Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV<\/p>\n
My\u00a0mouth\u00a0nearly\u00a0tell\u00a0open\u00a0at\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0remark.<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLila?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked,\u00a0my\u00a0brows\u00a0furrowed.\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0understanding\u00a0what\u00a0was\u00a0happening,\u00a0but\u00a0all I\u00a0knew\u00a0was\u00a0that\u00a0Rebecca\u00a0was\u00a0standing\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0us,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0looked\u2026\u00a0different.<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0typical\u00a0brown\u00a0hair\u00a0was\u00a0no\u00a0longer\u00a0brown\u00a0but\u00a0blonde\u00a0with\u00a0pink\u00a0reaks\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0ends,\u00a0entwining\u00a0with\u00a0curls\u00a0that\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0there\u00a0before.\u00a0Her\u00a0features\u00a0were\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0same;\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0brown\u00a0eyes\u00a0with\u00a0long\u00a0lashes\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0high\u00a0cheekbones\u00a0and\u00a0rosy\u00a0lips,\u00a0only\u00a0her\u00a0makeup\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0different.\u00a0Actually\u2026\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0makeup\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0different\u00a0in\u00a0general.\u00a0Before,\u00a0she\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0weat\u00a0any\u00a0makeup,\u00a0but\u00a0now,\u00a0it\u00a0seemed\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0whole\u00a0face\u00a0full\u00a0of\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
Like\u00a0me,\u00a0she\u00a0wore\u00a0a\u00a0dress\u00a0that\u00a0hugged\u00a0her\u00a0figure\u00a0and\u00a0really\u00a0brough\u00a0out\u00a0the\u00a0size\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0breasts,\u00a0only\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0like\u00a0she\u00a0wore\u00a0it\u00a0better.\u00a0She\u00a0had\u00a0her\u00a0hands\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0hips\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0me;\u00a0the\u00a0gaze\u00a0turning\u00a0into\u00a0daggers\u00a0that\u00a0pierced\u00a0my\u00a0very\u00a0soul.\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0suddenly\u00a0very\u00a0uncomfortable\u00a0being\u00a0near\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
This\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0woman\u00a0who\u00a0made\u00a0me\u00a0believe\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0sleeping\u00a0with\u00a0Gavin,\u00a0having\u00a0his\u00a0baby,\u00a0and\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0married\u00a0to\u00a0him.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0all\u00a0a\u00a0plan\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0rid\u00a0of\u00a0me\u2026\u00a0Gavin\u00a0caught\u00a0on\u00a0pretty\u00a0quickly\u00a0and\u00a0spent\u00a0way\u00a0too\u00a0much\u00a0time\u00a0tricking\u00a0her\u00a0into\u00a0believing\u00a0he was\u00a0trustworthy\u00a0while\u00a0gathering\u00a0information.\u00a0During\u00a0that\u00a0time,\u00a0I\u00a0thought\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0together,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0ran\u00a0off\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0Redcliff\u00a0Pack.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0know\u00a0it\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0time,\u00a0but\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0all\u00a0Levi\u2019s\u00a0plan\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0rid\u00a0of\u00a0me\u2026\u00a0for\u00a0what?\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sure.\u00a0Maybe\u00a0a\u00a0distraction?\u00a0Maybe\u00a0to\u00a0hurt\u00a0Gavin?\u00a0Maybe\u00a0both?\u00a0The\u00a0thought\u00a0sent\u00a0a\u00a0chill\u00a0down\u00a0my\u00a0spine.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0thought\u00a0Gavin\u00a0had\u00a0her\u00a0on\u00a0lockdown;\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0supposed\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0holding\u00a0cell so\u00a0they\u00a0could\u00a0decide\u00a0on\u00a0a\u00a0proper\u00a0punishment\u00a0for\u00a0her.\u00a0Had\u00a0they\u00a0let\u00a0her\u00a0go\u00a0free?\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0ask\u00a0Gavin,\u00a0but\u00a0my\u00a0mouth\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0work,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0entire\u00a0body\u00a0felt\u00a0rooted\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0pretend\u00a0you\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0happy\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0me,\u00a0Gavin,\u201d\u00a0Lila\u00a0said\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0batted\u00a0her\u00a0eyelashes\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0him.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0know\u00a0we\u00a0had\u00a0some\u00a0tough\u00a0times,\u00a0but\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0end\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0day,\u00a0it\u2019ll\u00a0always\u00a0be\u00a0me\u00a0you\u00a0want,\u00a0and\u00a0you can\u2019t\u00a0deny\u00a0that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0actually\u00a0know\u00a0anything\u00a0real\u00a0about\u00a0you\u2026\u00a0So\u00a0how\u00a0could\u00a0you\u00a0say\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0want\u00a0you?\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said\u00a0flatly.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0didn\u2019t even\u00a0know\u00a0your\u00a0real\u00a0name\u00a0until recently.\u00a0You\u00a0led\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0believe\u00a0that\u00a0your\u00a0name\u00a0was\u00a0Rebecca\u00a0this\u00a0entire\u00a0time.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0swatted\u00a0away\u00a0his\u00a0concern.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly\u00a0because\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sure\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0trust\u00a0you,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0lifting\u00a0her\u00a0shoulders.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0not\u00a0everything\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0lie\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0reached\u00a0out\u00a0to\u00a0touch\u00a0his\u00a0arm,\u00a0and\u00a0without\u00a0warning,\u00a0I\u00a0grabbed\u00a0Her\u00a0wrist,\u00a0a\u00a0snarl\u00a0leaving\u00a0my\u00a0lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0touch\u00a0my\u00a0mate,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0hissed,\u00a0my\u00a0voice\u00a0coming\u00a0out\u00a0primal.<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0eyes\u00a0widened\u00a0slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cMate?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked,\u00a0at\u00a0first\u00a0shocked,\u00a0but\u00a0then\u00a0an\u00a0amused\u00a0glint\u00a0appeared\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0eyes.\u00a0\u201cWell, that\u00a0explains\u00a0why\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0bothering\u00a0with\u00a0someone\u00a0like\u00a0you.\u00a0You\u2019re\u00a0not\u00a0his\u00a0usual\u00a0type.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJudy\u00a0is\u00a0more\u00a0my\u00a0type\u00a0than you\u00a0will\u00a0ever\u00a0be,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said,\u00a0before\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0say\u00a0anything\u00a0in\u00a0response.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0put\u00a0his\u00a0hand\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0hip\u00a0again\u00a0and\u00a0pulled\u00a0myself\u00a0away\u00a0from\u00a0her\u00a0slightly.\u00a0I\u00a0released\u00a0my\u00a0hold\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0wrist,\u00a0though\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0break\u00a0her\u00a0hand\u00a0for\u00a0even\u00a0daring\u00a0to\u00a0touch\u00a0what\u00a0was\u00a0mine.\u00a0I\u00a0never\u00a0felt\u00a0this\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0protect\u00a0someone\u00a0before,\u00a0not\u00a0even\u00a0Ethan.\u00a0I\u00a0never\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0break\u00a0Irene\u2019s\u00a0hand\u00a0like\u00a0this\u00a0when\u00a0Ethan\u00a0left\u00a0me\u00a0for\u00a0her\u00a0but\u00a0when\u00a0it\u00a0came\u00a0to\u00a0Gavin,\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0destroy\u00a0anyone\u00a0with\u00a0ill\u00a0intentions\u00a0if\u00a0it\u00a0meant\u00a0protecting\u00a0him.\u00a01<\/p>\n
I\u00a0felt\u00a0his\u00a0sense\u00a0of\u00a0pride\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0stood\u00a0my\u00a0ground;\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0proud\u00a0of\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0liked\u00a0my\u00a0reaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u00a0you\u00a0are,\u201d\u00a0another\u00a0familiar\u00a0voice\u00a0said,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0Alpha\u00a0Levi\u00a0approaching.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0see\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0already\u00a0making\u00a0tr\u00a0for\u00a0yourself.\u201d\u00a02<\/p>\n
Levi\u00a0stood\u00a0beside\u00a0Lila,\u00a0his\u00a0hand\u00a0finding\u00a0her\u00a0hip,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0miss\u00a0the\u00a0fact\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0leaned\u00a0into\u00a0him\u00a0slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid\u00a0you\u00a0expect\u00a0anything\u00a0less\u00a0from\u00a0me?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked,\u00a0a\u00a0teasing\u00a0hint\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0tone.<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0709<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS\u00a0<\/p>\n
He\u00a0smiled\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u00a0I\u00a0did\u00a0not,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0told\u00a0her\u00a0before\u00a0focusing\u00a0his\u00a0attention\u00a0on\u00a0Gavin\u00a0and\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0see\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0joining\u00a0us\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0auction\u00a0this\u00a0evening\u00a0It\u00a0should\u00a0be\u00a0an\u00a0interesting\u00a0event.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u00a0it\u00a0should\u00a0be,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0replied\u00a0simply.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0surprised\u00a0that\u00a0you\u00a0came\u00a0all\u00a0this\u00a0way\u00a0for\u00a0just\u00a0an\u00a0auction.\u00a0Surely\u00a0you\u00a0have\u00a0them\u00a0closer\u00a0to\u00a0your\u00a0own\u00a0territory\u00a0as\u00a0well,\u00a0no?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0do,\u00a0yes,\u201d\u00a0Levi\u00a0replied.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0this\u00a0one\u00a0lias\u00a0a\u00a0particular\u00a0item\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0had\u00a0my\u00a0eye\u00a0on\u00a0for\u00a0some\u00a0time,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0pass\u00a0up\u00a0the\u00a0opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gavin\u2019s\u00a0jaw\u00a0clenched.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0guess\u00a0I\u00a0should\u00a0wish\u00a0you\u00a0luck\u00a0then,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0never\u00a0leaving\u00a0Levi\u2019s.\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sure\u00a0what\u00a0was\u00a0happening\u00a0or\u00a0what\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0plan\u00a0was,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0strange\u00a0feeling;\u00a0a\u00a0knot\u00a0formed\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0pit\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0stomach.<\/p>\n
Without\u00a0warning,\u00a0Gavin\u00a0was\u00a0guiding\u00a0me\u00a0away.\u00a0We\u00a0sat\u00a0in\u00a0our\u00a0seats,\u00a0his\u00a0hand\u00a0clasped\u00a0in\u00a0mine,\u00a0and\u00a0at\u00a0that\u00a0moment,\u00a0I\u00a0realized\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0trembling.\u00a0Whether\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0from\u00a0rage\u00a0after\u00a0our\u00a0encounter\u00a0with\u00a0Lila,\u00a0or\u00a0nerves.\u00a0Either\u00a0or\u2026\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0seem\u00a0to\u00a0stop\u00a0shaking.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/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 709 Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV My\u00a0mouth\u00a0nearly\u00a0tell\u00a0open\u00a0at\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0remark. +25\u00a0BONUS\u00a0 \u201cLila?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked,\u00a0my\u00a0brows\u00a0furrowed.\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0understanding\u00a0what\u00a0was\u00a0happening,\u00a0but\u00a0all I\u00a0knew\u00a0was\u00a0that\u00a0Rebecca\u00a0was\u00a0standing\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0us,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0looked\u2026\u00a0different. Her\u00a0typical\u00a0brown\u00a0hair\u00a0was\u00a0no\u00a0longer\u00a0brown\u00a0but\u00a0blonde\u00a0with\u00a0pink\u00a0reaks\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0ends,\u00a0entwining\u00a0with\u00a0curls\u00a0that\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0there\u00a0before.\u00a0Her\u00a0features\u00a0were\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0same;\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0brown\u00a0eyes\u00a0with\u00a0long\u00a0lashes\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0high\u00a0cheekbones\u00a0and\u00a0rosy\u00a0lips,\u00a0only\u00a0her\u00a0makeup\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0different.\u00a0Actually\u2026\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0makeup\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0different\u00a0in\u00a0general.\u00a0Before,\u00a0she\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0weat\u00a0any\u00a0makeup,\u00a0but\u00a0now,\u00a0it\u00a0seemed\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0whole\u00a0face\u00a0full\u00a0of\u00a0it. […]<\/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-21778","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\/21778","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=21778"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21778\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}