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#Chapter 31: A New Leaf
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
His Secret Princess #Chapter 32: Magic Touch
CelesteThe persistent hum of the treadmill was the only thing I could focus on as I tried to block out the world around me. I kept my head down, fingers gripping the handrails, and ran, hoping to get through my workout unnoticed.Lost in my thoughts of avoiding Matt and trying to prove to myself that I could handle this workout alone, I almost didn’t feel the sudden sharp impact against my ankle.But it was followed by a searing pain that made me lose my balance. The treadmill’s rapid pace threw me off, and I hit the ground hard, the shock of it leaving me breathless.Pain seared through my ankle, and an involuntary cry escaped my lips. Gasping for air and clutching my hurt ankle, I forced my teary eyes open, only to be met with the unmistakable smirk of Sabrina.My gaze followed her line of sight, and I found the culprit of my fall: an exercise ball.“Why?” I whispered more to myself, the sheer malice of her act incomprehensible.Before I could process further, strong hands cradled
His Secret Princess #Chapter 33: Time for Change
CelesteWith the clink of a spoon against her coffee cup, Fiona looked up at me with that ‘tell me everything’ gleam in her eyes.We were sitting in the local cafe, two steaming cappuccinos between us. Our last class of the day had been canceled, and we had nothing better to do.Jack wasn’t expecting me home until much later, not that he usually cared all that much what I did with Fiona during my free time so long as I came home in time to make dinner.“Alright,” Fiona urged, leaning closer, “you've been fidgeting ever since you walked in. What happened at the gym when I was gone the other day?”Blowing out a sigh, I recounted the entire episode to her—the treadmill, Sabrina’s sinister act, the pain, and of course, Matt’s intervention.I decided to leave out the part about Matt’s oddly healing touch. It had been a few days since it all happened, and I came to the conclusion that it was nothing. A figment of my imagination, brought on by the trauma of falling off of the treadmill.Fion
His Secret Princess #Chapter 34: Mom’s Necklace
Celeste With a careful hand, I arranged the dishes on the table: a vibrant mix of greens for the salad, drizzled with a homemade vinaigrette, and perfectly grilled lean chicken breasts beside it.The aroma wafted up, making my mouth water. While it wasn’t the greasy, heavy fare we typically had, I felt proud of my healthier creation.
His Secret Princess #Chapter 35: The Missing Link
Matt I tried to read Jack’s face as he loomed over me, the dim light from the porch lamp casting shadows that deepened the anger in his eyes. I had never seen him this upset, and knowing it was because of me stirred a pot of anxiety in my stomach.“You think you're some kind of hero, don’t you?” Jack sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Stepping in to be the knight in shining armor for my little sister.”
His Secret Princess #Chapter 36: Dancing with the Devil
Celeste The lecture was dragging on, and Professor Wayne’s voice faded into the background as I doodled absent-mindedly on my notebook. It was Friday, and it was my last class of the day. Statistics; my least favorite class of all time, but a required class for most majors.Just as my attention was about to wane completely, Fiona’s elbow digging into my side broke through my reverie. I looked over to see her smirking at me and holding her phone out to me beneath
His Secret Princess #Chapter 37: Close Call
Celeste The pathway leading across the quad and up to the campus center was awash in the soft glow of the setting sun, casting everything in a mellow orange hue. Students bustled in and out of the squat brick building, chattering happily with their friends as they either came to or from a warm meal.However, while the world was softening and preparing for the evening, my heart was racing.&nbs
His Secret Princess #Chapter 38: Errand Girl
Celeste The throbbing in my head was my first clue that last night had been a bit too wild, even if it was just a private dance party of one. My room was in a state of disarray, with empty bottles and discarded clothes scattered around like confetti. As I groggily sat up, fragments of the night’s escapades flashed through my mind. I remembered considering something about Matt… unblocking him? A sense of urgency washed over me, and I practically lunged for my phone on the nightstand. Scrolling through my contacts, I finally landed on Matt’s name. Blocked. The only notification on my phone was from Fiona: “Good job, dancer girl! I hope you’re excited for your first day of practice, and you’d better be getting coffee with me afterwards to tell me all about it!” A rush of relief coursed through me. Thankfully, my drunken self hadn’t done anything too regrettable. I pushed the covers aside, the cool morning air refreshing against my skin. Jack’s room was eerily silent, which me
His Secret Princess #Chapter 39: Ill-Fated Meeting
Matt The lingering scent of cologne hung in the air as I adjusted my collar, peering into the bathroom mirror. It was another evening, and I had agreed to meet up with Sabrina. Why I did was still a mystery to me; perhaps it was the allure of unraveling another, more important mystery; the identity of the masked girl. Sabrina had insisted we meet at ‘The Blue Lagoon’, a dimly lit bar at the heart of town. It was a dive bar, but it was only one of three in the entire town. She had mentioned something about it being a suitable place for our discussion. Knowing her, ‘discussion’ could mean anything from genuine conversation to something far less dignified. The moment I walked in, Sabrina, with her blonde hair cascading down her back, waved at me from the bar. A sly smile was stretched across her face. “Over here, Matty boy,” she purred. I made my way over, offering a half-smile in response to the bothersome nickname. I kept telling myself that this was necessary, that I j
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His Secret Princess #Chapter 200: The Mask
EpilogueThe sounds of plates clinking together, and the low hum of chit-chat, merged into the background as I listened to Fiona describe her latest assignment. She was stuck in a geography class that she needed for distribution, and it was driving her nuts. Her professor was a mean, curmudgeonly old man, and a notoriously difficult marker.“He gave me a C–. A C–! That was not a C worthy paper.”Jack nodded. “I read it. It was pretty good.”She rounded on him. “Pretty good?”He put his hands up, a small smile on his lips. “Really pretty good?”She huffed but turned back to me. “Your brother is a pain in the ass.”I smiled. “You’re telling me.” They’d only been together for a few years, but they already bickered like an old married couple. Matt and I were actually married, but we didn’t even bicker like that. It was as endearing as it was exhausting.Matt sank into his seat beside me and slid me a cup of coffee. I threw him a grateful look. Our peacekeeping duties had kept us late the
His Secret Princess #Chapter 199: Ever After
MattThe nerves made me jittery, and I bounced my knee so hard it rattled the bench. Seth gave me a knowing look before bending over to finish tying his skates. I focused on taping my stick, letting muscle memory take over. All the guys knew what I planned to do tonight, and they kept throwing me knowing looks as I tried to stay calm.It was the last home game before playoffs started. A part of me kept thinking that I should wait, but an even greater part of me didn’t want to wait one more second. If life had taught me anything, it was that we didn’t know how much time we might have. I didn’t want to waste another second of it. I especially didn’t want to waste time just because I was afraid.“Dude, stop vibrating the bench,” our goalie James called. “I’m trying to focus.”“Sorry,” I answered. If there was one rule in hockey, it was to not mess with the goalie, especially right before a game. If he needed to focus, then I just needed to find a way to chill the fuck out.Enzo gave me a
His Secret Princess #Chapter 198: The Score
The arena was buzzing with energy as Matt got the puck and darted forward to take advantage of the breakaway. He sent the puck into the corner of the net, and I jumped to my feet. Beside me Fiona screamed so loud, heads turned in our direction. Jack cringed slightly, throwing her a bemused look.It was the first home game of the year, and Matt was giving everything he had to make sure the team got a win. Around us, the school cheered as he skated by, knocking fists with his teammates. It was his second goal of the night, his first a tricky tip in after Seth’s initial shot rebounded. It was 3-1 with only four minutes left in the third period.“He’s playing great,” Nina said from my other side as the cheering died down, and we took our seats again.“He is.” Over on the bench, Enzo stood in a dark suit, his head bent as he talked to one of his players.He and Nina were staying one more year. Even though Nina graduated in the spring, her father was giving her the year to clean up the town
His Secret Princess #Chapter 197: Family Reunion
“Are you ready for this?” Jack asked, his eyes trailing over my face, looking for any signs of fear or hesitation. I schooled my features into a blank mask. Sure, I was nervous, but he didn’t need to see that. He already hated that he’d gotten me involved. Too bad I was the only one that could do this, and I’d do anything to get the Schreibers out of our town.I took a deep breath and gazed up at the towering mansion. It was on the outskirts of town, far enough away that I’d never seen it, but still close enough for the Schreibers to cause havoc. The house seemed quiet, but I knew our grandfather lurked inside. Him and whoever survived the fight.“I’m ready,” I said, keeping my voice steady. Matt and the rest of the Peacekeepers had already surrounded the house. They were keeping their distance but staying close enough just in case we needed them. It made me feel better knowing he was out there. I knew, without a doubt, that Matt would do anything to keep me safe. Just like I’d do any
His Secret Princess #Chapter 196: Looking Forward
Jack“Hey!” Jack called, running to catch up with Fiona. She stopped walking and turned to give him a curious look. “I’ll walk you home,” he said when he reached her side.She gave him a bemused look. Technically, her place was only five minutes from campus, but that didn’t mean she should walk alone at night. Plus, he hadn’t seen her since she moved back in with her roommate, and he wanted a moment alone with her.“Alright,” she said with a shrug. “If you insist.”He smiled. “Better safe than sorry.”“Bye,” Celeste called, waving at them. She gave him a knowing smile, and he glowered at her. She clearly knew something was going on, but it wasn’t her business. They needed to figure this out for themselves.She and Matt were headed in the opposite direction, back toward the house. Matt was still haunting the halls. Everywhere Jack went, there he was. In the bathroom, when he needed to piss. In the kitchen, when he was hungry. Even in the living room at night, making out with his sister
His Secret Princess #Chapter 195: The Oath
“I promise to protect this town,” Jack said, his hand over his heart. “I promise to fight for peace, and to not rest until it is achieved. I promise to treat all life as equal. I devote myself to this cause from now until my last breath.”Nina dipped her head in acknowledgement, and Jack let his hand drop to his side. I stepped forward next and repeated the oath. It was the same words every person in this room had recited when they agreed to become a Peacekeeper. It wasn’t something to take lightly, and I didn’t plan to.“I devote myself to this cause from now until my last breath,” I said, stepping back beside my brother. Fiona stood at his other side. She took the oath first, saying the words with the utmost confidence.I locked eyes with Matt, and he gave me a proud smile, his eyes gleaming. Our friends sat around the room, and, as if given some invisible cue, they all began to hoot and clap. They stood up and slapped the three of us on the back. I got pulled into hugs, one after t
His Secret Princess #Chapter 194: Lovers
Matt closed my bedroom door behind us and leaned his crutches against the wall. He hobbled over to the bed and sank down onto the mattress with a soft groan. “Just as I remember it,” he said, jumping a little. “So soft.”Downstairs, Fiona, and Jack were rifling around in the kitchen. They offered to make us something, but neither of us were very hungry.Matt lay back and stretched his arms over his head, his shirt riding up just enough to reveal the smooth skin along his waistline. His hip bones dipped down into his cargo pants and I bit my lip, desperate to get my hands on him, but still worried about his wounds. Sure, he was up and moving around, but that didn’t mean he should be doing physical activity. I didn’t know a lot about werewolf healing, but I wasn’t willing to risk him.“I missed this room,” he continued, turning to look at me through hooded eyes.The purple bedspread brought back a flood of memories. I’d spent so much of my life in this room. I had so many memories, and
His Secret Princess #Chapter 193: Home
MattI held onto Celeste’s hand, leaning heavily on the two crutches I had propped under my opposite arm. A feeling of intense déjà vu swept through me as I watched Seth step forward and light the pyre. Around us, others did the same until dark smoke rose into the blue spring sky. I hoped this was the last funeral I ever had to go to, at least for a long while.Celeste had a blank expression on her face that worried me more than anything. Beside her, Jack and Fiona stood holding hands. Fiona was crying, and Jack had a stricken look on his face. As one, he and Celeste let go of our hands and stepped forward. They lit the last pyre.“Goodbye dad,” Celeste said, just loud enough for me to hear. My heart squeezed.Jack didn’t speak, he just lowered his gaze and stepped back beside Fiona. She immediately took his hand, but he didn’t look up from his shoes. I understood the warring emotions he was feeling. He hated his father for abandoning him, and he felt guilty that he got killed right i
His Secret Princess #Chapter 192: Shell Shock
Those of us still on our feet spent the rest of the day tending to the wounded. God, there were so many of them. Every wound I saw, every cry of pain I heard, felt like a knife to the gut. Everywhere I went, I saw pain, death, and gore.It was all too much.“Hey,” Jack said, giving me a concerned look. “Take a break if you need to.”He was still covered in blood, and I could barely stand to look at him. He’d taken a few minutes to wipe most of it off his face, but he hadn’t stopped to change his clothes. None of us had. There hadn’t been time.“I can’t.”I couldn’t get my father’s face out of my mind. Jack took me to his body shortly after the fight ended, tears in his eyes. I allowed myself to cry only for a minute before I helped him move the body to the small grassy area behind the church. That was where we were laying out the dead before we’d give them all proper funerals.There were already too many bodies out there. Seth had collapsed beside Jenna’s bloody form and hadn’t moved
