he\u00a0silence\u00a0stretched\u00a0on\u00a0for\u00a0what\u00a0felt\u00a0like\u00a0hours,\u00a0though\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0it\u00a0had\u00a0only\u00a0been\u00a0seconds.\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0tell\u00a0from\u00a0their\u00a0shocked\u00a0expressions\u00a0what\u00a0they\u00a0could\u00a0be\u00a0thinking,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0thinking.\u00a0I\u00a0glared\u00a0at\u00a0Gavin,\u00a0furious\u00a0that\u00a0he\u00a0would\u00a0just\u00a0blurt\u00a0it\u00a0out\u00a0like\u00a0that.\u00a0We\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0gotten\u00a0our\u00a0drinks\u00a0yet.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0thought\u00a0maybe\u00a0we\u2019d\u00a0warm\u00a0up\u00a0into\u00a0it,\u00a0small\u00a0talk\u00a0first.\u00a0But\u00a0nope\u2026\u00a0le\u00a0decided\u00a0to\u00a0just\u00a0blurt\u00a0it\u00a0out\u00a0like\u00a0it\u00a0meant\u00a0nothing\u2026\u00a0just\u00a0meaningless\u00a0words.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0seem\u00a0to\u00a0think\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0anything\u00a0wrong\u00a0with\u00a0it\u00a0because\u00a0he\u00a0frowned\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0before\u00a0looking back\u00a0at\u00a0Irene\u00a0and\u00a0Matt,\u00a0who\u00a0were\u00a0still\u00a0gawking\u00a0at\u00a0us\u00a0like\u00a0we\u00a0just\u00a0grew\u00a0a\u00a0new\u00a0head\u00a0each.<\/p>\n
\u201cJudy\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0are\u00a0expecting\u00a0a\u00a0baby,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said\u00a0again,\u00a0glancing\u00a0between\u00a0the\u00a0two\u00a0of\u00a0them.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0are\u00a0counting\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0two\u00a0of\u00a0you\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0grown\u00a0about\u00a0this\u00a0and\u00a0help\u00a0out\u00a0as\u00a0much\u00a0as\u00a0you\u00a0can.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWait,\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0serious?\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0asked,\u00a0her brows\u00a0raised\u00a0so\u00a0high\u00a0that\u00a0they\u00a0practically\u00a0disappeared\u00a0into\u00a0her\u00a0hairline.\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0having\u00a0a\u00a0baby?\u00a0Like\u00a0an\u00a0actual\u00a0baby?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0a\u00a0big\u00a0brother?\u201d\u00a0Matthew\u00a0asked,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0wide\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0in\u00a0disbelief.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0having\u00a0a\u00a0baby\u2026\u00a0together?\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0asked,\u00a0glancing\u00a0between\u00a0the\u00a0two\u00a0of\u00a0us.<\/p>\n
These\u00a0were\u00a0too\u00a0wildly\u00a0different\u00a0responses,\u00a0neither\u00a0of\u00a0them\u00a0looked\u00a0pleased\u2026\u00a0and\u00a0yet,\u00a0they\u00a0also\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0look\u00a0displeased\u00a0either.\u00a0Just\u00a0confused,\u00a0maybe.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s\u00a0right,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said\u00a0without\u00a0a\u00a0second\u00a0thought.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0know\u00a0this\u00a0feels\u00a0sudden\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow\u00a0many\u00a0months?\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0asked,\u00a0stopping\u00a0his\u00a0words.<\/p>\n
\u201c3,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0replied.\u00a0\u201cNext\u00a0month,\u00a0she\u2019ll\u00a0have\u00a0the\u00a0typical\u00a0signs\u00a0of\u00a0pregnancy,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0be\u00a0able\u00a0to\u00a0shift.\u00a0She\u2019ll\u00a0need extra\u00a0care\u00a0and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0need\u00a0extra\u00a0care\u00a0or protection,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said\u00a0sharply,\u00a0still\u00a0glaring\u00a0at\u00a0him\u00a0and\u00a0his\u00a0audacity.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0am\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a0capable\u00a0of\u00a0caring\u00a0and\u00a0protecting\u00a0myself,\u00a0even\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0can\u2019t shift.\u00a0Might\u00a0I\u00a0remind\u00a0you?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0folded\u00a0my\u00a0arms\u00a0across\u00a0my\u00a0chest,\u00a0peeking\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0him\u00a0through\u00a0my\u00a0lashes.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0me,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0narrowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0my\u00a0duty\u00a0to\u00a0protect\u00a0the\u00a0mother\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0child,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said,\u00a0just\u00a0as\u00a0defiantly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0forgetting\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0am\u00a0capable\u00a0of?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0him,\u00a0raising\u00a0my\u00a0own\u00a0brows.\u00a0I\u00a0dared\u00a0him\u00a0to\u00a0challenge\u00a0me;\u00a0I\u00a0mean,\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0Lycan,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0could\u00a0definitely\u00a0beat\u00a0me\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0fight,\u00a0but\u00a0he\u00a0knew\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0damn\u00a0good\u00a0fighter.<\/p>\n
Before\u00a0he\u00a0could\u00a0open\u00a0his\u00a0mouth\u00a0to\u00a0reply,\u00a0Irene\u00a0interrupted\u00a0us.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo,\u00a0are\u00a0you\u00a0two\u00a0together\u00a0or\u00a0what?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked,\u00a0staring\u00a0between\u00a0the\u00a0two\u00a0of\u00a0us.\u00a0\u201cLike\u00a0romantically?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0replied.\u00a0\u201cWhich\u00a0is\u00a0another\u00a0reason\u00a0we\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0talk\u00a0to\u00a0you\u00a0about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Irene\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0grew\u00a0wide\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0Matt.\u00a0He\u00a0grinned\u00a0and\u00a0mouthed,\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0told\u00a0you\u00a0so.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0ask\u00a0our\u00a0permission\u00a0to\u00a0date?\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0asked,\u00a0glancing\u00a0back\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0father.<\/p>\n
Just\u00a0then,\u00a0the\u00a0waiter\u00a0returned\u00a0without\u00a0drinks.\u00a0He\u00a0placed\u00a0our\u00a0glasses\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0us,\u00a0and\u00a0without\u00a0hesitation,\u00a0Irene\u00a0took\u00a0a\u00a0generous\u00a0sip\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0martini.\u00a0My\u00a0stomach\u00a0was\u00a0in\u00a0knots,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0wished\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0have\u00a0a little\u00a0liquid\u00a0courage.<\/p>\n
\u201cMay\u00a0I\u00a0get\u00a0you\u00a0some\u00a0food\u00a0as\u00a0well?\u201d\u00a0Carton\u00a0asked,\u00a0glancing\u00a0at\u00a0Gavin.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0have\u00a0the\u00a0ribeye\u00a0with\u00a0mashed\u00a0potatoes\u00a0and\u00a0roasted\u00a0veggies,\u00a0no\u00a0butter\u00a0on\u00a0those\u00a0veggies,\u00a0and\u00a0some\u00a0extra\u00a0pepper.\u201d<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0678<\/p>\n
\u201cRight\u00a0away,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said,\u00a0writing that\u00a0down.\u00a0He glanced\u00a0at\u00a0Irene.\u00a0\u201cAnd\u00a0for\u00a0you,\u00a0madarn?\u201d<\/p>\n
A\u00a0cobb\u00a0salad\u00a0with\u00a0no\u00a0dressing,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0ordered,\u00a0handing\u00a0him\u00a0her\u00a0menu.<\/p>\n
\u2018Yes,\u00a0ma\u2019am,\u201d\u00a0Carlton\u00a0said before\u00a0looking\u00a0at\u00a0Matt.<\/p>\n
\u201cA\u00a0cheeseburger,\u00a0cooked\u00a0rare,\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0side\u00a0of\u00a0fries\u00a0extra\u00a0crispy\u00a0and\u00a0extra\u00a0salty,\u201d\u00a0Matt\u00a0said\u00a0confidently.<\/p>\n
Carton\u00a0nodded\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0too\u00a0wrote\u00a0that\u00a0down,\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0he\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
I\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0really\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0chance\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0menu,\u00a0but\u00a0while\u00a0they\u00a0all\u00a0ordered,\u00a0I\u00a0quickly\u00a0glanced\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0pages.\u00a0They\u00a0had\u00a0so\u00a0many\u00a0options,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0head\u00a0and\u00a0stomach\u00a0were\u00a0a\u00a0mess.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0have\u00a0the\u00a0fish\u00a0tacos,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0him.\u00a0\u201cWith\u00a0a\u00a0side\u00a0salad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSplendid\u00a0choice,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0replied,\u00a0writing\u00a0that\u00a0down\u00a0and\u00a0taking\u00a0our\u00a0menu.\u00a0\u201cIs\u00a0there\u00a0anything\u00a0else\u00a0I\u00a0can\u00a0get\u00a0for\u00a0you?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0Gavin\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0asked\u00a0that\u00a0last\u00a0part.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan\u00a0you\u00a0put\u00a0in\u00a0an\u00a0order\u00a0of\u00a0fried\u00a0clam\u00a0bellies?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0asked.\u00a0\u201cAs\u00a0a\u00a0starter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf\u00a0course,\u201d\u00a0Carlton\u00a0replied.<\/p>\n
With\u00a0that,\u00a0he\u00a0sauntered\u00a0away\u00a0to\u00a0fetch\u00a0our\u00a0orders,\u00a0although\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sure\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0eat\u00a0right\u00a0now.<\/p>\n
After\u00a0Carton\u00a0left,\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0silence\u00a0stretching\u00a0between\u00a0us,\u00a0practically\u00a0consuming\u00a0me\u00a0until\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0breathe.\u00a0I\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0breath\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0hand\u00a0resting\u00a0casually\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0leg,\u00a0giving\u00a0it\u00a0a\u00a0gentle\u00a0and\u00a0reassuring\u00a0squeeze.\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0myself relaxing,\u00a0or\u00a0he\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0look\u00a0worried,\u00a0which\u00a0reassured\u00a0me\u00a0even\u00a0more.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0exactly\u00a0asking\u00a0permission,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said,\u00a0turning\u00a0to\u00a0face\u00a0Irene.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0wanted\u00a0you\u00a0to know\u00a0the\u00a0facts\u00a0before\u00a0you\u00a0heard\u00a0it\u00a0elsewhere.\u00a0We\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0announcing\u00a0it\u00a0at the\u00a0party\u00a0tonight,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0you\u00a0to\u00a0find\u00a0out\u00a0that\u00a0way.\u00a0You\u00a0are\u00a0both\u00a0very\u00a0important\u00a0to\u00a0me\u2026\u00a0the\u00a0most\u00a0important\u00a0people\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0life\u2026\u00a0but\u00a0now\u00a0Judy\u00a0is\u00a0also\u00a0a\u00a0part\u00a0of\u00a0that\u00a0importance,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0hope\u00a0you\u00a0will\u00a0still\u00a0treat\u00a0her\u00a0with\u00a0respect.\u00a0You\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0think\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0as\u00a0your\u00a0mother,\u00a0but\u00a0she\u00a0will\u00a0soon\u00a0be\u00a0the\u00a0Luna\u00a0of\u00a0this\u00a0pack\u00a0and\u00a0ruling\u00a0by\u00a0my\u00a0side.\u201d<\/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 678 he\u00a0silence\u00a0stretched\u00a0on\u00a0for\u00a0what\u00a0felt\u00a0like\u00a0hours,\u00a0though\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0it\u00a0had\u00a0only\u00a0been\u00a0seconds.\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0tell\u00a0from\u00a0their\u00a0shocked\u00a0expressions\u00a0what\u00a0they\u00a0could\u00a0be\u00a0thinking,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0thinking.\u00a0I\u00a0glared\u00a0at\u00a0Gavin,\u00a0furious\u00a0that\u00a0he\u00a0would\u00a0just\u00a0blurt\u00a0it\u00a0out\u00a0like\u00a0that.\u00a0We\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0gotten\u00a0our\u00a0drinks\u00a0yet. I\u00a0thought\u00a0maybe\u00a0we\u2019d\u00a0warm\u00a0up\u00a0into\u00a0it,\u00a0small\u00a0talk\u00a0first.\u00a0But\u00a0nope\u2026\u00a0le\u00a0decided\u00a0to\u00a0just\u00a0blurt\u00a0it\u00a0out\u00a0like\u00a0it\u00a0meant\u00a0nothing\u2026\u00a0just\u00a0meaningless\u00a0words. He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0seem\u00a0to\u00a0think\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0anything\u00a0wrong\u00a0with\u00a0it\u00a0because\u00a0he\u00a0frowned\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0before\u00a0looking back\u00a0at\u00a0Irene\u00a0and\u00a0Matt,\u00a0who\u00a0were\u00a0still\u00a0gawking\u00a0at\u00a0us\u00a0like\u00a0we\u00a0just\u00a0grew\u00a0a\u00a0new\u00a0head\u00a0each. \u201cJudy\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0are\u00a0expecting\u00a0a\u00a0baby,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said\u00a0again,\u00a0glancing\u00a0between\u00a0the\u00a0two\u00a0of\u00a0them.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0are\u00a0counting\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0two\u00a0of\u00a0you\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0grown\u00a0about\u00a0this\u00a0and\u00a0help\u00a0out\u00a0as\u00a0much\u00a0as\u00a0you\u00a0can.\u201d \u201cWait,\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0serious?\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0asked,\u00a0her […]<\/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-21747","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\/21747","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=21747"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21747\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}