~Justin~ I must admit the condom incident was a bit awkward. I could tell the shift in the atmosphere after it, and even though Sophia tried to mask it, I could tell it made her uncomfortable. I was embarrassed. I had lots of them in there, and they have been in there for as long as I can remember. My mother had placed them there for reasons best known to her. I remember the day vividly. I was going to Cain's Island on vacation, and my mother had poured a few packs of condoms into my bag and pleaded with me to bring a nice girl home. The moment was still fresh in my memory. I had laughed and told her I wouldn't use it, and here they were. They were probably expired, if they expired. It baffled me why I never got to go far with anyone. My friend once told me that I overthink things until I think my way out of everything. To me, starting a conversation with someone just because I want to fuck them is tedious, and knowing I wouldn't settle because I was waiting for my fated way o
~Justin~ Adrain had brought an SUV. It had been a while since I rode in any. We were usually Van people because we liked moving about the place in groups, but I liked the SUV. Adrian did not bring a kappa or anyone with him. He meant it when he said the operation was covert. He was the one behind the wheels, and that said a lot about the kind of person he is. He was a hands-on man. Someone who did not mind getting his hands dirty and doing the job himself. If this was his trait all along, then it is possible that the criminals would not want him in charge. Who would have thought he would close down the airport and roads just to trap the criminals? He was indeed a dangerous enemy to have. "Does Miley live far from here?" Noah asked Adrian. "No, she lives on this side of town. Heard she bought the bungalow a few months after the incident. Rachael was still missing then. The bitch did not bother to look for her sister, I learned. Regardless I am still pissed at Rachael. If she meant
~Justin~ The living room was silent. It seemed we were all trying to process the entire thing. Was Miley telling the truth, or was she trying to drag Jacob's mother down with her? "Liar," Adrian finally said, and she shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks, trembling in fear. "I have no reason to lie, Alpha. You should be able to sense if I am lying. I am telling you the truth. Jessica put me up to it. I swear. I can repeat this in her presence," She said, defending her confession while her tears poured. She was just as fragile as her sister but more wicked and selfish. "How the fuck did she know you?" Adrian asked a valid question because, under normal circumstances, Jessica would not know Miley. They were from different social circles. "She did not know me personally," Miley said and looked at me. "She commissioned the job," She said, and I frowned from curiosity. "Beta Ruben owned the bar I worked in. He was the one that gave me the offer," She said, and I was attenti
~Adrian~My heart felt as though it had turned to ice, mirroring the frozen landscape of my emotions. Miley's words echoed in my mind, leaving me in disbelief. The urge to label her a liar surfaced, yet a lingering doubt restrained me.Why would she fabricate accusations against my aunt and Beta Ruben? What motive could she possibly have to implicate them in my father's demise? Though a part of me acknowledged the potential existence of truth in her words, I found it hard to accept.As I observed Miley on the floor, visibly shaken and fearful, my thoughts drifted back to a morning when I woke up beside Rachael in the same bed.I recalled the fear in her eyes, initially interpreting it as anxiety about my actions. However, a new understanding emerged – she had been summoning the courage to accuse me.It suddenly clicked.If I had genuinely wronged her, she wouldn't have stuck around until morning; she would have fled, perhaps even reported the incident. I was oblivious during my slumber
~Adrain~In the aftermath of my revelation, my aunt sat in stunned silence, grappling for words that seemed elusive.The weight of her guilt was palpable in her expression.While I had already discerned the truth from the look in her eyes, I yearned for her to confess to her crimes.My intention wasn't solely to expose her, but rather to reveal the reality of her actions to her son.Despite my claims of indifference, Jacob still held significance to me, and I wasn't eager to make an enemy out of him. He was innocent in this intricate web of deceit, and losing him to the turmoil was an outcome I wished to avert."I can explain that part, Adrian. My mother meant well," Jacob spoke up, and I gestured for him to continue."Explain," I demanded."Well, as you're aware, Lumas tends to be overlooked. My mother wished for me to highlight the beauty of Lumas to Alpha Justin and Princess Harper. Our goal was to make the Royals understand that our territory is also developed, and they are welcome
~Adrian~Jacob fell into silence following my detailed explanation. He fixed his gaze on his mother, yearning for her to challenge my account. Perhaps there was a plausible explanation, a misunderstanding, or a setup orchestrated against her. The anticipation was apparent in his eyes as he sought an elucidation from his mother."Mother," he urged, breaking the silence that enveloped us, while I maintained my quiet stance.I sensed Justin's impatience, but for the sake of my cousin, it was imperative that he uncovered the truth and saw his mother for who she truly was.Jessica stayed silent, tears streaming down her face. She had hit rock bottom, fully aware of it, and the embarrassment of her exposure gnawed at her."We don't have time to spare, madam," Noah asserted, the urgency palpable in his words. They had more pressing matters and a significant case to unravel. My predicaments paled in comparison to the challenges in Russ and other parts of our continent. Yet, somehow, they regar
~Adrian~It didn't take long for Jessica to resume her confession. She realised it was the end for her, so she might as well divulge everything."Gary and Ruben orchestrated the entire plan. Ruben hired Miley, but she was old enough, and we wouldn't be able to prove anything. I wanted a minor, and she suggested using her sister. I noticed she was a cunning person willing to do anything for money. We agreed and set the plan in motion. I was the one who arranged that party and convinced Jacob to bring Adrian there. Then, at some point, I feigned illness, so Jacob would come to my aid. However, we made it appear as if he was just checking on me and would return to the party. I specifically instructed him not to trouble Adrian about my health, emphasising that Adrian had recently lost his father and might become distressed," she explained, tears streaming down her face."I genuinely didn't anticipate Gary harming the young lady. He claimed he would only intimidate her and give her a beatin
~Justin~To claim that I wasn't repulsed by Jessica's admission would be a falsehood. This woman had committed egregious acts, and her motivations were indefensible. How could she betray her own brother, the man who provided refuge when she had nowhere else to turn, who helped her through the loss of her mate, and stood by her when no one else cared? The betrayal of not only him but also scheming against her nephew, her brother's sole offspring, all driven by sheer greed, left me thoroughly disgusted.While Jessica wasn't under my jurisdiction for punishment, I harboured the hope that Adrian would administer the justice she deserved. I was willing to relieve him of that responsibility to ensure she faced the consequences she merited. Mercy was undeserved, and a second chance was out of the question. The whole situation irked me, and it was evident that even the typically passive Caspian was seething with anger.Stepping into Adrian's shoes, I must applaud his admirable patience and com
Thank you all for supporting this story and helping me to bring the characters to Life. It was an amazing journey, mainly because of the overwhelming support I got from all of you. I truly appreciate it. I am grateful for every comment, vote, review and purchase. It kept the book alive.Wild Hearts will be released next week, and Dark Obsession will be released this week. As much as I would love to please everyone, I can only write one book at a time So I planned to go with Wild Hearts, but since some of you have already started Dark Obsession, I will release it and continue to write it gradually. I have decided to run with both books. Once my schedule is better, the update days will improve. For those who are wondering about Dark Obsession, It is a standalone, and you do not need to read Forged in the Flames to enjoy the story. I would love feedback and hope the energy will be the same in that book. I am counting on your support and encouragement. Thank you. 🙏 😊 🤗
~Sophia~ Justin's kiss was sweeter than the last I remembered. He had stayed away from me for a while, and I was mad at him for it, but I knew he would make it for my eighteenth birthday. I knew he would come, and I anticipated it. He stayed away mainly because he didn’t want to cross the line, but tonight, fate told us it was okay, and we embraced it. My tears could not stop flowing. They were tears of joy and relief. I was grateful. So grateful. Justin lifted me in his arms and carried me inside; my eyes remained fixed on him, not caring about the surroundings. I knew he had put a lot of work into it, but we had to finish our unfinished business before we attended to the other stuff. His gaze remained on mine, making me giggle. “You look so beautiful tonight, Sophia,” he said, and I was glad he liked the effort. It was for him. Laying me on the bed, he kissed me and travelled from my neck to my sweet spot. Justin was a guy who liked to make out a bit rough and overwhelming, b
~Justin~ I stayed away after we had solved the case and made all the arrests. Things had not ended well for many people who were on the wrong side of the law. For the rest of us, we had moved on. Rachael ended up with her mate, who happened to be a Stepanov from one of the ten Ruling houses in the west. It was as if she knew she was meant to be with a great man all along, and fate had answered her prayers. As much as I did not want to discuss the punishment for the criminals, I just have to say most of them had been killed. There were scheduled executions for most of them, as there were many. The King wanted everyone involved to pay, no matter how small their part was. Fortunately, Uncle Vino had pushed for Jessica, something I knew Jewelles had everything to do with. She got fifteen years of sentencing, not after they asked Adrian and Rachael if they were okay with it. They both had moved on and didn't care what happened to her, so she was lucky there. At least she will get to see
~Liam~ One week passed, and Adrian Jacob, Harper and Jewelles returned to Lumas. Our parents had made a series of arrests. The activities were all over. Underground warehouses were found, crime lords were arrested, and factories were shut down. Unknown to my father, this operation started shortly after they defeated Yuri, and it was started by none other than Walter Armstrong, Nelson's lab technician, who messed up the D3 formula and destroyed Cones Village. The real reason behind the ban. Apparently, the defective D3 did not come from Nelson's lab but from one of Walter's makeshift labs that he tried to pass off as Nelson's goods when he was building his crime Network. Unfortunately for him, he was apprehended and locked up. His mate, Natasha Armstrong, being his partner in crime, feared that the law would catch up with them, so she faked her death, abandoning her children with lots of unpaid debts and an uncertain future. The cold-hearted bitch did not bother to look back. Nata
~Jewelles~ A week had passed since we discovered the truth, and our parents worked tirelessly to arrest all implicated. During the arrest, we discovered an underground recruitment for warriors. We might never know what the sick bastards planned, but I was glad we could trump their plan before it was in motion. The biggest mistake they made was to take Sophia. If that parcel hadn’t been delivered to Luna Glenda, the traitor and murderer, we wouldn't have been the wiser, and they would have gotten away with their crimes unnoticed. As much as Jacob hid his pain, I could see it. His mother was one of the people who would receive a long sentence. She would have been executed, but I had pleaded with my father to put in a word for her for Jacob's sake. Jacob didn’t ask me to do it, but I knew it was eating him inside. He found out what I did this morning, flipped and hasn't spoken to me. It has been a long, agonising day. Jacob was also yet to seal the deal. He was mad at me for taking m
~Charlotte~ After spending time with everyone in the garden, Caspian and I decided to retire. Our parents were so busy with arrests and judgements that we did not have a general dinner, but it was okay. Snuggled in Caspian's Arms in our room. Aunty Tamia planned to give Jewelles, Harper and me permanent rooms in the estate. They wanted us to always have a reason to come home with our mates. I could understand, and I appreciated it. Our rooms were still being renovated; they were in the Delta wing of the mansion. Many rooms were unoccupied there, and since our family was expanding, we would be given rooms there. All of us, including the guys. That way, we will all be in one wing when we are around. I could not believe everything was finally over. Although there had not been any sentencing yet, our part of the investigation was over. Our parents had dreaded it leading to war, but it didn’t this time. It might have if they had successfully mass-produced their Agk32 to create an army.
~Justin~ While Sophia was with her father. I decided to make some plans. The case seemed closed on our side. We had finished the initial assignment, which was figuring out what happened that night. Uncle Sylvester had also explained that only people with jurisdiction can interfere with the case onward. There wasn't much to do but pick up the people mentioned. It was over, meaning an alpha would be appointed for Grizlo. It meant we would have to get to our normal lives, and I could not see a normal life without Sophia. I was nervous now that her father had been found and he would be free. I wondered if she would feel the same. I hoped to drag the case a bit longer, but it was impossible. I decided to call the staff at my house in Lucland to fix the place up. I wasn’t sure why, but I knew that once Sophia turned eighteen, I would not hesitate. She had asked me about where I lived in Lucland. I planned to spend time with her there and live with her in the near future if she would hav
~Justin~ It was time to question Mike, and Noah was the first to link me. Of course, he would be eager. He had a theory, and Mike’s account would help him fit the pieces together. His reasons differed from Liam's and mine. Mike was a puzzle Noah and Sebastien wanted to solve, while we wanted to find a way to save Sophia and exonerate Mike if he was innocent. Jellewes came with Lily to get Sophia. My entire team would have to be present at the questioning, so Harper and Jo would not be available. I needed Lily and Jewelles to help take her mind off what was happening. Jewelles and Lilly planned to keep her occupied until after the questioning. I thanked them for their kindness. Although Lisa's team were not invited, Lisa insisted to be a part of it. My sister was overzealous like that. I couldn't wait for her to settle down and get on with her life. Tanya had returned home to her mate. The entire ordeal with Harper had shaken her completely. I doubted she would be volunteering for a
~Justin~ After planning our questioning strategy with my team, I spent time with Sophia. We planned to question Mike in the evening to avoid dragging the investigation too long. Adrian wanted to take Harper back to Lumas in two days. Likewise, Jacob and Jewelles, so I knew we had to move quickly. Although I hoped they would stay a bit longer. It was fun having them around. I didn't feel so old. Usually, I was forced to act like an uncle to my cousins, and that made them uncomfortable around me, and they saw me as boring, but with Caspian, Adrian, and Jacob in our team, I was more comfortable now. I had also made new friends who were now part of my family. Caspian wasn't leaving until the case was done, but I hoped Adrian and Jacob would stay a bit. Not that I will tell them. Sophia had spent the morning with the ladies. Harper had come to get her, and I think it helped her a lot because she felt a lot better knowing Harper and Lily were fine and weren’t traumatised by the inciden