In Five Years Ebook Novels & Stories

It was a mockery. Every time he proudly told others we were in an older woman–younger man relationship, underneath that pride was nothing but disgust. When he swore he’d take care of me, that I’d never need to touch my dad’s money, it wasn’t love. He was just afraid I’d compete with Dawn. What a ridiculous five years it had been. Next year, I’d be thirty, and my entire twenties would end in lies and betrayal. I stood in front of the mirror and smiled faintly. A fine line had appeared at the corner of my eye. As I lifted my hand and touched my reflection, the line seemed to disappear for a moment.

On my journey back to the downtown district, I leaned wearily against the window. Memories of the past five years flashed in my mind. My wolf had never been so silent and couldn't even manage a whimper. I knew that just like me, she was dead and empty inside. How had I spent the past five years? For nights, I'd been alone, wrestling the restlessness and heat from the mate bond. I'd never slept a night in peace. When managing pack affairs, I'd faced the power-hungry elders' schemes alone. When patrolling the pack compounds, I'd fought off rogues in the woods alone.

Actions will speak louder than her memories. *I have five years. Five years until Elena is eighteen. Old enough to make her own choices. Old enough to understand nuance and complexity. Old enough to see me for who I am now, not who I was.* *Patience. That's what Dr. Williams taught me. The old Darren demanded immediate gratification. The new Darren can wait.* *Five years. I can wait five years.* I closed the notebook and looked at Elena's photo one last time before putting it away.

"You'd be surprised what I understand." "No." She took another step back. "I wouldn't." For the first time, his confidence slipped, only for a heartbeat but she saw it. "You hate all of us." She didn't answer. "You should." Still nothing. "I would've hated me too." She looked at him with cold, unwavering eyes. "I don't waste that much energy anymore." Ryker exhaled slowly. "So that's what five years does to a person." "No." She shook her head. "Five years teaches you the difference between hope and reality."

I'm sure their family is happy as of the moment as they are completed. It's been five years. Yes. Five years has passed. It's been so long since that unusual event in my life, but it seems like it all happened yesterday. “Fine. It's up to you if that's what you really want to address me. Is there anything I can do? Of course nothing. Go on. Call me Madam.”

“Mabel, you didn’t.” Mabel lifted her glass. “I did.” Ava blinked once, twice, then took a slow sip of her drink. “Well, would you look at God testing my blood pressure this early in the weekend.” Natasha’s eyes swept the scene—rosé, laughter, aging beauty in motion—and landed on Ava. “You must be Ava St. James. The fifth chapter in Marcus’s ongoing anthology.” Delphine muttered, “And she must be the preface nobody read twice.”

Her voice echoed in his head, sharp and unforgiving: "You had five chances. Only five." And just like that, he realized—he'd burned through them all. Would she ever come back? Could she? The weight of it hit him like a brick wall, and he sank to the floor, crushed by regret. Snapping out of it, he fumbled for his phone. He had to call her, had to hear her voice. But as he scrolled through his contacts, her number wasn't there. He always saved it under a nickname—but now, it was gone. Panic clawed at him as he tried to recall it from memory. Nothing. The digits blurred in his mind. Instead, Renee's number popped up, clear and familiar, burned into his brain from years ago.

she continued gently, "it might be easier if you try to see this as an opportunity rather than a punishment." I sighed softly. We spoke for a while after that. She tried to calm me, offering small reassurances until the heaviness in my chest eased slightly. Still, everything felt unreal. Five months. Five strangers. And their father, who was known to be insanely rich and extremely strict. Before going to sleep, I found myself thinking about the countless magazine covers I had seen over the years. King in a sharp suit at some gala. Kyle performing on stage with a guitar. Keith smiling at a movie premiere.

Time has a funny way of slipping through your fingers when you are truly happy. It felt like only yesterday that we were celebrating our renewal of vows, surrounded by love and the promise of a bright future. And yet, five years had flown by in the blink of an eye. Five years of peace, five years of growth, and five years of building something that would outlast us all.

Jackson looks at her, maybe a surprise wedding wasn't the best idea? "I love you kitten, and I am happy to wait five years if that is when you're ready, I have you either way." Anaya glances up at him smiling.