Chapter Twenty/ Wedding Night

The reception seemed to last forever. There were too many people to hug, too many gifts and good wishes, and too much dancing. Finally, after the last dance, Andre and I were able to leave. Exhaustion took over and I fell asleep with my cheek resting against Andre’s shoulder in the limousine. I did not wake until I sensed I was being lifted. My eyes flew open and I wrapped my arms around his neck to keep from falling. “What are you doing?” I asked. I gripped his neck tighter, pulling myself closer to him. His woodsy scent wrapped around me. He grinned. “I’m carrying my wife across the threshold.” I laughed nervously. “Andre, you don’t have to do that,” I whispered into his shoulder. “We both know that our marriage was arranged.” He grinned, glancing down at me, his eyes sparkling. “Let me have a little fun, okay?” “Okay,” I said. My face heated to a bright red. I laughed as he tried to find his keys

Last Updated : 2025-06-30

Chapter Twenty-One/ Dreams

Exhaustion was the only reason I slept at all. My body sensed Andre’s presence the moment he lay down next to me. His scent surrounded me, embedding into everything, as his heat touched my skin. My whole body tingled, expecting to be touched. I closed my eyes, conscious of every breath he took. It took hours, but the darkness of sleep finally came, pulling me down into its reluctant .**********When my senses came back to me, I no longer heard Andre’s steady breaths. Instead, the hoots of owls and the rustling of animals moving through the bushes reached me. Fear shot through me. Did I sleepwalk again? I shook my head. It wasn’t possible. Andre would have stopped me.I forced my eyes open, finding that I was in a large grassy meadow in the middle of a dense forest. Seeing wolves sitting in a circle around me, my heart trembled. When they didn’t move, I looked at each one. They were each different and seemed as docile as pets. Their eyes were large and submissive, staring at me…kind of

Last Updated : 2025-07-09

Chapter Twenty-Two/ The Attack

“Andre! Aurora! Wake up!” I heard someone yell, pulling me from sleep. My eyes still closed, I moaned, too warm and too comfortable to move. Then loud, insistent banging began. My eyes opened to the bright sunshine. I groaned, still exhausted from the events of the day before.Andre chuckled in my ear as he moved his arms from around me. No wonder I had been so warm. Andre had given me his body heat. “Don’t worry, Aurora,” he whispered, kissing the top of my head. “I’ll get it. You just lie here and pretend I tired you out too much to move.”“Andre,” I hissed, turning an even deeper shade of red when I saw he wore only pajama pants that hung too low on his hips. I blinked, trying not to look at his bare chest. He raised his brows and grinned, walking to the door. I shook my head, mortified, and buried my face in the pillow.A few moments later, I heard the door open. “Mother?” Andre asked, sounding puzzled. “Is something wrong?”I heard a sob. I pulled the pillow from my face with a f

Last Updated : 2025-07-10

Chapter Twenty-Three/ Strawberry Wine

I found my mother resting comfortably in a bed in Sophia and Gavriel’s motorhome. She appeared smaller than her delicate frame already was, although that was probably due to the large blankets Sophia had draped over her and the many pillows arranged behind her head and around her body. A bandage was wrapped around her shoulder where the wolf had bitten her. Either way, I almost panicked at the sight of her.I stood staring at her as I picked up her hand, holding it tightly. The warmth from it sank into my skin. Her eyes fluttered open, widening when she saw me. I leaned over and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek. I frowned at the heat there.“Momma, are you okay?”Her blue eyes filled with tears as she nodded. “I’m just sore, sweetheart,” she sighed. When she saw the distress in my eyes, she continued. “But I’m okay. I promise.”“I’m glad you are here,” I whispered as my eyes burned with unshed tears. “I don’t want you alone. Sophia and Gavriel will take care of you. They will keep yo

Last Updated : 2025-07-13

All Chapters of Beckoned: Chapter 21 - Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty/ Wedding Night

Chapter Twenty-One/ Dreams

Chapter Twenty-Two/ The Attack

Chapter Twenty-Three/ Strawberry Wine