"So, how should we plan the picnic, Seraphina?" I looked up when Niscia drank some water to drink. I chuckled and put down the needle to take a break for a moment."I told this to Sander yesterday. He said that we can go to Arsenio City. Sierra Lakeside is located there," I said and remembered Sander's words yesterday.Niscia gasped. Her eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands. "Ah, yes! Yes! Sierra Lakeside would be the best place to have a picnic there." She looked getting excited. "It has been a while since I last go to the lake..." she said dreamily."Are you not going to a lake once in a while?" I asked and realized that she and I didn't get much to talk about her life.Niscia was a secretive but open person. I did not know how to put it into words but she was a jolly woman and a talkative, too. Along with my co-workers, she was the only one I had gotten too close to.Niscia shrugged. "Well, I do not have time for that. I have been busy for quite a while.""Busy from what?" I til
While we were having our supper, Desmond did not ask anything about my life seven years that we drifted apart. He only asked what could have gotten me going home so late and if Madam Ibanez was abusing us.I wanted to say that yes, she was abusing us and not paying us very well but I only told him the positive ones because I had a feeling that he was going to take her down if I ever admitted that."How's Daniel?" I asked after we were enveloped with silence.Desmond looked at me before he lowered his head to the meal he was eating. He already had a second bowl of meat stew because he enjoyed it a lot. He even complimented me that he liked my cooking which made me blush."I am already considering Daniel to train as the next Alpha of the Rising Diamond," he said as he played the meat with the spoon he was holding."Oh." I nodded my head. I pursed my lips into a thin line when I almost smiled because if that happened, he wouldn't get to know about Sander. Sander would be safe from the tr
"Wow, Mama! This is beautiful!" Sander exclaimed as he started running towards the Sierra Lakeside and transformed into his little wolf form."Sander!" I groaned and sighed when he couldn't help barking and following the geese.Niscia chuckled. "So, by his age transforming into a wolf form, he has the blood of an Alpha, correct?"I stiffened and realized that Niscia was with me. I turned at her and smiled wryly. "I can explain, Niscia..." I gulped.She shook her head. "No need, Seraphina. If you are that uncomfortable talking about your mate, then I shall not insist on it. I respect your privacy." She smiled gently."Thank you." Niscia was very thoughtful. I thought she would try to pry on me but I was wrong.I was grateful to have her as a friend. She knew how to respect someone's privacy. That was why I was comfortable with her and sometimes when I was ready I would tell her about my life before becoming a seamstress to work with Madam Ibanez."Let's set up the blanket. Shall we?" N
"What are you doing here, Desmond?" I asked as I hid Sander behind me before he could say anything to greet him.His eyes that were darting on Sander went to me. I stepped back upon seeing his shallow expression. I suddenly wanted to run away along with Sander but I couldn't find myself to do so.I felt like someone nailed me here from my standpoint, so I couldn't even move."I am here to see you, yes?" he said with a smile. He stepped forward and spread his arms. "Don't I deserve to have a hug, seraphim?"I stepped backward again, starting to be more cautious. "Stay away..." I could feel my heart pounding so fast. I glanced at the door of our flat which was already near to us. I glanced behind me when I saw Sander waving his hand at Desmond. "Sander!" I scolded him and put down his hand before I took the keys.He looked at me with his innocent eyes. "But Mama... I wish to speak with him.""Mama, huh?"I froze from my standpoint when Desmond spoke. I gulped and saw that the smile wasn
I became cautious as the days went by. I was waiting for Desmond to come to confront me but he never showed up. I was agitated because of that."Are you alright, Seraphina?"I flinched when someone tapped on my shoulder. I was already standing on the pavement and turned around to see Niscia who had a worried expression right now.I let out a shaky breath and nodded. I thought it was Desmond but I was wrong. "Yes, I am alright...""Why are you not going home then?" she asked and fished out her pocket watch. "It's 7 in the evening already. Sander will be worried about you again.""Sander is not in my flat," I said, finally said. "I did not allow him to stay there anymore."Her eyes widened. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, furrowing her eyebrows. "Did something happen?"I decided to sit on the pavement, still thinking about why Desmond was not making his move. I had been like this ever since that day. Until now, my heart was hammering so fast. I couldn't even let myself feel calm
"You cannot coerce me to go with you! This is abduction, Desmond!" I shouted angrily while I was punching his back.Desmond hovered me over his shoulder and lifted me like I was just nothing. He only chuckled as a response and held my legs tightly when I kept wiggling my legs to hit his chest.Then he put me down on the seat when he placed me inside the carriage. "What is wrong when bringing you back to the Rising Diamond pack, seraphim? Must you not forget that we are still married after all, hmm?"My eyes widened. "W-What?" I was left dumbfounded when Desmond mounted and sat across me. "What do you mean I am still married to you?" I asked, horrified right now at the shocking revelation that wrecked my whole being.Desmond smiled. "Just so you know, we are not divorced, Seraphina. You may reject me but remember that you are still married to me. It means I am still your husband and you are my wife after all.""You're insane..." I couldn't believe this. I realized what he said was righ
"I said what are you doing here, Niscia?! You are supposed to hide Sander from Desmond!" I raised my voice, not minding the people who were here to see me.Niscia did not answer. Her eyes were glued to the ground, not reacting that I had been yelling and humiliating myself in front of the pack members of Desmond."Niscia!" I felt betrayed right now. I didn't even know what I must do. I want to claw her out right now."Mama."I lowered my gaze and felt the tugging in my dress. I immediately hugged Sander, who I longed for. "I missed you, Sander..." I murmured.He started sobbing and buried his face in the crook of my neck. "I missed you, too, Mama... Auntie Niscia brought me here from the orphanage five days ago. She said that I will be safe here."I stiffened. Five days ago? The only thing I remember asking a favor from her was three days ago. How was it five days ago?Then it hit me.I looked up at Niscia whose eyes were still glued to the ground. I stood up and approached her before
"Mama, I wish to leave here..." Sander said when we were in the tub to take a bath. "It's been three days..."I combed his wet golden wavy hair. "I told you we can't, Sander. This place is heavily guarded," I said softly."But I do not want to see Papa..." He hugged me. "He hurt you... I did not know that sire is my father. Now, I know why he said that he was guarding his son while his Mama was at work... I am sorry, Mama."I released a sigh. "It is fine. You did not know. He was in disguise and wanted to get close to you by that time." That was the plausible reason I could think of.I should have known that Desmond was already here trying to get along with our son. I did not know that he already knew about the existence of our son. It was a good thing that Sander did not like his father now because he already witnessed how we argued.It would be a hard time for Desmond to get along with us."Let's get you out." I decided to say. "You might catch a cold."As soon as the north hall was
"Are you certain that you have no task for today?" I asked for the nth time as we headed to the kitchen area to grab snacks for the three kids who were near finishing their tasks.Desmond helped me prepare for their snacks but after a while, he hugged me from behind and couldn't stop sniffing my scent. "You sound like you want to shoo me away... I am sulking, seraphim." I could tell that he was pouting. "You know that we are on vacation.""Hilarious..." I leaned on his back and stayed in that position for a while.We were both enveloped in the silence that was so peaceful. Both of us were purring at each other's presence until I felt something poking behind me which made me frown."Desmond..." I warned him and pinched his arm."Aww!" He stepped backward and caressed his arm that I pinched. "That hurts..." He frowned."We can't do it right here." I shook my head.Desmond chuckled. "Ah, yes. It is not the two of us now. We have kids." I could feel my cheeks getting in heat right now beca
"Wrong answer! Wrong answer! Wrong fucking answer!" Hazel said, losing her mind already as she kept stabbing Sander's chest until Sander screamed in pain while there was blood oozing from his chest. "Papa...! Mama...! Please help me...!" "Sander!" I cried. "You motherfucker! How fucking dare you!" Desmond attacked her by using his wolf speed. He tackled her down by holding her neck, gripping it. "Bring her to the prison cell! Bestow her a hundred lashes! You do it, Harvey!" he ordered angrily. "Sander!" I rushed by my son's side as he fell to the ground, coughing with so much blood. "No, no, no... Summon Anderson!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, panicking more. "Mama..." Sander groaned in pain, crying. "It hurts..." "I know, baby..." I decided to tear the skirt off my dress, not minding if it was a customized one. "Help me to wrap this," I said to Desmond as my hands were shaking right now. "Sander, son... It will be alright, hmm?" Desmond asked, already shedding tears as he
"Desmond..." I looked at him, worried upon hearing that.That woman... That fucking leech...She took Sander as her hostage! How dare she!Desmond growled so loud, grabbing everyone's attention as he had Harolyn in his arms. "Harvey, Oakley," he called after dispatching his elites and the pack warriors to look for Hazel."Alpha."He shot Harvey a glare. "We are going to talk later. She took Sander!" His voice raised. "You said that she will not cause a problem for me anymore, Harvey!" He grabbed Harvey's collar causing Harolyn to cry, frightened at his father's action."Papa..."Harvey gasped, horrified. "S-She is, Alpha. I-I didn't know that Hazel would be acting like this..." Then he looked at Harolyn who was sniffing, worried about her."You should've known better! She is your fucking sister, you dumbass Harvey!" Desmond couldn't help shouting at him causing everyone to look in our direction."P-Papa... Please don't be mad at Father..." Harolyn sobbed.I stepped forward even though
"Desmond?""Hmm?""Do you still need to watch me getting measured?" I asked, looking at him in his reflection while he looked so alluring learning at the wall as he had Saoirse in his arms. "Are you finished with your Alpha duties?"They needed to measure my size because Desmond insisted that I need a new dress to wear to my upcoming Luna ceremony.Yes, Luna ceremony. Desmond and I sealed our mate bond again. We marked each other again to solidify our mate bond. It meant that I would become his pack member at the same time as the Luna of the Rising Diamond pack."Why? Don't you want me here?" Desmond frowned, looking like he was sulking.I playfully rolled my eyes. "I am thinking that you are not finished with your tasks." As soon as they were finished taking my measurement, I walked straight to him and tiptoed so I could kiss him fully on his lips.In my peripheral vision, Desmond covered Saoirse's eyes before he removed his hand after we finished kissing. He said that our daughter w
To start anew with courtship, Desmond took a day off from his Alpha duties and decided to take me to the town. We dated and went to eat some delicious meals in a restaurant."I could have wished we brought our pups and the twins," I said as I suddenly missed them already.Desmond nodded. "But this time, it should be only the two of us, Seraphina. I really want you all for myself for this day."I tried my best not to exert a smile since it made me feel ticklish from what Desmond said, especially since he brought my hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. My wolf and I felt ticklish after that."Thank you for giving birth to our pups, seraphim. It must have been hard for you to leave because of how jerk I was before." He heaved a sigh. I could see how regretted all of the actions he had done in the past.It was clear that he would want to ask for my forgiveness. He never pressured me that I should forgive him now. He was being patient and more considerate to me now."You will not be
"Mother!""Hezekiah... Harolyn..."Desmond and I watched their reunion as Hazel hugged her twins and rained them with kisses. Desmond intently watched them with his earnest expression. He was really watching them with wariness."What?" Desmond asked, surprised. His heart was racing so fast right now that he caught me looking at him.I inhaled slowly, having his amber eyes piercing me. "Um... I am glad that you bestow Hazel a chance to be with her twins." Even though Hazel threatened to kill me. She was just blinded by jealousy. I was certain that she would not do anything that would displease Desmond.I hope so.Desmond heaved out a sigh before he returned his glance to Hazel and the twins. "Actually, I am still hesitant to let Hazel see our twins. I still have no assurance that she really changed." He lowered his eyes to the ground. "But if you say that she really changed then I will believe you, Seraphina."His tone was soft and gentle. It was still unusual for me that Desmond was b
"What punishment did you bestow to Desmond, Mother? Why did he act like that?" I said as I sat beside Her and hugged my mother.Mother caressed my hair. "He has a fear of abandonment, dear. I just made it worse and bestowed on him some nightmares.""He has what? Fear of abandonment?" Then it hit me. If Mother meant that abandonment, was this the time that Desmond developed this when I left after finding out that he had an agreement with Hazel?"Yes," Mother answered the question I had in my mind. "Ever since that he forced you to return to his pack, Desmond is already paranoid and wants you to keep at bay. He does not want you to leave again. I know you have seen his desperation to fix your mate bond.""But the thing he did is to control me through that process until I felt suffocated with his actions." It almost resulted in Desmond wanting me to separate from Sander and I almost lost Saoirse when I had her in my belly."Indeed." Mother nodded. "Remember when you tried to make some te
I was shocked when they called me that. Mama? They really called me that, right? And I freaking softened after that.I looked at Desmond, expecting that he heard what they whispered at me but his attention was on our daughter which he bestowed on her nannies. Saoirse was taken care of by the newly hired two nannies which Desmond himself picked. Since we needed to have a conversation, it would have been better if our daughter had not been present here."As you know, Hazel is not present here, Seraphina," Desmond began when the three of us were left here in the dining hall. I nodded as a response. "I already took custody from Hazel two years ago since she had been defying me so many times." He glared at Harvey.I shivered since he did not change the way he conversed with his people. But it seemed like he acted differently since Hazel was involved."I see." I already knew that... Mother told me what was happening in Desmond's pack. She made sure that I would not remain clueless until suc
"Oh, is this my baby Saoirse?" Desmond asked, looking at Saoirse in my arms after he carefully put down Sander to the ground.Nodding, I spoke. "Yes," I said softly as I wiped the tears. I turned to Saoirse who was slightly tilted her head, looking at her Papa. I gently held her hand. "Sweetheart, honey." She looked at me. "That's Papa, hmm?""Da-da?" She pointed at Desmond. I nodded and smiled. At that moment, Saoirse clapped her hands. "Da-da!" she exclaimed.Desmond cried more when our daughter reached out to him. "Saoirse..." He hugged her with so much gentleness. "You have grown up so well, my daughter..."I placed Sander by my side as I watched them having a reunion. I looked at how he adored Saoirse as he sniffed and kissed her forehead. Saoirse giggled after that.Then Desmond's eyes lingered on me which made my heart skip a beat. I decided to curtsy before him. "Greetings, Marquis Verlice."There was melancholy written in his eyes when I greeted him formally. "Greetings to yo