Tessa’s POV
Most of the coven stayed with me in my father’s home. Esme went out to help the police look for Penny.
There was no way I was going to leave my father alone if Penny was still out there and planning on killing him. My father and I talked a lot about everything that had happened, and he apologized countless times even though I told him it wasn’t necessary.
None of this was his fault and I hated that he was blaming himself.
He set up sleeping bags, and air mattresses and pulled out the couch for everyone to sleep on. He has one guest bedroom that Laura and Austin occupied. Joseph and I were going to sleep in my childhood room, but I really didn’t want to leave my father and plus, I had missed him throughout these years.
Even though he was in my life these past few years, with Penny around, we didn’t really have a great relationship. Now I understood why; because Penny had her claws dug deep i
Tessa’s POV4 years later. “This had got to be the longest engagement in the history of engagements,” Hannah said as she continued to fuss over my hair for the last several hours. “I’m so happy it’s finally coming to an end.”I smiled at her through the vanity mirror, feeling a lightness in my chest that I hadn’t felt in a long time. Not since my daughter, Amaya, was born.“I know,” I told her honestly, biting my lower lip, making Amy huff with dismay as she grabbed more lipstick to fix my makeup that I unknowingly ruined. “With everything that went down 4 years ago, marrying Joseph just didn’t seem right. I really wanted to get my life back in order. I wanted to succeed in my career, Joseph needed to adjust to his new role as Overseer, and plus, I didn’t want to get married pregnant.”This made both girls pause what they were doing and lo
Tessa’s POVA month after the big battle 4 years ago, Amelia called me and told me that they had taken Ruby to the most elite healers in California where Amelia is originally from. Carter hadn’t left her side since they took her there. They were able to get her heart beating once again, but she remained in critical condition for a little over a year.Nobody, including me, was allowed to see her. The only ones allowed near her were Carter, her true love, and Amelia, her mother. However, Amelia tried to keep me updated as frequently as possible but for a long while, it didn’t seem like Ruby would ever wake up.But 18 months later, she finally woke. It was a long road to recovery though. Even though she was healing and awake, both Carter and Amelia thought it would be best if she remained in California and stayed isolated until she was 100 percent ready to return. Apparently, she suffered some serious PTSD, along with minor memory
Tessa’s POV“Breathe, Tessa. Just breathe!” Ruby said as she held onto my hand tightly.I’m glad she’s a vampire and strong because if she was a typical human, I would have broken her hand by now. Pain shot through my lower abdomen and into my spine, crippling me in agony. I screamed out in pain, my entire body quivering.“You are doing great,” the doctor said, looking at my vitals. “That was a big contraction. It won’t be much longer until it’s time for you to push.”“Where the hell is Joseph?” I asked through my teeth.I knew he was working when I went into labor but that was several hours ago. I thought he would be here by now.“He texted Carter a bit ago and said he was almost here,” Ruby assured me. She placed a cool cloth on my forehead, and I sighed in relief. The pain in my body started to simmer down for a moment, but I knew th
Tessa’s POV10 years later!“You got called here too?” Ruby asked as I walked up the steps of the middle school. I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair, letting it fall around my shoulders.“Are you really surprised?” I asked her, rolling my eyes.She wrapped an arm around my shoulders and held me close to her.“Just take a deep breath. Maybe it’s not too bad this time,” she said, trying to appear soothing.I gave her a pointed look.“Please, when is it ever not that bad?”“Well, they aren’t vampires yet. So, it could be worse,” she said, shrugging her shoulders and chuckling.“I can only imagine the trouble they will get into once they are vampires,” I muttered.Ruby only laughed harder as we walked into the school. We went down the hallway and towards the principal's office, but a familiar voi
Tessa’s POV“Tessa, where is the ketchup?”“Tessa, we are going to need more drinks!”“Tessa, get more napkins!”I wiped the sweat off my brow and walked through the loud gathering of people.“Okay, just give me a minute,” I shouted over the music.I fell in love with Brian during our freshmen year. He was my first love.He was a boy who came from a wealthy family, and I was the girl who grew up in the countryside and worked on my father’s farm.I felt inadequate when it came to Brian and his friends. They all grew up living a wealthy lifestyle and I never quite fit in with them.However, I made up for it by trying to be the best girlfriend that I could be.That included throwing him the best birthday parties. Like this one.Despite our differences when it came to wealth and elegancy, I always believed that Brian and I would be endgame.That is why I tried so hard to make our relationship work.Ruby was leaning against the counter when I entered the kitchen, folding her arms across he
Tessa’s POVThis man was insanely attractive, and he had to have been in his mid-twenties. He was tall and had a broad figure. My heart was pounding heavily in my chest, and I forgot where I was for a moment.He was staring at me with such a ravenous look in his eyes and it felt like I was on his menu.“Tessa, come on!” Ruby urged, pulling me along with her. “Only a little further.”Ruby obviously didn’t notice this man, but I reluctantly turned away and went with her into the bar.His eyes were otherworldly; I couldn’t get them out of my head long after seeing him. Not to mention how he looked at me made my heart skip a beat.It was as if he was looking at more than just my face.He was staring into my mind, heart, and soul.“Surprise!” Tessa said, motioning around as soon as we stepped into the bar.I frowned as I looked around; this wasn’t just a normal bar. I saw incredibly hot men walking around with their shirts off, serving tables.There were other men dancing on a stage and fl
Tessa’s POVI just had a one-night stand… with a callboy. I woke up and telling by the faint sunlight that beamed through the window shades, it was morning.My entire body tingled at the memory of last night. It was certainly incredible, and I can’t remember the last time I’ve been touched like that. This man definitely knew what he was doing last night.At least I’m not crying over Brian; as painful as his betrayal was, I feel like I could actually move on from him. Maybe the best way to get over somebody really is to get under someone new.My face reddened at the very thought.Sitting up in bed, I frowned at my surroundings.This was obviously the master bedroom with the king-sized bed. It was a vast space, however, it was veiled and gauzy. The curtains dimmed the natural lighting from outside, making it almost dreary.I felt a slight sting in my neck, making me reach my hand towards my neck and feel a small swollen patch. I quickly slid out of bed and dressed in my jeans and hoodi
Tessa’s POV“You didn’t order a callboy?!” I asked, feeling my stomach sinking.“No…” she confirmed. “I mean, I was going to. But by the time I found one and returned to you, you were already gone.” Then, she gasped. “Did you find a man and go home with him?!”“Ruby, I’ll see you at home,” I said quickly before hanging up the phone.My heart was racing against my chest at a rapid speed. That man, Joseph, in the dining room right now, was not a callboy.How could I have made a mistake like that?!I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat and returned to the dining room, trying to hide the pure embarrassment on my face.“I’m so sorry,” I said, meeting his curious eyes. “I thought last night was just a one-night stand. I never—”“A one-night stand?” Joseph asked, raising his right brow. “And what exactly gave you that impression?” His voice lowered slightly, and I could see the annoyance on his face.“My friend last night went to find me a callboy and I thought you were who she order