Shackled (The Lord Series) by Amy T

388. Tyson - Moment of peace

It's been a few days since we returned from Malta.

Things have been uneventful except for Rueben being kicked in the nuts by Juniper. At least we had a good laugh each time we saw Rueben walk around like he was wearing a diaper. He flipped us the bird each time, making us laugh harder. I forgot how beautiful and simple life can be.

Yet, not everything is so simple in my life.

Things with Ansel are...strange. He's more quiet than usual. Not even Olivia can pull him out of his state.

I don't know what to make of him. I don't know how to talk to him. He probably thinks that we see him differently because he's a Nephilim. I won't lie and say it didn't come as a shock when I learned about who he used to be. The others weren't happy either, especially since we know that Nephilims want to destroy us.

Olivia risked her life for Ansel. She wouldn't have done so if she didn't think he was on our side.

It wasn't until Ansel gave us a brief explanation of what happened that me and the others remembered that Ansel was our blood-brother and had saved our butts more than once. Ansel has been my friend ever since I moved to Veross City. If he had any ill intention toward any of us, we would have realized it by now.

The meeting at the Blood Lodge is tonight. Unbeknownst to Ansel, Jasper had already told the Elders what was happening. Jasper didn't want the Elders to be taken by surprise. While they are not happy with Ansel deceiving them for so long, they are willing to listen.

Ansel is not the only one acting strangely.

Mose has been spending more time in the kitchen, lost in thought, burning food, which he never does. Olivia has been eyeing him from time to time, a slight frown on her face.

When I asked Olivia if she knew what was going on with Mose, she told me that he was worried about Alma. While I don't doubt that is true, after all, Mose and Alma have been business partners for more than three years, I have a feeling Olivia hasn't told me everything.

Amongst the chaos, there's a little ray of shine.

My son.

and his questions never stop. I love being a father so much. I'll never repeat the same mistakes my father made with me. Spencer will only experience love because all children deserve parents who love them.

Mine didn't.

turned out so fucked up in the head. Maybe my family knew it all along; that's why they mostly ignored me. Only Rueben and Ansel loved me. Camila, too, in

deeply and unreserved, giving

opens, and someone steps out. A

-Olivia.

porch, wrapping her arms around me. I snake my right arm around her

are you doing

of my

block?"

replying. "I was

but Olivia deserves to be loved

that in the past when I decided to accept all of you as my men. Besides, not all the memories at the farm are bad." She looks at me, her gaze full of love. "Life is not always easy. We all made mistakes. Me, maybe more than others. But I am finally starting to live the life I had always dreamed of. I'm so happy, Tyson. I

came to be. I kiss her forehead. "I'm

Elders won't harm Ansel, will

can offer her is what I know. "I don't know, Olly. This is the first time something like

lip for a moment or two before saying, "I won't hesitate

lenient with Olivia because of our guilt,

quick to put herself in danger for the sake of others. Ansel's tattoo of the butterfly with broken wings represents Olivia the best. Only

at me. "You can't tell me what to