Sorry, this came in late. The next chapter will be the Jump. We will be going a year and two months in the future. I can't wait. Thank you 🤗🙏🏾
~Harper~ ONE YEAR TWO MONTHS LATER. Jacob kept his promise and visited me in Grizlo. He came whenever he could and was a gentleman about it. Justin believed Jacob liked me, but I wouldn't jump where he was concerned. Now that I was a little over nineteen, I needed to be careful because whoever I was with would be my mate. There was no mystery about Jacob, and he seemed like an open book, yet I was still dragging my feet where he was concerned. I did not know if it was our investigation or the circumstances that surrounded me, but I just wanted to give it time. Jacob had checked on me in Lucland once and had dinner with my parents, and they liked him. I knew it must count for something, yet something held me back. We were fixing up the hall in the packhouse at Grizlo for Josephine's 18th birthday. Liam wanted to go all out, and this was where he was starting from. He had booked a holiday in a lovely resort on Cain Island with the help of Caspian, and I did not know what he was
~Caspain~ It had been a year and two months of anticipation, resisting the urge to claim my mate during that elusive blue moon. The complexity of my life weighed heavily on me. For six long years, I had searched for Charlotte, and when our paths finally converged, her father harboured a deep-seated animosity toward me for reasons known only to him. While my family insisted I should have followed my mate's instincts and claimed her immediately, I couldn't bear the thought of her becoming estranged from her own family. It mattered greatly to me that her father would eventually accept our union, ensuring her true happiness. The injustice of her gaining me while losing her father in the process gnawed at my soul. He had been the first man in her life, the one who had loved and cared for her unconditionally. I couldn't fathom severing that precious bond between them, no matter how much it pained me. She was his cherished little princess, and I held onto the hope that he would on
~Caspian~ Lord Lawrence settled onto the couch in the breakfast lounge, with Charlotte and me occupying the two adjacent armchairs. His expression was neither angry nor pleased but rather a mixture of disappointment. "I am deeply disappointed in you, Lotte," he began, directing his gaze at his daughter. "You not only moved in with Caspian, but you also ceased coming home and stopped responding to our calls. It seemed almost as if you were deliberately distancing yourself from your family, Lotte," he remarked, his disappointment palpable as he shifted his gaze to me. "Was it your idea? Did you intend to isolate her from her loved ones?" he inquired, his tone carrying an accusatory undertone as he directed the question at me. "Enough!" Charlotte's voice trembled with anger. "I actually thought you had seen the light, and that was why you came here. Instead, you are here dishing out blame. What did you expect me to do? Reject my mate? If it were that easy, why didn't you reject Mom
~Harper~ I stood frozen in place, my gaze fixed on Adrian. Inside, I struggled against Riley's insistence that I rush to him. The grip on my emotions was unyielding, and in that moment, my thoughts were consumed by him alone. After uttering the word 'mate,' his eyes seemed to regain some composure as if he were trying to downplay it. Jacob, oblivious or perhaps pretending to be, asked, pulling me closer to him, "What's wrong?" I couldn't believe Jacob's apparent ignorance. Hadn't he heard Adrian's words, or were they meant for my ears alone? I turned to Jacob, feeling a bit bewildered, and he wore a puzzled expression. "You look like you've seen a ghost," he remarked with a smile. I turned my gaze back to Adrian, who averted his eyes. Did he feel ashamed? "I..." I managed to stammer, but Adrian interjected swiftly, his voice carrying a hint of strain and vulnerability. There was a pain in him that resonated with my own. "There's a storm approaching, Jacob. We should move," he said
~Justin~ A year and two months had elapsed, and our investigation had made little progress. It felt like we were trapped in a state of inertia while the criminals either bided their time or plotted something on a grand scale that could overwhelm us when it eventually unfolded. I was at a loss for what to do, yet I clung to a glimmer of hope. Our team had managed to unearth some clues thus far, and I held onto the belief that more pieces of the puzzle would gradually fall into place. Even though we seldom mentioned the Maguires anymore, I couldn't shake my concern and sorrow over our inability to rescue Sophia. The absence of any communication or ransom demands from the criminals left an ominous void. Deep down, we all understood that there was a possibility they had already taken drastic measures. The stagnation we faced made the idea of packing up and leaving Grizlo tempting, lurking in the recesses of my mind. I hadn't signed up to be an Alpha, but given the circumstances, it app
~Justin~ Morning arrived, and I practically sprang out of bed, brimming with eagerness to start the day. It was the long-awaited day for the shipment to arrive, and my excitement was palpable; I couldn't wait any longer. After my morning workout, I got dressed and made my way to the breakfast lounge in the house. Caspian and Charlotte were already there, appearing quite cosy together. They were practically living like a couple. "Took you long enough," Charlotte quipped as she poured herself a cup of tea. I grabbed a muffin and settled into a chair at the table. A mischievous glint sparkled in Charlotte's eyes as she arched an eyebrow at me. "Aren't you going to inquire about your guest?" she prodded, and Caspian chuckled. Apparently, something had transpired last night that I wasn't privy to. "So, what about her?" I inquired, looking to Charlotte for an explanation. She took a sip of her tea, wearing a sly smile. There was something different about both of them, and I had yet to
~Liam~ I found myself seated in Justin's office, my patience tested as I awaited my cousin's call, hoping to hear that his mission on Cain Island had been accomplished without a hitch. I'd be dishonest if I claimed not to harbour some worry. It wasn't a lack of faith in Justin's competence that concerned me; rather, it was the nagging fear that perhaps we had underestimated our adversaries. To be truthful, receiving news of the shipment was a welcome relief after enduring several months of frustrating stagnation. If it weren't for Sophia and the magnitude of what was at stake, I would have decided to head to Gad with Josephine. Ever since I confided in Lord Alexei, he had been a steadfast supporter of our relationship, and with Josephine's eighteenth birthday just two weeks away, my nerves were on edge. I couldn't help but wonder how she would react when she discovered the truth. I had absolute faith that she would embrace our bond, yet my anxiety lingered, for I knew that our rel
~Justin~ After we exited the warehouse, we swiftly made our way to where we had parked our car. Sophia felt incredibly light in my arms, a stark reminder of the unhealthy weight she had been reduced to. How could she have a healthy weight when they had been starving her? No one should ever endure such dehumanising treatment. Anger coursed through me. Throughout our mission, I had often maintained a passive demeanour, but not tonight. Tonight, I was seething with anger. She had been abducted at the age of sixteen, and only the goddess knew the horrors she had endured for nearly two years. I had my doubts about whether we could fully mend her, but I took solace in the fact that she was still alive. Hopefully, we could bring her some measure of justice. I gently settled her into the back seat alongside Charlotte while Caspian took the driver's seat. The car ride was marked by a heavy silence, with my constant glances backwards to check on Sophia. Charlotte had removed her prosthetic
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