I want to express my gratitude to each of you for your patience and understanding as I took the time I needed to rest. Your support is truly appreciated. Now, let's come together and complete this book. Thank you. đ âşď¸
~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 timesâwas 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
~Lilly~ As the realisation sunk in, a bitter taste filled my mouth, and I fought back the bitter tears threatening to spill from my eyes. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. I deserved more than to be a mere footnote in someone else's love story, a consolation prize for a man who had already made his choice. But even as I raged against the injustice of it all, a small part of me couldn't help but wonderâwas there still a chance for redemption? Could Brandon find the courage to break free from the chains he was bound with by his wife and embrace the possibility of a new beginning? I held my breath, waiting for him to speak, to offer something, anything, but as the silence stretched on, the truth became painfully clear. With a heavy heart, I turned away, steeling myself against the ache of disappointment and betrayal. For in that moment, I knew that my fairy tale ending was nothing more than a fleeting dream, a figment of my imagination destined to remain forever out of reach. Te
~Lilly~ I resisted the urge to turn and face the owner of the voice, my heart pounding in my chest as I struggled to maintain my composure. The scent of morning dew wafted towards me, mingling with the familiar musk that could only belong to one person. I didn't know whether to stand and look at him or remain seated, mirroring the uncertainty that plagued my thoughts. Hazel's silence only added to the tension that hung in the air like a heavy fog. We were both afraidâafraid of what his words might bring, afraid of the inevitable rejection that loomed on the horizon. I suspected he was here to deliver the final blow, to explain why we could never be together. It was a truth I had been dreading, yet I knew deep down that it was inevitable. As his footsteps drew nearer, my resolve wavered, and I struggled to find the courage to face him. With each passing moment, the weight of anticipation grew heavier, anchoring me to the bench as if rooted in place. I knew I should stand up, should
~Lilly~ At my words, he visibly relaxed, a gentle but mature smile gracing his features. "I want to try, Lilly. I want to accept our bond and give it a chance," he declared, his voice filled with determination as he met my gaze with unwavering conviction. "I know I may not have much to offer, and my circumstances are far from ideal, but I promise you thisâI will do everything within my power to make it right. I won't let this blessing slip away from my life," he vowed, his grip on my hands tightening ever so slightly. "Today, I endured the deepest, most unimaginable pain, and in my darkest hour, I cried out to the moon for solace. And in her wisdom, she bestowed upon me the gift of you," he continued his words, a testament to the depth of his emotions. "I plan to embrace it, Lilly. I plan to do whatever it takes to be with you," he said, and I was surprised because I could see that he was dead serious. "What about your wife? You are a married man, and I do not want to break anyon