Chapter\u00a0720\u00a0<\/p>\n
Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV<\/p>\n
\u201cGavin,\u00a0you\u00a0came!\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0nearly\u00a0squealed\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0wrapped\u00a0my\u00a0arms\u00a0around\u00a0him;\u00a08\u00a0days\u00a0without\u00a0my\u00a0mate\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0brutal.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0missed\u00a0him\u00a0so\u00a0much\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0painful.\u00a0Tears\u00a0sprang\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0eyes,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0nothing\u00a0to\u00a0blame\u00a0other\u00a0than\u00a0these\u00a0damn\u00a0pregnancy\u00a0hormones;\u00a0they\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0so\u00a0bad\u00a0today\u2026\u00a0worst\u00a0than\u00a0they\u2019ve\u00a0ever\u00a0been,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0assuming\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0because\u00a0I\u00a0finally\u00a0popped.<\/p>\n
Gavin\u00a0held\u00a0me,\u00a0his\u00a0face\u00a0buried\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0neck,\u00a0sending\u00a0waves\u00a0of\u00a0warmth\u00a0through\u00a0my\u00a0body\u00a0with\u00a0each\u00a0breath\u00a0he\u00a0took.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid\u00a0you\u00a0think\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0miss\u00a0this?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0asked,\u00a0pulling\u00a0back\u00a0slightly\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0thought\u00a0you\u00a0were\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0too\u00a0busy\u00a0to\u00a0return,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0admitted.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0know\u00a0Chester\u00a0wanted\u00a0you\u00a0as\u00a0his\u00a0best\u00a0man,\u00a0but\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0been\u00a0so\u00a0busy\u00a0tending\u00a0to\u00a0Levi\u2019s\u00a0territory,\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0think\u00a0you\u2019d\u00a0come\u00a0back\u00a0this\u00a0soon.\u00a0You\u00a0were\u00a0scheduled\u00a0to\u00a0come\u00a0back\u00a0next\u00a0week.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0pressed\u00a0his\u00a0lips\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0forehead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0surprise\u00a0you,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0admitted.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0would\u00a0never\u00a0miss\u00a0this,\u00a0plus\u00a0no\u00a0man\u00a0is\u00a0allowed\u00a0to\u00a0walk\u00a0with\u00a0my\u00a0mate\u00a0down\u00a0the\u00a0aisle\u00a0other\u00a0than\u00a0me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0blinked\u00a0up at\u00a0him,\u00a0a\u00a0smile\u00a0threatening\u00a0my\u00a0lips,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0tell\u00a0him\u00a0that\u00a0Lukas\u00a0was\u00a0harmless.\u00a0However,\u00a0Lukas\u00a0beat\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0it.\u00a0He\u00a0had\u00a0his\u00a0hands\u00a0held\u00a0up,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0took\u00a0a\u00a0step\u00a0away.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0swear,\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0mean\u00a0anything\u00a0by\u00a0it.\u00a0They\u00a0asked\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0a\u00a0stand\u2013in\u00a0because\u00a0they\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0think\u00a0you\u00a0were\u00a0coming,\u00a0Alpha\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0never\u00a0try\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0with\u00a0your\u00a0mate.\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0death\u00a0wish,\u201d\u00a0Lukas\u00a0explained,\u00a0a\u00a0slight\u00a0tremor\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0voice.<\/p>\n
Despite\u00a0Lukas\u00a0having\u00a0Lycan\u00a0blood\u00a0because\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0uncle,\u00a0Mica,\u00a0he\u00a0still\u00a0cowers\u00a0under\u00a0the\u00a0scrutiny\u00a0of\u00a0Gavin.<\/p>\n
Gavin\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0Lukas,\u00a0a\u00a0frown marring\u00a0his\u00a0lips,\u00a0though\u00a0he\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0look\u00a0threatening,\u00a0and\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0almost\u00a0glinted\u00a0with<\/p>\n
amusement.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo\u00a0find\u00a0your\u00a0seat,\u00a0Lukas.\u00a0We\u00a0will\u00a0talk\u00a0later,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said,\u00a0his<\/p>\n
eyes\u00a0narrowed.<\/p>\n
Lukas\u2018\u00a0face\u00a0paled,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0swallowed,\u00a0his Adam\u2019s\u00a0apple\u00a0moving\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0notion.<\/p>\n
\u201cY\u2026yes,\u00a0Alpha,\u201d\u00a0Lukas\u00a0said;\u00a0he\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0bother\u00a0looking\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0walked\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0seat\u00a0on the\u00a0other\u00a0side\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0wall\u00a0we\u00a0stood\u00a0behind.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0sighed;\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0hoping\u00a0to\u00a0become\u00a0friends\u00a0with\u00a0him\u00a0again\u00a0after\u00a0Gavin\u00a0scared\u00a0him\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0time.<\/p>\n
Looking\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0Gavin,\u00a0I\u00a0folded\u00a0my\u00a0arms\u00a0across<\/p>\n
my\u00a0chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0never\u00a0yelled\u00a0at\u00a0you\u00a0for\u00a0scaring\u00a0him\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0time,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0narrowing\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0at\u00a0him.\u00a0\u201cHow\u00a0could\u00a0you\u00a0do\u00a0that?\u00a0He\u00a0was\u00a0my\u00a0friend\u2026\u00a0nothing\u00a0more.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0like\u00a0other\u00a0men\u00a0sniffing\u00a0around\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0mine,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0told\u00a0me,\u00a0his\u00a0brows\u00a0raised.\u00a0\u201cIs\u00a0that\u00a0a\u00a0problem\u00a0that\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0protective?\u201d<\/p>\n
told\u00a0him\u00a0\u201cEven\u00a0before\u00a0you\u00a0knew\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0your\u00a0mate,\u00a0you\u00a0still\u00a0scared\u00a0him<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0problem\u00a0when\u00a0it\u00a0interferes\u00a0with\u00a0my\u00a0friendships,\u201d\u00a0away\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause\u00a0even\u00a0then,\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0you\u00a0were\u00a0mine,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0told<\/p>\n
My\u00a0cheeks\u00a0flushed\u00a0at\u00a0his\u00a0admittance,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0nibbled\u00a0on<\/p>\n
with\u00a0a\u00a0slight\u00a0shrug.<\/p>\n
lower\u00a0lip<\/p>\n
\u201cCareful\u2026\u00a0keep\u00a0biting\u00a0that\u00a0lip\u00a0and\u00a0we\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0make\u00a0it\u00a0down\u00a0that\u00a0aisle,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0fixed\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0lips\u00a0and\u00a0his\u00a0with\u00a0desire.<\/p>\n
eyes<\/p>\n
dark<\/p>\n
I\u00a0released\u00a0my\u00a0lip\u00a0from\u00a0my\u00a0teeth,\u00a0my\u00a0mouth\u00a0falling\u00a0open.\u00a0I\u00a0slapped\u00a0his\u00a0arm,\u00a0snapping\u00a0him\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0present\u00a0moment.<\/p>\n
\u2018Gavin!\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0scolded,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0help\u00a0the\u00a0laugh\u00a0that\u00a0bubbled\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0shrugged,\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0he\u00a0bent and\u00a0kissed\u00a0me\u00a0lightly on\u00a0the\u00a0lips.<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0720<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0just\u00a0saying,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0murmured\u00a0against\u00a0my\u00a0thouth.<\/p>\n
Tkissed\u00a0him\u00a0softly\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0lips\u00a0before\u00a0I\u00a0pulled\u00a0back.<\/p>\n
\u201cLukas\u00a0helped\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0lot\u00a0in\u00a0college,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0him.\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0it\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0for\u00a0our\u00a0study\u00a0sessions,\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0know\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0have\u00a0been\u00a0able to\u00a0get\u00a0through\u00a0finals\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
His\u00a0eyes\u00a0narrowed\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u00a0means\u00a0a\u00a0lot\u00a0to\u00a0you.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0a\u00a0question,\u00a0but\u00a0is\u00a0still\u00a0nodded,\u00a0feeling\u00a0tears\u00a0well\u00a0up\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0corners\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0eyes.\u00a0I\u00a0hated\u00a0these\u00a0hormones;\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0making\u00a0me\u00a0cry\u00a0way\u00a0too\u00a0much.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0felt\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0warm\u00a0touch\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0cheek\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0wiped\u00a0away\u00a0a\u00a0stray\u00a0tear\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0know\u00a0had\u00a0fallen.\u00a0I\u00a0looked\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0him\u00a0and\u00a0noticed\u00a0that\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0staring\u00a0down at\u00a0my\u00a0belly,\u00a0which\u00a0made\u00a0my\u00a0cheeks\u00a0flame\u00a0hotter.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve\u00a0rounded,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0whispered,\u00a0his\u00a0hands\u00a0flying\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0stomach.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0nodded,\u00a0unable\u00a0to\u00a0hide\u00a0the\u00a0smile\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0did,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
Now\u00a0both\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0hands\u00a0were\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0belly,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0the\u00a0warmth\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0touch\u00a0coursing\u00a0through\u00a0me.\u00a0His\u00a0eyes\u00a0had\u00a0softened\u00a0drastically,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0looked\u00a0like\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0cry\u00a0himself.\u00a0It\u00a0would\u00a0have\u00a0been\u00a0comical\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0such\u00a0a\u00a0hormonal\u00a0mess.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0beautiful,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0whispered,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0meeting\u00a0mine.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0opened\u00a0my\u00a0mouth\u00a0to\u00a0say\u00a0something,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0interrupted by\u00a0Irene.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad!\u00a0You\u00a0made\u00a0it,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0said,\u00a0a\u00a0smile\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0face.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0are\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0started.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0assuming\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0still\u00a0taking\u00a0Judy\u00a0down\u00a0the\u00a0aisle?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gavin\u00a0finally\u00a0pulled\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0away\u00a0from\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0look at\u00a0his\u00a0daughter,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve\u00a0assumed\u00a0correctly,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said,\u00a0his\u00a0arm\u00a0wrapping\u00a0around\u00a0my\u00a0waist.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0knew\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0be\u00a0here,\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0you?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0Irene,\u00a0who only\u00a0smiled\u00a0wider.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf\u00a0course,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0wink.\u00a0\u201cHe\u00a0might\u00a0be\u00a0busy,\u00a0but\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0never\u00a0miss\u00a0this,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0never\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0too\u00a0busy\u00a0for\u00a0his\u00a0mate.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0knew\u00a0the\u00a0second\u00a0he\u00a0found\u00a0out\u00a0that\u00a0Lukas\u00a0was\u00a0here,\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0come\u00a0right\u00a0away.\u201d<\/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 720 Chapter\u00a0720\u00a0 Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV \u201cGavin,\u00a0you\u00a0came!\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0nearly\u00a0squealed\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0wrapped\u00a0my\u00a0arms\u00a0around\u00a0him;\u00a08\u00a0days\u00a0without\u00a0my\u00a0mate\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0brutal.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0missed\u00a0him\u00a0so\u00a0much\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0painful.\u00a0Tears\u00a0sprang\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0eyes,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0nothing\u00a0to\u00a0blame\u00a0other\u00a0than\u00a0these\u00a0damn\u00a0pregnancy\u00a0hormones;\u00a0they\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0so\u00a0bad\u00a0today\u2026\u00a0worst\u00a0than\u00a0they\u2019ve\u00a0ever\u00a0been,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0assuming\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0because\u00a0I\u00a0finally\u00a0popped. Gavin\u00a0held\u00a0me,\u00a0his\u00a0face\u00a0buried\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0neck,\u00a0sending\u00a0waves\u00a0of\u00a0warmth\u00a0through\u00a0my\u00a0body\u00a0with\u00a0each\u00a0breath\u00a0he\u00a0took. \u201cDid\u00a0you\u00a0think\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0miss\u00a0this?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0asked,\u00a0pulling\u00a0back\u00a0slightly\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0me. \u201cI\u00a0thought\u00a0you\u00a0were\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0too\u00a0busy\u00a0to\u00a0return,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0admitted.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0know\u00a0Chester\u00a0wanted\u00a0you\u00a0as\u00a0his\u00a0best\u00a0man,\u00a0but\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0been\u00a0so\u00a0busy\u00a0tending\u00a0to\u00a0Levi\u2019s\u00a0territory,\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0think\u00a0you\u2019d\u00a0come\u00a0back\u00a0this\u00a0soon.\u00a0You\u00a0were\u00a0scheduled\u00a0to\u00a0come\u00a0back\u00a0next\u00a0week.\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 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