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
Desmond's words he said by that time kept ringing inside my head.Of course, Sander deserved to have a complete family. With a mother and a father that was getting along and had a communication with their feelings.While watching Sander right now holding a book as I brought him to the library of the manor, I imagined him giggling when he got to be with his father. Perhaps, I was really a selfish mother that I did not want us to get completed.Desmond was right.He might have ruined our marriage. But how about his fatherly figure? Should I trust that he would be a good father to Sander?Should I take the risk and give Desmond a chance?"Do you like what you are reading, sweetheart?" I asked, approaching Sander as I sat beside him. I almost had a heart attack as I saw that he was reading war tactics. "You sure like reading that kind of stuff..." I smiled wryly.His face brightened up before he nodded. "It catches my interest, Mama." He glanced at the book he was reading. "But I do not k
"Mama. Mama. The maid said breakfast is ready."I groaned before I slowly opened my eyes to see the cute face of my son. Then I looked at the wall clock to see that it was already six in the morning. "I see..." I yawned before I got up."Mama, can we stroll around the pack today?" Sander asked."Let's see..." I paused and rubbed my eyes, yawning one more time. I sniffed in the air when I smelled the rice porridge prepared for this morning. I smiled and went to the sink to wash my face before I approached Sander who was already eating his meal. "We can do that after we take a bath and have our meal. I forgot to tell you that there is a nearby river here. Do you wish to see it, too?"Sander gasped. "There is?"I nodded. "Yes." "I would love to go there, Mama!" he beamed.Chuckling, I nodded. "Alright, alright. Finish your meal and take a bath. Then, we can go out." I winked at him."Hmm!"It has been a week since we were here at the manor and until now, we hadn't gone out to stroll aro
"Wow!" Sander exclaimed. His eyes were growing big as soon as we arrived at the cotton field."These cotton are about to be harvested soon," I said when I touched one of the cotton flowers and saw that they could be ready to be harvested soon."Mama, can I run through the fields in my wolf form?" Sander asked excitedly.I chuckled. "Yes, little man. You may do that. But be careful since you might sneeze when you smell them," I said softly."I will!" Sander transformed into his wolf form and started running through the fields.I immediately distanced myself from Desmond when I was left alone with him again. But I felt ticklish as soon as I found out that he was following me."Desmond." I halted, glaring at him when I turned around."What?" He looked at me, feigning ignorance."Leave me alone," I said and glanced at Sander who was barking and howling in joy before I returned the gaze to him. My wolf quickly squirmed when our gazes met before I averted my gaze."I want us to talk, seraph
"Dine with Papa from now on?"Sander raised his voice as soon as I was dressing him in his indoor clothes. I told him that this supper, we would dine in the dining hall, not here in the north hall."Yes. Your Papa and I already talked," I answered softly."But Mama..." I could tell that he wanted to stomp his foot on the mattress but he didn't.I exhaled slowly before I cupped his cheeks with my hands. "Just one meal with him, Sander. If after this you still don't like to dine with us together, then I shall respect your decision." Even if I said that I was silently praying that he would not change his mind after this night. "Alright?"Hesitant, Sander nodded. But there was a slight frown sitting on his face."Tonight, let yourself the experience of having us together as a family, sweetheart," I convinced him."A-Alright..." he finally spoke.Smiling, I held his chin. "Good. Shall I expect pleasant manners tonight?" I asked softly.His eyes stirred before he nodded. "Yes, Mama."I sigh