Even though his expression looked solemn, I knew that he was pleased with the words I uttered."Do you still remember your safe word?" he asked. He even took a blindfold on the bedside table and covered my eyes."Yes..." I said softly."Tell me.""Orchid." My favorite flower...Desmond bent me down until the cheeks of my bottom were exposed to him. I shivered in delight when he teasingly grazed the tip of the crop to my bottom."Have you missed the pain, seraphim?" Desmond asked darkly before he hit the other cheek of my bottom.Biting my lower lip, as my arousal heightened from having my eyes covered, I hissed in pain as well each time he struck me while he made me count."Yes, cinnamon."I could tell that they would leave red marks. I moaned softly when he hit me again."Ten..." I counted softly.At that moment, I felt unsatisfied that he was going easy on me. I was about to open my mouth to beg him to strike me harder but Desmond must have heard my silent wish because the way he st
"Mama!"The door swung open revealing Sander who had a worried expression on his cute, handsome face. He immediately jumped into the bed and buried his face in my stomach."What's wrong?" I asked softly and looked up to see Desmond bringing a tray of hot soup."Papa said that we cannot leave today. He said that you are sick," Sander said as he climbed to the bed and cupped my face. "Are you alright, Mama?"I nodded my head and caressed his wavy hair. "Yes, I am actually alright. But your Papa said that I must stay here." I glared at Desmond who just snorted and shook his head."Don't believe your Mama, Sander. Mama is definitely not alright," he said and sat on the edge. "Come here. Don't sit on your Mama's lap." He immediately took Sander away from my lap and brought it to him."I am perfectly fine." I squinted my eyes at him. "You are overreacting." I meant he only hit me with the riding crop and the ointment he used on my buttocks already healed the pain searing in my skin yet Desm
"Mama, it is unusual that Papa retired so early."Sander looked dejected because Desmond only kissed him a good night and left to retire to his chamber. He was expecting that they would have fun tonight but Desmond didn't seem to be in the mood right now.I gently combed his hair after I tucked him into his blanket. "Papa is tired, little man. He will be alright tomorrow."Desmond didn't say a word after I retorted a harsh truth to him earlier.I was not a fool. He knew that I had warned him in the past that if that case should happen again, there would be no second chances.I forgave Desmond for what happened the first time he slept with the courtesan. Indeed, someone used an aphrodisiac incense by that time. He was not in his sanity when he committed such an act.But... the part where he committed that act towards Hazel... That was something I could not ever forgive.No matter what actions he would do in the near future to coax me, my heart wouldn't be swayed on Desmond anymore. My
His lips were inviting me to respond back when I did it. I was really a hypocrite to even answer his invitation.But this was way better than allowing him to listen to his words.Seven years had already passed yet that scene made me remember how Desmond kissed her. How he pleased her was the same thing he usually did to Hazel.That made me irk and halted kissing Desmond. He had a look of confusion when our eyes met. Hearing our labor breaths, he knew that he wanted the hungry kiss we exchanged but as soon as he saw my expression, he had a look of horrifying right now.It was a cold facade. The same expression when I felt disgusted with him."Seraphina—" He was about to raise his hand to brush his chuckles against my cheek when I spoke."You killed me." Desmond's eyes widened. I couldn't help myself from shedding tears the moment I saw him with Hazel in his study room. "The moment you had been with Hazel... The moment you did not consult that matter to me... The moment you agreed with
"Mama, aren't you going to dine with us?"Taking a toll breath, I shook my head. "Unfortunately, you can dine with your Papa..." My tone was smeared with a dejected tone.I knew that was enough to worry my son."Oh..." Sander lowered his head."You can go ahead." I urged him. "If you wish to go out to roam around the pack, you can go with your Papa. I am not feeling well right now." There was a melancholy expression written on his face.Sander knew I was lying. He knew that something happened between Desmond and me back in Elian. Since we returned, Sander was not at ease especially since Desmond and I were not on good terms again.Neither of us was talking since that happened as we became aloof to each other.But I knew my son was being affected by this behavior we were showing. I must do something to avoid tarnishing this family I wanted for Sander.I watched how Sander's shoulders slumped as he left my chamber. I went to the balcony and summoned my hand. I beckoned it, telling them
"Alright, alright, Sander. Halt," I said, sighing exasperatedly when Sander was tugging my hand as we were near the location of the boot camp.The boot camp was set up near the river of Tana Forest to the north. That vast area was enough to have mandatorily gruesome training for the rookies and the pack warriors. Their mentors were the Gammas. Sometimes, Desmond and the two Betas, Oakley and Harvey, participated in teaching the privates.I was not certain if they were still doing it.I was also expecting that I would be able to see Niscia there since she was one of the Gammas."Mama, hurry!" Sander said impatiently, frowning.Chuckling, I hastened my steps. "Alright, little man." I almost shook my head. He really had the same temper as Desmond. It shouldn't be a surprise already since Sander has Desmond and I's blood running in his veins.When we arrived there, all of their eyes were on us. All the training had been halted before they all bowed to me."Greetings, Luna Seraphina, Young
Desmond didn't say a word after that. As always.He just kept tapping his finger on the table to kill the silence that suddenly enveloped us. Neither of us was speaking after this."How's your lesson for today, son?" Desmond asked after a long moment of silence.Right... Desmond already provided some mentors that came from noble households to teach Sander. His lessons included how to be a proper noble in an aristocratic society."I am doing good, Papa. Count Geney said that I could easily pick up the lessons in economics. Then later, Lady Cecy from the House of Noe will teach me about etiquette, ethics, and personality development tomorrow," Sander said in his enthusiastic tone.He gently caressed our son's hair. "That is good to hear, son. Those lessons are helpful once we attend some parties hosted by the noble families or we are the ones hosting a party," he said proudly. "You will be able to use it more when you reach adulthood and in your coming-of-age."Sander looked pleased tha
A week before the celebration of Sander's seventh birthday, Desmond had finally revealed his plan for it.He showed me the dress that I had to wear which made my jaw drop upon seeing it. "This... This is the one Niscia and I made..." I said, shocked.The dress was an ash grey ball gown suitable for a party. It has a U-shaped neckline with sleeves that reach the elbow. They were made with ash grey satin while the front was made of laces and some intricate designs.And this was partnered with a fancy ash grey hat with a see-through brim.I was certain that this was the dress Niscia and I made."Indeed. This is why I asked your former boss that I wished to make a dress which is suitable for someone." He nodded. Then his eyes settled on me with so much longing. "That someone is you, Seraphina."I felt my stomach somersault at his statement. My wolf was even squirming at that moment, especially since I got to know that the catering service that would serve the guests was the establishment
"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