~Noah~ Events were unfolding rapidly, and it appeared that this time, we wouldn't receive assistance from the others. Any aid rendered might be perceived as tyranny or, perhaps even worse, as rogue behaviour. The correct course of action would be to apprehend suspects, yet in our situation, they were aware of our innocence, and arresting us would hinder the investigation. It posed a grave dilemma, and I doubted whether we could weather it alone. Nevertheless, we were resolved to persevere until the very end. During our journey home, we were captivated by Uncle David's speech emanating from the radio. "Considering all that has transpired from yesterday until this morning, it's evident that the eastern region is under siege. Rest assured, both the royal family and the authorities are diligently working to unravel this situation," he assured, prompting a question from a reporter. "Will the Albert brothers be apprehended for questioning?" inquired the reporter. "The royal family is n
~Adrian~ Laying in bed beside Harper, I couldn't shake off all that had happened between yesterday and this morning. When the footage came on on the project, I knew it was geared towards something sinister, even though Harper and I seemed far from it. I felt like we were all part of the entire ordeal. I wondered what Noah, Sebastien and Ethan were going through. They never did well showing their emotions, but they were great guys. They gave me a chance when no one would. We all knew they had no hand in all of this, and it was best we found a way to solve their problem. Harper kissed my shoulder where I sat on the side of the bed, and I touched her hand for comfort. She was heavy now, and I knew this wasn't the time to leave her side, but I also knew that the East was going to be a hot place, and the Alberts would need a lot of help. I struggled to convey the gravity of the situation to her, hoping that if the need arose, she would allow me to depart and provide assistance. "A
~Noah~ Once the borders were secured and a perimeter established to protect all our allied territories, I deemed it appropriate to interrogate Denis and his team. I eagerly anticipated addressing them. "I can't believe those arseholes would do this to you," Anthony said, revolted by what they had done. "This is precisely why my cousins are my sole companions," Luis remarked. There was a moment when I might have chuckled at his statement, but now, I realised its gravity and accuracy. If we had confined our dealings to our inner circle, we wouldn't find ourselves exposed in this manner. Brandon told us he had to head to Hayland to prepare his people. He didn't have the required manpower, but the little he could bring was appreciated. I just hoped that the matter would not escalate beyond the way it was, and I prayed that it would miraculously die down. That was the best outcome, but with all the efforts the perpetrators put into it, it seemed unlikely. Entering the questioning r
~Noah~ Kelcy was brought in, restrained with silver bindings. Tears streaked her eyes, and she appeared fragile as if hanging by a thread. I observed her closely and realised that questioning her about her involvement would be futile, so I opted for a different tactic. "Why did you record and leak that video?" I inquired, subtly implying that I was aware of her actions. Deep down, I already knew she was responsible. "Denis put me up to it," she said, admitting she had recorded the video. "How came I smell a lie in there, Kelcy. Why do I doubt that Denis would ask you to record us? He has his own camera, and it is always visible for everyone to see. Why would he ask you to record us? When were you close to the guy? I know you and his sister are close, but not Denis," I said, and she began to weep. "You have to believe me, Noah. We have known each other for years." She said, and I asked them to bring me the silver dust. It was loud enough for her to hear. "I am sure you are awa
~Gemma~ I hadn't left my room since I returned from the hearing. I didn't know what came over me, but I was ashamed. The way my father looked at me still hurt me, coupled with the fact that I had a life growing inside me, and I didn't know what to do. If my father could look at me with so much disappointment learning Lucas and I had slept together, then I didn't want to imagine what he would do when he found out I was pregnant. I wept most of the evening, unable to show my face. When Harper came to knock on my door to tell me she was leaving, I couldn't reply. She knew of my predicament, and I knew she was worried for me. I couldn't even bring myself to tell my sisters. They were perfect, but I was messed up. I woke up in the morning, and when I checked online, instead of seeing the altercation I had with Katalina, it was Uncle Leo and Lady Amelia's attack and kidnap that was all over the news. I was in shock, and my hands shook. It felt unreal. I couldn't believe that disa
~Lucas~ I had never felt such intense emotions for anyone as I did for Gemma, and the thought of losing her was unbearable. Katalina's outburst outside the council hall, triggered by my decision to end the engagement, was proof of the turmoil my actions had caused. It was imperative that I rectify this situation and make my true feelings clear to Lord Vino. He deserved to know the reality of the situation, which is why I ventured to the palace. With the current state of affairs in our continent, waiting to speak to him outside would only worsen matters. Now, standing face to face with him, though it seemed sensible to heed Gemma's request and leave, I understood that doing so would mean walking away from her entirely. Therefore, I stood my ground. "Are you daft?" Lord Lawrence finally inquired, to which I shook my head. "I'm just a fool in love, sir," I replied, and he scrutinised me. "How did you two meet?" he queried, his expression appearing to soften. While it might have s
~Lucas~ I waited, watching Gemma, and time passed a little. Eventually Gemma woke up looking tired and i riushed to her side. "What happened?" she managed, her voice trembling, and I gently touched her cheek. "You fainted; I had to carry you in here," I explained, and she fell silent, appearing to understand the reason behind her fainting spell, though I didn't press her for an explanation. Lady Claudia returned to read her charts, and she was shocked when she saw her test results. I hoped it wasn't anything alarming, but she looked at me and then looked at Gemma, unable to speak. Gemma looked at her with tear-filled eyes; it seemed she knew what her mother had just found out. "How? When were you going to tell us?" she asked, and Gemma sat up, tears in her eyes. "I didn't know what to do, Mom; Dad was.. I was... I didn't… I just didn't know what to do?" she said, tears streaming down her cheeks, and I wondered what the issue was. Was she facing a terminal illness? Was that
~Leo~ I could not believe what had hit me. Everything happened so fast. I trusted Kappa Daniel so much that I didn't pay attention to the route. I didn't even ask any questions until the vehicle came to a halt, and people jumped out of nowhere and began to attack us. I wouldn't say I was confident, but I tried not to show fear. I hated seeing Amelia fight. It made me feel incapable sometimes, but in this scenario, it was required, and there was no way of avoiding it. We shifted, and the battle seemed like we were winning until I felt a dart on my hind leg, and everything went dark. I sunk into the abyss so deep that I knew crawling out of the mess we were in would be close to impossible. All I prayed for in those seconds was that fate would favour my mate and me, and we would survive it. As I regained consciousness, I found myself in a dim cell with only a small window offering no glimpse of the outside world. The window seemed almost insignificant, leading nowhere and se
I want to start by saying I'm truly sorry for the short chapters. It seems there are now "ideal word count limits" to adhere to. I deeply regret the prolonged silence, but I've been grappling with severe health issues lately, and I'm still in the throes of recovery. I couldn't bear to leave this book neglected for too long, so I pushed through to the end so you all could move on. I do hope to return with a new story soon, and hope you will all be there, but for now, I must concede and focus on recuperating. The silence weighs heavy on me, and I truly hope you enjoyed the story and its conclusion. This marks the final instalment in the DSOF series. Perhaps one day, I'll pen Eleanor's tale, but I'm hesitant to make any promises I may not be able to fulfil. Please bear with me, dear readers and co-writers, and know that I cherish each and every one of you dearly. I will miss you all immensely. I love you all.❤️❤️❤️🙏🏾🙏🏾🤗🤗
~Winter~ A year passed, and all the struggles were a distant memory. Now, we were hosting the gathering in the East, and Summer, Chelsea and I had gone over time. Chelsea was a new mother now. She and Ethan had wasted no time. They claimed each other and got married the next month. Normally, we all thought they would wait, but two months later, she was pregnant, and a lovely girl named Evangeline was the product. Evangeline was a beautiful blonde baby, and we all loved her. We were new moms ourselves, and Summer and I couldn't carry Evangeline as much as we would like. I had twins, and they were adorable. Both of them looked like Stepanovs, and I wondered if my genes ever stood a chance. My daughter's name was Michelle, and My son's name was Frederick. They were adorable, and I loved them so much. Summer had a son, and she and Sebastien named Him Leonardo after Sebasteins's father. He was cute and looked a lot like his grandfather, but he had green eyes like Summer. She w
Ethan I was nervous about seeing Chelsea. Although we said it wouldn't matter if we weren't fated, I didn't know why I was suddenly nervous. I had never cared for anyone the way I cared for her, and I knew it was the same for her. So I wondered why I was unwilling to see her tonight. Her eighteenth birthday was in a few hours, and I had promised to be the first person to see her, but my heart was beating fast. I had stayed away from the house all evening, avoiding her. She said she would spend the time with me, and Noah had confirmed that she was in our home. Though not showing, we found out after the wedding that Summer and Winter were pregnant, and they were very peckish, so Chelsea always brought them snacks. Although Summer and Winter had planned a party for her, it wasn't going to take place until the evening of her birthday. It had been torture waiting these months, and now it was finally time for me to make her mine. I never planned to be with anyone except for her, so
~Gemma~ It had finally come to this, and after the crowd and everyone had left, Lucas and I drove home from the estate. Although our wedding took place at the estate, I was now at Rivers, and my man was taking me home. How could I have tried to make it difficult for him? He was genuinely in love with me. Our union was embraced by both families, and Katalina was a thing of the past. The fact that nothing had ever transpired between her and Lucas made me relax. I didn't feel guilty one bit. Lucas had had some girlfriends, but he was mine now. He pulled me to his body in the back seat of the limo that was taking us home. Lucas crashed his lips on mine, drinking me in. Our wolves had claimed each other in the eyes of all and the moon. He was mine through and through. The moment the bond formed, I knew I had found my forever love. I kissed him. Every fibre of my being was burning with desire. I wanted him. My body craved him. He had made love to me severally since we returne
~Winter~ The day of the blue moon had finally arrived, and I was consumed with nerves like never before. I'd been down this road once, and it hadn't ended well. As I veiled my face, my eyes met Summer's, resplendent in her wedding attire. Her touch on my hand offered reassurance. "It won't be like last time, Winter. This is real," she whispered, her words calming my racing heart. I nodded, believing this time would be different. Noah's love was steadfast. Lady Amelia entered the tent, her eyes alight with happiness. In her hands were two ornate jewellery boxes, undoubtedly meant for us. "You both look stunning tonight," she beamed, her words touching my soul. Lady Amelia loved us as a mother would her child; she cherished us as much as her own sons, a rare bond that set her apart. Approaching me, she unveiled the contents of the box meant for my adornment. A breathtaking gold necklace adorned with sapphire stones and dazzling diamonds lay nestled within. It was a masterpiece. "I
~Noah~ Three weeks passed, and the dust finally settled when the fugitives were apprehended by an angry mob of people eager to prove to their monarch that they were sorry for allowing themselves to be used and deceived into hindering progress. They had killed Kane and Ramos, leaving Gavin and Moses. I could bet that the only reason why they left Gavin and Moses, judging by the state they were in when they brought them, was because they wanted to deliver them to the authorities. They were battered, and silver was clamped on their wrist. I wished I had witnessed the mog action. Some parts of it were in the news. With the way the people surrounded them. They had no choice. It was a battle lost before it started. They had sprayed them silver dust to incapacitate them and then beat Kane and Ramos to death while they chained Gavin and Moses for judgment. I guess the King's words, coupled with my father's words and show of disappointment, got to them. Indeed, they had unknowingly helped
~Anthony~ My wolf was urging me to bridge the gap and assert our claim, but I remained dumbfounded. Frankly, I never imagined it would happen, especially not with Aspen. Here I was, enamoured with Chelsea, even competing with Ethan for her attention, when all along, it was Aspen who held my heart. Was Aspen the catalyst for my feelings for Chelsea? I realised I often encountered her before seeing Chelsea, yet I was too preoccupied with Chelsea to consider Aspen. I remember my first time at the orphanage; she was the one at the door greeting us, and she was particularly nice to me. On the second occasion, I went there, I ended up spending time with her. She opened up to me, telling me what she wouldn't dare tell anyone. The bond had been rearing its head, and I was too stubborn to realise it. She was the one who came to celebrate the victory with me when I was feeling lonely. It was her all along. Fate threw me her way severally and put her in my face, but my desires did not allo
~Anthony~ I waited for Aspen to pack her belongings in the evening so we could leave. I was going to leave the next day, as I had told Ethan, but my father had urged me to leave immediately. Everyone had gone back home, so waiting was pointless. Luis was around, though, and he planned to leave the next day. I was the only one still in Mountain, so I could understand when my parents asked me to go home. I escorted Aspen to her father's house so she could pack her belongings, and I went there with warriors just in case the man was being funny. I knew this was the right thing for her. If she stayed there any longer, she would end up dead. One day, he would take it too far and leave the silver on her a little too long for her body to recover. I had no obligations towards her, but I could not ignore her cry for help. Kirill was outside, and he looked at me, angry and powerless. He knew it was over. I was a lord so there was nothing he could do but just stew in his anger. "You c
~Leo~ As we made our way there, Ethan and Sebastian, accompanied by Summer and another girl who seemed to share the same origins as Summer and Winter, clung to Ethan. The girl wore a t-shirt with the words "Victory: because Adulthood is overrated" printed on it. Seeing how the girl and Ethan clung to each other, I knew they were together. They walked to me quickly, and Summer let go of Sebastian and hugged Amelia tightly. "We missed you; we were worried and scared," She confessed, and Amelia rubbed her back lovingly as a mother would hug her child. "I heard you fought well, Luna," she teased Summer, and Summer broke the hug with tears in her eyes. She was overjoyed to see us. She hugged me, too, but she didn't say anything. I looked at Ethan, and he had a straight face, but I could tell he was hiding his emotions. Amelia pulled him to a hug. "I am so proud of you, son," She said, and he held on to her; his hands shook, and I could tell he had feared the worst. Breaking the hug,