~Gemma~Lucas got up and stepped back, making me look up at him."You might not believe this, but I don't regret what happened between us; I just regret how it happened. I honestly wished I could turn back the hands of time, Gemma. If we were ever going to get together, it shouldn't be when you were inebriated. I regret it. I feel like, indeed, I had taken advantage of you because I found the blood stains on the sheets in the morning. I am sorry. I, too, wasn't in my senses, but you need to understand it wasn't my intention. I would never do that to you or anyone. I feel like shit right now," he said and ran his fingers through his hair, and I realised I might be wrong about his mode of transport to Hayland. He might have been the one to mess up his hair from sheer nervousness."So why are you here now?" I finally asked him, not wanting to dwell on the matter. He looked at me with a gentle gaze."I want to do right by you, Gemma," he said and returned to squat in front of me."I want
~Winter~Three days had passed, and other than the stress of running the orphanage and trying to get the bakery running, Summer and I also had to deal with Aspen's obnoxious father. He blocked all our attempts to see the girl, and it was getting on my nerves. If Chelsea had not talked about this, I wouldn't have been bothered, but the more I realised the possibility of domestic violence being the case, the more determined I was to see her. At least I needed to know how she was doing. I wanted to talk to Noah about it. Maybe he could use his office to force Aspen's father's hand and allow us to see the girl. She would turn eighteen soon. How long did he want to hold on to her? As things looked, it seemed she wouldn't be leaving even after she turned eighteen. It was unacceptable. I didn't know if I should take the matter to Lady Amelia, but I also did not know how Noah would take it if we went that route. I am going to leave him to handle the matter. There was an urgency to it that m
~Summer~Getting to my room, I looked at the empty bedroom and Sebastien's desk, where he'd usually sit on the computer, and I felt a longing in my chest. I never knew I'd be attached to this man, but here I was, missing him. If we weren't too tired, I would have requested that Winter spend some time in the living room, but we needed to shower and rest. The day had been hectic, and honestly, a little shut eyes would definitely help.Exiting the bathroom, I decided to go to bed naked and get under the sheets. It was hard for me to fall asleep even though Sebastien's scent assaulted my senses. I was attached, and I knew it. There was no denying it, and I doubt I would survive a heartbreak. I wondered how Winter was able to survive what Brandon did to her because I could imagine she must have felt this way about him; they were fated, after all. No wonder she became a closet drunk. I am glad my friend was able to kick the habit easily. I was beginning to worry for her. I am also grateful
~Gemma~The day to leave for Lucland had finally come, and the throbbing in my chest made me uneasy. Lilly and Eleanor weren't happy that I turned Lucas down, but honestly, I wasn't lying when I said I needed time. I hoped we might still have a chance, and if not, then he wasn't meant for me. I packed my bags fully, knowing I might not be returning. My options weren't really much; it was either I left home or told my folks the truth, but I also knew that my father would not see reason and claim that Lucas did it deliberately. I knew my father would destroy him for it, and I couldn't have that. Seeing the way Lucas backed down when I said no, I knew it wasn't deliberate on his part, and he only wanted to right a wrong out of duty. I didn't want him to end his engagement and commit to me simply because he felt obligated because we accidentally had sex, and he popped my cherry. If I had accepted his offer, I would forever feel like a charity case, and that wasn't a great place to begin
~Gemma~ We finally arrived at the estate, and I was surprised to see my mother was the one outside to receive us. It was really unnecessary, but Aunty Tamia made it a duty to always be outside when either of us was coming home, and it sort of became a culture, something even the women in my generation had embraced. Sometimes, it would be Josephine, Elaine, Layla, Sarah, Lilly, Eleanor, and me, and other times, it would be our mothers or whoever was around.The bus came to a halt, and we were all alighted. My mother had a broad smile on her face but gave me a look of disapproval.She was surprised to see Brandon with us. She looked at Uncle Theodore, and he seemed to look like he was okay with it. Ushering us into the house, my mother pulled me aside."Why would you go to Hayland without telling us? Your father is livid," she asked."At twenty-five, I believe I do not owe anyone an explanation for what I do. I am old, you know," I said, and she sighed and stopped walking."I know Gemm
~Noah~ I was up and ready, eager to get the hearing over with. Winter could tell my eagerness, but no matter how eager I was, I wasn't in so much of a hurry to miss the opportunity to bury myself inside my mate. I took her in the shower in our room at the estate. Winter matched my appetite well, and she was always ready for me. I doubt I would ever get enough of her. We dressed up and headed out, knowing that everyone would be ready by now. When I got outside, I noticed Lilly and Brandon weren't with us. "Where are the Knights?" I asked, and Liam chuckled. He was wearing his prince attire and likewise Adrain, too. Liam's attire was more adorned than Adrian's, and I felt a tinge of envy. I know I would wear something similar when I become a lord. "They had to go ahead of us. Brandon is still an outcast Alpha, and we can't blatantly defy orders and ride with him," Liam said, and I understood his reasons. "So, who are we waiting for?" I asked, and Adrian sighed. "Harper and Ge
~Noah~ Uncle Sylvester ensured that the proceedings would be broadcast throughout the continent. I noticed Justin, Sophia, Marvin, Layla, Oliver, Elaine, Miles, Sarah, Logan, Henry, Keith Joseph and Caleb, who was Aunty Claudia and Uncle Vino's biological son, were sitting in the booth Dedicated to the North. Uncle Vino's youngest daughter, Irene, was in school, so I didn't expect to see her. Caleb should be in school, too. He was naughty, so maybe he had been suspended. I wouldn't put it past him. Liam's younger brothers, Joseph and Keith, never attended the meetings, so they were absent. They all looked eager to get things over with. The other lodges dedicated to the West and South Lords were empty, something I knew would be filled up eventually. The pledge was recited, and the king decided to speed things up. Bryce Golebev and Kappa William were the ones who ushered in the accused. The founder and chief executive officer of Chronicle Press, David Baxter, the managing directo
~Noah~ While the Council congratulated the new lords, the projector screen came on again. I looked at Liam, who looked confused. The confusion in his eyes indicated that that wasn't supposed to happen. The chatter in the Hall quieted down gradually as people began to pay attention to what was on the screen. It was a party, and it was in a place I remembered so well. Sebastien and I spent most of our Friday nights there until recently because we have been busy and unable to do much. It was Denis's house, and Sebastien and I were on the couch. Seeing the amount of drinks at the table with the girls that accompanied us, I was a bit ashamed. We looked irresponsible, and maybe we were back then. I studied the camera angle, and I saw the red fabric and smooth laps. A woman was filming us, and I couldn't tell who, but it was Denis's house nonetheless. I felt Winter squeeze my hand a bit, and I knew the scene got to her. It wasn't like I knew who the girls were, but they were keeping u