Merry Christmas to those that celebrate. May your holidays sparkle with joy and laughter.
Eden leaned against the leather bench and gazed absently at the landscape. Deep in her heart, she hadn't forgotten how Ivan had rejected her, or the cruel words he had spoken, but his face was beginning to fade from her memory, replaced by the living one of Ian. The omega would have liked to tell the viscount what had happened in the barn, what Ivan had done to her, the words he had spoken and what she had felt. But she had to conceal all this from him, for the sake of his grief. Ian certainly guessed the shameful conditions in which Ivan had abandoned her. But it was certain that the viscount had sought to get closer to his brother, despite their differences, and to make peace. How then to reveal to him the horrible being that Ivan had been? Moreover, she did not need to be comforted in the idea that she was anybody, naïve and devoid of charm. Ivan had not spared her any of these qualifiers, and Ian had eyes to see, too.Eden straightened up on the bench and tried to take an int
“What do you mean, a real wedding? What do you mean by that?” asked Ian, his eyebrows furrowed.“It depends... on what we do... or don't do. I mean, we get married with the hope that the pup will be an alpha boy, your heir. Then we won't have to... share a bed, if it's one. A boy, I mean. If it's a girl... I mean, I know you want an heir, so…”But that was still a long way off, and she didn't want to think about it right now.“Eden, are you telling me that I can't share your bed after the baby is born, if it's a boy?”“But... Yes. You're not marrying me for love, or anything like that, so…”Ian looked her straight in the eye in turn, but Eden suddenly pretended to look at something through the car door, hiding behind her new hat. Ian barely had time to see that she was red as a peony."What was I thinking, bringing up this topic of conversation?" Eden mused at the same time. She heard Ian sigh loudly.“Eden, he said, we're getting married. I'm ready to do my duty to you and Ivan’s ch
"But you don't love me!" That protest was still ringing in Ian’s ears. Of course I don't. A gentleman did not wait for love when he got married. And Ivan, he was looking for love, perhaps? He had had this scathing answer on the tip of his tongue, but had refrained from uttering it. He wasn't cruel enough to remind her of what she'd been through, especially when Eden was looking at her like that, with her amber eyes. He had not yet noticed their special color, nor the long lashes that shaded them. If the situation had not been so serious, he would have burst out laughing when he heard Eden propose a white wedding. He rarely let himself be disconcerted, but there, he had remained mute for several seconds.Omegas, he told himself sententiously, are particularly prone to emotional outbursts. Eden had come to him exhausted, pregnant, and had received a shock. What human being, after that, would not have hesitated to share her bed with a near stranger? Ian knew, according to his mist
"A country girl who no one has ever heard of, that's what I am," Eden thought. “His family will hate me. I'm not good enough for Jungkook and he'll find out..."“Aunt Anne, Miss. Chase is here”, Ian replied sternly, clasping his hand in Eden’s and she was a little comforted by it, but not reassured.Making her deepest curtsy, Eden went to stand in front of Ian’s Aunt, pretending to be as calm as she had learned to be in front of her father's anger.“Thank you for allowing me to stay with you, my lady,” she said in a soft voice.“You can't really say I had a choice,” Anne replied. Her dark and sharp eyes, scanning Eden’s face with interest, made Eden feel as if she were naked in front of her piercing gaze“-You look very pale, my child,” she said critically. “What do you have to say for yourself?”“ -That... that I will do my best to be a good wife, lady Carter.”“-Gosh, I'm glad to hear that! Well, Ian, it looks like you're doing a better job than your scoundrel brother. At least you
“-You have to eat”Anne sat in a large velvet armchair in Eden’s room. She had been supervising the bride’s preparations since the morning, and Eden suspected she was enjoying it a little too much. If only she could have had a little fun, too!“-But I can'tEden starred in disgust at the cold meat and fruit that had been placed on a tray in front of her. She hoped Aunt Anne would blame her lack of appetite on nervousness, not morning sickness. That said, her nerves were so bad that Eden had hardly slept all night.She didn't know which feeling weighed more heavily on her: the guilt of having forced Ian to marry her, the apprehension of the wedding night, or the confusion in which the kiss the night before had plunged her.The way she'd responded to Ivan’s advances was totally instinctive, she could see that now. Eden had been surprised, flattered and seduced in a hurry by an elegant, charming and sophisticated man who had the power to get her out of her prison, with or without her
The little chapel was filled with the fragrance of roses and lilies that had been brought from the castle's greenhouses. Ian felt his head spin slightly as he walked up the steps to the altar, and he took a deep breath. He felt nervous and did not like it. What was he getting himself into? Anyway, it was too late to back out. Next to him stood his neighbor and friend Jasper Miller, an equally solid and reassuring presence, quietly reading the ceremony program. Jasper was carrying the golden ring that had belonged to Ian’s grandmother. From time to time, he looked up from the sheet of paper and looked at Ian with an impassive expression.“You're as white as a sheet,” he whispered. “The perfect groom. I'm very impressed.”“I always try to adapt to the circumstances,”his friend replied, playing along with him.Why on earth was he so nervous? He was going to do his duty, for the honor of the family. And besides, he was marrying a very nice and beautiful young omega... Of course, ther
*EDEN’S POVEden clutched Ian’s arm. "The bride. I am now Lady Hadleigh." Her veil lifted and she saw her husband's face approaching, grave and very pale. His eyes were a dark brown as he contemplated his features. "He's realizing he's done something irrevocable," Eden mused as he leaned in to kiss her. She wished the passionate kiss would last longer, to reassure her, but Ian was already getting up. An elegant but bewitching kiss, adapted to these solemn circumstances. Ian always knew what to do, on any occasion…***"And I don't, not at all." Eden had thought she was perfectly in control of herself , until Ivan entered her life. She had been an obedient daughter, an accomplished householder, a strong supporter of the parish. Which of these different talents would be useful to her in her new life? None. Now she would have to learn to behave like a viscountess. Eden proudly raised her chin and placed her hand on Ian’s arm. She took her bouquet from Alexis’ hands and followed
The hall of the castle was filled with servants, gardeners, and grooms, and their entrance set off a cheerful and amused hubbub. For a moment, Eden felt as if Ian was going to run up the stairs without stopping and take her straight to his room. Her heart was pounding with fear and excitement. But he dropped her off in the hall, keeping his fingers entwined with her own.“Three cheers for milord,” said Jackson. Hip, hip, hip…The assembled staff didn't really need the butler's encouragement, and the cheers shook the walls of the old house. Eden felt his eyes fill with tears. All these people seemed genuinely happy to welcome her. Eden untied the ribbons from her hat, and one of the maids came and put it aside, along with her gloves.“-Deni, I insist on being the first to kiss the groom on the threshold of her new home,” Logan said happily, taking Eden by the shoulders. He kissed her on both cheeks.“You're a very lucky man, Ian” he said happily to his cousin.“I know,” he answered
March 26th “These flowerbeds are going to look great this summer.”Eden leaned against Ian by the window of the large living room, above the flowerbeds that Johnson and his men, including young Trubshawe, were preparing, burying the flower bulbs.“Amara is growing, too. It's late March, spring is in the air.”Ian put his arm around his omega’s shoulders and drew her closer. It was still a shock for him to know she was his.“Do you think it's possible to be this happy?" asked Eden.“No, not usually," he replied, smiling. Then he leaned over to tickle Eden’s earlobe with his tongue, watching for her reaction. “But I know lots of ways to enhance the sensation.”“Oh, I know that.”Eden tried to react like a respectable viscountess and show a little reproach towards her rascal of a husband, but she hardly succeeded.“As it happens," Eden whispered to him in an engaging voice, "we have no obligations either this afternoon or this evening. I've kept us a few moments free, since we're packi
Ian made it his own, sensing that this was their real first time. The alpha forced himself to control his desire and keep an eye on Eden’s, which rose and rose, until the final conflagration, the simultaneous deflagration.“My love…”Ian gasped again. “Forever and ever. Forever and ever.” “My omega,” Ian whispered, stroking the back of her neck.Ian looked at his omega with such tenderness, as if he couldn't believe he had it all to himself.“You're mine, aren't you Eden?” The alpha asked, looking tall and majestic above her“All yours” Eden nodded vigorously, her breath catching as she felt Ian’s hands wrap around her ankles, caressing her calves before spreading them apart, making more room for between her thighs“Yes," Eeen murmured, "yes, all yours, mark me.”“Are you sure?”“Yes, I want to be yours, completely”Ian let out a tiger-like growl just before he bounced on his prey, before leaning in, his mouth hot and heavy as he rubbed his lips across Eden’s cheek, up to her chin,
“Sir”It was Philips' voice that brought Ian back to earth; he'd just lost the most important person in his life.“Sir." Philips insisted in the face of his master's silence. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but we await your orders. It's getting dark, the current is preventing us from crossing and continuing our search, so I think it's best to go back inside, get warm, regain your strength and start again tomorrow. Also, you'll have to prepare for the worst, sir, with the low temperatures and the cold.”“Are you mad?” Ian asked, his voice full of fatigue but above all full of bitterness. “Excuse me, sir?”“My wife has just been carried off, I don't know where she is or what state she's in, and all you can tell me is to go home, get warm and prepare for the worst. So I repeat, ARE YOU CRAZY?”“I'm sorry, I…”“Enough... Send Jem to tell my Aunt and Alexis to take care of Amara. Then gather all the men near the clearing with the best hunting dogs you can find. I want everyone to get to work,
Ian first saw the shattered pillars of the bridge, then a wavering figure stepped out to meet him, a small dog barking frantically at his heels. Ian jumped down from his saddle and Toby leapt into his arms. A baby's cries could be clearly heard over the roar of the river.“Where's my omega, Philips?”“Still in the car, milord. With the maid and the baby. The footman's a little hurt, but he'll be alright. I sent him for help. It was the floodwater that caused the bridge pillars to collapse as we drove over...If we make any sudden movements, it'll cause the rest of the bridge to collapse.” Ian put the dog down and ran along the bank, the coachman on his heels. When he reached the carriage, Ian had to fight the urge to jump straight into the water to save his family.“We need ropes, horses and... Ah, thank God, there's Murrow!”The carpenter galloped down the hill, pulling his wagon team along. When he reached the bank, he braked with the reins. The men with him jumped down from th
We'll go down to the hotel, Mary," she announced to the maid, pulling from her bag the London guidebook she had taken from the library. Let's see which one is the most suitable..The horses slowed as they took the path that led to the bridge over the river. Eden glanced out the door at the fog-shrouded landscape, then back to her guide. “The Pulteney looks to be the most comfortable and central," she explained, trying to keep her tone light, "but it's certainly very expensive. Let's see.”The sedan lurched forward and, at the sound of hooves on logs, Jimin realized they had reached the bridge. There was a terrible creak. The coachman screamed and the sedan pitched sideways. Eden tried to grab hold of Amara, but her hands could only clasp Mary's dress as Icy water invaded the darkened cabin. They had fallen into the river.Ian waded to the edge of the torrent, the water almost completely submerging his high boots.“Too late," he announced. The dam's already broken. There's no way
Breakfast the next day was more tiring than Eden had imagined. Ian behaved with impeccable courtesy. He smiled at her, spoke to her politely, and when Eden sent the servants away so she could talk to him about what had happened the day before, Ian simply shook his head.“Let's not talk about it anymore, Eden. We've got to put it behind us. Your nerves were on edge after a few days at the reception.”Eden wanted to apologize, to explain why she had lost control of herself. If Ian pretended that nothing had happened, would she be obliged to leave for London and let this unspoken issue hang over them forever?There was a knock at the door, and Jackson entered. Behind him, several men in working clothes could be seen gathered in the corridor.“Lord and Milady will excuse me," he began, "the rains have caused the river to burst its banks. Turner sends word to the lord that he fears the mill dam may break.”“I'll be off then”Ian put down his napkin, stood up and walked into the corrido
What had happened? What had gone wrong? Ian contemplated in the deserted corridor, as stunned and shocked as if someone had just cut open his chest and ripped out his heart. He'd thought he'd made Eden happy and brought her security. But that had only been an illusion, which had now been shattered. He didn't know how he was going to make things right, or even if it was possible. No doubt Eden was in her room. Toby stood at the door, whimpering miserably. Ian knocked on the door, then turned the handle. To no avail. The bolt was pulled. Swearing muffledly, he tried to open the boudoir door. Locked too, as was the door to the baby's room. He knocked again.“Eden?”SilenceStriding to his own room, Ian tried to open the connecting door. It too was locked. Exasperated, he pounded his fist on the panel.“Eden, my angel, will you please open the door?”Through the wood paneling, he heard the child's startled cries, which put an end to his anger almost immediately. Amara must b
The day after the christening, it began to rain heavily, much to Eden’s dismay. With her brief experience as mistress of the house, she wondered what he was going to do with all her guests, on a rainy Saturday, after matins and lunch. But her worries proved futile. The bishop retired to his room to read his sermons, the older ladies took up their embroidery, telling each other the latest neighborhood gossip, while the younger ones obligingly kept the children occupied and did a thousand favors for Amara, as well as for Leon, Iris and Jasper’s baby. The alphas had disappeared. Some of them had withdrawn from the bishop's sight to play cards or billiards, while others had gone to visit the stables. As for Eden, she sat quietly, sometimes making sure the babies weren't too tired, sometimes simply enjoying the rain drumming on the windows and the crackling fire in the hearth. Jasper entered the room, his hair soaking wet, and leaned over to whisper something in Iris’s ear. She loo
——6th of January——— “Your Grace”Eden gave a deep curtsy like Alexis had taught her to do. Immediately her hands were grabbed, and one of the most handsome young men she had ever seen helped her to her feet.“Please, call me Alastor, " replied the Duke of Avery, kissing her on both cheeks. “Ian,” he exclaimed enthusiastically, “where did you find such a pretty omega?” “Just looking at her to know you don't deserve it.”“You can let go of her now, Alastor,” Ian said quietly, smiling. The look on his face, however, indicated that he was ready to slay any man who got too close to Eden, whether he was a duke or a prince.Eden felt overcome with excitement. She was a little apprehensive about this baptism reception, but, for the moment, everything was going wonderfully. The only downside in recent weeks was that Ian avoided sharing her bed, probably to let her rest a little after giving birth. Since Amara’s birth, however, the alpha seemed more distant than Eden would have liked. W