Greetings, everyone! I want to express my gratitude for your active participation in this journey. Your support means a lot to me. Unfortunately, I won't be able to update this book until the second of March due to school activities for my child and a scheduled medical appointment for myself. Balancing my time during this period might be challenging. If circumstances allow, I'll release more chapters. I'm letting you know in advance to manage expectations, and I apologise for any potential disappointment. I appreciate your understanding and patience. Thank you, and please bear with me. 🙏🏾🙏🏾
~Winter~ Having to spend time in the North without Noah was hard for me. I didn't want to come across as clingy, but letting go wasn't easy. A strong part of me wanted to tag along, and I might have done that. When I realised Anthony had left, I felt a bit stranded because the people we had followed to the North had left, and we were still here. We were new to the royal family circle, so Summer and I felt out of place. Our discomfort didn't linger because Princess Josephine and the other ladies ensured we were welcomed. We laughed, played, gossiped and played some Croquet. The game was slowly becoming my favourite, especially because we teased each other when we missed easy shots or didn't position well. I know Eleanor teased Summer about being unable to position herself well because of what Sebastien might have done before he left. She was pink instantly, and everyone laughed. We teased them, too, and it was all fun. The loneliness didn't set in until it was time to retire to b
~Winter~ I was shocked for a minute. Noah and I were yet to claim each other, but I guess I was already Lady of the East to them. The ladies laughed at my surprise. I wanted to correct the manager to call me Miss Crayton, but I knew Noah wouldn't like that, and even though he wasn't here, he would somehow know. I didn't know how he would feel about it, so I accepted the name and shook my head. "I am not in the mood for shopping, but your clothes are exquisite. I might return at a later time when I am more relaxed," I said, and she nodded. "In that case, the designer has packed some dresses for you," she said, and just then, a sales girl came with some boxes of clothes. "We would like you to be photographed in our clothes. We also hope you will give us the privilege to make your wedding dress, Lady Albert," she said, and I was stunned. I didn't know what to say, and Lilly stepped in and thanked them. "Thank you so much; I am sure Winter won't mind. If your clothes flatter her, th
~Winter~ Morning came, and I was a bit sore between my legs. Noah had kept his promise, and indeed, I had pleaded with him. Food was served around three in the morning because I was famished. Right around the time, my clothes were delivered to the room. We both ate and went to bed. Noah held on to me, and I could feel he was optimistic about something. Whatever he went to do in the East must have turned out well for him. We showered together. It was clear we had missed breakfast, but it was okay. "When will we return to the East?" I finally asked him, stepping out of the dressing closet with jeans and one of the T-shirts that Chelsea had made for me as a gift. It had writing on the chest area where my boobs were that said, "I have a face, you know?" and I remembered how the T-shirt made me laugh when she gave it to me. Noah saw the shirt and laughed. "Creative," he said, and I smiled. "Yeah, Chelsea made it. She has a lot of weird t-shirts like this one," I said, and he nodded
~Brandon~ The pain of the severance was incredible, and I wished I could just silence everything. How could I lose everything and gain nothing? If anyone had told me this would be my future the day I met Winter, I would say it was a lie, but here I was, walking away from my mate after rejecting her fully. The last time I rejected her, I had made it partial and pretended not to understand why we were still connected. I really hoped it would buy me time. I hoped the council would answer my prayer and lift the embargo. I never planned to let go; I just needed a little while longer, but I guess I underestimated the pain my humiliation and rejection would cause her. I had lost her to a better man, a Lord, royalty. How could I compete? The fact that I could see that he truly loved her made me realise that my story with Winter had come to an end. I wanted to laugh at myself, but I couldn't. The pain in my chest wouldn't let me, and the emptiness that was creeping into my soul tore a
~Brandon~ I exited the shower after spending a while in there and returned to the room right around the time that my phone rang. I rushed towards it and saw it was Lesley. I didn't want to answer it, but knowing it could be an emergency, I answered the call. "Hello," I said, sounding as normal as I could manage. "Brandon, when are you coming home?" She asked, and I cursed under my breath. This wasn't the time for this. "I don't know," I said, and she was silent a bit before speaking. "Alpha Gabriel called requesting our land at the Maines border as payment," She said, and I pinched the bridge of my nose. "And what did you say?" I asked her, trying to focus on what she was telling me. "I told him you weren't around and had gone to the north. Then I offered him money, and he said what Hayland owed is more than that," she said, and I knew she was about to complain, so I braced myself for it. "It is too much for me, Brandon. This is too much. You don't love me; you won't touch me
~Brandon~ Justin hushed everyone for Noah to speak and gave him the floor. I had begun to realise that Noah was the talkative of the twins, and he didn't even say much. That said a lot, and it made me wonder how their friends managed. "According to legal stipulations, an inquiry shall be clandestinely initiated within the impacted regions to ascertain their exoneration from the transgression for which they were proscribed. Substantiating the rehabilitation of both the territory and its inhabitants is requisite for the enactment of a provisional respite. Following thorough examination and confirmation of the territory's redemption, stringent monitoring shall ensue for a duration of three years prior to the complete rescission of the embargo." Noah said, and even I could not fully understand what it meant. "Simple words, Noah," Henry said, and everyone laughed. Noah sighed to rephrase himself. "It means the law says an investigation would be secretly launched in the affected region
~Brandon~ The invitation took me by surprise, but the sincerity in Anthony's eyes was unmistakable. Despite the challenges that lay ahead, there was a sense of unity in his words, a shared determination to face whatever trials awaited us together. And as I looked around at the faces of my newfound allies, a flicker of hope ignited within me. Perhaps, against all odds, we could emerge victorious. "Sure, I do not mind," I said, and they began to leave. "Great, meet us at the dining hall in the Alpha Wing in one hour and thirty minutes," Justin said, walking past me. He stopped and placed his hand on my shoulder. I looked at him, and he sighed. "Victory isn't guaranteed, Knight. We can't win them all, nor can we have it all. Every loss carries a lesson. Brush yourself off and rise again. The future holds unforeseen opportunities," he said with a smile and walked away. His words sank deep into my soul. I believe it was because I wore my misery on my sleeves. My pain was palpable,
~Lilly~ Life, they say, is a mystery. Sometimes, we think we already know, but the truth is we don't. When I was eighteen, I thought I would find my fate. I wasn't big on it since my parents weren't fated, but I wondered how nice it would be for me to experience the bond; it never happened to me, and life went on. I never hoped for much, and neither was I actively searching. I would lie if I said I wasn't plagued by loneliness at night, but there was nothing I could do about it but wait. Years went by, and I watched friends, family and acquaintances find their soulmates, their fated partners, as they called them. I witnessed their joy, their struggles, and their unwavering support for each other, and while I was genuinely happy for them, a part of me couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. I questioned myself countless times—was I doing something wrong? Was I not putting myself out there enough? Was I too picky? But deep down, I knew that fate had its own timeline, its own plan f
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,