LOGINHealing was easier with Cassius by my side. After we had introduced our son to the pack, I had decided to go back to my duties and responsibilities. Not that anyone even asked me, but I couldn’t stay away for so long. As expected I had gotten an immense protest from Cassius. He wanted me to rest more, stay home and enjoy being pampered while he loved to take care of us. Kane and Selena were also growing faster, something that I badly wished to stop and preserve. Their schooling had become much more serious and challenging given their intelligence and strength. Selena and Kane had picked up strength, agility, flexibility, defense and intelligence.Sitting back in the office, it felt good and bad at the same time. I missed being at home but I was very eager to be back at work. It felt good to be back in charge of duties and responsibilities. About thirty minutes into reviewing reports, Cassius's voice suddenly appeared inside my mind. Have you eaten? I stared at the paperwork in front o
Nearly a month had passed since Nicholas came into the world, and for the first time since his birth, I stood before the bedroom mirror wearing something other than comfortable nursing clothes. The long healing process had tested my patience far more than I wanted to admit. My incision had closed well according to Marianne, but every careful step still reminded me that my body had fought one of the hardest battles of my life. I moved slowly while Camilia stood behind me, gently helping me slip into an elegant ivory Luna gown embroidered with delicate silver thread that shimmered like moonlight against fresh snow. The fabric rested comfortably over my healing body without pressing against my scar, and for the first time in weeks, I almost felt like myself again. Selena insisted that no one else was allowed to touch my hair. She stood proudly on a small stool, carefully brushing every strand with the seriousness of someone performing the most important duty in the world. Across the room
Morning sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, bathing our bedroom in a warm golden glow. For the first time in what felt like forever, I woke before everyone else. Usually waking up between feeds for our baby boy, I would not be the first one to rise at all. I knew pretty well if Sienna moved or woke up, but nothing apart from that. I stayed still for a long moment. Sienna slept peacefully beside me, her body curled toward the small wooden bassinet placed next to our bed. Even in her sleep, one hand rested outside the blanket, almost reaching toward it, as though she needed the reassurance that our son was still within arm's reach. The past week had taken its toll on her. Faint shadows lingered beneath her eyes, and every now and then her brows furrowed before relaxing again.She looked exhausted. She looked beautiful. Most importantly, she was here. A lump settled in my throat. Thank you. The words echoed silently inside my heart. My heart was filled with overflowing gratitu
Selena climbed onto the bed with surprising care, making sure not to jostle her little brother sleeping peacefully in the crib beside them. She tucked her legs beneath herself before resting her head lightly against my shoulder. For a while neither of us spoke. Outside, I could hear Kane loudly insisting that he and Cassius were perfectly capable of making lunch without burning the kitchen down. Judging by the muffled laughter that followed, I doubted that very much. The silence between Selena and me wasn't uncomfortable. It never had been. My daughter had always been thoughtful before she spoke, weighing every word as though it mattered. She reached for my hand and gently traced the faint lines across my palm. "Mom?" she asked quietly. "Are you happy?" The question caught me off guard. I turned to look at her. "Very happy." She studied my face for another moment before smiling with quiet satisfaction. "Good. Daddy looks happier too. He smiles even when nobody says anything funny." I
"What should we name him?"The question slipped out before I could stop it.Our son lay asleep between us, his tiny fists curled beside his cheeks, completely unaware that the two people staring at him had spent the last several minutes trying to find a name worthy of him.Sienna didn't answer immediately.Instead, she looked at me with that quiet smile she wore whenever she already knew something I didn't."I've been waiting for you to choose first," she said softly.I frowned. "Me?"She nodded."This is your first pregnancy from beginning to end, Cassius. You were there for every appointment. Every craving. Every kick. Every sleepless night. Every ridiculous question you asked Marianne.""I did not ask ridiculous questions.""You asked if babies could hiccup too much.""They can.""They cannot.""They absolutely can."She laughed under her breath before reaching over to squeeze my hand."You've waited for this longer than you realize. I wanted you to have the first choice."I looked
The next three days passed in a blur of healing, laughter, interrupted sleep, and endless cuddles. My body still protested every movement. Sitting up required effort. Standing was worse. Walking felt as though someone had stitched together muscles that had never belonged together in the first place. Marianne repeatedly reminded me that recovering from surgery demanded patience, something I possessed in embarrassingly small quantities. Every morning she inspected the incision, checked on our son, and gave me permission to walk a little farther than the day before. Every afternoon she caught me trying to do more than I was supposed to. Every evening she scolded both Cassius and me for exhausting ourselves. Somehow, despite all of us being adults, she managed to command the room with frightening efficiency. I eventually stopped arguing. Cassius, on the other hand, nodded solemnly every single time Marianne spoke, only to become even more overprotective once she left.He had quietly becom







