The suspicious eyes of Arden's mother remained on Erina's mind as she slowly climbed up the stairs while two of the maids were guiding her. She went into the bathroom first to talk to her mother. She performed a spell just like how she communicated with her until she slowly saw Aurora’s face in the water. "My goodness, Erina! You haven’t contacted me for a day! What happened?" Her eyes looked so curious that the twenty-four hours of waiting had already drained her. "I got kidnapped, mother," Erina said quietly as she glanced at the door to check if it was locked. "You’re what?" Aurora’s eyes narrowed. "Who kidnapped you?" "I heard that the Rockwells sent their men to kidnap me. But then, Arden showed up and saved me," she said abruptly. Aurora’s face lightened. Her lips stretched into a wicked smile. "What happened to Arden?""He was stabbed two times and lost consciousness because they included some poison on the knife they used. I used some of the herbal to treat his wound, m
Erina doesn't know what to say in response to his saying that. She remained silent, not looking at him, as the servant now put the bandage on his wound. Minutes later, someone knocked until it opened and the head of the guard went in. "Alert all the guards. We are attacking the Rockwells tomorrow," Arden said calmly as the servant gave him his dress shirt. Erina froze a bit, knowing that the Rockwell ordered their men to kidnap her; she doesn't know what to feel. The guard nodded as if those things weren't new to him. The guard immediately went out, and he alerted the whole guard about their attack tomorrow. Arden dismissed the servant as well as took a glimpse at Erina's expression, who was furrowing her brows and seemed like she doesn't agree at all. "You're planning out a war just because of what happened?" Erina's brows furrowed as she couldn't control her mouth not to say anything about it. "Yes. Because if I didn't come there to save you, what would happen to you?" His br
When Erina was taken by those men, she didn't even know, as death flashed before her eyes, that it was probably one of her last moments. Either she would perform a crucial spell that might reveal her as a werewitch, or she was going to be dead. But never in her wildest dreams did she come to the conclusion that Arden would end up saving her, knowing that he just bought her and that he can easily replace her with the royalty girls who're thirsty for his attention. She knew that her loss wouldn't cause him too much damage at all. That's why, when she heard him at that moment, to see him in the middle of her life and death situation, she couldn't believe that he was there, showing up to save her. Arden's hand trailed down her neck, his thumb on her jaw, while his other hand remained resting on the headrest of the sofa as he continued to kiss her persistently, exploring her mouth and tasting every corner his tongue could reach. Erina gasped breathily as if her energy were fully consum
"The Remington invited us for a big celebration in their mansion, Arden," Celestia said while they were having breakfast. Erina was still shocked by the almost violent incident she witnessed, which explains why she was not on her senses while eating. "When?" Arden asked. "Tomorrow. And they heard about your feud with the Rockwells. I told you to maintain peace with the royalty clans because it might give us some conflicts with the other royalties!" She hissed, her eyes boring against Erina, who has now pulled herself back from her reality. "Do you want me to disregard what the Rockwell has done, Mama?" Arden's voice thickened. Celestia can feel that his temper is knocking against his head again, seeking to be freed. "She's safe. You should have let it slip—""Let's say they did that to you. They kidnapped you, and they almost killed you. Do you want me to disregard it as well? Let it slip because you're safe?" Arden's expression darkened; his jaw was clenching repeatedly. Celes
Erina spent her day choosing the dress she was going to wear to the Remington party. Even though she wanted to stay at home, she doesn't mind going to the party just to see who's there. And besides, knowing that Arden told her that she should socialize without minding what the others would say made her a bit curious. She wanted to see if Arden really meant that he didn't mind her being with him at a party. He's just saying that to probably put up a front and appear unbothered by his image when the truth is, he's just like his mother, who judged so easily. "These are the pieces of jewelry you need to wear tomorrow, Miss," the servant said as she placed the box where the pieces of jewelry sparkled.Erina’s brow shot up as she took one out of the box. It’s a diamond wreath necklace. The servant took it in her hand as Erina looked at herself in the mirror while the servant wore it around her neck. Erina looked at herself seriously, still amazed that those things felt nostalgic to her
As soon as they got into the mansion of the Remington, her eyes automatically fixed on the big mansion, her brows knitting, as if she had seen it before, but she just couldn't find the exact memories in her mind. This seems very familiar. Have I been here before? Arden noticed how she looked perplexed for a while, but then managed to control her curiosity as she cleared her throat and glanced at Arden, who offered his arm for her to hold onto while they were striding in. Erina hold onto his biceps, her other hand on the side of her big gown, as her eyes roamed around while they were going in. Compared to the mansion of the Gunners, the Remington's mansion is classy and seems lively because of its light colors, unlike the Gunner's dark themes. She noticed how the guards' eyes moved to watch her carefully. The feeling lingered in her: it was nostalgic, something that she had felt when she was young but couldn't remember at all. The big mansion is already filled with the royals, who
Erina has been getting goosebumps every time they mention her resemblance to the dead Remington's only daughter. "Erikson," he handed his hand to Erina. Erina slowly shakes his hand, her brows knitting with confusion."I heard you're the girl who's been chosen by Arden?" He smiled as they started walking back to the venue, which was the big living room."Uhm yes..." Erina said as she glanced at him, looking at his face that resembled King Remington from all angles. "You looked like your father so much..." Erina pointed it out, saying she couldn't help but notice it. Erikson was quite shocked; knowing that his sister used to point out that they both resembled their parents, he couldn't help but think about Arena. "That's..." Someone cleared their throat and suddenly showed up beside Erina. She felt how Arden's familiar calloused hand snaked around her waist as if he were marking his own territory. Erikson's eyes drifted to the hand placement on her waist, and his lips couldn't he
"I've witnessed my sister's attraction for Arden Gunner, who's always hostile when it comes to her. Though I believe that because she's too young—just eighteen—and Arden's too serious, maybe he didn't consider her at first.”Erina was so curious about Arena that she ended up looking at Erikson seriously, her eyes never leaving him. "What’s so great about Arden Gunner?" Erina couldn’t help but ask it out loud, which made Erikson’s lips curl in a smirk. "Well, at least you two have differences even though you look like my sister. She looked up to Arden Gunner, the most respected alpha king in the town. He conquered a lot of territories on his own. He’s smart, which is why my sister is just too fond of him.”Erina couldn’t picture Arena, who looked like her at eighteen, chasing after Arden Gunner, who seems so ruthless and ferociously attractive. Her eyes went to the servants, who were checking the food and, one by one, replacing it. Her brows knitted for a while, a bit curious, but t
Erina’s cheeks burned in heat when she suddenly remembered how shameless Arden Gunner was. She completely opened the door and glared at him for a warning that Arden found so cute because he could sense she wasn’t holding back from him anymore. She’s completely stripping herself.When they both entered the kitchen, the first thing that welcomed them was their eyes looking at them, waiting for Arden’s presence.And to see Draven again, this time confirming that it was his son, he was lost for words. His stomach was churning, and he was melting from it.When he first met him, he felt like he was only watching his little version because of how similar the resemblance was. They were like carbon copies of each other, and Arden could guarantee it might be his son.But it hurts him at the same time every time he remembers how he saw Erina falling off the cliff because of the fear and regret in her eyes that night while he was running to her aggressively in his werewolf form.Thinking about it
Erina was already in her room while looking out the window to check if Arden’s car was still there. And it was. She was urged by him to sleep, and now that she could see he was really serious about guarding the house, she felt a bit ashamed that she doubted him and accused him.But she couldn’t blame herself for feeling it because she knew that she had done the Gunners wrong, and she was getting blamed for the consequences of her actions.She sighed and went to bed as her wind was wondering. They fucked. It was like she was straightly telling him she likes him and she’s longing for him too.She closed her eyes and pressed her lips against the pillow while feeling so flustered that she could still feel him between hers because of the throbbing. She was getting butterflies, and she was now in ecstasy.Erina, you are really crazy for that man, aren’t you? You know what would happen if you fell for him again. Look at what’s happening. You were attacked by men who were ordered by someone.
Her moans resonated all throughout the car, and she could really tell that it was moving from the outside’s view because of how beastly Arden’s movements were. He was aggressively fucking her, ramming it all in like he was so pent-up, and he finally found a release.Erina hugged his nape as she was whimpering under him, and she could feel every thrust he made.They were both longing for each other, and it showed in the way their bodies collided that they couldn’t even take their hands off themselves as Erina was caressing his back, scratching her nails against it, and wrapping her legs around his hips just to coax him more into burying it deep.It was so rough and aggressive that the windows of the car were starting to smoke as if there were snow in them because of the heat they were both radiating.Arden shifted the movement, and he was now sitting as Erina whimpered more when it only reached the brim. Arden crushed his lips against her and tripled the pace of his movement so that Er
Erina’s stomach was churning continuously. His words deeply moved her, and at that moment, she was on the verge of letting go of her decision and risking trying it again with Arden.But then, there was always that barrier that was holding her back—that boundary she put between them because she felt like the cycle would just repeat over and over and she would always lose him in every lifetime. She would not have him the way he wants it.She slowly shook her head, but then Arden placed his hand on her cheek, his eyes twinkling with pleading as if he were providing all the assurance she needed at that moment to convince her. Just to make her see that he would never hurt or kill her.“I would never lay a finger on you. No. I wouldn’t do that. I would never...” he whispered in his croak voice, losing its strength.Erina’s tears pooled even more. The fact that it was right in front of her, and all she needed to do was grab it, caused her immense pain.“I’d protect you and our son,” he whisp
The shock etched his face as soon as he heard it. He felt so weak, and even his head immediately turned bloodshot. His jaw clenched tremendously while he froze where he was standing, staring at Erina unbelievably.“D-Draven, he is your son,” she confessed as her shoulder rocked slowly when she sobbed.Arden’s shoulder loosened even more. The tears in his eyes escaped, marking the first time Erina had witnessed him cry in front of her. He looked so hurt and betrayed, but at the same time, regretful.“I couldn’t tell you because I know that I’m at fault that night, and I’m afraid you’d punish me and include him.”Arden’s jaw clenched as his hand turned into a fist. Erina doesn’t care anymore if he turns into a werewolf and scratches her face; as long as after that, she will be even and he will leave them alone. But with Arden’s reaction, it seemed like he wouldn’t be satisfied by just a scratch, as the menace in his expression was intensifying.“You were thinking I’d do that to my own c
The lump in her throat was making it worse. She knew that Draven obviously looked like him from all angles. She cannot lie about that part. And to hear it coming from Arden himself, asking about it and pointing it out, made her shiver even more.She is busted. She can’t lie about it. She might deny it, but how does she explain Draven’s features?Before she could answer, she felt bad because Arden had been so good to her in Rockmount. Though she felt his coldness from the start, the other days were so enchanting that she felt he loved her at that moment. He told her he loved her. And the way he handled her with care, it seemed like she was so fragile that he was too careful.As she opened the door and hurriedly walked back to the house, she shook her head, unable to express her feelings of despair.However, before she could reach the terrace, Arden was too quick to chase after her as he gripped her pulse.“Tell me the truth, Erina,” he desperately demanded.Erina’s tears were now casca
Erina was hesitating, but at the same time, she was thinking about asking Arden about what was happening when she left and why he was in the mortal world. Though she knows that he is looking for someone, now that she has confirmed that he is Arden Gunner, she doesn’t want to buy that excuse from him that he didn’t mean any harm. Arden approached her that night in his werewolf form, and she had no choice but to fall off the cliff rather than allow him to devour her. This was because the face of betrayal lingered in her mind.She slipped into the front seat and glanced at Arden, who was now looking at the food she had brought. He was opening it, and his expression lightened when he confirmed it was the chicken Alfredo whom Draven was talking about.“You cooked this?” He asked gently.She nodded and looked at the food as well. “If you’re not used to it, since I know you prefer the cook of a chef, like how you used to in Rockmount, then just don’t expect too much. I’m not a good cook.”Ar
Aiden was already boldly expressing that he was Arden Gunner and that he knew she was Erina, the one who made him fall in love with her just to make a fool out of him.Erina suddenly remembered what he said about the woman she was trying to find, expecting she wasn’t dead yet. She doesn’t want to believe that Arden isn’t mad at her, because who wouldn’t be when she has already memorized and seen how Arden Gunner would never forgive anyone who did him wrong?“Leave and don’t ever come back again,” she said warningly, and she went back to the house.She saw Mrs. Sanders, who was peeking in the kitchen and immediately went back. Erina controlled her aching heart as she wanted to slap herself for feeling it for Arden.Now that she really confirmed Arden was Aiden Arscott, she could really tell that he was pursuing her to just imitate what she did to him in Rockmount.Her tears escaped as she wiped them off, as she didn’t want to feel any sympathy for him. If she went out and let him in, t
The two Sanders were highly convinced by Erina’s alibis about her getting distant from Aiden Arscott for the better. The two oldies were so worried for her, and it worsened more when they saw the other scratches on the living room—something really had disarranged it. If Erina didn’t clean up the mess, the two oldies might really prefer to just leave the house right then.But it wasn’t that easy to leave. The land was there, and even the ongoing harvesting was to be delivered to the company handled by Erina.Though Erina already covered the whole place, she wouldn’t let any of the wolves enter the houses again, but how about their safety? They can’t stay inside forever. There are everyday things they would do.Erina was having a hard time making some adjustments, but she needed to do it. She made sure that the two wouldn’t leave the house as she took Draven to school and talked to the head of the school about allowing him to homeschool instead, for some reason.She can’t just leave her