I finished dressing up Saoirse, smiling. "Look at my little Saoirse. Isn't she adorable?" I said as I put her down on the floor. I watched her walking on her own already while she was giggling."Mama! Mama!" The door busted open revealing Sander in his new clothes. "Papa sent a letter, Mama! Look! Look! The insignia of the House of Verlice!" he beamed. His face brightened when he walked toward me. "Auntie Rachelle bestowed it to me after I am done training with Cloudy."My heart leaped out of my ribcage upon hearing that. I took the letter from him and saw the crest of the House of Verlice. The crest was the shield and in the center of it were the three heads of the wolf with vines protecting the edge of the shield.The House of Verlice was one of the 'shields' of the de Carteret royal Lycan family of the Sowinski Kingdom. If one's noble household became one of the 'shields', it meant that you were bound to protect all the members of the royal lycan family.There were other noble hous
"Well?" Mother tilted Her head, looking at me intently. "Is it a deal?"I bit my lower lip. "I am... not sure yet, Mother..."I hated the feeling that Desmond would be matched with another woman as his mate. Even though I sometimes wanted to get rid of our mate bond, I didn't have the heart to ruin it.My heart still belonged to that man who was my cinnamon."Alright. I am certain that you do not like it." She chuckled. She looked so amused which earned me a frown. "My, my... Don't sulk, darling.""You always like to tease us, Mother..." Even so, I was still grateful that She was with us."Hmm?" I closed my eyes for a while when Mother tapped my nose. "When you return to his pack, always wear your necklace, Sicilia. Alright?"I mindlessly touched the galaxy moon necklace I was wearing. "I didn't intend to remove this, Mother. I cherish this because you have given this to me." I softened and purred.Mother softened as well. "Very well. That is good to hear." She caressed my hair. "Also
"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
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
"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
"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
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
"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
"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