Chapter\u00a0749\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gavin\u2019s\u00a0POV<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0seen\u00a0Noah\u00a0Blackwell\u00a0since\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a016\u00a0years\u00a0old.\u00a0We\u00a0used\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0best\u00a0friends,\u00a0but\u00a0then\u00a0something\u00a0happened,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0no\u00a0longer\u00a0allowed\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0him.\u00a0His\u00a0entire\u00a0family\u00a0fell\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0face\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0earth.\u00a0I\u00a0stopped\u00a0questioning\u00a0why\u00a0after\u00a0a\u00a0while;\u00a0my\u00a0father\u00a0refused\u00a0to\u00a0talk\u00a0about\u00a0it,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0mother\u00a0claimed\u00a0not\u00a0to\u00a0know\u00a0a\u00a0thing.\u00a0But\u00a0I\u00a0always\u00a0felt\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0missed\u00a0something.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve\u00a0heard\u00a0of\u00a0Noah\u2019s\u00a0work\u00a0alongside\u00a0his\u00a0father\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0shadow\u00a0regions,\u00a0though,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0he\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a016\u2013year\u2013old\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0once\u00a0known.\u00a0He\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0someone\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0consider\u00a0a\u00a0friend.\u00a0His\u00a0dark\u00a0hair\u00a0was\u00a0shoulder\u00a0length,\u00a0and\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0were\u00a0so\u00a0dark\u00a0they\u00a0looked\u00a0black,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0blue\u00a0like\u00a0the\u00a0dark\u00a0ocean.\u00a0He\u00a0looked\u00a0more\u00a0like\u00a0Zachary\u00a0Blackwell\u00a0than\u00a0any\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0others.<\/p>\n
Back\u00a0then,\u00a0he\u00a0wanted\u00a0nothing\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a0to\u00a0follow in\u00a0his\u00a0father\u2019s\u00a0footsteps.\u00a0I\u00a0wondered\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0still\u00a0felt\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0way\u00a0now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNoah,\u201d\u00a0Selene\u00a0said\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0pleased\u00a0smile.\u00a0\u201cCome\u00a0join us,\u00a0darling.\u201d<\/p>\n
She motioned\u00a0for\u00a0an\u00a0empty chair,\u00a0and\u00a0Noah\u00a0walked\u00a0towards\u00a0it\u00a0without\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0meeting\u00a0mine.\u00a0He\u00a0sat\u00a0down\u00a0and\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0put\u00a0food\u00a0on\u00a0his\u00a0plate.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0apologize\u00a0for\u00a0my\u00a0late\u00a0entrance,\u201d\u00a0Noah\u00a0said.<\/p>\n
His voice was\u00a0deeper,\u00a0more\u00a0polished\u00a0than\u00a0I\u00a0remembered.\u00a0A\u00a0man\u2019s\u00a0voice\u00a0now,\u00a0edged\u00a0in\u00a0teal.\u00a0Though\u00a0I\u2019m<\/p>\n
sure\u00a0mine\u00a0was\u00a0too.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo apologies\u00a0necessary.\u00a0You\u00a0have\u00a0quite\u00a0a\u00a0bit\u00a0on\u00a0your\u00a0plate.\u00a0We\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0expecting you to\u00a0arrive\u00a0at\u00a0all,\u201d\u00a0Zachary said,\u00a0eyeing\u00a0his\u00a0son.<\/p>\n
Noah\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0flicked\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0last,\u00a0catching\u00a0mine\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0table.\u00a0For\u00a0a moment,\u00a0I\u00a0searched\u00a0for the\u00a0boy\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0once\u00a0known\u2013the\u00a0reckless\u00a0grin,\u00a0the\u00a0secret plans whispered in\u00a0the\u00a0training yard.\u00a0But\u00a0there was nothing\u00a0left\u00a0of\u00a0him.\u00a0Only\u00a0a\u00a0cold,\u00a0assessing\u00a0stare.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I\u00a0heard\u00a0who\u00a0our\u00a0guest\u00a0was\u00a0this\u00a0evening,\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0here,\u00a0so I\u00a0cleared\u00a0my\u00a0schedule,\u201d\u00a0Noah\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0honestly\u00a0surprised\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0you here,\u00a0Gavin.\u201d<\/p>\n
His\u00a0lips\u00a0curved\u00a0into\u00a0something\u00a0that\u00a0might\u00a0have\u00a0passed\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0smile\u00a0if\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0been\u00a0so\u00a0empty.\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0Judy\u00a0shift\u00a0slightly\u00a0beside\u00a0me,\u00a0her hand\u00a0brushing\u00a0against\u00a0mine\u00a0under\u00a0the\u00a0table.\u00a0Her\u00a0touch\u00a0soothed\u00a0me,\u00a0which\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0mine\u00a0soothed\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour\u00a0father\u00a0invited\u00a0me.\u00a0It\u00a0would\u00a0have\u00a0been\u00a0stupid\u00a0to\u00a0refuse\u00a0the\u00a0invitation.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0pleased\u00a0you\u00a0were\u00a0able\u00a0to\u00a0clear your\u00a0busy\u00a0schedule\u00a0to\u00a0join\u00a0us,\u00a0Noah.\u201d<\/p>\n
My\u00a0words\u00a0dripped\u00a0with\u00a0sarcasm,\u00a0which\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0mean.<\/p>\n
Noah\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0narrowed\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0leaned\u00a0back\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0chair,\u00a0swirling\u00a0the\u00a0wine\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0glass\u00a0before taking\u00a0a\u00a0slow\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0749<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
sip.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill\u00a0arrogant.\u00a0I\u00a0see\u00a0some\u00a0things\u00a0never\u00a0change.\u201d<\/p>\n
Selene\u2019s\u00a0soft\u00a0laugh\u00a0followed,\u00a0low and\u00a0approving.<\/p>\n
\u201che\u00a0does\u00a0have\u00a0that\u00a0reputation,\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0he.\u00a0Darling,\u00a0have\u00a0you\u00a0met\u00a0his\u00a0mate,\u00a0Judy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Noah\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0flickered\u00a0to\u00a0Judy,\u00a0and\u00a0it\u00a0took\u00a0all\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0not\u00a0to\u00a0growl\u00a0at\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0haven\u2019t,\u201d\u00a0Noah\u00a0said,\u00a0eyeing\u00a0Judy\u00a0up\u00a0and\u00a0down,\u00a0making\u00a0her\u00a0squirm\u00a0under\u00a0his\u00a0scrutiny.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0aware\u00a0the\u00a0great\u00a0Alpha\u00a0took\u00a0a\u00a0mate.\u00a0And\u00a0a\u00a0lovely\u00a0one\u00a0at\u00a0that\u2026\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0pleasure\u00a0to\u00a0meet\u00a0you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0reached\u00a0his\u00a0hand\u00a0out\u00a0to\u00a0shake\u00a0hers,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0gingerly\u00a0placed\u00a0her\u00a0hand\u00a0in\u00a0his.\u00a0I\u00a0squeezed\u00a0her\u00a0thigh\u00a0without\u00a0meaning\u00a0to.\u00a0After\u00a0a\u00a0quick\u00a0shake,\u00a0she\u00a0drew\u00a0her\u00a0hand\u00a0back\u00a0as if he\u00a0had\u00a0burned\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0must\u00a0say,\u00a0you\u00a0look\u00a0quite familiar.\u00a0Have\u00a0we\u00a0met\u00a0before?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0asked\u00a0her,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0lingering\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0for\u00a0way\u00a0too\u00a0long\u00a0for\u00a0my\u00a0comfort.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0believe\u00a0so,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0replied,\u00a0averting\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0from\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0is your\u00a0last\u00a0name?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0briefly\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0asking\u00a0permission\u00a0to answer\u00a0his\u00a0question;\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0permission\u00a0she\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0need,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0pleased\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0thought\u00a0of\u00a0me\u00a0at\u00a0that\u00a0moment.\u00a0I\u00a0gave\u00a0her\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0smile\u00a0and\u00a0a slight\u00a0nod,\u00a0subtle\u00a0enough\u00a0for them\u00a0not\u00a0to\u00a0notice.<\/p>\n
\u201cMontague,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0answered,\u00a0glancing\u00a0back\u00a0at\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0looked\u00a0through\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0before\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0widened.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoly\u00a0fuck.\u00a0You\u2019re\u00a0the\u00a0one\u00a0who\u00a0won\u00a0the\u00a0gamma\u00a0competition\u00a0this\u00a0year,\u201d\u00a0he exclaimed.\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0have\u00a0quite\u00a0the\u00a0following\u2026\u00a0me\u00a0included.\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0recognize\u00a0you\u00a0dressed\u00a0so\u00a0gorgeously.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJudy\u2019s\u00a0the\u00a0one\u00a0who\u00a0won\u00a0the\u00a0competition?\u201d\u00a0Zachary\u00a0asked,\u00a0raising his\u00a0brows.\u00a0He\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0he<\/p>\n
was\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0size\u00a0her\u00a0up\u00a0and\u00a0figure out\u00a0what\u00a0made\u00a0her\u00a0so special.\u00a0It\u00a0made\u00a0me\u00a0lean\u00a0closer\u00a0to\u00a0her,\u00a0my\u00a0wolf<\/p>\n
needed\u00a0to\u00a0protect\u00a0what\u00a0was\u00a0his.\u00a0He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0like\u00a0the\u00a0fact\u00a0that\u00a0our mate\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0center of\u00a0attention.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u00a0is,\u201d\u00a0Noah\u00a0answered,\u00a0a\u00a0smile\u00a0growing on his\u00a0lips.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0watched\u00a0her\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0television.\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0quite\u00a0impressive\u00a0and\u00a0put\u00a0the\u00a0others\u00a0to\u00a0shame.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMust\u00a0you\u00a0flirt\u00a0with\u00a0every\u00a0woman that\u00a0glances\u00a0at\u00a0you,\u00a0brother?\u201d\u00a0Lila\u00a0asked,\u00a0rolling\u00a0her\u00a0eyes.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0corner\u00a0of\u00a0Noah\u2019s\u00a0lips\u00a0tipped\u00a0upward\u00a0into\u00a0a\u00a0smirk,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0never\u00a0leaving\u00a0Judy\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen\u00a0I\u00a0see\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0like\u2026I\u00a0go for\u00a0it.\u00a0No\u00a0regrets.\u201d<\/p>\n
This\u00a0time,\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0stop\u00a0the\u00a0growl,\u00a0and\u00a0every pair\u00a0of\u00a0eyes\u00a0turned\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0direction.\u00a0It\u00a0made\u00a0Emmet\u00a0laugh\u00a0and\u00a0Lila\u00a0smile\u00a0to hold\u00a0back\u00a0her\u00a0own\u00a0laughter.\u00a0Noah\u00a0raised\u00a0his\u00a0brows,\u00a0clearly\u00a0amused,\u00a0but\u00a0not\u00a0showing\u00a0it<\/p>\n
2\/4<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0749<\/p>\n
as\u00a0well\u00a0as\u00a0his\u00a0siblings.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy\u00a0mate\u00a0is\u00a0not\u00a0up\u00a0for\u00a0grabs,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0say,\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0never\u00a0wavering.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0table\u00a0stilled.<\/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 749 Chapter\u00a0749\u00a0 Gavin\u2019s\u00a0POV +15\u00a0BONUS\u00a0 I\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0seen\u00a0Noah\u00a0Blackwell\u00a0since\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a016\u00a0years\u00a0old.\u00a0We\u00a0used\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0best\u00a0friends,\u00a0but\u00a0then\u00a0something\u00a0happened,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0no\u00a0longer\u00a0allowed\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0him.\u00a0His\u00a0entire\u00a0family\u00a0fell\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0face\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0earth.\u00a0I\u00a0stopped\u00a0questioning\u00a0why\u00a0after\u00a0a\u00a0while;\u00a0my\u00a0father\u00a0refused\u00a0to\u00a0talk\u00a0about\u00a0it,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0mother\u00a0claimed\u00a0not\u00a0to\u00a0know\u00a0a\u00a0thing.\u00a0But\u00a0I\u00a0always\u00a0felt\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0missed\u00a0something. I\u2019ve\u00a0heard\u00a0of\u00a0Noah\u2019s\u00a0work\u00a0alongside\u00a0his\u00a0father\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0shadow\u00a0regions,\u00a0though,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0he\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a016\u2013year\u2013old\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0once\u00a0known.\u00a0He\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0someone\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0consider\u00a0a\u00a0friend.\u00a0His\u00a0dark\u00a0hair\u00a0was\u00a0shoulder\u00a0length,\u00a0and\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0were\u00a0so\u00a0dark\u00a0they\u00a0looked\u00a0black,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0blue\u00a0like\u00a0the\u00a0dark\u00a0ocean.\u00a0He\u00a0looked\u00a0more\u00a0like\u00a0Zachary\u00a0Blackwell\u00a0than\u00a0any\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0others. Back\u00a0then,\u00a0he\u00a0wanted\u00a0nothing\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a0to\u00a0follow […]<\/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-21818","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\/21818","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=21818"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21818\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}