~Sophia~ Justin's kiss was sweeter than the last I remembered. He had stayed away from me for a while, and I was mad at him for it, but I knew he would make it for my eighteenth birthday. I knew he would come, and I anticipated it. He stayed away mainly because he didn’t want to cross the line, but tonight, fate told us it was okay, and we embraced it. My tears could not stop flowing. They were tears of joy and relief. I was grateful. So grateful. Justin lifted me in his arms and carried me inside; my eyes remained fixed on him, not caring about the surroundings. I knew he had put a lot of work into it, but we had to finish our unfinished business before we attended to the other stuff. His gaze remained on mine, making me giggle. “You look so beautiful tonight, Sophia,” he said, and I was glad he liked the effort. It was for him. Laying me on the bed, he kissed me and travelled from my neck to my sweet spot. Justin was a guy who liked to make out a bit rough and overwhelming, b
Thank you all for supporting this story and helping me to bring the characters to Life. It was an amazing journey, mainly because of the overwhelming support I got from all of you. I truly appreciate it. I am grateful for every comment, vote, review and purchase. It kept the book alive.Wild Hearts will be released next week, and Dark Obsession will be released this week. As much as I would love to please everyone, I can only write one book at a time So I planned to go with Wild Hearts, but since some of you have already started Dark Obsession, I will release it and continue to write it gradually. I have decided to run with both books. Once my schedule is better, the update days will improve. For those who are wondering about Dark Obsession, It is a standalone, and you do not need to read Forged in the Flames to enjoy the story. I would love feedback and hope the energy will be the same in that book. I am counting on your support and encouragement. Thank you. 🙏 😊 🤗
~Liam~Sixteen years LaterLiam: 18Sophia: almost 16The music blared loudly, forcing my cousins and me to shout in order to communicate. It made me wonder whose brilliant idea it was to turn the graduation celebration into a club-like event. Furthermore, I couldn't understand why no one bothered to seek our consent for this setup."Have you seen the sisters?" I asked Miles, but he shook his head.Oliver gestured in a direction, and there I found Charlotte, Gemma, and Jewels—the notorious triplets of our class and, coincidentally, my beloved cousins.I pondered what their plans were after graduation. Being immensely popular in school, I was certain they would find something worthwhile to occupy their time.Turning to Marvin, I inquired about Sophia's presence. Once again, the answer was negative. "Isn't she supposed to be here? I thought you two were close," Oliver chimed in, taking a sip of his dubious drink. I refrained from guessing its contents, but I was certain it contained alc
~Liam~ I pushed through the forest, howling my soul, pleading with the moon for peace, hoping for a sign of something that would lead me to Sophia, but I knew I was heading nowhere. How can I have experienced joy, anticipation and hopelessness simultaneously? I berated myself for wasting time, for thinking there would always be time. I believed she would always be there, within my grasp, ready for me when I was ready. Her father had ripped her away from my life for reasons best known to him. Coming to a halt, Alex plopped on the dirt by a tree, mourning our loss because deep down, I knew I might never see her again. "She might reach out on the phone," Alex thought, and with that, a glimmer of hope rose in my heart. As much as that was a possibility, I wished I had seen her tonight and told her my intentions. What if it is too late by the time she reaches out? "We can utilise the royal resources to find them," Alex said. "You know Father would see that as an abuse of power
~Liam~I was yet to wrap my head around what I had just heard. I sat on the couch, trying to make sense of everything. Beta Mike had gone on a mission with Alpha Thompson. That was what Sophia insinuated, so why the murder? I remembered how he looked when he came from the back of his house. He had just showered, and he seemed a bit uneasy. What could have come over Mike to make him do this? I now understood why Sophia's mother said I couldn't help them. I sat on the chair, clueless and confused. I should be celebrating by now, and Sophia should be with me; instead, there was a shadow of gloom over me."You'll be alright, Li," I heard Harper's voice in my head. I turned towards her, and her eyes were misty where she stood next to Lilly. Eleanor , my younger cousin, was in tears, too, and Gemma was consoling her.How could my life take a turn in one night?"It gets better, Liam," My Grandmother said, and I looked at her and shook my head."I never got to say goodbye or tell her how I f
~Liam~I remained with my back against the tree, thinking about how best to handle the matter with Sophia. Letting go wasn't going to be an option. How could I lead one day if I could not save the girl I wanted to spend the rest of my life with? Only I knew how I felt."What's up?" Miles asked me, taking off his shirt. I shook my head."I am not hunting; Alex isn't in the mood," I said, and he stopped what he was doing."There is nothing we can do about it, Li. Mike fucked up. You aren't King yet and won't be for a long time. I think you should just let her go," he said, and Marvin and Oliver approached."Yeah, I think you should let her go, Li. She is great and all that, but this is beyond us. You heard our grandma Stephanie; we can't get involved. Even our parents can't get involved. I doubt we would still be in Grizlo if they had told either of our fathers. They know how close we are to the Maguires because of your relationship with Sophia. There is no way they would have let us re
~Tamia~ (Liam's Mother and The Queen)The news of the incident in Grizlo had profoundly unsettled us. My anxiety grew when Stephanie called, informing me that Liam hadn't returned home. I repeatedly dialled Harper's number, each time hearing that they were still searching for him, which only heightened my fear.The situation worsened when I discovered that Liam had visited Mike's house, and the man had claimed not to have seen him, as relayed by Jake. Even though our world had been relatively peaceful, I knew all too well that trouble could arise at any moment. Nothing felt within our control. So I anxiously waited, contemplating whether or not to inform Sylvester.My worry escalated upon learning about Mike's criminal activities. I feared that Liam might have witnessed something and been harmed as a result. It took great courage to keep this information from Sylvester. Finally, hearing his voice brought immense relief. I was grateful that Liam was unharmed and safe from Mike's grasp
~Tamia~We remained in the garden, engrossed in conversation about various topics until evening when we received word that our children had returned from Grizlo. I quickly rose from my seat, followed by Claudia, Linda, and the rest. Nicole, whose children were grown and residing in Lucland City, didn't share the same sense of anticipation as we did.With haste, I made my way towards the driveway in front of the mansion. The vans had arrived, and our children were disembarking. Keith and Joseph immediately embraced Harper as she emerged from the vehicle, and she reciprocated their affection with a radiant smile.One by one, the others showered our returning children with hugs and warm greetings. Charlotte playfully tousled their hair, patiently waiting for her younger siblings to join. It was a joyful but crowded scene, the culmination of the news they had shared and the realisation that their graduation meant they wouldn't need to return to Grizlo.I approached Harper, and her face li