Chapter\u00a0773<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0773<\/p>\n
Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
The\u00a0look\u00a0on\u00a0Irene\u2019s\u00a0face\u00a0was\u00a0heartbreaking.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0clear\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0trying\u00a0so\u00a0hard\u00a0not\u00a0to\u00a0cry.\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0wrap\u00a0her\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0arms\u00a0and\u00a0hug\u00a0her,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0also\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0make\u00a0a\u00a0scene\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0trying\u00a0hard\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0casual.\u00a0She\u00a0kept\u00a0looking\u00a0out\u00a0the\u00a0window,\u00a0like\u00a0she\u00a0expected\u00a0Chuck\u00a0to\u00a0just\u00a0show\u00a0up,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0he\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0going\u00a0to.\u00a0I\u00a0overheard\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0gammas\u00a0saying\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0retreat\u00a0this\u00a0evening\u00a0and\u00a0that\u00a0most\u00a0were\u00a0attending.\u00a0I\u00a0assumed\u00a0that\u00a0meant\u00a0Chuck\u00a0as\u00a0well,\u00a0though\u00a0some\u00a0did\u00a0stay\u00a0behind\u00a0for\u00a0security\u00a0purposes.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u00a0could\u00a0smell\u00a0like\u00a0him\u00a0for\u00a0any\u00a0reason,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0tried\u00a0to\u00a0reassure\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cMaybe\u00a0they\u00a0are\u00a0friends.\u00a0They\u00a0could\u00a0have\u00a0passed\u00a0by\u00a0each\u00a0other,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0still\u00a0carry\u00a0some\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0scent\u00a0from\u00a0just\u00a0their\u00a0arms\u00a0touching.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0shook\u00a0her\u00a0head,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0averted\u00a0from\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe\u00a0scene\u00a0is\u00a0stronger\u00a0than\u00a0that,\u201d\u00a0she said\u00a0softly.\u00a0\u201cMuch\u00a0stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe\u00a0a relative?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0come\u00a0up\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0logical\u00a0explanation.\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0know\u00a0that\u00a0when\u00a0you\u00a0are\u00a0related\u00a0to\u00a0someone,\u00a0sharing\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0blood,\u00a0you\u00a0can\u00a0carry\u00a0a\u00a0similar\u00a0or\u00a0even\u00a0the\u00a0same scent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though\u00a0Chuck\u00a0had\u00a0said\u00a0he\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0really\u00a0have\u00a0any\u00a0family.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0narrowed\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0at\u00a0me,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0see\u00a0the\u00a0look\u00a0of\u00a0disbelief\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0face\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou,\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0everyone,\u00a0should\u00a0know\u00a0that\u00a0we\u00a0can\u00a0tell\u00a0the\u00a0difference,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0shaking\u00a0her\u00a0head\u00a0at\u00a0my<\/p>\n
words.<\/p>\n
My\u00a0cheeks\u00a0flushed;\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0right.\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0that\u00a0we could\u00a0tell\u00a0the\u00a0difference.\u00a0I\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0breath,\u00a0not\u00a0sure<\/p>\n
what\u00a0more\u00a0to\u00a0say.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey,\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0going\u00a0on?\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0asked\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0approached.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0are\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0head\u00a0to\u00a0our\u00a0rooms.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0excited\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0what\u00a0mine\u00a0looks\u00a0like.\u00a0Erik\u00a0went\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0other\u00a0gammas\u00a0to\u00a0bring\u00a0our\u00a0things\u00a0to\u00a0our\u00a0rooms\u00a0before\u00a0they\u00a0head\u00a0to\u00a0theirs.\u00a0We\u00a0are\u00a0just\u00a0waiting\u00a0for\u00a0you\u00a0two\u00a0before\u00a0we\u00a0follow them\u00a0up.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0glanced\u00a0behind\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0that\u00a0Gavin,\u00a0Chester,\u00a0Taylor,\u00a0and\u00a0Eliza\u00a0were indeed\u00a0waiting.\u00a0Gavin\u00a0was\u00a0staring\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0worried\u00a0expression\u00a0on\u00a0his\u00a0face.\u00a0His\u00a0eyes\u00a0flickered to\u00a0his\u00a0daughter\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0back\u00a0at\u00a0me.\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0look\u00a0on\u00a0his\u00a0face and his\u00a0subtle\u00a0expression\u00a0that\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0silently\u00a0asking\u00a0me\u00a0if\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0okay.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0gave\u00a0him\u00a0a\u00a0quick\u00a0nod\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0gestured\u00a0with\u00a0my\u00a0hand\u00a0to\u00a0give\u00a0us\u00a0a\u00a0moment.\u00a0I\u00a0turned\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0Irene.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0okay?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cTruly?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0know,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0admitted,\u00a0nibbling\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0lower\u00a0lip.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0just\u00a0too\u00a0much.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0not\u00a0sure if\u00a0this\u00a0is\u00a0a<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0773<\/p>\n
good\u00a0idea\u00a0after\u00a0all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWait,\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0going\u00a0on?\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0asked\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0frown,\u00a0staring\u00a0between\u00a0the\u00a0two\u00a0of\u00a0us.<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u00a0woman\u00a0over\u00a0there\u2026\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0check\u2013in\u00a0desk\u2026\u00a0she\u00a0smells\u00a0like\u00a0Chuck.\u00a0Like\u00a0strongly.\u00a0Like\u00a0they\u2019ve\u00a0been\u00a0together,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0murmured,\u00a0making\u00a0Nan\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0grow\u00a0wide.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u00a0could\u00a0mean\u00a0anything,\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0tried\u00a0to\u00a0say,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0stopped\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve\u00a0already\u00a0tried\u00a0that,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said\u00a0softly.\u00a0\u201cIrene\u00a0was\u00a0right,\u00a0we\u2019d\u00a0be\u00a0able\u00a0to\u00a0know\u00a0the\u00a0difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0you\u00a0have\u00a0felt\u00a0it\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0were\u00a0with another\u00a0woman?\u00a0You\u00a0wolf\u00a0would\u00a0feel\u00a0it,\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0suggested,\u00a0her\u00a0brows\u00a0raised.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0marked\u00a0her,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0shaking\u00a0my\u00a0head.\u00a0\u201cAnd\u00a0they\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0together\u00a0long\u00a0enough\u00a0to\u00a0form\u00a0a\u00a0strong\u00a0bond\u00a0like\u00a0that.\u00a0So,\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0distance\u00a0between them,\u00a0she\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0feel\u00a0anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0not\u00a0helping,\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0murmured,\u00a0folding\u00a0her\u00a0arms\u00a0across\u00a0her\u00a0chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0need\u00a0helpful,\u00a0I\u00a0need\u00a0logic,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0argued\u00a0back.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u00a0let\u2019s\u00a0not\u00a0fight,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0holding\u00a0up\u00a0my\u00a0hands.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0the\u00a0enemies,\u00a0and\u00a0we aren\u2019t here\u00a0to\u00a0pick\u00a0with\u00a0each\u00a0other.\u00a0We\u00a0are\u00a0here\u00a0to\u00a0help\u00a0Irene\u00a0and\u00a0figure\u00a0out what\u00a0her mate\u00a0is\u00a0hiding.\u00a0It\u00a0might\u00a0not\u00a0be\u00a0as\u00a0bad\u00a0as\u00a0we\u00a0think,\u00a0or\u00a0it\u00a0might\u00a0be\u00a0worse.\u00a0We\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0actually\u00a0know\u00a0anything\u00a0yet.\u00a0So,\u00a0let\u2019s\u00a0just\u00a0take\u00a0this\u00a0one\u00a0step\u00a0at\u00a0a\u00a0time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry,\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0right.\u00a0We\u00a0are here\u00a0for\u00a0Irene.\u00a0Despite\u00a0what\u00a0they\u00a0might\u00a0think,\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0said,\u00a0motioning\u00a0to\u00a0behind\u00a0her\u00a0where\u00a0the\u00a0others\u00a0still\u00a0stood.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0bit\u00a0my\u00a0lower\u00a0lip.<\/p>\n
\u201cActually,\u00a0I\u00a0might\u00a0have\u00a0told\u00a0Gavin\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0real\u00a0reason\u00a0behind\u00a0us\u00a0being\u00a0here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0what?!\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0and\u00a0Irene\u00a0nearly\u00a0shouted.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow\u00a0could\u00a0you\u00a0tell\u00a0my\u00a0father??\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0asked,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0wide\u00a0with\u00a0horror.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s\u00a0my\u00a0mate\u2026\u00a0I\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0lie\u00a0to\u00a0him.\u00a0He\u00a0knew\u00a0something\u00a0was\u00a0up\u00a0and\u00a0asked\u00a0me\u00a0about\u00a0it.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0worry,\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0not\u00a0upset.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u00a0will\u00a0kill\u00a0Chuck\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0opportunity\u00a0he\u00a0gets,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0hissed.\u00a0\u201cHe\u00a0has\u00a0a\u00a0temper.\u00a0You\u00a0know\u00a0this!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u00a0well,\u00a0if\u00a0Chuck\u00a0is\u00a0really\u00a0being\u00a0faithful,\u00a0then there\u2019s nothing\u00a0to\u00a0worry\u00a0about.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0opened\u00a0her\u00a0mouth\u00a0to\u00a0say\u00a0something,\u00a0but then\u00a0clamped\u00a0her\u00a0lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0should\u00a0get\u00a0to\u00a0our\u00a0rooms,\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0said\u00a0again.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0exhausted,\u00a0and\u00a0if\u00a0we\u00a0are\u00a0expected\u00a0to\u00a0attend\u00a0a\u00a0dinner\u00a0tonight,\u00a0I\u00a0need\u00a0my\u00a0beauty\u00a0sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
2\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0774<\/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 773 Chapter\u00a0773 Chapter\u00a0773 Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV +25\u00a0BONUS The\u00a0look\u00a0on\u00a0Irene\u2019s\u00a0face\u00a0was\u00a0heartbreaking.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0clear\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0trying\u00a0so\u00a0hard\u00a0not\u00a0to\u00a0cry.\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0wrap\u00a0her\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0arms\u00a0and\u00a0hug\u00a0her,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0also\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0make\u00a0a\u00a0scene\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0trying\u00a0hard\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0casual.\u00a0She\u00a0kept\u00a0looking\u00a0out\u00a0the\u00a0window,\u00a0like\u00a0she\u00a0expected\u00a0Chuck\u00a0to\u00a0just\u00a0show\u00a0up,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0he\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0going\u00a0to.\u00a0I\u00a0overheard\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0gammas\u00a0saying\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0retreat\u00a0this\u00a0evening\u00a0and\u00a0that\u00a0most\u00a0were\u00a0attending.\u00a0I\u00a0assumed\u00a0that\u00a0meant\u00a0Chuck\u00a0as\u00a0well,\u00a0though\u00a0some\u00a0did\u00a0stay\u00a0behind\u00a0for\u00a0security\u00a0purposes. \u201cShe\u00a0could\u00a0smell\u00a0like\u00a0him\u00a0for\u00a0any\u00a0reason,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0tried\u00a0to\u00a0reassure\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cMaybe\u00a0they\u00a0are\u00a0friends.\u00a0They\u00a0could\u00a0have\u00a0passed\u00a0by\u00a0each\u00a0other,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0still\u00a0carry\u00a0some\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0scent\u00a0from\u00a0just\u00a0their\u00a0arms\u00a0touching.\u201d […]<\/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 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