~Summer~ I could not believe Sebastien was taking me on a date, and he called me a Butterfly. I didn't know how to feel about it. I was nervous, excited and afraid. I feared I might mess things up for us here if things got bad. Even though they offered a good settlement should there be a fallout, I like the environment for us. The children were happy, and there were prospects for the younger ones to be adopted. Winter and I can start our baking business again, maybe not full-time, but it will be attainable. The market is good, and it means we might be able to expand. The possibilities were endless, and because of it, I was afraid that hanging out with Sebastien like this would mess things up. I couldn't shake off the fact that he was mine or supposed to be mine. The ride was somewhat silent until we got into the city. He slowed down and stole a glance at me. He was a bit playful compared to the last time I saw him. It was as if he had let his guard down. "Have you eaten?" He

~Summer~While we waited for Winter to bring the evidence, Sebastien continued to speak to Mary and Joyce."The two of you have been poisoning the children, I see," Sebastien said, and they shook their heads. "What do you do with all the food and money delivered to this orphanage? Why should they eat poorly, and why will you say such painful things to them? This place aims to create a home for the children where they will be loved and wanted. This isn't a concentration camp. Is this what my mother appointed you to do?" he asked Mary, and she shook her head."And who told you that Miss Ashfield and Miss Crayton would work under you? Didn't you get the memo?" He asked. "They are your supervisors and are in charge of the orphanage. For as long as they are in Mountain, they run the orphanage. Do not tell me that Gamma Tevin didn't tell you," He said, and Mary began to stammer. I couldn't believe they were given the instruction."We were waiting for Lady Albert," Joyce said in a small voi

Winter Noah didn't appear offended by my question. If he harboured any emotions, he kept them well hidden. Dealing with people like him, who were challenging to read, presented its own set of difficulties. Silence, it seemed, was my safest course of action. "More whiskey?" he inquired, and a wave of shame washed over me. The concern lingered that he might assume I had a drinking problem. Despite my true inclination, I immediately shook my head in refusal. "I just want company," he mentioned, and I furrowed my brow, trying to decipher his intent. "You asked why I requested for you," he reminded me, and I nodded, feeling a bit foolish for forgetting my original question. Whether I should feel honoured or not, I couldn't quite decide. It seemed inconsequential. "Since you won't tell me what went on in Hayland, care to share what you want to do now?" he inquired, rising from his chair and heading to the bar to prepare drinks. I averted my gaze, avoiding the temptation to ask for more.

~Winter~ Alone in bed, I awoke with a jolt, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings of the alphas' duplex. Panic set in until the realisation dawned on me. I scanned the room, seeking Noah, but the space next to me was vacant and chilled, indicating he had either left hours ago or never occupied that bed. Glancing at the clock, which read five in the morning, memories of the previous night flooded my mind, and the consequences of my actions with Noah became painfully clear—I had made a regrettable mistake. "Great Winter. Way to go," I said, burying my face in my palm. Knowing somehow I had just complicated things for myself in Mountain. I didn't know how to read Noah's actions. Why didn't he sleep in his bed? Was it because of me? He didn't even fuck me properly. He just ate me out. Was he mad that I passed out? I didn't know what to think or how to feel, but I felt like I had done something wrong. Getting off the bed, I gathered my clothes and wore them quickly. I

~Winter~ Our first stop was the jewellery stores. A bitter taste rose in my mouth as we entered the shopping avenue. Memories flooded back of the night we got caught, the very shop where Summer and I had attempted burglary. Shame coursed through me, a visceral reaction to my own past recklessness. Why had I thought robbing those stores was acceptable? Selfishness had clouded my judgment, and I hadn't considered the repercussions our actions would have on the store owners. Driving through the avenue, I felt a weight of guilt settle over me. I imagined the shopkeepers peering through their windows, recognising me, condemning my past misdeeds. The shame was palpable, and I couldn't escape the feeling that somehow, they could see me, that they knew exactly what I had done. “It's best you forget about it,” Noah's voice cut through my misery. “They don’t know you. They never saw your face. We had the footage erased and the matter buried,” he continued, surprising me. Why would Noah and S