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#Chapter 72: Unspoken Desires and Pancake Nostalgia
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 73: Of Misplaced Orders and Asserted Status
The diner was alive with the usual morning bustle as the waitress approached our booth, carrying a tray of steaming food. “Here you go,” she said, setting a plate of fragrant chocolate chip pancakes in front of Nathan first. I felt my mouth start to water just looking at them; they were even bigger and fluffier than I remembered, and it seemed as though the cooks had no shortage of chocolate chips. She set a plate of bacon down next, and I sat in awe of its glimmering sheen and crispy edges. I had been excited for the chocolate chip pancakes that I also ordered, the comfort of a familiar meal to alleviate the tension that had settled between Nathan and me. Unfortunately, my anticipation deflated as the waitress set down eggs benedict in front of me. I frowned as I looked down at the plate. Nathan, already fully absorbed in spreading butter on his pancakes, didn’t notice my apprehension. “Something wrong?” the waitress asked in a low voice, cocking her head. I had never b
Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 74: Reminiscence and Reconciliation
The tension of the earlier encounter with the waitress was still raw, and I felt a gnawing guilt in my chest as Olivia listlessly picked at her newly served pancakes.That bitter taste of regret continued to gnaw at me even as we left the diner after finishing our meal. Olivia's subdued demeanor cast a heavy cloud over what should have been an ordinary breakfast.I knew I had to bring back that spark in her eyes. A cheerful conversation was my ammunition.“Olivia,” I ventured as I guided the car around the curves in the road, trying to think of something to lighten the mood that we had so carefully cultivated before the incident at breakfast, “do you remember our ‘great expedition’ through the Sullivan forest?”Her brows knit together in thought for a few moments before her eyes lit up.“The one where we got lost for hours?” She chuckled softly, shaking her head. “You were so adamant that we were going in the right direction.”“And you kept insisting we follow the moss,” I laughed, th
Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 75: Digital Solitude
“It's perfect, Nathan,” I murmured, my eyes filling with tears. “It tastes just like my dad's.”Nathan let out a sigh of relief. “Good,” he said, grinning. “I’m glad you like it.”The tender lamb stew was exactly as I remembered it. The smell, the taste, it was like being wrapped in a warm, comforting blanket. It reminded me of the good old days with my dad. The nostalgia made me smile, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a spark of genuine happiness.Nathan had nailed it. He had managed to bring me a piece of home and, in doing so, had momentarily swept away the worries and heartaches. For a moment, it was as if I was home again in my dad’s little kitchen, blissfully ignorant of the storms brewing around me.After dinner, Nathan and I cleaned up the kitchen, exchanging light-hearted banter. The tension from the morning seemed like a distant memory, replaced with an easy camaraderie. Once the dishes were done, Nathan retreated to his room to work on some pack business.The
Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 76: The Crossroad Between Truth and Lies
That morning, I untangled myself from Olivia’s sleeping body and slipped out of the room before she was even awake.When she woke up, she would likely never know that I had unwittingly curled myself around her, basking in her comfort as we slept.I could never tell her. Our relationship was already hanging in such a delicate balance that one gust of wind was sure to send it teetering too far in one direction or another.
Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 77: Unyielding Pain
Nathan's suggestion of a fake wedding had pierced through my heart, igniting a storm of emotions. I had to get out; I had to be alone for a while so I could think.“Olivia?” he asked curiously as I abruptly stood. I was frozen there for a moment, unable to move with my fists clenched at my sides as my brain scrambled to come up with the right words to say, but no words would come.Silently, I brushed past Nathan in a hurry and ran up the stairs.I retreated to the sanctuary of my room, seeking solace from the tumultuous thoughts that swirled within me. As I closed the door behind me, I leaned against it, feeling the weight of my doubts pressing upon me.Did Nathan only go in public with me for appearances? Were the feelings I had developed merely a facade, designed to create an image, carefully cultivated by him in order to keep me appeased?The questions tormented me, shredding the fragile threads of hope that I had carefully woven in my heart.All along, I had thought that our feeli
Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 78: Cry for Help
I stumbled down the stairs with determination in my heart to not wake Nathan.“I can do this alone,” I whispered to myself as I grabbed my keys off of the hook and snuck out the door. “I’ve been alone all this time… I can be alone for a little while longer.”In my frightened, panicked, and pain-stricken state, those words made perfect sense to me. Perhaps if I had been more clear headed, though, I would have realized just how utterly stupid I was being.The night was dark, a void swarming with every dreaded possibility.My grip on the steering wheel was ironclad as I drove my car down the deserted roads. My body was in revolt, wracked with pain, causing my vision to blur at the edges. Each cramp twisted through me, intense and threatening, like a raw, unyielding storm.“Just stay on the road,” I mumbled to myself, a shaky mantra meant to tether me to reality.The dim glow of the dashboard highlighted the blood staining my jeans, a crimson stain on a tableau of terror. My worst fears w
Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 79: A Midnight Call
I was asleep, deep within the grip of dreams, when the shrill ring of the phone jerked me awake.My heart hammered in my chest as I fumbled for the device, half-blinded by sleep and a sudden burst of adrenaline.“Hello?” I answered, my voice gravelly from sleep. “Who is this?”“Nathan, it’s Angela.”Angela's voice echoed from the other end, a note of urgency lacing her words that somehow sent chills down my spine without any knowledge of why she was calling me.“Angela?” I murmured. I sat up in bed and ran a hand through my hair. “Why are you calling me?She was silent for a moment, but when she finally spoke, her words were urgent. “It's Olivia. She's in the hospital. There's… there's a lot of pain, and blood.”The words shot through me like an electric shock, cold and terrifying. My heart dropped into my stomach like a frozen ball of fear.I didn’t even bother to answer Angela before the phone was out of my hand, my body lurching into overdrive.I was up and out of bed in seconds, m
Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 80: An Unlikely Alliance
The relentless tick-tock of the hospital clock punctuated the silence of the night as I lay in the sterile white bed, feeling more vulnerable than I'd ever been.Nathan was there by my side, always conscious and alert as I drifted in and out of sleep. His firm grip on my hand offered a steady lifeline amidst the terrifying waves of uncertainty.I couldn’t help but laugh inwardly at the ridiculousness of my situation, the fickleness of my mind. Just a few hours ago, for the millionth time I had told myself that I wouldn’t let these confusing feelings for my friend continue.But now, here he was, holding my hand and all I wanted was him beside me.As I watched Angela bustle around us, something felt different. She seemed hesitant around Nathan, which made sense given her crush, but she was treating me with an unexpected kindness.We had spoken about our differences not long ago, but I didn’t expect what she said next.“Olivia,” she finally broke the silence, her voice quivering with ner
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Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 568: True Vows
OliviaI gripped the edges of the podium, my knuckles whitening from the strain as I stared out over the sea of faces. All eyes were trained squarely on me, awaiting my words. But I was frozen.A tremor of nausea wormed its way up my throat as I stared out at them. What was I thinking—how could I have ever agreed to this? Speaking to crowds had never been my forte; that was Nathan’s arena, not mine. I was just the woman behind the scenes, the young mom who had never gone to college, the one who had been handed her job by her husband…Suddenly, a flicker of motion off to the side caught my eye—Nathan, standing just at the edge of the stage with his arms folded across his chest. Even from this distance, I could feel the weight of his steady gaze, that piercing Alpha stare that always seemed to see straight into the depths of my soul.He must have sensed my faltering because, slowly, deliberately, he offered me the faintest of smiles and a single, reassuring nod.And just like that, the
Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 567: True Luna
Olivia I looped my arm through Nathan’s as we stepped down from the podium, the applause from the crowd and the flashing of cameras having finally subsided after what felt like an eternity. “It’s over,” Nathan beamed, giving my arm a squeeze. “That wasn’t so bad.” I couldn’t help but grin back at him. “No, it wasn’t. You were great up there.” And he really had been great; the press conference had been an overwhelming success—any lingering doubts or trepidation we had harbored before had been utterly blown away by the sheer force of the crowd’s enthusiastic response. For so long, it had felt like we were fighting this battle alone, like the victims who had suffered under Dan’s horrific operation were little more than nameless, faceless casualties. But today, we had finally given them a voice. Their stories had reached the masses, had resonated and struck a chord with everyone who watched. Nathan had handled all of the questions that were thrown his way with poise and ease
Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 566: Vignettes
OliviaI rapped my knuckles lightly on the door to Nathan’s office. A moment later, his voice called out, “Come in.”Stepping into the room, I placed my hands on my hips upon seeing the scene in front of me: Nathan was standing in front of the mirror, his shirt still untucked and his tie loosened. His desk was a mess of papers and folders, and it was clear that he had been checking over his notes last-minute before the press conference.
Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 565: By Your Side
OliviaI wiped a bead of sweat from my brow, slowly turning to survey the progress that had been made in the park. The banners we had hung were a bold purple color, signifying our support of the women who had been affected by the trafficking ring.I couldn’t help but smile a bit as I looked at our progress. With the press conference today, followed by a festival to help raise funds for the shelter we were building, the park was bustling with activity as our pack members worked hard
Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 564: One Step
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Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 563: The End of an Era
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Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 562: The Rise & The Fall
OliviaThe air coming through the open windows smelled like the fresh sea breeze as we made our way from room to room, touring every nook and cranny of the newly completed cottage. It was perfect—cozy and quaint, while still boasting all the modern amenities one could want. But more than that, it was a sanctuary, a haven.A fresh start.
Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 561: Spring Air
OliviaThe sound of power tools outside streamed in through the window while I folded the laundry, a distant backdrop to my swirling thoughts. I had grown used to the sound, and actually kind of enjoyed it. It was a reminder that life went on, that our family was growing.It had been a couple of weeks since I had made the decision to take a temporary leave from work in order to really focus on my family—on rebuilding that long-severed bond with my mother—and I was glad I did.
Fake Vow, True Luna #Chapter 560: Rage
NathanI couldn’t stop the rage from simmering just beneath the surface as I made my way through the darkened forest toward the confinement pit. No one knew I was here—I was coming under the cover of night, my hair and face concealed by a hood.But I had to come. I couldn’t stop thinking about Dan and Montgomery, and I needed to see them.
