"There are so many food stalls here, Mama! I can't pick one!" Sander beamed as we came to walk to the seaside and saw some food stalls.I chuckled and held his hand tightly. "How about we go to a nearby restaurant? I am very sure you haven't experienced coming there, have you?"His eyes widened in awe. "Restaurant?" I nodded, caressing his hair. "I would love to!"I fixated on his bowtie and his hat. "There." I cupped his cherub face. "My baby pup grows up so fast. I can't accept it yet," I said, feeling emotional as I gave him some kisses which Sander giggled at."Mama, I want to grow up so I can protect you. I will look for work and I will earn so hard that Mama won't work anymore."That made me teary-eyed. "What did I do to deserve you?" I kissed his forehead. He was such an adorable child. I really don't deserve this pup..."Because I love my Mama. My playmates teased me that you don't love me anymore because Mama is not staying with me for the whole day. But I told them you are w
I was bothered by Sander's words as soon as we headed back home. Even though days had already passed, I could still feel chills down my spine. I didn't get a chance to ask him about it and what the man really looked like.But if what Sander proclaimed that the man looked like my son, could it be... him? He was here?That was impossible for sure. This rural town was far away from where I lived before. It was impossible that he would be able to find me since I never used my maiden surname or his surname.I only used my own name since as a peasant, they don't have any surname. I knew that I was safe because having a name, Seraphina, was a very common name here in the Sowinski Kingdom.But... if Desmond managed to find me, then I must do what it took to hide my son away from him. There was no way that he had a chance to see our son.Never.After he hurt me... After he made me a fool from our marriage...Did he really think that he deserved to know about our son?Absconding from his pack..
"This is our new home, Mama?" Sander asked with his eyes widened in awe.I roamed my eyes around seeing that this new flat I rented was well maintained. I was glad that I found a caring landlady who was so accommodating to her tenants, unlike the landlady where Sander and I stayed before. Her rent was cheap yet it was dilapidated.I only rented there because I wanted to live in a simple flat that would avoid having me found by Desmond. But I was glad that I found a flat that would fit in my budget for my wage of being a seamstress and my workplace was two blocks away from our new flat.I looked at Sander and gently caressed his hair. "Yes, little man. This is our new home with no annoying neighbors," I said.He giggled when I gently pinched his nose. "Can I go out while you are away, Mama?" he asked. "I saw a river that isn't far away from here."I chuckled. Sander would always love going to rivers and going to hunt some salmon. "As long as you are not going anywhere aside from that r
"Mama, please take care."I kissed Sander on his forehead. "Yes. Continue to write them, alright? Then, we will proceed to the next lesson once I go home. Be a good boy here, Sander."Since we already had a new home, I already introduced Sander to studying more by reading and writing. Though I couldn't say that I had knowledge about it, I only thought about what I thought would be convenient for my son while I was away.The education here was only favorable to all the nobles. It was a good thing that Desmond had made me study lessons when we were still getting to know each other. At that time I was still wary of him but still, I accepted the education he bestowed on me since he insisted. It was the time he knew that I couldn't read and write.It was very helpful for me and thanks to that, I could pass my knowledge to Sander.I went to the tailor shop early this morning. I even got to meet Niscia along the way."I hope Madam Ibanez is not here yet," I said when we went to our workstati
"You must be..." Desmond paused, acting like he wanted to know my name.I froze to my ground, unable to speak. Shivers kept coming, seeing his stare piercing me. Talk, Seraphina! Talk!"I—""Her name is Seraphina, one of my seamstresses. She will be the one taking your measurement, Lord Verlice," Madam Ibanez answered.I inhaled almost sharply when I heard Madam Ibanez say Lord Verlice. I almost pinched myself for failing to hear the surname, Verlice. How could I ignore it at all times?Verlice surname was only owned by Desmond himself. The devil in disguise!"I see. Seraphina, it is..." I snapped back, feeling my heart was about to explode as I faced my mate I rejected who was also my former husband. I felt shivers down my spine when he mentioned my name as if he was tasting it, wanting to see if it was according to his taste or not.I could feel my hands fidgeting right now when I came to see Oakley, one of his Betas, who was settling beside him. Our eyes met but he didn't react tha
"A week before the party. I am hoping it will be finished.""Of course, my lord. I shall pay heed to that."I sighed in relief when it seemed that Desmond wasn't rushing to finish his tuxedo. But that didn't mean that Madam Ibanez would allow us not to have overtime work again. She would rush us for certain to finish it as soon as possible just as she would always do to us.Then, she wouldn't even dare to pay our overtime working hours."One more thing."I glanced at Desmond when he spoke. His eyes were focused on Madam Ibanez as if he was trying to charm her. I scoffed silently. That's right... That was how you charmed the courtesan and Hazel, didn't you? That suddenly made me feel bitter as I remembered the past.I suddenly wanted to get away from this place."Yes, my lord? What is it?""I need a dress that I need to bestow to someone special to me."I simply took the macaroon and ate it, not minding what they were talking about but I felt my stomach churning upside down for some re
Things had gotten busier as soon as we had more clients than usual. That was also a time we had to take shifts and have overtime work as well.I came home late again and saw on the table that Sander prepared for my supper. Sighing, I leaned on my seat, trying to relax as I thought about this week. I really had not enough rest and had no time to spend with my son again."I need to change my job..." I murmured while leaning to the window as I silently heard the soft croak of the crickets.I glanced at my hands. I used to be good in combat for living as a rogue before. And now, I couldn't even dare to bring myself to hurt other people just to survive. It was all different now because I had a son.I wouldn't resort to violence just to survive. Though Sander and I were still considered rogues, my life from before was indeed different right now.For the rest of seven years, I worked here at Madam Ibanez's tailoring shop. There was a time when I had come to the point that I put my son in the
"Unfortunately, His Lordship did not like the outcome of his tuxedo.""What?!" I slammed the table upon hearing Sir Elron had returned this day after Desmond's tuxedo had been finished the other day and was delivered yesterday."Seraphina..." Niscia halted me from almost making a commotion. "You need to calm down," she said softly, placing her hands on my shoulders."No..." I shook my head. "I cannot possibly calm down from what I was hearing right now..." I said through gritted teeth. "We spent one week and five days just so we can finish his tuxedo! And he would tell us that his master doesn't like the outcome? Outrageous!""Seraphina..." I removed the hands of Niscia from my shoulders. I just couldn't help getting annoyed hearing this from Desmond's butler.That son of a bitch... He had the nerve to say that he didn't like how we sewed for his tuxedo? Damn him! He must go to hell!"What is the commotion here?"We all turned our heads when Madam Ibanez who had just arrived from her
"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