Chapter 5 - He returns

Seraphine's POV

{SIX YEARS AFTER—PRESENT TIME}

"Mama! Mama, look what Uncle Kade taught me!"

Aurelian's voice phased through the training grounds like a bell, bright, clear and so full of life. He was running toward me with his arms outstretched, dirt smudged across his cheek and his brown hair wild from the wind.

I knelt just in time to catch him, letting him crash into me with all the force a six-year-old could muster.

"Careful, little moon," I laughed, brushing the hair from his face. "You'll knock your poor mama over one of these days."

"No I won't." He grinned up at me, gap-toothed and proud. "Papa says I'm strong, but I have to be gentle with you because you're precious."

My heart skipped a little.

Six years.

Six years since Darius had found me bleeding in the rain, since he had sworn an oath to me and my unborn child.

Six years since I'd felt the stirring in my belly that told me my pup had accepted him as father.

And in all that time, not a single day had passed where I didn't thank the Goddess for making me end up here.

"What did Uncle Kade teach you?" I asked, tapping his nose.

Aurelian's eyes lit up. They were blue. Deep, piercing blue. The same shade as—

I pushed the thought away before it could take root.

"He taught me how to track by scent. See?" He pulled away from me and dropped to all fours, sniffing dramatically at the ground. "See? I can smell where the deer went this morning. And I can smell Papa too. He is in the forge with the blacksmiths."

I smiled.

"You've got a good nose, sweetheart."

"The best nose," he corrected, puffing out his chest. Then his expression softened, and he crawled back into my lap, curling against me like he used to when he was in his terrible-twos.

"Mama?"

"Yes, my love?"

"Am I really going to be Alpha one day?"

I stroked his hair. He asked it often lately.

The other pups had been whispering, no doubt. Asking him why his scent was different.

Why his eyes weren't amber like his father's.

"You are," I kissed his forehead. "You were born under the blood moon, Aurelian. The Goddess herself marked you for greatness."

"But I don't look like Papa."

My hand stilled.

"You look like you," I murmured softly. "And that is all that matters. Your Papa loves you more than anything in this world. You know that, don't you?"

He nodded, but I could see the doubt lingering in his gaze.

Before I could say more, a deep voice came from behind us.

"There's my boy."

Aurelian's face split into the widest smile I had ever seen. He leapt from my lap and launched himself at Darius, who caught him mid-air and swung him around until he screamed with laughter.

"Papa. Did you finish making the sword?"

"I did." Darius set him down and ruffled his hair. "But it's not for you yet, little wolf. You've got a few more years before you're ready for real steel."

"I'm ready now..."

"You're ready to keep practicing with the wooden ones," Darius chuckled.

"But—"

"Patience is part of strength, Aurelian. Remember that."

He pouted, but nodded.

Darius's gaze drifted to mine, and the softness in his eyes made my stomach still feel unnecessarily fuzzy. Even after all this time, he still looked at me like I was something precious.

Something still worth protecting.

He crossed to me and offered his hand.

I took it, letting him pull me to my feet.

"You're tired," he murmured, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. "You should rest."

"I'm fine."

"Seraphine."

I sighed. He could always decipher what I felt from merely taking a look at me.

"Maybe a little tired," I admitted.

"Go inside. I'll bring Aurelian in after his evening drills."

I hesitated, glancing at our son. He was already running back toward the training dummies.

"He is growing so fast."

I was still in awe.

How did such a strong, beautiful boy come out from me?

"He is." Darius's hand slid to my waist, pulling me close. "And that is all because of the fire his mother possesses."

His eyes flickered to my lips for a split second.

Six years, and like he promised, he had never touched me. But I wanted him—

My head whipped to the side instantly, the loud commotion of snarling was coming from the gate. Darius was already running before I could say anything. And I had followed him, hot on my feet.

The moment we got to the gate, the sight I saw made me freeze. A man was holding my son by the chin, staring into his eyes. My chest heaved and I clutched Darius by the arm.

A gasp escaped my lips and the man's eyes upturned to me.

Fael was here.

Immediately Darius's claws elongated.

"Aurelian. Step away from that man."

He was skeptical, clearly confused about Fael's presence, and Liora, who stood beside him, a hand on her stomach.

Kade appeared from behind us, a hand on the hilt of his katana.

"Take Aurelian." I whispered. "Take him inside, please."

"Mom—"

"Inside, baby, now. Papa and I will be right there with you soon."

×

Fael's lips parted at the word 'papa'.

"Seraphine..."

"What are you doing here?"

"Seraphine, I—"

"Nephew." Darius called out to him. "You have two minutes to state your agenda, before I throw you out, or maybe if I'm provoked enough, hack you to pieces."

He sank to the ground on his knees, before me. And the moment he did, the men with him followed, including Anton and Liora.

"Please, let me save our son, Seraphine. I know I wronged you and from the bottom of my heart I—"

"Wait—what?"

Save?

I exchanged a glance with Darius who seemed equally confused.

Fael looked just as confused as we were. Like we were the ones acting odd.

"Haven't... haven't they told you?"

"They? Who are they... and told me what exactly?"

He gestured to Liora who handed him a scroll.

I recognized it. A parchment from the divine elders of the werewolf council. The eunuchs of our race.

"They told us they saw a vision, a warning from the moon goddess."

Darius crossed his arms. Still not letting his guard down.

"What vision are you talking about?"

"Seraphine. Aurelian...Aurelian is dying.”