Legacy: Awaken

By Rebecca Ballenger

Seventeen-year-old Amari has no memory of her past life. As she tries to piece together her identity, she starts having vivid dreams that provide glimpses of her forgotten life. Doubts arise when she realizes that her adoptive family may be hiding dark secrets. Determined to uncover the truth, Amari embarks on a thrilling journey of self-discovery, unraveling the mysteries of her past and unmasking the true nature of her adoptive family. Get ready for a suspenseful and gripping tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 29, 2024
• ISBN: 9798892211352

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

About the Author

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Legacy

Awaken

Rebecca Ballenger

Copyright © 2024 Rebecca Ballenger

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2024

ISBN 979-8-89221-133-8 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89221-135-2 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

To my inspirational grandmother, Nancy Jean Johnson, and my grandfather Sidney William Johnson Jr.

Prologue

A young girl woke up in the middle of the woods, alone and terrified. She couldn't remember how she got there or what had happened to her. She only knew that she needed to find her way out of the woods and back to civilization before it was too late.

As she stood up, she felt a cold breeze brush past her, sending shivers down her spine. The breeze seemed to carry with it a sense of danger and uncertainty. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to keep warm and calm her nerves. The darkness of the woods was almost suffocating, and the cold breeze made her feel even more alone and vulnerable.

Looking down, she realized she was covered in what looked like blood. Her heart raced even faster, and she started to panic. She tried to remember what had happened to her, but everything was a blur. Suddenly, she heard wolves howling in the distance and knew she had to move quickly.

She started running, trying to distance herself and the howling wolves as much as possible. The cold breeze continued to cut through her, and the blood on her clothes made her feel sick. She knew she had to keep moving, no matter how scared or alone she felt.

As she ran, she stumbled and fell, her body too weak to keep going. Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching her. She looked up to see a strange man standing over her, offering his hand to help her.

Come, child. The Aura Moon guided me to you this evening.

She hesitated for a moment, unsure if she could trust him, but the look of concern on his face made her feel like he might be her only hope.

I will keep you safe.

He added as she continued to consider what she should do to survive. After a few heartbeats, she took his hand, and he helped her to her feet. The cold breeze was still blowing, but the man's presence made her feel warmer and safer.

The following day, the girl woke up feeling a little better. She had slept soundly, knowing that she was safe and protected. As she got up, she noticed the man had already left for work. She looked around the house and saw it was filled with pictures of the man's family. She saw that he had three teenage sons.

Looking at the pictures, she wondered what the man's family was like. She felt a little nervous about meeting them but knew she had to be brave. She got dressed and went out to explore the large castle-sized home. She walked around for a while, taking in the beautiful interior and sounds of the home. It was a peaceful place, and she felt like she could finally breathe again. The man's sons were waiting for her when she entered the home's den. They introduced themselves and welcomed her to their home. The youngest son, Alan, was thirteen with pale skin, black hair, and green eyes while Eric was the second oldest of the sons. He had darker skin than his younger brother and mahogany hair with blue eyes.

The last and oldest of the sons was Dan; he was seventeen. Dan was much more muscular than his brothers with a fair tan complexion, unusual jet-black hair, and icy blue eyes. The girl was surprised by how kind and welcoming they were. She had expected them to be cold or distant, but they were kind and caring like their father.

Over the next few weeks, the girl stayed with the man, who introduced himself as Decklin, and his family. She helped around the house and got to know his sons better. They spent long evenings talking and laughing, and the girl felt like she had finally found a place where she belonged.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Eventually, years passed, and the girl felt like she could finally move on from the past. She knew that she would never forget what had happened to her, but she also knew that she had a new family now—Decklin and his sons. She felt safe and protected and knew she would always be grateful for their kindness.

One evening, as she was sitting in her room, one of the oldest sons, Dan, came to visit her. He had been thinking about her and wanted to talk to her about something. Hey, I've been thinking, he said. I know you don't have a name, and I was wondering if you wanted to pick one. You don't have to, but I thought it might be nice.

The girl was surprised by the offer. She had never thought about having a name before. Honestly, she had become accustomed to being called princess or young madam. She thought momentarily and then shook her head in sorrow before saying, I can't think of anything.

Dan looked at her; he could tell how upset she was. "After all you've been through, how do you feel about the name Amari? It means ‘to be loved' in the Latin language."

The young girl smiled happily. "I