Chapter\u00a0753\u00a0<\/p>\n
Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV<\/p>\n
The\u00a0halls\u00a0stretched long\u00a0and\u00a0dark;\u00a0moonlight\u00a0slanted\u00a0through\u00a0high\u00a0windows.\u00a0Selene\u00a0moved\u00a0with\u00a0grace,\u00a0her\u00a0hand\u00a0trailing\u00a0along\u00a0the\u00a0walls,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0slowed\u00a0when\u00a0a\u00a0door\u00a0creaked\u00a0faintly\u00a0open\u00a0on\u00a0our\u00a0left.<\/p>\n
\u201cEsme\u00a0used\u00a0to\u00a0spend\u00a0a\u00a0lot\u00a0of\u00a0time in\u00a0here,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0told\u00a0me,\u00a0stepping\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0room.<\/p>\n
easy\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u00a0air\u00a0was\u00a0stale,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0heart\u00a0squeezed\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0chest\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0realized where\u00a0we\u00a0were.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0nursery.<\/p>\n
It\u00a0was\u00a0heavy\u00a0with\u00a0dust,\u00a0but\u00a0the\u00a0crib\u00a0still\u00a0stood,\u00a0delicate\u00a0lace\u00a0draped\u00a0over\u00a0its\u00a0frame.\u00a0Toys\u00a0lay\u00a0scattered\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0rug\u2013a stuffed\u00a0wolf,\u00a0a\u00a0carved\u00a0rattle,\u00a0a\u00a0tiny\u00a0silver\u00a0cup.\u00a0It\u00a0looked\u00a0as\u00a0though\u00a0someone\u00a0had\u00a0simply\u00a0walked\u00a0out\u00a0and\u00a0shut\u00a0the\u00a0door\u00a0years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0never\u00a0understood\u00a0why,\u201d\u00a0Selene\u00a0went\u00a0on\u00a0to\u00a0say.\u00a0\u201cIt\u00a0took\u00a0years\u00a0for\u00a0us\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0leave\u00a0this\u00a0room.\u00a0Once\u00a0we\u00a0shut\u00a0the\u00a0door,\u00a0we\u00a0never\u00a0opened\u00a0it\u00a0again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhose\u00a0room\u00a0was\u00a0this?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked,\u00a0my\u00a0voice\u00a0coming\u00a0out unfamiliar\u00a0and\u00a0hollow.<\/p>\n
\u201cLila\u2019s,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0replied,\u00a0turning\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0had\u00a0it\u00a0built\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0baby.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0looked\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0again,\u00a0my\u00a0chest\u00a0tight.\u00a0The\u00a0scent\u2026\u00a0it\u00a0was odd.\u00a0There\u00a0was\u00a0something\u00a0to\u00a0this\u00a0scent\u00a0that\u00a0put\u00a0my\u00a0wolf\u00a0in distress.<\/p>\n
\u201cJudy,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0heard\u00a0his voice\u00a0through\u00a0our\u00a0bond,\u00a0and\u00a0suddenly\u00a0my\u00a0heart\u00a0had\u00a0skipped\u00a0a\u00a0beat.\u00a0\u201cWhere\u00a0are\u00a0you?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0couldn\u2019t answer him;\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0like\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0stuck\u00a0in\u00a0some\u00a0kind\u00a0of\u00a0warp with\u00a0the\u00a0walls closing\u00a0in\u00a0around me.\u00a0My\u00a0breathing,\u00a0which\u00a0flowed\u00a0so\u00a0easily\u00a0only\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0ago,\u00a0felt\u00a0constricted.\u00a0I\u00a0stepped\u00a0back,\u00a0a\u00a0wave of\u00a0dizziness\u00a0crashing\u00a0around\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
This\u00a0room\u2026\u00a0this scent\u2026\u00a0this\u00a0manor.<\/p>\n
Why\u00a0was\u00a0I\u00a0feeling\u00a0this\u00a0way?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJudy,\u00a0are\u00a0you\u00a0okay?\u201d\u00a0Selene asked,\u00a0her\u00a0voice\u00a0laced\u00a0with\u00a0genuine\u00a0concern.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0tried\u00a0to\u00a0answer\u00a0her,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0doubted\u00a0any\u00a0words\u00a0left\u00a0my\u00a0lips.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0stepped\u00a0towards\u00a0me,\u00a0her brows pinched\u00a0together,\u00a0but just\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0reached\u00a0her\u00a0hand out,\u00a0Gavin\u00a0was\u00a0by<\/p>\n
my\u00a0side,\u00a0wrapping\u00a0me\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0touch\u00a0her,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0nearly\u00a0growled.\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0feel\u00a0that his\u00a0wolf\u00a0was\u00a0on\u00a0edge,\u00a0and\u00a0he was\u00a0seconds\u00a0away\u00a0from\u00a0tearing\u00a0every\u00a0living\u00a0person\u00a0up\u00a0in\u00a0this\u00a0manor.\u00a0I\u00a0rested\u00a0my\u00a0head\u00a0against\u00a0his\u00a0chest,\u00a0breathing\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0calming\u00a0and\u00a0familiar\u00a0scent.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ve\u00a0got\u00a0you,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0murmured,\u00a0pressing\u00a0his\u00a0lips to my\u00a0temple.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
For\u00a0once\u00a0all\u00a0night,\u00a0I\u00a0truly\u00a0felt\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0right.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0okay\u2026\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0okay.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0my mate\u2026\u00a0he\u00a0would\u00a0take\u00a0care\u00a0of\u00a0me.\u00a0I\u00a0buried\u00a0my\u00a0face\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0chest,\u00a0my\u00a0arms\u00a0wrapping\u00a0around\u00a0him\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0vice.<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0time\u00a0for\u00a0us\u00a0to\u00a0leave,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sure\u00a0if\u00a0he was\u00a0talking\u00a0to\u00a0me\u00a0or\u00a0to\u00a0Zachary\u00a0and\u00a0Selene.\u00a0I<\/p>\n
hadn\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0noticed\u00a0Zachary\u00a0behind\u00a0us\u00a0until\u00a0Selene\u00a0softly\u00a0spoke\u00a0to\u00a0him,\u00a0explaining\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0minor<\/p>\n
panic\u00a0attack.<\/p>\n
Was\u00a0that\u00a0what\u00a0that\u00a0was?\u00a0A\u00a0panic\u00a0attack?<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u00a0I\u00a0suppose\u00a0all\u00a0has\u00a0been\u00a0said\u00a0for\u00a0this\u00a0evening,\u201d\u00a0Zachary\u00a0said,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0finding\u00a0mine\u00a0briefly\u00a0before\u00a0his<\/p>\n
attention\u00a0returned\u00a0to\u00a0Gavin.\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019ll\u00a0talk\u00a0more\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0near\u00a0future.\u00a0Just\u00a0think\u00a0about\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0said.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gavin\u2019s\u00a0body\u00a0was\u00a0tense,\u00a0but\u00a0he\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0murmured,\u00a0his\u00a0hand\u00a0rubbing\u00a0soothing\u00a0circles\u00a0along\u00a0my back,\u00a0anchoring\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0him.\u00a0My\u00a0wolf\u00a0immediately\u00a0felt\u00a0calmer,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0breathing\u00a0had\u00a0finally\u00a0slowed\u00a0back\u00a0down\u00a0to\u00a0its\u00a0normal\u00a0rate.<\/p>\n
We\u00a0left\u00a0the\u00a0nursery\u00a0behind,\u00a0but\u00a0its\u00a0air\u00a0clung\u00a0to\u00a0me,\u00a0thick\u00a0and\u00a0wrong.\u00a0Even\u00a0in\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0arms,\u00a0my\u00a0chest\u00a0still\u00a0ached,\u00a0as\u00a0though\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0had\u00a0stolen\u00a0something from\u00a0me\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0name.<\/p>\n
Zachary\u2019s\u00a0words\u00a0echoed\u00a0behind\u00a0us,\u00a0smooth\u00a0and\u00a0measured,\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0see\u00a0you\u00a0soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
But\u00a0it\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0his\u00a0voice\u00a0that\u00a0followed\u00a0me\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0night\u2026\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0Esme\u2019s.<\/p>\n
As\u00a0Gavin\u00a0guided\u00a0me\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0front\u00a0hall,\u00a0her\u00a0hair\u00a0sat\u00a0at\u00a0the far end,\u00a0waiting\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0shadow.\u00a0Her\u00a0milky\u00a0eyes\u00a0found\u00a0mine,\u00a0unblinking,\u00a0ancient.<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0lips\u00a0parted\u00a0slightly,\u00a0and\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0soft,\u00a0yet\u00a0raspy\u00a0and\u00a0unused\u00a0voice,\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0the\u00a0words\u00a0that\u00a0haunted\u00a0my\u00a0dreams.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlood\u00a0calls\u00a0to\u00a0blood.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0Gavin,\u00a0wondering\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0had heard\u00a0and\u00a0seen\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0had,\u00a0but\u00a0his\u00a0focus was\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0front\u00a0door,\u00a0his\u00a0frown\u00a0deep\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0worry\u00a0lines\u00a0on\u00a0his\u00a0face\u00a0prominent.\u00a0I\u00a0glanced\u00a0back\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0direction\u00a0of\u00a0Esme,\u00a0and\u00a0my heart\u00a0lurched\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0saw\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0gone\u00a0like\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0been\u00a0there,\u00a0a\u00a0whisper\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0wind\u00a0or\u00a0a\u00a0forgotten\u00a0shadow\u00a0in the\u00a0corner.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0stumbled,\u00a0clutching\u00a0Gavin\u2019s arm.\u00a0He\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0instantly,\u00a0his body\u00a0tensing\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0look\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0pale,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said\u00a0softly.\u00a0\u201cWhat\u00a0is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0whispered,\u00a0though\u00a0the\u00a0word\u00a0tasted\u00a0like a\u00a0lie.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0rested my\u00a0hand\u00a0over\u00a0my\u00a0belly\u00a0as\u00a0his\u00a0arm\u00a0tightened\u00a0around\u00a0me.\u00a0My\u00a0wolf was\u00a0silent\u00a0now,\u00a0but\u00a0not\u00a0calm.\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0waiting\u2026\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0listening.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0pushed\u00a0the\u00a0front\u00a0doors\u00a0open\u00a0and\u00a0stood\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0cool\u00a0night\u00a0breeze,\u00a0taking\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0calming outdoors.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s\u00a0go\u00a0home,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0whispered.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0nodded in\u00a0agreement,\u00a0wanting\u00a0nothing\u00a0more\u00a0than to\u00a0leave\u00a0with\u00a0my\u00a0mate.<\/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 753 Chapter\u00a0753\u00a0 Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV The\u00a0halls\u00a0stretched long\u00a0and\u00a0dark;\u00a0moonlight\u00a0slanted\u00a0through\u00a0high\u00a0windows.\u00a0Selene\u00a0moved\u00a0with\u00a0grace,\u00a0her\u00a0hand\u00a0trailing\u00a0along\u00a0the\u00a0walls,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0slowed\u00a0when\u00a0a\u00a0door\u00a0creaked\u00a0faintly\u00a0open\u00a0on\u00a0our\u00a0left. \u201cEsme\u00a0used\u00a0to\u00a0spend\u00a0a\u00a0lot\u00a0of\u00a0time in\u00a0here,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0told\u00a0me,\u00a0stepping\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0room. […]<\/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-21822","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\/21822","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=21822"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21822\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}