDays after it felt like a week, the next few felt slurred. Jameson and I had gone to the city, just past where we met up at the Hawthorne estate; out of reach of his family. The silence that pooled between us was making me uncomfortable, to know that we were both silent his not ending of course.A dark force was still at play, acting on me and come not just from Jameson's familyWe were totally screwed, apparently.I sat in this tiny café where it was all dark and the wood-walled ceiling glowed pale light. It was so unlike Jameson; he was usually a chatty as hell person and his eyes had the room in them like he was looking for everything to be dangerous. I could still feel the tongue lashing of un-signaled words between us“Jameson,” I murmured and lay my hand on top of his. You don't have to do it by yourself. We are just as capable of facing whatever is on the other side.He snuck a look at me, expression pained and grateful. I am trying to protect you, Avery. I mean me.
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATE Chapter 52
Avery’s POVMy drive to Jameson's family estate was one of that rarest of silences: soothing and sinister. Jameson was staring straight ahead, knuckles white at the steering wheel from tension. I, meanwhile only looked out the window as my inner most thoughts rotated like a cogs gears. The past couple days had emotionally zapped me but there was a little fire in me somewhere.“Are you alright?” Jameson clearing the silence with his voice.I smiled, not sure of the answer I was giving. “Just… thinking, basically.”He looked at me, concern laced in his eyes. “We don´t have to do this today. If you want more time—““No,” tested me back stronger than I. “We want answers. If your family is even tangentially connected to this, I want to know.“Tightening his jaw, Jameson sighed. “They’ll deny everything. Them doing right by Everyone else”When we arrived at the house, big and grand, my intestines flipped. The estate was vast, with high iron gates and mown lawns that appeared to go on foreve
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATE Chapter 51
Avery’s POVThe apartment was oppressive, Jameson walking back and forth like a caged animal producing an overcharged, suffocating atmosphere of tension. The man who was always in control and heroic appeared to have had a major freak out — his face lines deep with recurring grey cloud. I was huddled on the couch a blanket absolutely wasted over me.It was warm, but a cold started to run into my bones— was it fright or exhaustion that I couldnt tell. “You are someone, from your past?Jameson froze, he pivoted to look at me. He relaxed in the face of it, but his eyes were still burning with intent.“My fiancée,” he whispered slowly, admitting it in a barely audible voice.The word pierced like the tip of an ice pick to my heart Fiancée? My heart had a panic automaton – I couldn’t identify the feelings I was feeling, they were confused this is so wrong. Jealousy. I hadn’t been fair,I know that. Yet the idea that Jameson was anyones else love in more than one way my heart.“I never said
FATED REJECTION: BOUNDED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY FATE Chapter 50
Jameson’s POVLisa's confession had turned everything upside down. It was no longer just a puzzle; the pieces didn't match the way it was supposed to be, and now, there was a bigger picture which I couldn't see clearly. "Whom did you contact?" I demanded now.Lisa just shook her head. The trembling voice said: "I don't know their name. Everything was anonymous-calls, encrypted emails, cash drops. They didn't want me to know."Raymond crossed his arms, his expression skeptical, "And so you just went along with it?"Lisa glared at him. "You don't understand. These people are not just dangerous. They are above danger. They know everything about you, your weaknesses, your loved ones. They don't ask for favors; they give orders. Refusing is impossible."My mind raced with sifting through what she said. A little bit too much for Avery, or even me, to swallow. This was bigger, much bigger than calculated."Why Avery?" I asked coldly. "Why catch her in the crossfire?"They didn't tell me why
