~Noah~ Laying on my bed in my room, all I could think about were those frozen blue eyes. She did not know; she didn't even feel it. What are the odds that I would meet my mate and she would not feel it? Her scent was also very off. It gave a 'claimed' vibe, but there was no mark on her neck, or was it elsewhere? Also, if someone had marked her, why were we fated? Winter just stared at me. Initially, I thought it was deliberate, but when Summer asked Sebastien to reject her and Winter looked confused, I knew then that she could not feel the bond. She was a Gamma; the only reason she wouldn't feel is if an Alpha had marked her. She was tainted. I should have rejected her on the spot, but something held me back. Enzo held me back, and the famous battle my cousins fought in the past was now mine and Sebastien's, too, given that he was fated to the green-eyed friend. It was weird. If Summer and Winter were their true names, then their parents must have named them because of their
~Sebastien~ Sleeping had never been as difficult as it was after locking Summer and Winter up in the cell. It felt wrong, but I knew it was the mate bond. I had to hang around Noah so he would keep me grounded; little did I know that he was fighting his demons, too. The look Summer gave me when I refused to acknowledge the bond could pass off as heartwrenching, but why should I feel that way? I don't even know her; besides, they had come to rob stores in my city. I shouldn't feel anything, but I did. Noah and I had decided to orchestrate a grand display to convince our father that we were diligently engaged in our work. However, upon waking up in the afternoon, a sense of unease crept over me. Disappointment set in when I arrived at our parent's house and discovered Noah discussing the women with our father. The latter portrayed them as if they were perilous and hardened criminals. The silver lining was that our father was embarking on a journey to the North, leaving us in charge. I
~Noah~ Those frosty eyes kept staring at me. They were defiant. Winter knew she was backed into a corner, but she wouldn't give up her pride. Summer was a lot more level-headed than Winter. She knew when to throw in the towel for the greater good, but Winter seemed to be the type not to trust people. The only reason she was putting up a wall was because she believed we wouldn't understand and we wouldn't care. Her choice of words had registered. She saw us as belonging to different worlds with different priorities. According to her, in my world, people like her did not matter, but she was wrong. She mattered a lot. I was mad, but not at her. I was mad at the man who dared to taint what is mine. How would I get to know her when she gave off the scent of another and could not recognise who I was to her? That mouth, though. Winter needed a lot of punishments and taming, and I could think of some right now. I pulled my mind out of the gutters to focus on the present. The urgency of
~Summer~ I had never regretted anything as much as I regretted what Winter and I did. When she first suggested the idea, it didn't sit well with me. I could sense trouble brewing, but Lesley had backed us into a corner, leaving us with seemingly no other choice. The pressure was unbearable. As we carried out our ill-fated plan, I felt a growing pit of unease in my stomach. I knew we were crossing a line, but desperation and fear clouded our judgment. The weight of failure hung heavy over me, and a sense of shame consumed me. When Alpha Noah examined the jewellery we had managed to grab, the truth hit me like a punch to the gut. It turned out that what we thought was a grand heist was nothing more than a collection of knockoffs. The supposed treasure trove we risked everything for was utterly worthless. To make matters worse, our misguided actions were about to cost us more than our pride. The universe seemed to revel in adding salt to our wounds. Instead of escaping consequence-fre
~Sebastien~ Waiting for Tevin to return from Hayland, just forty minutes away, felt like an eternity. My mind was consumed with worry about what he might uncover regarding Winter and Summer. There was an uneasy feeling gnawing at the pit of my stomach, a mix of anxiety and hope that whatever he found wouldn't be as bad as my imagination dared to conjure. We had taken the precaution of sending them lunch, hoping to alleviate some of the tension that hung in the air like a thick fog. Olga, our reliable maid, had informed us that they had rejected both breakfast and lunch. Noah dismissed it as mere tantrums, a common occurrence with these two, but deep down, I couldn't shake the concern. We couldn't afford to let them starve themselves, even if it meant playing a waiting game and giving them some space before trying again. As we bided our time, we delved into the mundane tasks of our daily responsibilities. The office demanded our attention, with a stack of company request letters an
~Winter~ Summer and I were taken to a hostel-like building. Walking down the halls, I realised it was where the workers, mainly Omegas, resided. It was a hostel, but it was beautiful. The Alberts took good care of their workers and people. I was impressed by the living conditions. They were better off than most people I have met in other parts. We were led to the bathroom. I enjoyed the warm shower and the strawberry-scented body wash and shampoo I was given. Summer and I spent more than necessary there. The woman attending to us had to return and complain that we were taking forever and that it was past midnight. She didn't appreciate that we kept the Alphas waiting. I didn't care. They were the ones who decided to have a 'late dinner ', which was indeed an early breakfast. Summer was out before me. We were ushered to a locker room with a mirror that stretched the span of an entire wall. I stared at my reflection, and even though the shower was exhilarating, Summer and I looked t
~Winter~ Summer removed the dress, retaining the provided clean cotton underwear, and settled into bed. We intended to wear the dresses in the morning, as sleeping in them would affect their freshness. I followed suit and got into bed. "Do you think our punishment will be lessened?" Summer inquired, and I found myself without a definitive answer. The men appeared as unresponsive as ever, devoid of any visible emotions. It seemed unlikely that they would change. All we could do was wait and observe. "I think we should try and sleep," was all I could manage. Summer and I slept. The exhaustion we felt when we were arrested caught up with us. No one came to wake us up. By the time we woke up, it was twelve in the afternoon. The room had fresh clothes and underwear with tags that said they were brand new, so I figured someone had delivered them. Summer and I used the bathroom to freshen up and wear the new cotton dresses that were brought to us. What we were experiencing was
~Brandon~ It's hard to let go of loved ones, especially when you believe they will always be there, and suddenly they are leaving, and you might never get to see them again. It is as if you had taken every moment with them for granted and wish you could rewind time and fix every wrong you committed to avert this outcome. I indeed gave Winter a new option, a new home. I had spent some money renovating the place for her sake so she would be comfortable, but she wanted to leave. Watching Winter pack her things broke my heart, but I was stupid to think it wouldn't come to this. I had pushed her, and people could only take so much. Hearing they were moving to Mountain broke my heart, and I wondered about my cursed life. I had it all planned out in my head. It wasn't supposed to be this way. I never rejected her entirely. I didn't use her full name so I could maintain my bond with her. I was desperate. Lord Albert had yet to come through for me, and time was running out.