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Chapter 26. Warmth.
Last Updated:
2024-12-17 13:29:11
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Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 27. Lip lock.
They're all of him - Jackson as a child, his eyes already holding that otherworldly awareness that sets him apart. Jackson, as a teenager, was tall and awkward in a way she never imagined he could be. Jackson as a young man, his features settling into the cold mask she knows so well. But in every single picture, he's alone. No parents, no siblings, no friends. Just him, his expression growing progressively more closed off with each passing year.The images paint a picture of isolation that makes something in Maya's chest ache, despite everything. She remembers the way he'd looked at their children that day during breakfast - with a mixture of mild confusion and barely any bewilderment in his eyes as if he couldn't quite believe they were real, as if he was stunned by their existence.A cry pierces the air.High pitched and reedy.“Let me go! I want mama!"Maya's heart skips a beat.Its one of the triplets - and they sound scared.Unacceptable. Maya's maternal instincts override e
Last Updated : 2024-12-25Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 28. Bedrest.
Maya wakes the next day with cautious hope.Her body feels less like it's being consumed by fire today, though weakness still clings to her limbs like a persistent fog.The massive bedroom, with its dark wood panels and antique furniture, feels more like a gilded cage than ever before.She pushes herself up against the ornate headboard, wincing at the residual ache in her muscles.The clock on the mantelpiece reads just past eight in the morning, and already she can hear the distant sounds of children's laughter echoing through the mansion's halls.Her babies.Her heart aches with the need to see them.A soft knock at the door precedes the entrance of a maid - the first she has seen since arriving here.The woman, probably in her fifties with steel-gray hair pulled into a severe bun
Last Updated : 2024-12-26Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 29. A taste of Fatherhood.
The sight before Maya is nothing short of extraordinary.The normally immaculate Jackson Carter, the terror of the supernatural world and embodiment of cold authority, is on his hands and knees in what appears to be a desperate pursuit of three very naked, very gleeful seven-year-olds.His expensive suit jacket lies discarded on a chair, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his usually perfect hair falls across his forehead in disarray."Aiden," he calls out, his voice carrying an unmistakable note of exhaustion as he reaches for the closest child, who giggles and darts away with supernatural speed. "Please, just put on your pajamas.""Can't catch me!" Aiden sing-songs, zooming past the alpha with a flash of bare skin and a mischievous grin.Jackson's head drops forward in defeat for a moment before he turns his attention to his daughter. "Rose
Last Updated : 2024-12-27Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 30. Murderer.
The room falls into a charged silence as Maya and Jackson stare at each other, the air between them thick with unspoken words.Maya can feel the bond humming beneath her skin, more insistent than usual, making her acutely aware of his presence.Jackson's eyes, those impossibly bright eyes that seem to hold centuries of secrets, don't waver from her face."Story time! Story time!" Aiden's voice breaks through the tension, followed quickly by his siblings' eager chants."We want the dragon story!""No, the fairy one!" Rose protests, her small face scrunching up in annoyance."Pirates!" Eli contributes, bouncing on his bed with enough force to make the expensive wooden frame creak.Maya clears her throat and looks away from Jackson, grateful for the interruption. "All right, all right," she says, trying to hide how flustere
Last Updated : 2024-12-28Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 31. Madness.
Maya freezes in the act of smoothing Eli's blanket. "Had?""I killed him."The words fall into the room like stones into a still pond, creating ripples of silence. Before Maya can process this revelation, let alone respond, Jackson is gone, the door clicking shut behind him with quiet finality.***For several long moments, Maya stands rooted to the spot, her mind spinning with this new information. Then, without quite deciding to do so, she finds herself moving toward the door. She needs answers and needs to understand what could have led to such a terrible confession.The hallway is empty when she steps out, but she can hear movement from somewhere below. Following the sounds, she nearly collides with Mrs. Henderson coming around a corner."Maam! You should be resting," the older woman says, though her usual stern demeanor seems somewhat forced."I need to speak with Jackson, Carmen," Maya says, trying to step around her.Carmens face closes off immediately. "I'm afraid Mr. Cart
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 32. The Guest.
She presses the phone into Maya's hands, her eyes constantly moving, watching for any sign of discovery. "Please be careful. If Master Jackson finds out...""He won't," Maya assures her, quickly tucking the phone into the pocket of her dress. "Thank you."The maid gives a short nod before slipping away, vanishing among the towering bookshelves as silently as she appeared. Maya waits a few moments, ensuring no one else is around, before hurrying from the library. Her feet carry her swiftly through the mansion's corridors.When she finally reaches her room, she closes the door behind her with trembling hands, turning the lock with an audible click. The phone feels like it's burning a hole in her pocket. She pulls it out, her fingers shaking as she powers it on and finds the single number stored in its memory.The phone rings three times before a familiar voice answers. "Maya?""Yuri," she breathes, tears suddenly springing to her eyes at the sound of her lover's voice. "Oh god, Yuri
Last Updated : 2025-01-01Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 33. Stolen.
Later, after tucking the exhausted children into bed, Maya retreats to her room, her hands shaking as she pulls out the hidden phone. She dials Yuri's number, pressing the device so hard against her ear that it hurts. Each unanswered ring sends a fresh wave of panic through her body. One call. Two calls. Five calls. Ten calls."The number you're trying to reach is currently unavailable. Please leave a message after the tone...""Yuri," she whispers into the phone, her voice cracking. "Please, please pick up. Something's wrong. The children... they're so scared, and Jackson... I need you. Please call me back." She ends the call and immediately dials again, her heart racing faster with each failed attempt.After what feels like hours of trying, Maya drops the phone onto her lap, running her hands through her hair in frustration. This isn't like Yuri at all. He's always been there, always answered her calls, even in the middle of the night. The silence from his end feels wrong, omin
Last Updated : 2025-01-02Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 34. Page's Scheme.
Cold silence spread throughout the mansion. Panic and worry engulfed the eyes of the maids and guards, this was all far too crazy to digest, to think that it all happened just like that in a single snap of the finger, Maya had lost her boys.No! They weren’t lost, they were stolen from her.A familiar silent footstep carefully approaches her from behind as she sobs on the floor.“Madam,” Mrs. Page called harshly as if intending to snap her off her daydreaming; she certainly was not giving a damn about reading the room. All heads turn, and a small gasp escapes the lips of the concerned maids, but Maya remains unchanged. Her head lowered with Rose wrapped tightly in her arms as though she had gone mad. If someone were to tell her that she would be in a worse fate than she was years ago, she’d laugh it off, but now here she was, weeping for her children.Of course, Mrs Page did not take it too well that she was being ignored.“Would everyone stop staring like you had just watched an op
Last Updated : 2025-01-03
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Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 47. I know Who You Are.
Maya falls silent, unable to meet his gaze. She knows, deep down, that he's right.He was trying. It wasn't enough. Nothing would ever be enough for the pain her children suffered but Jackson had shown her by letting them go that he was willing to make amends.But that doesn't mean she wants this. She doesn't want to be bound to Jackson, to be forced to live a life she never chose."I need some time," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need some time to think."Jackson pauses, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nods slowly. "I understand. But don't take too long, Maya.” He warns cooly.She rises to her feet, needing to escape the suffocating confines of the room. "I'm going to check on the kids," she says, avoiding his gaze.Panic flashes in Jackson's eyes, and he reaches out, his hand closing around her arm. "Maya, please… don't leave. Not yet."His touch sends a jolt through her, a confusing mix of revulsion and… something else. Something she doesn't want to acknowl
Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 46. Mates.
When Maya awakens, the first thing she registers is the oppressive quiet. It's a silence that hums, a silence that feels heavy with unspoken words and unseen eyes. Then comes the scent – a blend of old wood, ink, and something distinctly Jackson.Her eyes flutter open, and there he is. Jackson.Sitting in the familiar armchair, his gaze fixed on her face, an intensity in his eyes that made her skin crawl. (It was as if he was trying to memorize every inch of her as if she were some fragile, precious thing under a microscope)She froze, every nerve screaming with danger. His eyes were dark, intense, unblinking. The room around her was dimly lit by the weak morning sun filtering through heavy drapes — the familiar antique furniture, the thick burgundy curtains, the heavy scent of old wood and leather. She was back. Back in Jackson’s family house.Hadn't she left here?Why was she back?A jolt of discomfort shoots through her immediately.She shifts slightly, pulling the silk sheet
Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 45. To Let Go.
Let it be known to all that Jackson has never been a man of words.He leads best with action, with silence, with the understanding that power is best wielded when controlled. But for the first time in his life, he finds himself at a complete loss.Because no matter what he says, no matter how many times he tries—Maya won’t listen.It begins the morning after everything came crashing down.Jackson stands outside her bedroom door, his fingers curled into a fist, poised to knock.For a man who has built his reputation on fear, on command, on the unshakable belief that he is always the strongest in any room imhe steps into—he hesitates.Then he exhales sharply, schooling his features into his usual unreadable mask, and knocks.No response. He knocks again, firmer this time. “Maya.”Silence.His jaw tightens. “I know you’re in there.”More petulant silence.Then, finally—her voice, muffled through the thick wooden door.“Go away.”Jackson clenches his jaw.“I need to talk to you.” His vo
Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 44. Abuse.
Jackson watches as the tutors—these same people now groaning at his feet—stand over the triplets, their voices crisp with artificial kindness, their smiles hollow. He watches as Rose hesitates to answer a question. Sees how her small hands tremble, how she glances at her brothers, searching for reassurance. Then— The cold, cruel verdict. Jackson’s jaw tightens. He watches as Aiden raises his hand. Sees the way his little shoulders tense, the way he steps forward without hesitation. And then— The first strike. Jackson doesn’t move. Doesn’t speak. The second strike lands, and his fingers curl into a fist. The third— His breath stops. The boy doesn’t make a sound. Doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t cry. It's not the first time this has happened.Jackson feels something twist inside him, something that makes his stomach lurch and his chest tighten in a way he can’t explain. (The memories he tries to keep buried thrash within him, struggling to rise to the forefro
Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 43. Blame.
The study remains silent, thick with emotions. Maya stands in the centre of the room, the golf club resting against her shoulder like a battle-worn sword. The air is sharp with the scent of sweat and fear, broken only by the ragged breathing of the two tutors groaning on the floor. The triplets remain seated at their desks but slowly inch towards each other in the aftermath, seeming to derive comfort from each other. The sight of it ignites something primal in Maya’s chest. Then— The door creaks open. The sound is almost hesitant as if whoever is entering already senses something is wrong. Maya turns slowly, her grip tightening on the club. The tall third tutor steps inside, tall and wiry with a neatly pressed suit and round spectacles. His brow furrows at the eerie stillness of the room. Then his gaze sweeps over the scene— The toppled chairs. The tutors sprawled on the floor, clutching their injuries. The triplets were eerily composed. And finally— Maya. Hi
Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 42. Golf.
Jackson drives with one hand on the wheel, the other resting against the car door. His gaze flickers toward Maya every few seconds, but she remains eerily silent, her posture stiff, her expression unreadable. That alone is enough to put him on edge. He’s used to Maya being many things—angry, defiant, impulsive. But this? This composed stillness? It’s unsettling. She stares straight ahead, her fingers lightly tapping against her knee in a slow, methodical rhythm. It’s not a nervous tic—it’s calculated, almost as if she’s counting the seconds. Jackson exhales through his nose. “Are you going to tell me what this is about?” Maya doesn’t respond. His grip on the wheel tightens slightly. “You storm into my office like you own the place, demand that I follow you, and now you won’t even tell me why?” Nothing. Jackson’s jaw tics. “You’re being dramatic.” Maya finally shifts, just slightly, but her eyes remain focused on the road. “You’ll see soon enough.” Her voice is
Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 41. Observation is Key.
Maya returns to the manor, bracing herself for another painful encounter with her sons. But what she doesn’t expect— Is to find them diligently attending class.Maya lingers outside the study where they are, pressing her ear to the door. The children’s voices are faint—too faint. She inhales, schooling her expression before stepping inside. The triplets sit at a long wooden table, their hands folded neatly atop their desks. Three tutors stand at the front of the room, their presence suffocating in its rigid formality. Maya barely suppresses a scowl. She doesn’t trust them. But she needs proof before she can get rid of them.Jackson won't listen if she doesn't have it and she knows mentioning her visit to his grandmother would just lead to more tension.She steps forward, folding her arms. “I’d like to sit in on the lesson.” One of the tutors, a woman with sharp cheekbones and sleek black hair, turns. “That won’t be necessary.” Maya stiffens. “Excuse me?” “The ch
Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 40. A Way Around.
Two days pass. And nothing changes. The boys remain distant, their eyes dull and their words clipped. They only speak when spoken to. They only interact with her at meal times, and even then, they keep their answers short. Rose is torn. She clings to Maya whenever she can, seeking comfort, but she also keeps looking at her brothers—unsure whether to follow their lead or stay by her mother’s side. Maya tries. She really tries.She sits with them at breakfast and attempts to engage them in conversation. Nothing. She invites them to play, to read, to go outside. Nothing. She even bakes their favorite cookies—warm, gooey chocolate chip, the ones they always fight over. They eat them in silence. No smiles. No laughter. No, ‘Mama, can I have more?’ Maya breaks. The third night, after another failed attempt to reach them, she snaps. “Enough,” she says, slamming her hands onto the dinner table. The triplets flinch. Maya’s voice trembles. “I don’t care what’s
Alpha's Runaway Bride. Chapter 39. Crush
Maya had stopped struggling against Jackson's grip long ago, resigning herself to the humiliation of being slung over his broad shoulder like a sack of rice. The rhythmic sway of his strides does nothing to ease her seething anger. Her arms are tightly crossed, her nails digging into her skin as she glared daggers at the back of his head. She’d already tried pounding against his back, wiggling like a fish out of water, and even whispering threats in his ear—all to no avail. The man was a walking fortress, unshaken by her tantrum. Her blood boils as they near the sleek black car waiting for them. The moment he sets her down on the pavement, she wrenches herself from his hold, her feet hitting the ground with force. Maya huffs in exasperation, flipping her messy hair over her shoulder as she shoots him a look of pure venom. “You are insufferable,” she spits, stomping toward the car before he could drag her again. Jackson says nothing, merely opens the door and gestures for h
