Alive
Amber POV
Jason moved first.
Pulling me into him.
Hard.
Tight.
Like if he didn’t-
I might disappear.
The hug was not gentle.
It was desperate.
Grounding.
Possessive.
I didn’t hesitate.
I wrapped my arms around him just as fiercely.
Holding on.
Matching him.
For a moment- 1
There was nothing else.
No families.
No war.
No past.
Just us.
Then Jason exhaled slowly against my hair.
And I felt it-
That shift again. 1
From emotion-
To strategy.
“The first step…” he murmured.
I pulled back slightly, just enough to look at him.
“…is for you to win the Heir position.”
+15 Bonus
1/8
I blinked.
That was already the plan.”
His gaze sharpened.
“Yes.”
A pause.
“But now it’s critical.”
“They’re not just attacking us,” he continued.
“They’re positioning themselves.”
His jaw tightened.
“They want control.”
“The Asher family,” I finished quietly.
He nodded.
“Once you’re officially Heir,” he said,
“They lose that path.”
I held his gaze.
Steady.
Certain.
“I’m not losing,” I said.
A small shift in his expression.
Not surprise.
Not doubt.
Approval.
“I know,” he replied.
And just like that-
The war had its first move.
The Next Day
For the first time in what felt like forever-
The house was… calm.
Not silent.
Not tense.
༢༢༽
+15 Bonus
2.8
Calm.
Alice sat cross-legged on the floor.
Already talking.
Already smiling.
Already curious.
Alex stood beside her.
More reserved.
More observant.
But just as present.
Rose sat close to me.
Still quiet.
Still unsure.
But watching everything.
Iris sat beside her.
Not touching-
But close enough.
Protective.
Even now.
“This is Alice,” I said gently.
“And Alex.”
Alice didn’t wait.
“Hi!”
She scooted closer.
Bright.
Warm.
Unfiltered.
Rose flinched slightly.
But didn’t pull away.
Alex stepped forward more slowly.
Offering a small nod.
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3/8
“Hey.”
Is watched them carefully.
Assessing.
Measuring.
Then-
Slowly-
She nodded back.
It wasn’t loud.
It wasn’t dramatic.
But it was something.
And for now-
That was enough.
The moment stretched.
Soft.
Unexpected. 1
Alice began talking about something random.
Something about her toys.
Or the garden.
Or both.
Rose listened.
Wide-eyed.
And for the first time-
She didn’t look afraid.
I leaned back slightly.
Letting it happen.
Letting them have this.
A moment.
A family moment.
Rare.
Fragile.
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4.8
Sovi
Real.
Amber.”
Grandfather’s voice cut through it.
Not harsh.
But firm.
I turned.
He stood at the doorway.
Serious.
My stomach dropped.
“I need to speak with you.”
I stood slowly.
Glancing once at the children.
At Jason.
Then followed him out.
The hallway felt colder.
Quieter.
“What is it?” I asked.
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead-
He handed me a folder.
“The DNA results are back.”
My fingers tightened around it.
“And?” 1
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