Sara's POV As we hugged, I felt connected to Henry like never before. We were two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, each broken but finding comfort in being with each other.After some time, Henry retreated and looked at me with a determined gaze. "I want to show you something," he said, getting up and walking over to a nearby drawer.He pulled out a small, leather-bound book and handed it to me. "It's my journal," he said. "I have, in ink, written everything down: what I think, what I feel, what I struggle with. I want you, Sara, to read it. I want you to completely understand me."I took the journal, feeling a sense of trepidation. What secrets would it hold? What pain would it reveal?But as I looked up at Henry, I knew that I was ready to face whatever was inside. I was ready to understand him, to support him, and to help him heal.I opened the journal and found its pages deep inside a personal and emotional journey of Henry's life. His handwriting was messy and uneven, which indicated
Sara's P.O.V Henry didn't take his eyes off Emma but pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "I'll call Nanany Elara to come over and keep an eye on the house while we're gone," he told her as he waited for the call to connect.Emma nodded, still dazed from finally having at least one hope of getting some answers about the accident."Nanany Elara?" Henry called brightly, with warmth in his voice. "Hé, we will go out now and see Elias, but we'll be back later. Please come across and keep an eye for us."He held his breath in the silence as he listened for her reply. "Oui, everything is fine. We just have to attend to something. Merci, Nanny. Merci."Henry slammed the phone down and turned to us. "Nanany Elara will be here shortly. Shall we be off?"I rose, my stomach roiling in a mix of excitement and trepidation. What would Elias have to say about that night? And how was this going to change everything?Emma squared her shoulders and exhaled a deep, decisive breath. "Let's do this
Sara's POV No sooner had Elias comforted Emma than a doctor emerged from the Intensive Care Unit looking disoriented. "Oh. That wasn't Mr. Elias," he said, astonished.We stared at him in confusion. "What do you mean?" Henry stammered with furrowing brows.He glanced uncomfortably. "The patient we were trying to resuscitate. It wasn't Mr. Elias. I don't know what happened, but there's been a mix-up."He shook his head. "I don't know. We gotta find out what happened. I'm gonna check the records."Elias's face was ashen, his eyes wide with concern. "I was in my room, then. I don't know, I must've gotten out. I don't remember anything."Henry's eyes narrowed. "This isn't right. Something's going on here."I shivered. What was going on? Where was the real Elias? And who was this patient they had been trying to save?Elias' eyes enlarged with incomprehensible confusion. "I think I was transferred to another room. I just can't remember anything."The doctor's face turned grave. "I'm afraid
Sara's POV The minute the doctor was gone, Emma turned to us with a frantic expression on her face. "Ryker. He's growing wings by the day," she whispered, her eyes wide with terror.I arched an eyebrow, confused. "What do you mean?"Emma's voice quivered. "I mean, he's getting huge, stronger, so much more powerful. He's reaching out, and I don't know how to stop him."Henry's face turned serious. "You mean, he's getting full control over them, manipulating them?"Emma nodded. "Yes, exactly. And I think he is behind everything that has been going on with the mystery patient, the man in black. It's part of his game.The frown on Elias's face deepened. "We need to find what he's planning for in the end and put a stop to that before that happens."I nodded in full agreement, knowing full well we did have to get to the bottom of what Ryker was planning and put an end to whatever his evil scheme was.I couldn't shake this feeling that something was off. "What if his target was Elias?" I as
Author's POV Henry's face drained of color as his eyes widened in horror. "What do you mean, Ryker?" he asked again voice trembling slightly.Ryker didn't tear his eyes from Henry's face, swirling with emotions in them. "You're Alexander Grey's son," he whispered as though those words were being torn out of his lips. "I thought you had died, just like your father."Elias took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. "What does this have to do with anything, Ryker?"Ryker's eyes flew back to Elias, his face contorted in a snarl. "You don't understand, Elias. This changes everything. Henry's father was a threat to my plans, just like you are now."Sara tried to fit the pieces. "What plans, Ryker? What are you talking about?Ryker's laughter sent shivers down her spine. "You'll know soon enough. For now, let's just say Henry's presence has complicated things."With that, Ryker pivoted and vanished into darkness, leaving the others dumbfounded and utterly confused."What just happened?" Emma b
POV - AuthorEmma laid a gentle hand on Elias's arm, slowing him down. "Elias, wait. You just got discharged from the hospital. Are you sure you're ready for this?"Elias's eyes flashed bright with a feral determination. "I was the beta wolf, Emma. I need to be with my Alpha, Jethro. He needs me now more than ever."Emma's eyes widened in surprise. "Your Alpha? Jethro's your Alpha?"Elias nodded, his voice low and husky. "Yes. And I need to protect him. Ryker's threats aren't just empty words. He'll stop at nothing to hurt Jethro, and I won't let that happen."Emma's grip on his arm tightened. "Elias, you're not thinking clearly. You're still recovering from your injuries."Elias's eyes, ablaze with unrelenting intensity, searched for and held hers. "I'm thinking completely clearly, Emma. My Alpha needs me, and I won't abandon him now, not ever."With that, he shoved her hand free and strode on toward Jethro's house, the uncertain Emma following close behind, her heart racing in panic
Sara's POV I stood there, my mind reeling in shock, my fist clenched at my side. "How dare she!" I whispered, my voice trembling with rage.I couldn't believe this. The woman who had been trying to destroy everything dear to me- had finally shown her real colors. She had poisoned Jethro-the man I loved-with dark magic.I remembered all the times Tunisha had tried to take my life and degrade me. She had always been my enemy, and now I knew fully the depth of her betrayal.My eyes had narrowed and my anger boiled over. I wanted to confront her, wanted her to pay for what she had done. But Elias's words stayed in my hand. "We need to be careful," he'd told me. "Tunisha's still out there, and she'll stop at nothing to keep her secrets safe."I let out a deep sigh and made an effort to collect myself. Deep inside, I knew that Elias was right. We needed a plan, some way of taking Tunisha down without making ourselves vulnerable.But it was hard to think straight; it was hard thinking about
Sara's P.O.V.Emma's voice was urgent, "Be careful all of you, Lia is powerful, and we don't know what she's capable of."Henry's reassuring hand was on her shoulder. "We'll be careful, Emma, we'll make sure everyone is safe."We took a deep breath and went our separate ways: Emma and Henry to her mother's, Elias and I to Jethro's. For as long as the lives of our loved ones hung in the balance, we were prepared for anything to save them.I turned a step further, embracing Emma tightly. "Be safe, Emma. Please be careful.Emma clutched me tightly against her, arms tightening. "I will, Sara. You too. We get through this together."I leaned back, our eyes locking. "We will. We've got to make sure everyone's safe then finally take down Lia."Emma nodded, her face set in resolution. "Let's do this."Immediately, I grinned, and the binding feeling dissolved between my friend and me; we were in it, and we would see it through until the end.Giving a final squeeze, releasing Emma, I turned bac
Sara's POV As night fell, we spoke and laughed to make up for lost time. The announcement of the baby's arrival brought tears of joy to our eyes as Emma and Elias announced it. Henry and Anne's reunion was warm and welcomely received.We sat down to dinner at which time Jethro reached for my hand, his eyes locking mine. "I'm so glad to have you home," he whispered.I smiled, knowing full well the deep connecting nerve that was between us, and simply replied, "Me too.".Not one of my loved ones was missing from the dinner table, and for the first time in a very, very long time, I was whole.As the night wore on, Jethro took me toward our chambers with his arm securely wrapped around me."You're safe now," he whispered as his lips tickled my ear.I nodded, finally, the memories no longer weighing on my shoulders. "I'm home," I said out loud.Jethro's eyes sparkled, his lips curving into a smile. "Forever," he replied with a promise.I smiled in return; knowing all was right in the worl
Sara's POV As night fell, we spoke and laughed to make up for lost time. The announcement of the baby's arrival brought tears of joy to our eyes as Emma and Elias announced it. Henry and Anne's reunion was warm and welcomely received.We sat down to dinner at which time Jethro reached for my hand, his eyes locking mine. "I'm so glad to have you home," he whispered.I smiled, knowing full well the deep connecting nerve that was between us, and simply replied, "Me too.".Not one of my loved ones was missing from the dinner table, and for the first time in a very, very long time, I was whole.As the night wore on, Jethro took me toward our chambers with his arm securely wrapped around me."You're safe now," he whispered as his lips tickled my ear.I nodded, finally, the memories no longer weighing on my shoulders. "I'm home," I said out loud.Jethro's eyes sparkled, his lips curving into a smile. "Forever," he replied with a promise.I smiled in return; knowing all was right in the worl
Sara's P.O.V I hummed softly to myself as I cleaned Vincent's bedroom, my hands gliding easily across the surfaces. My eyes strayed to his dresser, toward that one drawer he'd always said not to touch. Curious, I wondered what could be so special in that one little drawer. "A surprise?" I asked innocently.My fingers found the handle and drew the drawer open in a second. Inside were heaps of photos. The first I picked was of a man crowned, an aura of melancholy diffused about him. A lot about him seemed so familiar, yet I just couldn't place who he was.I went onto the next picture couple embracing. The woman's face stirred something in my system. "Emma? Elias?" I blurred my head racing. Then, a sharp pain pierced my head, and pictures slipped from my hands as a groan escaped my lips.A voice reverberated inside my head, "I love you, and you are forever mine." But it wasn't Vincent's voice. There came confusion inside me. Picking up the coronation picture, the rise of tears was to be
Jethro's POV Three Months later…%.Three months had passed since that fateful day. I sat in my throne room, full of the grandeur of a restored kingdom but my heart was still shattered. Ryker's defeat and Tanisha's demise brought peace, but only Eldrid still stirred in my heart.Elias entered, his face solemn. "Your Highness," he greeted low. I did not even look up. "Did you find her?" I asked without any expectation of a different answer.The pause that followed was all the answer Elias needed. "Nein, Your Highness." I looked down, my eyes welling up hot. I had sent Elias to scour the ruins-to search every inch of the explosion site. But there was nothing. No sign of Sara. No indication of her fate.I clung to hope, tenuous as the thinnest of threads but refused to break. She may yet be alive. She must. Elias stepped near. His footsteps made quiet echoes in the still hall. "I have searched every possible place, Jethro," he said, using my name rather than my title. "I have interrogate
Jethro's P.O.V.I stormed down the corridors of Ryker's lair-my sword slicing through the shadows. Guards leaped to intercept me, but with rage fueling my movements, I cut them down with precision.Finally, I burst into Ryker's chamber, my eyes locking onto the man himself.Ryker stood calmly, an amused hint dancing on his lips."Where is Sara?" I yelled, my voice echoing off the stone walls. "Where are you keeping her?"Ryker's smile spread wider, but nothing fell from his lips. "Liar!" I spat, my hand tightening on my sword hilt. "I know you're behind this." Ryker somehow managed to lift an eyebrow. "Sara? Do you think I have Sara? You ought to know me by now, Jethro. If I had Sara, I'd leave a message. But I don't have Sara." Anger spilled over and I was yelling, "You're lying!Ryker's men drew their swords and, in the dim light of the room, angled them at me."Be careful, Jethro," Ryker said, his voice thick with malice. "You're on my turf, surrounded by my men. Your recklessne
Sara's POV I slowly opened my eyes, grogginess fogging my brain. Where was I? The air was heavy with darkness and an eerie silence.A faint splash sounded through the room followed by a cold trickle down my face. I jackknifed upwards, gasping.Someone was sitting beside me, swathed in shadows. My eyes slowly accommodated to the dim light and the outline of a woman appeared."Welcome back, Sara," she said, her voice oozing malice.The woman leaned forward, and a sliver of light danced across her features, revealing Tanisha's sinister smile."You must be wondering where you are," Tanisha said, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Let's just say you're guessing with me."Memories came flooding back to Emma's visit, the figure in black, the knock to the head. My mind reeled; fear clawed its way up my throat.Tanisha did not even bat an eye. "You see, Sara, you're quite valuable to me. Your. Particular talents could tip the scales in Ryker's favor."My heart plummeted. Emma's words replayed
Tunisia's POV I was sitting in my dark living room; only a little light was in view, as it was occupied with dancing candles casting gruesome shadows on the walls. Marcus came in. "Ma'am, our spy says Emma is planning to open Sara's gate of energy for the war," he informed me with low urgent tones.My gaze jerked up; my eyes slit. That gate was the key to unimaginable power, and I wouldn't allow Emma to unlock it. "And?" I pushed my voice tight with anticipation.Marcus did hesitate this time before finishing, "Emma's trying to harness Sara's energy to aid her cause." My fist clenched alongside my jaw. That would be Ryker's death sentence. Failure. Defeat. No, I wouldn't let that happen."We cannot let that happen," I muttered to myself as my mind started racing. "Ryker would lose." Marcus stood before me, a look of neutrality upon his face. "What do you think we should do?" he asked.I smiled, cold and calculated. "We'll kidnap Sara, rendering Emma's plan useless. And this might jus
Emma's P.O.V.I pushed the door open of our modest home, worn out. The last few days had messed with my head, turning into a blur of anxiety and fear, as Mamma's condition deteriorated further with each passing hour. I walked toward her room, apprehension hanging heavy in my heart. Inside, she lay frail, pale with clammy skin."Mother?" I said, my voice barely more than a whisper. I took her hand in mine. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open. "Emma. . my dear," she whispered, just barely audible. I forced a smile onto my face, trying to hide my tears. "I'm here, Mother. You're going to be all right."But before I could get her reply, Lia strode into the room, a frown etched on her features. "Emma, don't tire her out," she reprimanded, firm in her voice. I frowned, suspicion dawning that something wasn't right. "Lia, what's going on? Mother isn't getting better," I said, accusation creeping into my tone.Lia's smile was syrupy and sweet. "Oh, Emma, you know your mother's illness is.co
Tunisia's Pov I snuggled deeper into Ryker's side, my fingers tracing the outlines of his chest. His eyes gleamed with amusement, and I knew he was right where I wanted him."Ryker, now that Jethro knows about me. Secrecy," I started, letting my voice drop to a fragile state, "I will have to be protected even more. More men."Ryker's brow arched, and a teasing smile curled his lips. "So that's why you came to me."I smiled back, feigning innocence. "Can you blame me? You are the most powerful man in the realm after all."Ryker chuckled, his eyes glinting with desire. "And what do I get in return?"My heart skittered as my gaze met his. This was it."Whatever you want," I whispered, my voice husky.Ryker's eyes flashed to mine, an inferno of intensity blazing there. "Will you?" he asked, his voice so low it was little more than a whisper and sensual.My heart fluttered at the sound as I nodded, my lips grazing his. "Whatever it will take to ensure our alliance is solidified."Ryker's