Chapter\u00a0745\u00a0<\/p>\n
Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV<\/p>\n
Gavin\u00a0was\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0bathroom\u00a0getting\u00a0dressed\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0entered.\u00a0I\u00a0folded\u00a0my\u00a0arms\u00a0across\u00a0my\u00a0chest\u00a0and stared\u00a0at\u00a0him.\u00a0He\u00a0was\u00a0wearing\u00a0a\u00a0designer\u00a0suit,\u00a0and\u00a0his\u00a0hair was\u00a0styled\u00a0neatly.\u00a0He\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0mirror\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0adjusted\u00a0his\u00a0tie.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0knew\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0thinking\u00a0before\u00a0I\u00a0even\u00a0said\u00a0anything,\u00a0but\u00a0he\u00a0still\u00a0sighed\u00a0and\u00a0shook\u00a0his\u00a0head.<\/p>\n
\u201cJudy-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0coming\u00a0with\u00a0you,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said\u00a0with\u00a0such\u00a0finality\u00a0that\u00a0it\u00a0shocked\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis\u00a0dinner\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0a\u00a0courtesy,\u00a0it\u2019s a\u00a0summons,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said,\u00a0turning\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0me.\u00a0He\u00a0was\u00a0calm,\u00a0but\u00a0the<\/p>\n
muscles\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0cheek\u00a0betrayed\u00a0him.\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0anything\u00a0smells\u00a0wrong,\u00a0I\u00a0need\u00a0you\u00a0nowhere\u00a0near it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u00a0already\u00a0smells\u00a0wrong,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0shot\u00a0back,\u00a0folding\u00a0my\u00a0arms\u00a0across\u00a0my\u00a0chest.\u00a0\u201cWhich\u00a0is\u00a0exactly\u00a0why\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0not<\/p>\n
letting\u00a0you\u00a0walk\u00a0into\u00a0Blackwell\u00a0territory\u00a0alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
He raised\u00a0his\u00a0brows\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0stared\u00a0back\u00a0at\u00a0me,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0swear\u00a0I\u00a0saw\u00a0the\u00a0corner\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0lips\u00a0twitching.\u00a0Was\u00a0he<\/p>\n
finding\u00a0it\u00a0amusing?\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0losing\u00a0my\u00a0mind\u00a0about\u00a0having my\u00a0mate\u00a0go\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0dark regions,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0finding\u00a0this\u00a0funny?\u00a0He\u00a0was\u00a0lucky\u00a0I\u00a0loved\u00a0him,\u00a0or\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0have\u00a0killed\u00a0him\u00a0by\u00a0now.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0was\u00a0hurt;\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0been keeping\u00a0things\u00a0from\u00a0me\u00a0because\u00a0he\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0stress\u00a0me\u00a0out.\u00a0But\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0lying<\/p>\n
to me\u00a0and\u00a0not\u00a0telling\u00a0me\u00a0the\u00a0entire\u00a0truth,\u00a0stressing\u00a0me\u00a0out more than\u00a0he\u00a0knew.\u00a0His\u00a0blocking\u00a0his\u00a0feelings<\/p>\n
from\u00a0me\u00a0was\u00a0stressing\u00a0me\u00a0out.\u00a0He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0understand what\u00a0that\u00a0kind\u00a0of\u00a0thing did\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0mate\u00a0because\u00a0it\u2019s<\/p>\n
been\u00a0so\u00a0long\u00a0since\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0had\u00a0one.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0have\u00a0even\u00a0told\u00a0me\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0dinner\u00a0with the\u00a0Blackwells\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0found\u00a0the\u00a0letter\u00a0in\u00a0his<\/p>\n
pocket\u00a0this\u00a0morning.\u00a0Apparently,\u00a0Beta\u00a0Taylor\u00a0arrived\u00a0last\u00a0night\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0letter\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0sent\u00a0to\u00a0the<\/p>\n
packhouse.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0even going\u00a0to\u00a0tell\u00a0me\u00a0about\u00a0it,\u00a0which\u00a0hurt\u00a0both\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0wolf.<\/p>\n
Seeing\u00a0the\u00a0expression\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0face,\u00a0softened\u00a0his\u00a0features.<\/p>\n
\u201cBabe\u2026.\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0said\u00a0softly\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0stepped\u00a0closer\u00a0to\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
\u201cNO\u00a0more\u00a0half\u2013truths,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said\u00a0before\u00a0he\u00a0could\u00a0say\u00a0anything\u00a0else.\u00a0\u201cNo\u00a0more\u00a0\u2018I\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0office.\u2018\u00a0We\u00a0do\u00a0this\u00a0together,\u00a0or\u00a0we\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0do\u00a0it\u00a0at\u00a0all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd\u00a0if\u00a0it\u00a0goes\u00a0bad?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe\u00a0Blackwells\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0stupid\u00a0enough\u00a0to\u00a0attack\u00a0either\u00a0of\u00a0us\u00a0during\u00a0a\u00a0simple\u00a0dinner,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0narrowing my\u00a0eyes\u00a0at\u00a0him.\u00a0\u201cUnless\u00a0they\u00a0want\u00a0a\u00a0war.\u00a0You\u00a0are\u00a0Alpha\u00a0Gavin\u00a0Landry,\u00a0the\u00a0strongest\u00a0Lycan\u00a0chairman\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0world,\u00a0and\u00a0you\u00a0own\u00a0the\u00a0largest\u00a0franchise\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0world\u2026\u00a0even\u00a0bigger\u00a0than their\u00a0empire.\u00a0Yes,\u00a0they\u00a0are<\/p>\n
1\/4<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0745<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS\u00a0<\/p>\n
powerful\u00a0and\u00a0play\u00a0by\u00a0their\u00a0own\u00a0rules,\u00a0but\u00a0hurting\u00a0either\u00a0of\u00a0us\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0suicide.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0knew\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0right,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0see\u00a0the\u00a0fight\u00a0in\u00a0him\u00a0wavering.\u00a0I\u00a0reached\u00a0out\u00a0and\u00a0laced\u00a0my\u00a0fingers\u00a0with\u00a0his,\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0him\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0reason.\u00a0His\u00a0eyes\u00a0dropped\u00a0to\u00a0our\u00a0joined\u00a0hands\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0climbed\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0face\u00a0with\u00a0something\u00a0like\u00a0surrender\u00a0warming\u00a0the storm\u00a0there.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0kissed\u00a0my\u00a0knuckles\u00a0and\u00a0sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n
A\u00a0smile\u00a0tipped\u00a0the\u00a0corner\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut\u00a0you love\u00a0me,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0remind\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
His\u00a0expression\u00a0softened\u00a0even more\u00a0as\u00a0he wrapped\u00a0me\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0arms,\u00a0holding\u00a0me\u00a0close\u00a0to\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd\u00a0I\u00a0always\u00a0will,\u201d\u00a0he murmured as\u00a0he\u00a0pressed\u00a0his\u00a0lips\u00a0against\u00a0mine.\u00a0When\u00a0the\u00a0kiss\u00a0ended,\u00a0he\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0breath\u00a0and\u00a0pressed\u00a0his\u00a0forehead\u00a0against mine as if\u00a0he\u00a0needed\u00a0to\u00a0breathe\u00a0my\u00a0air\u00a0in\u00a0order\u00a0to\u00a0anchor\u00a0himself.\u00a0\u201cFine.\u00a0You\u00a0can come\u00a0with\u00a0me.\u00a0But if\u00a0I\u00a0say\u00a0we\u00a0leave\u2026\u00a0we\u00a0leave.\u00a0No\u00a0arguments.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u00a0arguments,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0repeated,\u00a0even\u00a0though\u00a0we\u00a0both\u00a0knew\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0argue\u00a0if\u00a0it\u00a0meant protecting my\u00a0mate.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0spent\u00a0the\u00a0next\u00a0hour\u00a0getting\u00a0dressed.\u00a0I\u00a0decided\u00a0on\u00a0a casual\u00a0black\u00a0dress;\u00a0the\u00a0only\u00a0one that\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0make\u00a0me<\/p>\n
feel\u00a0fat,\u00a0despite\u00a0Gavin\u00a0telling\u00a0me\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0look\u00a0fat,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0just pregnant.\u00a0I\u00a0braided\u00a0my\u00a0hair\u00a0and\u00a0applied\u00a0a<\/p>\n
little\u00a0makeup.\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0never\u00a0much\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0makeup\u00a0wearer,\u00a0but\u00a0something told\u00a0me\u00a0I\u00a0needed\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0my\u00a0absolute\u00a0best\u00a0when\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0Blackwell\u00a0Manor.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0still\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0believe\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0actually\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0manor\u00a0this\u00a0evening.\u00a0The Blackwells\u00a0were\u00a0kind\u00a0of\u00a0like<\/p>\n
an\u00a0urban\u00a0legend\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0werewolf\u00a0world.\u00a0They\u00a0were\u00a0heard\u00a0but\u00a0never\u00a0seen.\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0help\u00a0but\u00a0feel\u00a0like\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0walking\u00a0right\u00a0into\u00a0their\u00a0den.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0road\u00a0to the\u00a0Blackwell\u00a0Manor\u00a0crawled\u00a0through\u00a0pines\u00a0that\u00a0whispered\u00a0like\u00a0gossip,\u00a0needle\u00a0tips\u00a0combing\u00a0the\u00a0wind.\u00a0The\u00a0closer\u00a0we\u00a0drew,\u00a0the\u00a0colder\u00a0the air\u00a0became,\u00a0and old\u00a0cold,\u00a0the\u00a0kind\u00a0that\u00a0remembers\u00a0things.<\/p>\n
Stone\u00a0walls\u00a0loomed\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0dark\u00a0at\u00a0last,\u00a0not\u00a0built\u00a0so\u00a0much\u00a0as\u00a0exhumed,\u00a0wet\u00a0with\u00a0sheen\u00a0that\u00a0caught\u00a0the<\/p>\n
moon\u00a0in\u00a0broken\u00a0pieces.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0manor\u00a0rose\u00a0beyond\u00a0the\u00a0gates\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0cathedral\u00a0someone\u00a0had\u00a0frightened.\u00a0Spires\u00a0stitched\u00a0the\u00a0sky.\u00a0Windows\u00a0stared\u00a0too\u00a0long.\u00a0Ivy\u00a0clung\u00a0like\u00a0bruise\u2013dark veins.\u00a0I\u00a0shivered,\u00a0and\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0hand\u00a0found\u00a0mine,\u00a0entwining\u00a0his\u00a0fingers\u00a0and\u00a0giving\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0reassuring\u00a0squeeze.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe\u00a0we\u00a0should\u00a0have\u00a0brought\u00a0security,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said\u00a0for\u00a0not the\u00a0first\u00a0time.\u00a0\u201cOr\u00a0at\u00a0least\u00a0Beta\u00a0Taylor.\u00a0He\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0pissed\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0finds\u00a0out\u00a0we\u00a0came\u00a0here\u00a0and\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0tell\u00a0him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0natural\u00a0territory\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0Blackwell Manor\u00a0was\u00a0in\u00a0was\u00a0about\u00a0an\u00a0hour\u00a0North\u00a0of\u00a0our\u00a0borders.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0territory\u00a0outsiders\u00a0would\u00a0never\u00a0dare\u00a0to\u00a0wander\u00a0into.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe\u00a0less\u00a0we\u00a0bring,\u00a0the\u00a0better,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0told\u00a0me\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0put\u00a0the\u00a0car\u00a0in\u00a0park.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0escalate\u00a0any<\/p>\n
2\/4<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0745<\/p>\n
issues.\u00a0If\u00a0they\u00a0feel trapped,\u00a0it\u00a0could\u00a0cause\u00a0problems.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0about\u00a0us?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked.\u00a0\u201cWhat\u00a0if\u00a0we\u00a0feel\u00a0trapped?\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 745 Chapter\u00a0745\u00a0 Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV Gavin\u00a0was\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0bathroom\u00a0getting\u00a0dressed\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0entered.\u00a0I\u00a0folded\u00a0my\u00a0arms\u00a0across\u00a0my\u00a0chest\u00a0and stared\u00a0at\u00a0him.\u00a0He\u00a0was\u00a0wearing\u00a0a\u00a0designer\u00a0suit,\u00a0and\u00a0his\u00a0hair was\u00a0styled\u00a0neatly.\u00a0He\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0mirror\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0adjusted\u00a0his\u00a0tie. He\u00a0knew\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0thinking\u00a0before\u00a0I\u00a0even\u00a0said\u00a0anything,\u00a0but\u00a0he\u00a0still\u00a0sighed\u00a0and\u00a0shook\u00a0his\u00a0head. […]<\/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-21814","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\/21814","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=21814"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21814\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21814"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21814"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}