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"We are done, ma'am." Came the voice of the makeup artist as she gave way from me to see myself in the mirror.My mouth popped open and my eyes almost pulled out of its socket as I stared at my reflection.It was like a whole new different person, looking at herself. I barely recognized it was Sara Gilbert staring at herself."Wow, this is.... beautiful." It's my wedding day. A day of bliss and merriment for me and my family. I was finally getting married to my heartthrob. My high school lover, Vincent."He would hardly recognize you, ma'am. You are so pretty." She said again.I had expected makeup that would be worth the amount I paid but it exceeded my expectations. Clara did go far in giving me the best as she promised."Thank you so much, Miss Clara.""You are welcome. As long as you are the daughter of my mother's best friend, I will do the best for you at a cheaper price."Well, here is my life. I am a nineteen-year-old young woman. Just started college. I wasn't bor
SARA'S POV"My woman here is pregnant. We will be expecting a baby soon.......I have nothing to do with anymore Sara. The wedding is off." His words were on a replay in my head as I tried to digest everything going on around me.The Vincent before me must be a different one, right? Probably, his twin or doppelganger who his parent must have sent to ruin the wedding.Vincent wouldn't cheat on me, especially with my cousin's sister who I love so much. We are so close to each other and she is my best friend. She wouldn't betray me."Can you just stop this prank? It is getting to me already." I said to them but they seemed pretty serious."Who would he like about our baby?" She rubbed her stomach with a smile on her face.That was when it hit me. I was awoken to reality and my world came crashing before my eyes. My heart was overwhelmed by the betrayal before me and it felt so suffocating.To make matters worse, Mrs Marshall walked forward with a huge smile plastered on her face. "What ha
SARA'S POVI woke up with a low groan escaping my throat. My body ached but it was from a good feeling. I suddenly shot my eyes open, remembering what had happened to me.I had slept with a stranger after he comforted me yesterday. Good job Sara, good job.You just made yourself look stupid and cheap. How could I have done that? It was a moment meant for my husband, except, there was no husband anymore and I don't wish to pass through this pain again. The pain of falling in love and being betrayed by the ones you gave your all to.I looked beside me and there he was, sleeping peacefully with the duvet stopping right on his waist and his bare back, opened to me. On his back was a tattoo of an eagle, with his wings spread across his back. The eyes of the eagle carried anger. An anger that could slice through the core of the earth.I was tempted to touch it and feel the drawing under my fingers but I retracted my hand, wishing someone was close by to punch my face. I needed to get a head
JETHRO POV"Where do you think you are going to, my mate?" I questioned the young woman who was standing before me. She was distrusted and it was all thanks to Elias. It was like she had seen a ghost. She saw someone more frightening than a ghost.I moved away from the Beta, who was gasping for air, and walked to where she stood, covering up the distance between us. "Why are you silent?" I questioned and before I could catch on, she was falling to the ground with her eyes closed.Oops.I caught her before she fell to the ground and held her tightly in my arms. Before I walked away, I shot a glare at Elias and went back to my room. She was still dressed in that freaking wedding gown I so much wanted to rip apart and turn into an unrecognizable shred before I shove it into the mouth of that man, Vincent, for daring to hurt my darling woman.Although, I am grateful the darn wedding was over cause I planned on bargaining in and ruining everything, taking my princess with me, and running
SARA' POV He raised a corner of his lips and answered, "Your one and only mate and your nightmare."Mate? What was he talking about? I was in oblivion of what was going on. All my brain kept screaming was, I was with a monster. Do monsters exist? Well, that has been my question and I would only laugh about it cause that was just people's ideas.But right now, I need no scientist to explain what was going on to me. I was standing right in front of one. I had woken up some minutes ago and all I did was think.Thinking of a way to escape. I was only in my undies and I knew the pervert must have pulled my gown, although he didn't touch me. As long as I was in the same house with him, he would harm me. While speaking to him, I secretly looked around the house, trying to find a way to escape. I would be gone before he knew it, but I needed to act calm and smart before he found out about my plan.I curled the corners of my lips into a smile that was nothing but fake and in no time, I felt
SARA'S POVI screamed out and stepped back, but that almost made me lose my balance. How did he get to me? How was it possible for him to find out I escaped? What did I do wrong in my plan of escape?I wanted to hit myself right then but I would also feel the pain too. I could have been more careful and probably, I would have gone away from him.He took a step forward and I tightened my hold on my clothes, not daring to move or look back. If I took another step backward, I would end up falling to my death and nothing would be going flow me. Not even my body. No one would be able to survive a fall from the cliff.Mother and Stella wouldn't be able to see me again. I need to get my family again. They must be so worried about me."Do not come any closer to me," I warned. "One more step and I will be falling down this cliff." He said nothing but continued staring at me which only made my stomach tighten, threatening to burst open my body.He wasn't moving too. What was he planning? Diffe
SARA'S POV I don't know about rejections. I have only read novels about it, but never for once did I think that it would be true and exist in the real world. I didn't know who he was. All I knew was that he was sending me out of his life, for good.That was a good thing. I wouldn't meet the monster anymore and he wouldn't have to show his face to me. I'll be free and I will be able to meet my mother and Stella again.I had no clothes on except the white shirt I had taken from his wardrobe. It was cold but I wanted to make my journey anyway. I couldn't stand another minute so close to the man.I rubbed my arms and made my way to leave, limping. I had injured my leg while almost falling to the ground. It was dark and breezy and the light shirt was a bad idea, but I didn't care. I had wanted to escape before and he stopped me.I brushed past him and he made no move to stop me call me back or even say any soothing words to me. It was for the best anyway.I went on my way, not looking 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