1\u00a0fell\u00a0sick\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0stomach\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0point\u00a0where\u00a0I\u00a0thought\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0going\u00a0throw\u00a0up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy\u00a0would\u00a0someone\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0drug\u00a0me?\u201d\u00a0My\u00a0voice\u00a0was\u00a0coming\u00a0ou\u00a0hoarse\u00a0and\u00a0unfamiliar.<\/p>\n
\u201cTaylor\u00a0told\u00a0me\u00a0that\u00a0they\u00a0think\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0because\u00a0of\u00a0Daisy\u00a0Baldwin\u2026\u00a0she\u00a0explained,\u00a0folding\u00a0her\u00a0arms\u00a0across\u00a0her\u00a0chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0does\u00a0Daisy\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0with\u00a0any\u00a0of\u00a0this?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0one\u00a0who\u00a0stole\u00a0the\u00a0Moon\u00a0Gem\u00a0and\u00a0sent\u00a0it\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0auction.\u00a0She\u00a0got\u00a0paid\u00a0by\u00a0Alpha\u00a0Levi,\u00a0but\u00a0they\u00a0think\u00a0they\u00a0bribed\u00a0her\u00a0in\u00a0other\u00a0ways\u00a0as\u00a0well\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0put\u00a0my\u00a0hand\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0belly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0condition\u2026\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0whispered.\u00a0It\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0a\u00a0question\u00a0because\u00a0I\u00a0already\u00a0knew what\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0saying\u00a0was\u00a0factual.\u00a0\u201cShe\u00a0wanted\u00a0both\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0baby\u00a0gone\u2026\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0her\u00a0condition\u00a0for\u00a0Levi.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0why\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0here\u2026\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0all\u00a0their\u00a0fault.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0so\u00a0sorry,\u201d\u00a0Eliza\u00a0said\u00a0softly,\u00a0lowering\u00a0her\u00a0gaze.\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0I\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0come\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0did\u2026\u201d\u00a0Her\u00a0voice\u00a0trailed\u00a0off,\u00a0unable\u00a0to\u00a0finish\u00a0that<\/p>\n
sentence.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0sayed\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0baby,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0looking\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0her,\u00a0tears\u00a0glistening\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0eyes.\u00a0\u201cThank\u00a0you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0wrapped\u00a0her\u00a0arms\u00a0around\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0hugged\u00a0me\u00a0tightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody\u00a0is\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0hurt\u00a0you\u00a0again.\u00a0Levi\u00a0was\u00a0sloppy,\u00a0and\u00a0so\u00a0were\u00a0the\u00a0rogues\u00a0he\u00a0used\u2026\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0not\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0hurt\u00a0you\u00a0again.\u00a0He\u2019s\u00a0running\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0options\u00a0at\u00a0this\u00a0point\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0nodded,\u00a0hating\u00a0that\u00a0tears\u00a0were\u00a0burning\u00a0in my\u00a0eyes.\u00a0I\u00a0suddenly\u00a0felt\u00a0so\u00a0tired\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0lay\u00a0back\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0bed,\u00a0exhausted\u00a0from\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0information\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0received.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0gave\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0soft\u00a0smile\u00a0and\u00a0adjusted\u00a0my\u00a0pillows\u00a0and\u00a0blanket.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet\u00a0some more\u00a0rest,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0told\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0still\u00a0working\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0drugs\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0your\u00a0system,\u00a0so\u00a0I\u00a0know\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0tired.\u00a0When\u00a0you\u00a0wake,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0feel\u00a0stronger,\u00a0and\u00a0your\u00a0mate\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0by\u00a0your\u00a0side.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay\u2026\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0her\u00a0softly.<\/p>\n
Soon,\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0leaving\u00a0the\u00a0room.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0hated\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0feel\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0emotions\u00a0through\u00a0our\u00a0bond;\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0still\u00a0blocking\u00a0them\u00a0from\u00a0me,\u00a0probably\u00a0because\u00a0he\u00a0knew\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0recovering,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0wondered\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0could\u00a0feel\u00a0my\u00a0emotions.\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0reach\u00a0out\u00a0to\u00a0him\u00a0and\u00a0tell\u00a0him\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0loved\u00a0him.\u00a0I\u00a0wanted<\/p>\n
him\u00a0to\u00a0hold\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0tell\u00a0me\u00a0that\u00a0everything\u00a0was\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0okay.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0needed\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0near\u00a0my\u00a0mate.\u00a0But\u00a0sleep\u00a0overcame\u00a0me,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0suddenly\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0keep\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0open\u00a0any\u00a0longer.<\/p>\n
When\u00a0I\u00a0slept,\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0dreamless,\u00a0though\u00a0thoughts\u00a0of\u00a0Gavin\u00a0covered\u00a0in\u00a0blood\u00a0remained\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0mind.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sure\u00a0how\u00a0long\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0sleeping\u00a0for.\u00a0I\u00a0barely\u00a0registered\u00a0the\u00a0sound\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0door\u00a0opening\u00a0and\u00a0shutting;\u00a0the\u00a0soft\u00a0click\u00a0jolting\u00a0me\u00a0slightly,\u00a0but\u00a0not\u00a0enough\u00a0to\u00a0wake\u00a0me\u00a0entirely.\u00a0I\u00a0thought\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0that\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0Eliza.\u00a0She\u00a0mentioned\u00a0locking\u00a0the\u00a0door\u00a0earlier\u00a0and\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0only\u00a0had\u00a0access\u00a0to\u00a0open\u00a0it\u00a0unless\u00a0she\u00a0gave\u00a0it\u00a0to\u00a0someone\u00a0she\u00a0trusted.\u00a0But\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0remember\u00a0her\u00a0locking<\/p>\n
the\u00a0door\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0left\u00a0the\u00a0last\u00a0time.<\/p>\n
My\u00a0wolf\u00a0stirred\u00a0uncomfortably,\u00a0which\u00a0made\u00a0me\u00a0uncomfortable\u00a0as\u00a0well.\u00a0A\u00a0pit\u00a0of\u00a0anxiety\u00a0formed\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0chest\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0opened\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0slightly\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0who\u00a0my\u00a0visitor\u00a0was.<\/p>\n
My\u00a0heart\u00a0stopped\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0chest\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0saw the\u00a0person\u00a0standing\u00a0over\u00a0me.\u00a0I\u00a0had to\u00a0be\u00a0seeing\u00a0things;\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0no\u00a0way\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0here\u2026\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0supposed\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0banished\u00a0and\u00a0gone\u00a0for\u00a0good.\u00a0But\u00a0instead,\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0standing\u00a0over\u00a0my\u00a0hospital\u00a0bed,\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0darkened\u00a0look\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0crazed\u00a0expression\u00a0marring\u00a0his\u00a0features.<\/p>\n
\u201cEthan?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked,\u00a0my\u00a0voice\u00a0coming\u00a0out\u00a0barely\u00a0above\u00a0a\u00a0whisper.\u00a0\u201cW\u2026\u00a0What\u00a0are\u00a0you\u00a0doing\u00a0here?\u201d\u00a0There\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0slight\u00a0tremble\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0words\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0stared\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0my\u00a0ex\u2013mate.<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
Chopter\u00a0702<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0came\u00a0back\u00a0for\u00a0you\u2026\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0said,\u00a0his\u00a0tone\u00a0dripping\u00a0with\u00a0malice.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0came\u00a0back\u00a0for\u00a0what\u00a0is\u00a0mine,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0not\u00a0leaving\u00a0unless\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0with\u00a0me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0are\u00a0you\u00a0talking\u00a0about?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0him,\u00a0shaking\u00a0my\u00a0head.\u00a0\u201cI\u2018\u00a0not\u00a0yours\u00a0anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0grinned,\u00a0but\u00a0it\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0meet\u00a0his\u00a0eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s\u00a0where\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0wrong,\u00a0Judy.\u00a0You\u00a0will\u00a0always\u00a0be\u00a0mine,\u00a0and\u00a0n\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0show\u00a0you\u00a0just\u00a0how\u00a0much\u00a0I\u00a0own\u00a0you.\u00a0But\u00a0first\u2026\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0reached\u00a0into\u00a0his\u00a0back\u00a0pocket\u00a0and\u00a0took\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0knife,\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0silver\u00a0blade\u00a0that\u00a0sparkled\u00a0under\u00a0the\u00a0lighting\u00a0and\u00a0made\u00a0my\u00a0body\u00a0shudder.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0correct\u00a0a\u00a0wrong\u2026\u00a0that\u00a0baby\u00a0shouldn\u2019t\u00a0have\u00a0ever\u00a0existed\u2026\u00a0it\u00a0should\u00a0be\u00a0mine.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0worry,\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0get\u00a0you\u00a0pregnant\u00a0as\u00a0soon\u00a0as\u00a0this\u00a0one\u00a0is\u00a0gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
With\u00a0that,\u00a0he\u00a0lunged\u00a0at\u00a0me,\u00a0the\u00a0blade\u00a0aimed\u00a0directly\u00a0for\u00a0my\u00a0stomach.<\/p>\n
Ruby is a master of holiday romance and slow-burn love stories that warm the heart like a crackling fire. Her novels weave festive magic with lingering glances and tender moments, drawing readers into cozy worlds where love unfolds one snowflake at a time. Off the page, she\u2019s baking cookies and dreaming under twinkling lights.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 702 1\u00a0fell\u00a0sick\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0stomach\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0point\u00a0where\u00a0I\u00a0thought\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0going\u00a0throw\u00a0up. \u201cWhy\u00a0would\u00a0someone\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0drug\u00a0me?\u201d\u00a0My\u00a0voice\u00a0was\u00a0coming\u00a0ou\u00a0hoarse\u00a0and\u00a0unfamiliar. \u201cTaylor\u00a0told\u00a0me\u00a0that\u00a0they\u00a0think\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0because\u00a0of\u00a0Daisy\u00a0Baldwin\u2026\u00a0she\u00a0explained,\u00a0folding\u00a0her\u00a0arms\u00a0across\u00a0her\u00a0chest. \u201cWhat\u00a0does\u00a0Daisy\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0with\u00a0any\u00a0of\u00a0this?\u201d\u00a0 \u201cShe\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0one\u00a0who\u00a0stole\u00a0the\u00a0Moon\u00a0Gem\u00a0and\u00a0sent\u00a0it\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0auction.\u00a0She\u00a0got\u00a0paid\u00a0by\u00a0Alpha\u00a0Levi,\u00a0but\u00a0they\u00a0think\u00a0they\u00a0bribed\u00a0her\u00a0in\u00a0other\u00a0ways\u00a0as\u00a0well\u2026\u201d I\u00a0put\u00a0my\u00a0hand\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0belly. […]<\/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-21771","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\/21771","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=21771"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21771\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}