+15\u00a0Bonus<\/p>\n
Without\u00a0another\u00a0word\u00a0to\u00a0her,\u00a0I\u00a0sent\u00a0a\u00a0mindlink\u00a0to\u00a0Beta\u00a0Taylor,\u00a0having\u00a0him\u00a0meet\u00a0us\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0parlor.\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0he\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0far,\u00a0and\u00a0knowing\u00a0Taylor,\u00a0he\u00a0and\u00a0Derek\u00a0were\u00a0most\u00a0likely\u00a0to\u00a0listen\u00a0to\u00a0this\u00a0conversation\u00a0nearby.\u00a0They\u00a0were\u00a0both\u00a0around\u00a0during\u00a0the\u00a0Rachel\u00a0thing,\u00a0and\u00a0they\u00a0knew\u00a0how\u00a0devastated\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0after\u00a0she\u00a0\u201cdied.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sure\u00a0enough,\u00a0Taylor\u00a0entered\u00a0the\u00a0parlor\u00a0within\u00a0seconds\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0mindlinking\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0called?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0asked,\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0act\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0listening;\u00a0it\u00a0made\u00a0me\u00a0roll\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0before\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0think.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0need\u00a0a\u00a0guest\u00a0room\u00a0set\u00a0up\u00a0for\u00a0Rachel,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0murmured,\u00a0meeting\u00a0his\u00a0eyes.\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0see\u00a0the\u00a0questions\u00a0lingering\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0gaze,\u00a0and\u00a0they<\/p>\n
were\u00a0questions\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0be\u00a0bothered\u00a0to\u00a0answer\u00a0right\u00a0now.\u00a0\u201cShe\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0staying\u00a0here\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0while.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0nodded,\u00a0though\u00a0he\u00a0looked\u00a0a\u00a0bit\u00a0uneasy\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0choice.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0felt\u00a0Rachel\u00a0relax\u00a0beside\u00a0me,\u00a0relieved\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0kicking\u00a0her\u00a0out\u2026\u00a0at\u00a0least\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0kicking\u00a0her\u00a0out\u00a0tonight.\u00a0I\u00a0still\u00a0needed\u00a0to<\/p>\n
figure\u00a0out\u00a0where we\u00a0both\u00a0stood\u00a0with\u00a0one\u00a0another\u00a0before\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0think\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0future\u00a0and\u00a0how\u00a0to\u00a0move past\u00a0it\u00a0all.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0stood\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0couch,\u00a0grabbing\u00a0her\u00a0things\u00a0before\u00a0she\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0me,\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0smile\u00a0playing\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0so\u00a0good\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0you\u00a0again,\u00a0Gavin,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0softly;\u00a0her\u00a0tear\u2013filled\u00a0eyes\u00a0meeting\u00a0mine.\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0have\u00a0no\u00a0idea\u00a0how\u00a0badly\u00a0I\u00a0missed<\/p>\n
you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0could\u00a0only\u00a0manage\u00a0a\u00a0nod,\u00a0my\u00a0words\u00a0failing\u00a0me\u00a0completely.\u00a0Without\u00a0another\u00a0word,\u00a0she\u00a0turned\u00a0and\u00a0left\u00a0behind\u00a0Beta\u00a0Taylor.\u00a0I<\/p>\n
slumped\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0couch,\u00a0my\u00a0hands\u00a0pushing\u00a0my\u00a0hair\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0face\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0groaned.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0needed\u00a0a\u00a0drink,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0needed\u00a0one\u00a0immediately.<\/p>\n
I walked\u00a0over\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0mini\u00a0bar\u00a0and\u00a0poured\u00a0myself\u00a0a\u00a0glass\u00a0of\u00a0whisky,\u00a0my\u00a0normal\u00a0drink\u00a0of\u00a0choice\u00a0during\u00a0stressful\u00a0situations.\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0my<\/p>\n
phone\u00a0vibrate\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0pocket,\u00a0so\u00a0I\u00a0pulled\u00a0it\u00a0out\u00a0and\u00a0saw\u00a0Judy\u2019s\u00a0name\u00a0flash\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0screen;\u00a0she\u00a0texted\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
My\u00a0stomach clenched\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0sight\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0name. I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0open\u00a0the\u00a0message\u00a0because\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sure\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0say\u00a0to\u00a0her.\u00a0I\u00a0hated\u00a0myself\u00a0for\u00a0leaving\u00a0her\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0middle\u00a0of\u00a0our\u00a0date\u00a0like that,\u00a0but\u00a0the\u00a0second\u00a0Taylor\u00a0told\u00a0me\u00a0that\u00a0Rachel\u00a0was\u00a0sitting\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0parlor\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0villa,\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0I\u00a0needed\u00a0to\u00a0leave\u00a0immediately.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0imagine\u00a0how\u00a0it\u00a0made\u00a0Judy\u00a0feel,\u00a0though.\u00a0Without\u00a0opening\u00a0the\u00a0message,\u00a0I\u00a0shoved\u00a0my\u00a0phone\u00a0back\u00a0into\u00a0my\u00a0pocket\u00a0and<\/p>\n
drowned\u00a0myself\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0whisky,\u00a0feeling\u00a0a\u00a0bit\u00a0lighter\u00a0as\u00a0it\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0take\u00a0its\u00a0effect.<\/p>\n
Taylor\u00a0came\u00a0back\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0and noticed\u00a0me\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0mini\u00a0bar;\u00a0he\u00a0sighed\u00a0and\u00a0walked\u00a0over\u00a0to\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cAm\u00a0I\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0Beta\u00a0duty\u00a0now?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0asked.\u00a0\u201cOr\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0still\u00a0need\u00a0me\u00a0for\u00a0something?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0off\u00a0duty,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0muttered.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0nodded and\u00a0took\u00a0a\u00a0seat.\u00a0Without\u00a0having\u00a0to\u00a0ask,\u00a0I\u00a0poured\u00a0him\u00a0a\u00a0glass\u00a0of\u00a0whisky\u00a0and\u00a0slid\u00a0it\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0mini\u00a0bar\u00a0top\u00a0for\u00a0him\u00a0to<\/p>\n
grab.\u00a0He\u00a0took\u00a0the\u00a0glass,\u00a0swirled\u00a0the\u00a0whisky\u00a0around,\u00a0taking\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0aroma\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0sight\u00a0before\u00a0taking\u00a0a\u00a0sip.<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0512<\/p>\n
\u201cMmm,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0a\u00a0while since\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0able\u00a0to\u00a0drink\u00a0good\u00a0Whiskey.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0nodded\u00a0and\u00a0took\u00a0another\u00a0long\u00a0sip of\u00a0my\u00a0glass\u00a0before\u00a0pouring\u00a0more\u00a0into\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
Taylor\u00a0raised\u00a0his\u00a0brows.<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0Bonus<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0should\u00a0slow\u00a0down\u00a0on\u00a0that\u00a0before\u00a0you\u00a0make\u00a0some\u00a0bad\u00a0choices,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0muttered,\u00a0though\u00a0he\u00a0made\u00a0no\u00a0attempt\u00a0to\u00a0stop\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0think,\u00a0considering the\u00a0event\u00a0of\u00a0today,\u00a0I\u00a0deserve\u00a0a\u00a0drink.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0told\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cHowever,\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0still\u00a0a\u00a0Lycan\u00a0and\u00a0still\u00a0the\u00a0Alpha.\u00a0You\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0clear\u2013headed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWouldn\u2019t\u00a0be\u00a0clear\u2013headed\u00a0sober,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0admitted.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d\u00a0Taylor\u00a0agreed,\u00a0sighing.\u00a0\u201cWhat\u00a0are\u00a0you\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0know,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0admitted.\u00a0\u201cFor\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0time\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0life,\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0fucking know.\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0have\u00a0any\u00a0answers,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0at\u00a0a\u00a0complete<\/p>\n
loss.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
We\u00a0fell\u00a0into\u00a0a\u00a0comfortable\u00a0silence\u00a0as\u00a0we\u00a0pondered\u00a0what\u00a0had\u00a0happened;\u00a0Rachel\u00a0was\u00a0alive,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0here\u2026\u00a0wanting\u00a0to\u00a0make<\/p>\n
things\u00a0work\u00a0between\u00a0us.\u00a0But\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sure\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0emotionally\u00a0there.\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0do\u00a0relationships\u00a0anymore,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sure\u00a0if\u00a0she<\/p>\n
was\u00a0the\u00a0one\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0break\u00a0that\u00a0rule with.<\/p>\n
Then,\u00a0Taylor\u2019s\u00a0next\u00a0question\u00a0brought\u00a0me\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0haze.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0about\u00a0Judy?\u201d\u00a02<\/p>\n
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 512 +15\u00a0Bonus Without\u00a0another\u00a0word\u00a0to\u00a0her,\u00a0I\u00a0sent\u00a0a\u00a0mindlink\u00a0to\u00a0Beta\u00a0Taylor,\u00a0having\u00a0him\u00a0meet\u00a0us\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0parlor.\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0he\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0far,\u00a0and\u00a0knowing\u00a0Taylor,\u00a0he\u00a0and\u00a0Derek\u00a0were\u00a0most\u00a0likely\u00a0to\u00a0listen\u00a0to\u00a0this\u00a0conversation\u00a0nearby.\u00a0They\u00a0were\u00a0both\u00a0around\u00a0during\u00a0the\u00a0Rachel\u00a0thing,\u00a0and\u00a0they\u00a0knew\u00a0how\u00a0devastated\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0after\u00a0she\u00a0\u201cdied.\u201d Sure\u00a0enough,\u00a0Taylor\u00a0entered\u00a0the\u00a0parlor\u00a0within\u00a0seconds\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0mindlinking\u00a0him. \u201cYou\u00a0called?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0asked,\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0act\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0listening;\u00a0it\u00a0made\u00a0me\u00a0roll\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0before\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0think. \u201cI\u00a0need\u00a0a\u00a0guest\u00a0room\u00a0set\u00a0up\u00a0for\u00a0Rachel,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0murmured,\u00a0meeting\u00a0his\u00a0eyes.\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0see\u00a0the\u00a0questions\u00a0lingering\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0gaze,\u00a0and\u00a0they were\u00a0questions\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0be\u00a0bothered\u00a0to\u00a0answer\u00a0right\u00a0now.\u00a0\u201cShe\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0staying\u00a0here\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0while.\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21580","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21580"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21580\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}