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~Anthony~ Ethan and I finished lunch and decided we should head to the orphanage. It was best to get the task over with so we could rest and go clubbing tonight. It was the least I could do. Most of us were going clubbing in Lucland, but the sudden summon had counted me out. Adrian and Jacob weren't going anyway, so nothing was lost on their part. "It sucks, right?" Ethan asked me behind the wheel. It was as if he could read my mind. "There are some hot chicks in Lucland, and I was looking forward to clubbing," I confessed. "Me too. But then that fucker Brandon had to throw a tantrum and drag all of us here," Ethan said, and I realised he had some serious resentment toward the Alpha. It wasn't a good thing because Ethan could be dangerous. I really didn't want to be in Brandon's shoes. "Wouldn't you ask me what he did?" Ethan asked, and I shook my head. "Nope. None of my business. Heard enough shit to last me a bit. If you tell me, then it becomes my problem, and I don't want th
~Anthony~ Breaking the spell, I cleared my throat, prompting Chelsea to look up from whatever she was engrossed in. Her eyes, large and expressive like a doe's, met mine. It was as if time stood still for a moment, allowing me to take in the details of her features. Full, pink lips, a face perfectly contoured yet softened by gentle edges – she was the epitome of delicate beauty, a fragile charm that I felt the need to handle with care. Without lingering, Chelsea gracefully rose from her seat and bowed, a gesture of politeness that caught me off guard. It was a touch of formality that seemed unexpected, given the casual setting. It made me wonder about her background and upbringing. Realising that she might not recognise us, I took a step forward, eager to bridge the gap. She didn't seem like someone who followed television, or perhaps she simply hadn't connected our faces to any public personas. In any case, I extended a hand in greeting, ready to introduce ourselves. "Hello, Chels
~Sebastien~ Brandon left us after our late lunch and headed back to Hayland to set things in motion against our trip back to Lucland the next day. It wasn't long after Brandon left Ethan and Anthony returned to the office. The moment I saw the glint in Anthony's eyes, I knew we owed him a night out clubbing. I was hoping he wouldn't go to the orphanage at all, but he surprised me. "We went and met with Chelsea," he said, making himself comfortable on the single couch in the place. Ethan went to sit at my desk. I could tell he was troubled, and I planned to ask him what the issue was. "Food and other stuff was delivered. There were some new clothes donations, blah blah blah, and a request for the adoption of a five-year-old girl originally from Hayland. They haven't processed the papers yet. They are waiting for your mother or mates to come and process the papers," Anthony reported, and I wondered if blah blah blah counted, but there was no point stressing it with Anthony. Blah blah
~Adrian~ I would lie if I said I wasn't nervous about the impromptu call from my father-in-law, who was also the King. It was a weird thing for me, from a hated Alpha, cast aside by his people, to a prince loved by all. It was amazing how my life had changed. Harper loved me deeply regardless of the things that were being said about me, and even though I tried to let her go, she held on tight enough and long enough to make me want to fight for us. I have fought for her love every day and will keep fighting for it. She was everything to me: my heartbeat and my breath, and she knew it. So when her father called me and told me to meet him in Greenville, I was worried that something might have happened. I didn't want the paradise we were living in disrupted. The night out in the club with the Alberts and Anthony was needed. Jacob was just as worried as I was, and the silence in the van that was transporting us to Greenville said it all. I took a deep breath and relaxed, knowing that Kin
~Ethan~ I have never been captivated in my entire life. I was one who seemed unaffected by my surroundings except for my temper, which seemed to often get the best of me. But I was captivated at the orphanage. The right word would be enthralled. Locked in a cell of desire when I saw the most beautiful girl I had ever set my eyes on. Nothing took me by surprise, and nothing fascinated me, but this blonde-haired beauty fascinated me, knocking the breath out of my lungs without even lifting a finger. I found myself gawking, completely lost in her eyes. I wondered if she knew and, if she knew, did she care? Trying to dance Chelsea out of my mind was a disaster. Nothing was close enough to satisfy my longing, to touch, to get close enough to her to know her, to breathe her. How could someone have so much power over me in one glance, and it wasn't even the mate pull? I knew I was fucked. The fact that Anthony wanted her too made it worse. What if she picked him? What if they are fated
~Noah~ When Chelsea came to our office to deliver documents while we waited for Brandon's arrival, Sebastien and I had the great idea of sending her to the pack house to hand the adoption papers to Ethan. The blush on her face was telling. I didn't want to see dear Anthony heartbroken, but it seemed our brother had won this round. One could never tell still; it might just be a teenage crush thing, seeing Ethan is closer to her age than old Anthony. I knew he would hate that, but compared to Ethan, he was old, and Chelsea was just a few months younger than our little brother; there was no harm in aiding him secretly in the competition. I hoped for his sake he wasn't a gentleman and seized the money. The first contact always determines who wins, except for what happened in Jacob and Harper's case; it just didn't work. But in Ethan and Chelsea's case, I was sure it would work, and when Ethan returned looking unsettled, I knew he had seized the moment. Fingers crossed, it would work.
~Noah~Liam looked at us and sighed. We all knew it would be a hard thing to do."Going against the council and my father won't be easy. The lords aren't helping matters either," he said, running his finger through his hair out of the sheer frustration of the matter."It will be us against them, you know," he said, and I nodded."And we all have to be on board for this to work," he said, and I nodded, then he sighed."I will arrange a secret meeting tomorrow. Let's discuss this extensively and hear Brandon out. It won't be easy lifting the embargo because of the many families and territories that see their punishment as justice. We also have to consider the embargo of Kaizen and Braile for this to work because they suffer the same. I do not know how we will single out Hayland, and Kaizen and Braile will still remain under punishment. Not to think of the ongoing investigation against the Armstrong family," he said, laying out the problem.Liam looked at me and then at my brothers."You
~Summer~ The morning Sebastien told me he had to return to Mountain, I freaked out. I didn't want to be apart from him for one night. I know it is clingy, but I couldn't help it. I felt it was too early to be apart, and I knew my wolf would be restless. He was able to convince me to let him leave by promising that I would join him in Mountain if he did not return the next day. Although I said it was okay, I wasn't. I was quiet all through after he left. Winter had it worse, and no matter how hard the ladies tried to cheer us up, we would always slip into the lonely feeling, especially when they hugged or kissed their mates. The time apart felt like forever. When I heard during dinner that Anthony had left, I became nervous. We were supposed to join him to the East if they did not return, but now it seems we won't be able to join him at all. I wondered what was going on, but Lilly assured us that we had nothing to worry about and she would accompany us to the East if the need arose.
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,