Thank you for reading! Lovelies, I see all your comments. Although I appreciate your eagerness for this book, please do not compare with my other book's update. My chapters here every week are more than the combined chapters I have for The Forgotten Luna (TFL) because I do upload bulk chapters here. So please, let's not trigger the others (especially those who don't read TFL) into thinking I'm abandoning this book. If you want a comparison, Nadine has 22 chapters this month versus Adessa with 13 chapters. Let's be transparent 💛 Love to you all!
NADINE.I lowered my Alpha aura as I walked to where Xander was. I didn’t want him to think I was letting it out on him. Or, maybe I just want us to talk more about us and not me being an Alpha.Xander was already sitting at the small table when I entered the room. There were only two chairs at both ends.His head snapped up, and our eyes met. My stomach churned just by looking at him. He didn’t have any expression on his face and like earlier, he didn’t hold my gaze.His attention went back to his hands resting on the table, as if taking out the invisible dirt under his nails was far more important than looking at me. I took a deep breath and thanked the person who let me in. He gave me a nod and left the room, closing the door behind him.Although the room had a big glass window so anyone from the outside could see us if they wanted to, I was glad we were left alone.I sat in the vacant chair, my heart thudding loudly as I looked at him, but he didn’t even budge from his position.“
NADINE. “I was sure I reminded you to ask him important questions and not eat his face,” I heard Riley say, and Jake chuckled. I stopped the words wanting to come out of my throat and discreetly looked at Xander through my lashes. He had his back on them, and since I was on his front, I was the only one who could see his face. He bit his bottom lip, suppressing a smile to crack on his face. That was enough for me. He was not grumpy about Riley’s comment.“Stop talking as if you don’t forget you’re the Alpha whenever Nadia kisses you. She bats her eyelashes, and you immediately pant like a dog.” Jake mocked him, and I rolled my eyes. I wanted to tell him as if he were not the same as Riley, but Riley did the honor of telling him that, until they realized Xander and I were just quiet and just staring at each other. “Ahem..” Jake cleared his throat again. “I understand you don’t want us here, but you need us. Trust me.”I was not able to stop my chuckles as I walked past Xander and
NADINE.“So this is the reason he looked terrified whenever I told him I would leave the pack. He didn’t need me as his Beta. He wanted me there so he could use Maxwell’s money.”“You didn’t know about your father’s will?” Riley asked. Xander shook his head. “No. I never cared about it.”I couldn’t think straight. I couldn’t even comprehend what was going on. I heard them, but the only thing that continued to reverberate in my mind was the realization that I was the one with nothing.I had a pack with no money or resources. I had a mate who thought I was not someone he could come home to. I thought I was already over the worst, but it seemed that was not the case yet. “Nadine, I know this is very upsetting, and it looks like you really have to start from scratch. Soon, the debtors would find out Maddox is dead, or they found out already and they would ask for their money back.” Jake added.“My pack has nothing,” I responded.Riley reached for my hand and squeezed it. “I will talk w
NADINE.After waking up early today, Arlo drove me to the Council Territory so I could visit Xander. It had been five days since the last time I was here. We talked twice on the phone, and although he sounded cold, I knew he cared. He always made sure to ask about me and if I was resting. I knew despite the indifference he was showing me, deep down, he cared. And that made me so excited today. I woke up early and made food for him as I was able to secure an hour and a half of visiting time.Maybe being excited was an understatement. I was beyond ecstatic. Jake told me they were able to contact Maddox’s accountant, and, from the looks of it, the Council was able to invite him for questioning. Jake had no idea what the current status was, but the proceeding that was scheduled in two days had already been canceled. It was still to be determined if they would announce a new date or if the case against him would be closed. I was hoping it was the latter. I also had a closed-door meetin
NADINE.And broke my heart, he did. Xander was not in the territory, and there were no phone calls from him.The next five days were spent sending people to where he was found by the Council, as well as to home and work addresses that Mindy gave me. But there was nothing. No one had seen him. I also sent people to Maximus’ farm, and they went home without any news about him. The farm was still functioning, with some workers still doing their work despite Maximus being gone. However, none of the workers had encountered Xander.He vanished. He disappeared as if he didn’t want to be found.I felt so lost. I was struggling to complete my task and keep a straight face. I couldn’t pretend anymore. Most days, I would just stare blankly at the wall.I felt worse than when I was in that cell, chained and tortured. “Your mom told me I could find you here.” Dad’s voice snapped me from my thoughts, and I immediately wiped the tears from my face.“I just need time to think,” I replied. I didn’t
XANDER.I moved into the small house attached to the main house of the Trevino Farm. This was where Maximus’ driver used to reside. The space was enough for me. I didn’t need the big house. I didn’t need a reminder that I was alone again. I moved in four days ago, but I’d been visiting this place for a week before that to meet the workers and assess the situation. To be fair, the humans working here seemed happy and thriving. It appeared Maximus was a better person with humans than when he was with shifters, or maybe his age had calmed him down from his old ways. The farm had been producing milk, cow products, and several vegetables, but the net income wasn’t great lately. It kept the farm going with enough money to cover bills and the salaries of the workers. In short, it was still surviving. But for how long? That was the question. I had no idea how to manage this place, but I was used to skilled labor, so I didn’t mind working alongside the people. The workers here were kind e
XANDER. “Hello, sleepy head.” She spoke softly, and only then did I realize she was truly here. “Did I disturb your sleep?”She wore a floral long dress, which is typical of females around here when they are not working. With her hair down, she looked so young and beautiful.Nadine rarely wore a dress at the Dark Forest, as I requested her not to, so Maddox wouldn’t have any chance to see her tattoo. Although I had seen her in a gold dress during Catherine’s Claiming, I had already forgotten how beautiful she looked in feminine clothes. “Earth to Farmer Xander...” She waved her hand in front of me, and I moved to sit straight, inching a bit away from her. I thought she would be upset with that, but the smile remained on her face.“What are you doing here?” I asked.“Visiting you…”“In a dress. On a farm?”“What’s wrong with my dress? The place is so beautiful, and I have to match the energy.” She held the hem of her dress and flapped it like a little girl showing off her dress.Nadin
NADINE. I was nervous to meet Xander, but I prepared myself never to snap at him or return the animosity regardless of how he treated me. Xander might have been indifferent whenever we talked or saw each other, but his actions showed he cared for me. Why would he give me all the properties he had acquired if he wasn’t thinking about me? He might still feel guilty about what Maximus and Maddox did, but I knew it was more because of me.Despite everything, I knew Xander wanted me. He was just fighting whatever he felt because he didn’t want to live a pack life. Or was it because I was the Alpha, and he would be deemed weaker than me? But Xander had always been confident of his own strength. Didn’t he play the role of the weak brother for many months, unaffected by the opinions of others?Besides, I knew in my heart that I might be the Alpha, but only Xander knew how to make me weak and surrender to him. Lower my pride. Do not shout at the first sign of rejection.Do not walk away