Chapter\u00a0735\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gavin\u2019s\u00a0POV<\/p>\n
I heard\u00a0the\u00a0soft,\u00a0padded\u00a0footsteps\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0marble\u00a0floor\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0time\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0putting\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0coat.\u00a0The\u00a0kitchen\u00a0was\u00a0quiet\u00a0this\u00a0evening;\u00a0most\u00a0of the\u00a0staff\u00a0were\u00a0off\u00a0duty\u00a0until\u00a0the\u00a0morning.\u00a0Taylor\u00a0had\u00a0gone\u00a0home\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0mate;\u00a0Irene\u00a0was\u00a0out\u00a0with\u00a0Chuck,\u00a0who\u00a0was\u00a0back\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0weekend,\u00a0while\u00a0Matt\u00a0was\u00a0asleep\u00a0in\u00a0bed\u00a0because\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0school\u00a0tomorrow.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0didn\u2019t have\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0to\u00a0know\u00a0who was\u00a0behind\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0should\u00a0be resting,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0fastening\u00a0the\u00a0last\u00a0button\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0coat\u00a0before\u00a0turning\u00a0to\u00a0face\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
Judy\u2019s\u00a0tired\u00a0eyes\u00a0stared\u00a0back\u00a0at\u00a0me;\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0worrying\u00a0her\u00a0bottom\u00a0lip,\u00a0and\u00a0her\u00a0cheeks\u00a0looked\u00a0a\u00a0bit\u00a0flushed.<\/p>\n
My\u00a0heart\u00a0squeezed\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0chest\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0sight.\u00a0I\u00a0hated that\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0tired,\u00a0but\u00a0even\u00a0more\u00a0so\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0worried.\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want anything\u00a0to\u00a0worry\u00a0her;\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0stress\u2013free\u00a0so\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0deliver\u00a0a\u00a0healthy\u00a0baby\u00a0boy\u00a0into\u00a0this\u00a0world.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0sleep,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0softly,\u00a0her eyes\u00a0scanning\u00a0my\u00a0face\u00a0before\u00a0shifting\u00a0to the\u00a0coat.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0late.\u00a0Where\u00a0are\u00a0you\u00a0going\u00a0at\u00a0this\u00a0hour?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0stepped\u00a0closer\u00a0to\u00a0her,\u00a0my\u00a0arms\u00a0wrapping\u00a0around\u00a0her.\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0tell\u00a0her\u00a0where\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0going without\u00a0explaining what\u00a0was\u00a0going\u00a0on.\u00a0I\u00a0needed\u00a0to\u00a0shield\u00a0her\u00a0from\u00a0this\u00a0as\u00a0much\u00a0as\u00a0possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0have\u00a0some\u00a0business\u00a0I\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0tend\u00a0to,\u201d\u00a0I tell\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0office.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0lie\u00a0tasted\u00a0bitter\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0mouth;\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0stand\u00a0lying\u00a0to\u00a0her,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0doing\u00a0this\u00a0for\u00a0her\u00a0own\u00a0good.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0frowned,\u00a0the\u00a0lines\u00a0forming\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0corner\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0pretty\u00a0lips\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0stared\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0me.\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0tell\u00a0if\u00a0she\u00a0believed\u00a0me\u00a0or\u00a0not;\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0tried to\u00a0mask\u00a0my\u00a0feelings\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0mate\u00a0bond\u00a0so\u00a0she\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0detect\u00a0the\u00a0lie.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0gotten\u00a0good\u00a0at\u00a0masking\u00a0certain parts\u00a0of\u00a0myself,\u00a0though\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0it\u00a0drove\u00a0her\u00a0crazy.<\/p>\n
But\u00a0if\u00a0only\u00a0she\u00a0knew\u00a0what\u00a0was\u00a0swirling\u00a0through\u00a0my\u00a0mind\u00a0right\u00a0now,\u00a0it\u00a0would\u00a0stress\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0max\u00a0and<\/p>\n
put\u00a0our\u00a0baby\u00a0in\u00a0jeopardy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWill\u00a0you\u00a0be\u00a0back\u00a0soon?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked,\u00a0her voice\u00a0dropping\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0whisper\u00a0like\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0afraid\u00a0to\u00a0wake\u00a0the\u00a0walls.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0assured\u00a0her,\u00a0pulling\u00a0her\u00a0into\u00a0my\u00a0arms\u00a0and\u00a0inhaling\u00a0her\u00a0sweet\u00a0honey\u00a0scent.\u00a0I\u00a0allowed\u00a0the\u00a0scent\u00a0to\u00a0calm\u00a0me\u00a0as\u00a0it\u00a0so\u00a0often\u00a0did.\u00a0Her\u00a0soft,\u00a0wavy\u00a0hair\u00a0tickled\u00a0my\u00a0nose\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0buried\u00a0my\u00a0face\u00a0in\u00a0it.\u00a0I\u00a0kissed\u00a0her\u00a0temple,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0breath.\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0she\u00a0still\u00a0had\u00a0anxiety\u00a0over\u00a0the\u00a0fact\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0leaving\u00a0so\u00a0late,\u00a0but\u00a0she\u00a0trusted\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0thought\u00a0of\u00a0lying\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0and\u00a0breaking\u00a0that\u00a0trust\u00a0killed\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0cupped\u00a0her\u00a0face\u00a0and\u00a0forced\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0love\u00a0you,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0her,\u00a0and\u00a0as\u00a0it\u00a0so\u00a0often\u00a0did,\u00a0my\u00a0words\u00a0caused\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0melt\u00a0a\u00a0little.\u00a0Neither\u00a0she\u00a0nor\u00a0I\u00a0would<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0735<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
ever\u00a0get\u00a0used\u00a0to\u00a0this\u00a0level\u00a0of\u00a0love\u2026\u00a0even\u00a0without\u00a0the\u00a0mate\u00a0bond,\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0overpowering.\u00a0But\u00a0since\u00a0finding\u00a0out\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0second\u2013chance\u00a0mates\u00a0and\u00a0finally\u00a0marking\u00a0one\u00a0another,\u00a0it\u00a0only\u00a0amplified\u00a0the\u00a0feelings\u00a0that<\/p>\n
were\u00a0already\u00a0there.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0love\u00a0you\u00a0too,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0softly,\u00a0stepping\u00a0up\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0toes\u00a0to\u00a0kiss\u00a0my\u00a0lips.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0pull\u00a0back\u00a0after\u00a0a\u00a0peck,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0let\u00a0her\u00a0go\u00a0that\u00a0easily.\u00a0I\u00a0held\u00a0her\u00a0tighter,\u00a0wrapping\u00a0my\u00a0arms\u00a0firmly\u00a0around\u00a0her\u00a0waist\u00a0and\u00a0pulling\u00a0her\u00a0flush\u00a0against\u00a0me,\u00a0deepening\u00a0the\u00a0kiss.\u00a0My\u00a0tongue\u00a0dipped\u00a0between\u00a0her\u00a0lips,\u00a0tasting\u00a0what\u00a0was\u00a0mine.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0moaned\u00a0into\u00a0my\u00a0mouth,\u00a0allowing\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0explore\u00a0her\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment longer\u00a0before\u00a0I\u00a0reluctantly pulled<\/p>\n
back.<\/p>\n
\u201cSave\u00a0this\u00a0for\u00a0later,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0murmured\u00a0against\u00a0her\u00a0mouth\u00a0before\u00a0giving\u00a0her\u00a0one\u00a0last\u00a0peck\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0lips\u00a0and\u00a0releasing\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cGet\u00a0some\u00a0rest,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0home\u00a0snuggling\u00a0you\u00a0soon\u00a0enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0longer\u00a0before\u00a0she\u00a0relented\u00a0and\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0whispered\u00a0before she\u00a0turned\u00a0away\u00a0and\u00a0left\u00a0the\u00a0kitchen.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0stared\u00a0after\u00a0her\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0longer\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0door\u00a0swung\u00a0shut\u00a0behind\u00a0her.\u00a0My\u00a0heart\u00a0was\u00a0squeezing\u00a0painfully\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0chest;\u00a0the\u00a0lie\u00a0was resting\u00a0in\u00a0my mind\u00a0over\u00a0and\u00a0over\u00a0again.\u00a0I\u00a0hated\u00a0having\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0that,\u00a0but\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0for\u00a0her\u00a0own\u00a0good,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0do\u00a0anything\u00a0to\u00a0keep\u00a0Judy\u00a0and\u00a0our\u00a0baby\u00a0protected.\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0part\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0family\u00a0now,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0never\u00a0let\u00a0anything\u00a0happen\u00a0to\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0left\u00a0the\u00a0villa,\u00a0getting\u00a0into\u00a0my\u00a0car.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0no\u00a0idea\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0was doing.\u00a0This\u00a0was\u00a0probably\u00a0the\u00a0stupidest\u00a0thing\u00a0to\u00a0do,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0needed\u00a0answers,\u00a0and\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0only\u00a0one person\u00a0I\u00a0knew who\u00a0could\u00a0get\u00a0me\u00a0at\u00a0least\u00a0some\u00a0of<\/p>\n
them.<\/p>\n
wolf\u2019s\u00a0I\u00a0started\u00a0the\u00a0engine\u00a0and\u00a0pulled\u00a0away\u00a0from my\u00a0home;\u00a0it\u00a0got\u00a0smaller\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0rearview\u00a0mirror.\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0tug,\u00a0wanting\u00a0to\u00a0return\u00a0to\u00a0our\u00a0mate\u00a0and\u00a0mark\u00a0her\u00a0all\u00a0over\u00a0again.\u00a0He\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0adamant\u00a0about\u00a0claiming\u00a0her\u00a0time\u00a0and\u00a0time\u00a0again.\u00a0Every\u00a0time\u00a0our\u00a0mark\u00a0heals\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0and\u00a0it\u00a0fades\u00a0into\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0pink\u00a0line,\u00a0he\u00a0wants\u00a0to<\/p>\n
freshen\u00a0it\u00a0and\u00a0make\u00a0it\u00a0brand\u00a0new.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s\u00a0obsessed\u00a0with\u00a0her,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0be\u00a0lying\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0said\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0obsessed\u00a0with\u00a0her as\u00a0well.\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0spend\u00a0all\u00a0my\u00a0waking\u00a0hours\u00a0with\u00a0her\u00a0and\u00a0even\u00a0my\u00a0non\u2013waking\u00a0hours.\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0hold\u00a0her\u00a0and\u00a0mark\u00a0her\u00a0and\u00a0kiss\u00a0her,\u2026\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0make\u00a0love\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0so\u00a0she\u00a0would\u00a0never\u00a0forget\u00a0who\u00a0she\u00a0belongs\u00a0to\u00a0and\u00a0who\u00a0I\u00a0belong\u00a0to.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0was\u00a0hers\u2026\u00a0fully,<\/p>\n
I\u00a0had\u00a0always\u00a0been\u00a0hers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0believe\u00a0I\u00a0spent\u00a0so\u00a0long\u00a0without\u00a0her,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0believe\u00a0even\u00a0more\u00a0that\u00a0my\u00a0wolf\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0recognized\u00a0her\u00a0as\u00a0ours\u00a0until\u00a0the\u00a0moment\u00a0my\u00a0teeth sank\u00a0into\u00a0her.\u00a0He\u00a0had\u00a0always\u00a0been\u00a0drawn\u00a0to\u00a0her,\u00a0but\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0nothing\u00a0in\u00a0comparison\u00a0to\u00a0this.<\/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 735 Chapter\u00a0735\u00a0 Gavin\u2019s\u00a0POV I heard\u00a0the\u00a0soft,\u00a0padded\u00a0footsteps\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0marble\u00a0floor\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0time\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0putting\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0coat.\u00a0The\u00a0kitchen\u00a0was\u00a0quiet\u00a0this\u00a0evening;\u00a0most\u00a0of the\u00a0staff\u00a0were\u00a0off\u00a0duty\u00a0until\u00a0the\u00a0morning.\u00a0Taylor\u00a0had\u00a0gone\u00a0home\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0mate;\u00a0Irene\u00a0was\u00a0out\u00a0with\u00a0Chuck,\u00a0who\u00a0was\u00a0back\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0weekend,\u00a0while\u00a0Matt\u00a0was\u00a0asleep\u00a0in\u00a0bed\u00a0because\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0school\u00a0tomorrow. I\u00a0didn\u2019t […]<\/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-21804","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\/21804","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=21804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21804\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}