Chapter\u00a0771<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0771\u00a0<\/p>\n
Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
The\u00a0landing\u00a0gear\u00a0thudded\u00a0against\u00a0the\u00a0runway,\u00a0jolting\u00a0me\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0half\u2013sleep.\u00a0Pale\u00a0light\u00a0poured\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0oval\u00a0windows,\u00a0welcoming\u00a0a\u00a0new\u00a0day\u00a0for\u00a0France.\u00a0We\u00a0had\u00a0flown\u00a0all\u00a0day\u00a0to\u00a0reach\u00a0our\u00a0destination,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0beyond\u00a0exhausted\u00a0and\u00a0jetlagged.<\/p>\n
Gavin\u00a0kissed\u00a0my\u00a0temple\u00a0before\u00a0he\u00a0stood,\u00a0offering\u00a0his\u00a0hand\u00a0to\u00a0help\u00a0me\u00a0up.\u00a0I\u00a0took\u00a0it\u00a0without\u00a0hesitation\u00a0and\u00a0allowed\u00a0him\u00a0to\u00a0pull\u00a0me\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0plane\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0others.\u00a0When\u00a0we\u00a0stepped\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0plane,\u00a0the\u00a0air\u00a0was\u00a0cooler,\u00a0crisper,\u00a0carrying\u00a0a\u00a0faint\u00a0scent of\u00a0rain\u00a0and\u00a0pine.\u00a0The\u00a0mountains\u00a0that\u00a0edged\u00a0the\u00a0horizon\u00a0looked\u00a0like\u00a0they\u2019d\u00a0been carved\u00a0from\u00a0mist\u00a0and\u00a0memory.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0sleek black\u00a0SUV\u00a0waited\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0tarmac.\u00a0Standing\u00a0beside\u00a0it\u00a0was a\u00a0tall\u00a0man\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0tailored\u00a0gray\u00a0coat,\u00a0his\u00a0dark\u00a0hair\u00a0perfectly\u00a0swept\u00a0back,\u00a0his\u00a0stance\u00a0radiating\u00a0the\u00a0kind\u00a0of\u00a0confidence\u00a0that\u00a0came\u00a0from\u00a0being\u00a0second\u2013in\u2013command.\u00a0I\u00a0already\u00a0knew\u00a0who\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0because\u00a0I\u00a0recognized\u00a0his\u00a0appearance\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0Gamma\u00a0competitions.\u00a0He\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0there\u00a0the\u00a0entire\u00a0time,\u00a0but\u00a0he\u00a0appeared\u00a0occasionally\u00a0beside\u00a0Alpha<\/p>\n
Jeremy,\u00a0and\u00a0even\u00a0then,\u00a0his\u00a0confidence\u00a0was\u00a0evident.<\/p>\n
\u201cMonsieur\u00a0Alpha\u00a0Landry.\u00a0Luna\u00a0Landry,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said,\u00a0nodding\u00a0at\u00a0both\u00a0Gavin\u00a0and\u00a0me.\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0bother\u00a0correcting\u00a0him,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0pleased\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0that\u00a0neither\u00a0did\u00a0Gavin.\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0a\u00a0Luna\u00a0yet,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0suppose\u00a0that\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0matter\u00a0because\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0as\u00a0soon\u00a0as\u00a0we\u00a0did\u00a0the\u00a0ceremony.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0am\u00a0Raul\u00a0Delcour,\u00a0Beta\u00a0of<\/p>\n
the\u00a0Blood\u00a0Thorne\u00a0Pack.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raul\u2019s\u00a0voice\u00a0was\u00a0smooth\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0French accent\u00a0that\u00a0wrapped around\u00a0every\u00a0word.\u00a0We\u00a0were\u00a0truly\u00a0in\u00a0France,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0giddy\u00a0with\u00a0excitement.<\/p>\n
Gavin\u00a0offered\u00a0his\u00a0hand,\u00a0shaking\u00a0Raul\u2019s\u00a0firmly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0appreciate\u00a0the\u00a0welcome,\u00a0Beta.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raul\u00a0stepped\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0our\u00a0group\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0whole;\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0assessing\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0thinking\u00a0about<\/p>\n
something.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0have\u00a0set\u00a0you\u00a0up\u00a0in\u00a0our\u00a0most\u00a0luxurious\u00a0hotels.\u00a0However,\u00a0there\u00a0has\u00a0been\u00a0a\u00a0slight\u00a0delay,\u00a0so\u00a0Alpha\u00a0Jeremy\u00a0asks\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0take\u00a0you\u00a0straight\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0packhouse,\u201d\u00a0Raul\u00a0said,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0finding\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0again.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf\u00a0course,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said,\u00a0nodding\u00a0his\u00a0head.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0gammas that\u00a0came\u00a0along\u00a0with\u00a0us\u00a0loaded\u00a0the\u00a0SUV\u00a0with\u00a0our\u00a0belongings\u00a0before\u00a0they\u00a0went\u00a0over to\u00a0speak\u00a0with\u00a0Erik.\u00a0After\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0moments,\u00a0they\u00a0parted\u00a0ways.\u00a0They\u00a0went\u00a0into\u00a0another\u00a0car\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0French\u00a0gammas\u00a0while\u00a0Erik\u00a0accompanied\u00a0us.<\/p>\n
Once\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0all\u00a0piled\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0SUV,\u00a0Raul\u00a0drove\u00a0us\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0packhouse.\u00a0The\u00a0drive\u00a0took\u00a0less\u00a0than\u00a030\u00a0minutes,\u00a0winding\u00a0through\u00a0narrow\u00a0roads\u00a0flanked\u00a0by\u00a0thick\u00a0woods\u00a0and\u00a0stone\u00a0fences\u00a0draped\u00a0in\u00a0ivy.\u00a0It\u00a0felt\u00a0centuries\u00a0away\u00a0from\u00a0Silver\u00a0Crescent\u2019s\u00a0modern sprawl\u2013this\u00a0was\u00a0old\u00a0land,\u00a0sacred\u00a0and\u00a0guarded.<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0771<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
When\u00a0the\u00a0gates\u00a0came\u00a0into\u00a0view,\u00a0I\u00a0inhaled\u00a0sharply.\u00a0The\u00a0Blood\u00a0Thorne\u00a0Packhouse\u00a0was\u00a0more\u00a0a\u00a0chateau\u00a0than\u00a0a\u00a0residence,\u00a0sprawling\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0hillside\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0sleeping\u00a0beast.\u00a0Gray\u00a0stone\u00a0walls\u00a0climbed\u00a0towards\u00a0ornate\u00a0towers,\u00a0every\u00a0window\u00a0glowing\u00a0amber\u00a0against\u00a0the\u00a0overcast\u00a0sky.<\/p>\n
As\u00a0the\u00a0car\u00a0rolled\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0stop,\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0wolves\u00a0in\u00a0dark\u00a0uniforms\u00a0bowed\u00a0respectfully.\u00a0Their\u00a0movements\u00a0were\u00a0precise,\u00a0almost\u00a0rehearsed,\u00a0the\u00a0kind\u00a0of\u00a0discipline\u00a0you\u00a0only\u00a0saw\u00a0in\u00a0packs\u00a0where\u00a0tradition\u00a0ruled\u00a0everything.<\/p>\n
Raul\u00a0led\u00a0up the\u00a0steps.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease,\u00a0this\u00a0way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Inside,\u00a0the\u00a0air\u00a0smelled\u00a0faintly\u00a0of\u00a0oak,\u00a0firewood,\u00a0and\u00a0something\u00a0older\u2026.\u00a0Incident\u00a0magic,\u00a0maybe?\u00a0Chandeliers\u00a0hung\u00a0low,\u00a0their\u00a0crystals\u00a0scattering\u00a0light\u00a0across\u00a0portraits\u00a0of\u00a0past\u00a0Alphas.<\/p>\n
Gavin\u00a0placed\u00a0his\u00a0hand\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0small\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0back\u00a0and\u00a0guided\u00a0me\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0packhouse\u00a0behind\u00a0Raul.\u00a0The others\u00a0trailed\u00a0behind\u00a0us,\u00a0all\u00a0looking\u00a0at\u00a0different\u00a0things\u00a0as\u00a0we\u00a0walked.\u00a0The\u00a0grand\u00a0doors\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0end\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0corridor\u00a0opened\u00a0before\u00a0we\u00a0reached them.\u00a0A\u00a0tall man\u00a0stood\u00a0waiting\u00a0inside.\u00a0Alpha\u00a0Jeremy<\/p>\n
himself.<\/p>\n
His\u00a0presence\u00a0filled\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0storm\u00a0contained in\u00a0fine\u00a0clothing.\u00a0Sharp\u00a0blue\u00a0eyes,\u00a0silver\u2013threaded\u00a0hair,\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0kind\u00a0of\u00a0charm\u00a0that\u00a0could\u00a0make\u00a0anyone\u00a0forget\u00a0to\u00a0breathe.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha\u00a0Landry,\u201d\u00a0Jeremy\u00a0greeted,\u00a0smiling\u00a0widely,\u00a0taking\u00a0his\u00a0hand\u00a0and\u00a0clapping\u00a0him\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0back\u00a0in\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0those\u00a0hugs\u00a0that\u00a0guys\u00a0do.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0good\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0as\u00a0well.\u00a0I\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0honest,\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0bit\u00a0surprised\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0received\u00a0your\u00a0invitation.\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0think\u00a0you\u2019d\u00a0ever\u00a0invite\u00a0outsiders\u00a0to\u00a0your\u00a0territory.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTimes\u00a0are\u00a0changing,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0figured\u00a0after\u00a0all\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0been\u00a0through\u00a0with\u00a0Levi,\u00a0you\u00a0deserved\u00a0to\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0fun.\u00a0What\u00a0better\u00a0way\u00a0to\u00a0have\u00a0fun\u00a0than\u00a0at\u00a0my\u00a0masquerade?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0argue\u00a0with\u00a0that,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0laugh.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0sure\u00a0you\u00a0remember\u00a0my\u00a0mate,\u00a0Judy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jeremy\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0flickered\u00a0to\u00a0me,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0bowed\u00a0his\u00a0head\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0took\u00a0hold\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0hand\u00a0and\u00a0brought\u00a0it\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow\u00a0could\u00a0I\u00a0forget\u00a0the\u00a0champion\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Gamma\u00a0competition?\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said,\u00a0placing\u00a0a\u00a0gentle\u00a0kiss\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0knuckles\u00a0before\u00a0releasing\u00a0my\u00a0hand.\u00a0Gavin\u00a0immediately\u00a0grabbed\u00a0my\u00a0hand\u00a0and\u00a0subtly\u00a0wiped the\u00a0moisture\u00a0from\u00a0Jermey\u2019s\u00a0lips\u00a0with\u00a0his\u00a0thumb.\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0fighting\u00a0back\u00a0a\u00a0scowl,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0bit\u00a0my\u00a0lower\u00a0lip\u00a0to\u00a0keep\u00a0from\u00a0grinning\u00a0at\u00a0him.<\/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 771 Chapter\u00a0771 Chapter\u00a0771\u00a0 Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV +25\u00a0BONUS The\u00a0landing\u00a0gear\u00a0thudded\u00a0against\u00a0the\u00a0runway,\u00a0jolting\u00a0me\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0half\u2013sleep.\u00a0Pale\u00a0light\u00a0poured\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0oval\u00a0windows,\u00a0welcoming\u00a0a\u00a0new\u00a0day\u00a0for\u00a0France.\u00a0We\u00a0had\u00a0flown\u00a0all\u00a0day\u00a0to\u00a0reach\u00a0our\u00a0destination,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0beyond\u00a0exhausted\u00a0and\u00a0jetlagged. Gavin\u00a0kissed\u00a0my\u00a0temple\u00a0before\u00a0he\u00a0stood,\u00a0offering\u00a0his\u00a0hand\u00a0to\u00a0help\u00a0me\u00a0up.\u00a0I\u00a0took\u00a0it\u00a0without\u00a0hesitation\u00a0and\u00a0allowed\u00a0him\u00a0to\u00a0pull\u00a0me\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0plane\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0others.\u00a0When\u00a0we\u00a0stepped\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0plane,\u00a0the\u00a0air\u00a0was\u00a0cooler,\u00a0crisper,\u00a0carrying\u00a0a\u00a0faint\u00a0scent […]<\/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-21840","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\/21840","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=21840"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21840\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21840"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21840"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21840"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}