7:AFTER THREE YEARS.

VANESSA’S POV

-THREE YEARS LATER-

I closed my eyes and began to count, with a playful smile tugging at my lips.

"Hide all you want, I will find you at the count of ten," I announced, giving Dame more time to find his hiding spot.

"1, 2, 3… Ready or not, Mommy is coming for you!" I announced, before beginning my search.

I started my search from the lounge, carefully checking behind the curtains down to the couch as I looked around for Dame.

I took a careful step, making sure not to make any sound as I tiptoed around the room in search of my little son.

I searched the kitchen but it was empty, so I went into Dame's room— it was empty too. This boy sure does know how to play the game and he never ceases to show how much of his favorite the game was. I opened the door to his rest room and there he was, hiding behind the doors.

I smiled.

“Got you!” I called and as soon as he realized he got caught, he ran out of his room, bounding down to the stairs while giggling with so much delight the sound turned my insides into mush.

“Mommy can’t catch me!”

“Oh yes, she can and she’s coming fast! You better run!”

At my words, he picked up his pace but the sight of his little feet and the pitter-platter of them was so cute I couldn’t even catch up with him. He kept running down the stairs while I hoped he wouldn’t fall and just when I thought he would fall and I already panicked, reaching out for him, he bumped into someone.

Tristan sweeped Dame right into his arms and I let out a sigh of relief.

"Daddy is back!" Dame exclaimed excitedly in Tristan’s arms.

Tristan’s eyes were bright with adoration as he held my son in his arms like his. In the past three years, I’ve noticed that his eyes only brighten up like that when he is around Dame and I never thought someone like him who was as hard as stone would care so much for Dame.

“What did I say about running down the stairs and in the house at all?” Tristan said, playfully tousling Dame’s hair. I slowly walked up to them knowing they would get lost in each other again and forget I’m even there.

“It’s bad and—and I can fall.” Dame responded, his voice tiny and quiet.

“And if you fall?”

“I get hurt.”

“So are you going to keep disobeying daddy?”

Dame shook his head and Tristan rewarded him with a smile and another ruffle of his hair. The boy giggled with delight.

Tristan looked exhausted and I could tell why. He had just come back from a meeting he had to travel to two days ago, and it seemed to have taken a toll on him. I could see dark circles under his eyes. They made me doubt if he had slept at all since he left for the business.

I would have cautioned Dame to let him be if I don't already know he loves him as much as Tristan adores him too.

"Why did you stay away for so long? You said you would come back home right away," Dame pouted his face, as he stared at Tristan accusingly. Sometimes, Dame acted and talked way too old for his age and trying to caution him has never really worked. Tristan’s advice was to let him be because the boy was smart.

"Daddy had to do a couple of things, I am sorry for returning late," Tristan made a face that made Dame laugh again. Tristan also chuckled and staring at them made me realize just how perfect my life has been since coming here.

I would be lying if I said I didn't envy the relationship between Tristan and Dame. Ever since I gave birth to him, he has been nothing but kind to us. Dame has been my joy ever since I had him. His first cry had me bursting into tears too because he was real and he was mine.

Finally, I can actually claim someone to be mine and it was the best feeling ever for someone like me who has never really owners anything or anyone.

Dame had my eyes—a bright hue of hazel

Well, the rest of his features reminded me of someone who I have buried thoughts of him deep in the darkest part of my mind where it can’t hurt me anymore.

It's been three years since then.

Three years since the day Tristan asked me to be his pretend Luna.

Three long years of deceiving the pack members for my sake and in that same number of years, he has provided shelter for me and Dame and even provided me with a new family—the pack members.

Everyone loved and respected me as the Luna of the Iron-Hide pack. Not once have I ever been disrespected over a certain situation and that is why I tried to tend to their needs as long as it was within my reach. It wasn’t hard to keep doing the same I did in the past as the Luna of the Wild-Heart.

However, I still fight the guilt that eats me up from deceiving such lovely people. I do not know how Tristan managed to convince them about my identity and no one has truly questioned it.

I held up my own side of the bargain by making sure no one ever sees through our deceit. I still carry my foundation around to cover up the mark on my neck. Well, a scar now. One which reminds me of a life I wish I never lived and of a time I wish I could take back.

I would wear a turtleneck on a sunny day, and tie a scarf around my neck when there is no cold just to cover up whatever traces foundation and powder couldn't conceal. I feared that if I wore something revealing, someone would see the scar and I would ruin Tristan for sticking by me all these years.

Despite my fear and insecurities and my self-consciousness, everyone showed me love and acceptance despite not being one of their own.

Well, all except Rhiannon— the pretty woman who caught me eavesdropping when I first got here. She was the daughter of an elder in the pack.

Up until now, I don't know what relationship she has with Tristan.

There are rumors but I’ve never concerned myself with them no matter how curious I get. Tristan saved my life and the least I could do was keep my nose out of his business. Asking him would have been an invasion of privacy, so I kept my curiosity to myself.

It's been three years already, but she still hovers around Tristan at the slightest chance she gets and those are one of the times Tristan’s moods turn sour. I may not know what exactly defines their relationship but I was certain the truth would be ugly and disturbing.

Rhiannon also has a way of looking into one’s soul in search of answers. Her presence irks me and whenever she’s around, I have to put up extra pretense because she had eyes that looked like they could see through I and Tristan's bullshit. She eyes me suspiciously and that alone worries me.

"Mommy, look! A gift!" Dame snapped me out of my thoughts, as he showed off the gift that Tristan bought from his trip.

"It is beautiful," I smiled, as I stared at the box in his hands.

"Dame, why don't you go into your room to play with your toys? I want to talk to Mommy," he said gently, and Dame nodded in response.

He dropped the boy to the ground and we watched him scurry off.

“Hey.” He said. For some reason, his mood still remained light despite the fact that Dame who he shows that side to was now gone. The only other time is in public, when we are keeping up appearances. Just a subtle grip of the waist and a few cheek and forehead kisses here and there.

"How did the meeting go?" I asked as soon as Dame was out of sight.

Tristan and the other packs who are members of the Alliance have been working hard to put an end to the violence that had been spreading around by the rebel rogues. No matter how hard they tried, the rogues kept adding up with each passing day which worried all the pack members.

However, in the last three years, they have been able to control the attacks of the rogues which means that the alliance has proven fruitful and people across packs are safe. I didn’t know much about it but I knew Tristan was the head of the Alliance.

"It went well and we will be holding a ceremony for the victories over the past three years," Tristan informed me and I smiled, happy for the achievement.

"That’s great news!”

"It is, and the party will be held in our pack," Tristan’s words made my smile freeze.

“Why?” I blurted before I could help myself and if Tristan noticed the change in my mood, he didn’t show it and only continued.

“Perks of being the head of the alliance, I guess.”

He shrugged it off like it was nothing when to me, it was everything.

The alliance is made up of Ten packs who are of the northern hemisphere. The shared borders which is why orchestrated attacks by the rebel rogues affect them all.

And of course, The Wild-Heart pack was a part of the Alliance.

If they are going to have a party to celebrate their victory over the past few years, I do not expect anyone to not be in attendance—including the man I was married to for five years. The true father of my son.

Declan.

My heart raced from all sorts of possibilities and just how things could go wrong with him being in the same space as I was and making me lose everything I have gained without him all this time.

Over the years, I have come to realise that Tristan and Declan detest each other for some unknown reasons. I couldn't question him because he never really told me what was happening unless it concerned me. I knew my place as his pretend Luna.

Most of the things I know were from the conversation I eavesdropped on when he was having a meeting with the elders and I sometimes, I admit it was hard to not want to learn what was going on with Declan and his pack.

I must have gone pale because Tristan touched my arm softly.

“Vanessa, are you okay?”

I snapped out of my thoughts.

“Yes.” I cleared my throat, “Yes, I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? You don’t seem fine to me.”

There’s no way I’m outing myself even before the party and so I forced a smile.

“Really Tristan, I’m fine. What were you saying again?”

He nodded and continued, "The party. All of the Alphas as well as their Lunas will be there, so if you don't mind, could you handle the preparation? Events like this are usually handled by the Luna and it would be strange to start appointing people to do it when you should be the one in charge. I hope it won’t be a bother to you seeing how it’s not truly your responsibility.”

I understood him perfectly but I was willing to do what I was meant to do.

"Of course, there is no problem with that, I will handle it," I said with a forced smile.

"Thank you," Tristan said as he fished out a list of the Alphas that would be attending. As soon as I took the list, I scanned through it, hoping that Declan's name wouldn't be there, but my joy was short-lived— of course, his name was at the top of the list.

“When is the party?” I asked, hoping it would be far away and give me enough time to prepare.

“In two days.”

My heart sank.

“Thank you, Vanessa. I’ll leave it to you. ” He said again and I nodded.

He then walked past me to get to his room in the house.

I gripped the list tightly in my fists when he was out of sight. My heart raced at the danger of having Declan here in front of everyone else while my mind already began drawing pictures of everything that could happen if he sets his eyes on me.

The party is taking place in two days and there is hardly anything I can do to stop it. Irrespective of what happens on that day, I won't allow Declan to ruin me all over again— no matter what it takes, I will protect my new life here and protect Dame’s future too.

I won't allow Declan ruin me all over again