Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5: 

THE GARDEN

The next morning was bright and clear. Lyra woke early, her heart pounding with anticipation and anxiety. Today she will see her children again. Today she would start building a relationship with them, however slowly, however carefully.

She washed her face and changed into the cleanest clothes she had, wishing she had something nicer. Something that would make her look less like a road-weary traveler and more like someone worthy of her children's attention.

But this was all she had. It would have to be enough.

The pack house was quiet when she slipped out. Most members were still sleeping off the previous night's celebration. Lyra made her way toward the gardens, the place where she'd played as a child. The place where, if she was lucky, her own children would be playing soon.

She found a bench partially hidden by flowering bushes and sat down to wait. Her hands twisted nervously in her lap. What would she say to them? How did you talk to children who should know you but didn't? Children who'd been turned against you before you even had a chance?

Movement caught her eye. The twins appeared at the garden entrance, holding hands as they often seemed to do. They wore matching outfits, bright and clean, clearly well cared for. Healthy, happy and beautiful.

They spotted her and Luna's face lit up with recognition.

"You came!" Luna ran toward her, Aiden following more cautiously. "You kept your promise!"

"I always keep my promises," Lyra said softly, her heart swelling at her daughter's enthusiasm.

The twins sat on either side of her on the bench. Close, but not quite touching. Still wary, but curious.

"Mama said we could play for an hour before lessons," Aiden explained. "Do you want to see our favorite spot?"

Every time they said "mama" referring to Sera, it hurt. But Lyra pushed the pain down and smiled. "I would love that."

They led her deeper into the gardens, to a small clearing surrounded by roses. Someone had placed a blanket there, along with toys and books. The twins' special place.

For the next hour, Lyra played with her children. They showed her their favorite toys, told her elaborate stories about imaginary adventures, taught her the games Sera had taught them. And slowly, bit by bit, they relaxed around her.

Luna climbed into Lyra's lap at one point, examining a bracelet Lyra wore.

"This is pretty," Luna said, touching the worn leather. "Where did you get it?"

"I made it," Lyra said. "When I was far from home and missing the people I loved, I would make things to remind me of them."

"Who did you miss?" Aiden asked, leaning against her side.

"Everyone," Lyra said honestly. "My family. My... my children."

Something in her voice made Luna look up at her with those knowing amber eyes. "Did you have children? Where are they?"

"They're close by," Lyra whispered. "Closer than you might think."

"Do they know you miss them?" Luna's small hand found Lyra's, squeezing gently.

The gesture, so innocent and kind, made Lyra's eyes burn with tears. "I don't think so. I hope someday they will."

"I bet they know," Luna said confidently. "I bet they feel it. Even if they don't understand why."

From the mouths of babes. Her daughter, sensing the bond between them even if she couldn't name it.

"Will you tell us about your adventures?" Aiden asked, changing the subject with the short attention span of a five-year-old. "Did you fight monsters? Did you see magic?"

Lyra laughed, the sound surprised and genuine. "I'll tell you about the time I negotiated peace between two Alphas who'd been enemies for twenty years..."

She wove the story carefully, making it exciting but appropriate for children. The twins listened with rapt attention, gasping at the dramatic parts, cheering when she succeeded.

"You're so brave," Luna breathed when the story ended. "I want to be brave like you when I grow up."

"You're already brave," Lyra assured her. "Both of you are."

"How do you know?" Aiden challenged. "You just met us."

"Because I can see it in your eyes," Lyra said. "And because brave people raise brave children."

She'd meant Marcus, trying to give their father credit. But Luna interpreted it differently.

"Mama is very brave," Luna agreed. "She takes care of everyone. She makes sure nobody is sad or hurt."

The praise of Sera stung, but Lyra forced herself to nod. "That does sound brave."

A shadow fell across them. Lyra looked up to find Sera standing at the edge of the clearing, her face a mask of polite concern. But her eyes were cold with fury.

"Children, it's time for lessons," Sera said with forced cheer.

"But Mama, we're having fun!" Luna protested. "Can't we stay a little longer?"

"No, sweet one. Your tutor is waiting." Sera's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Say goodbye to... our guest."

The twins hugged Lyra tightly, making her promise to come back tomorrow. She promised, even as she saw the rage building in Sera's expression.

When the children ran ahead toward the pack house, Sera stepped closer. Her pretty face was twisted with something ugly.

"What do you think you're doing?" Sera hissed, low enough that the distant twins couldn't hear.

"Playing with my children," Lyra said calmly, though her heart raced. "Getting to know them."

"They're not your children. Not anymore." Sera's voice shook with fury. "You gave that up when you left. They're mine. Marcus is mine. This life is mine."

"I never gave anything up. It was taken from me through lies and manipulation."

"You left!" Sera's composure cracked. "You walked away from three-day-old babies. What kind of mother does that?"

"The kind who was told it was necessary. The kind who was manipulated by people she trusted." Lyra stood, meeting Sera's eyes. "But I'm here now. And I'm not leaving. Those children deserve to know their real mother."

"If you try to take them from me," Sera said quietly, her voice deadly, "I will destroy you. I've built this life. I've earned it. I won't let you waltz back in and ruin everything."

"I'm not trying to ruin anything. I just want to know my children."

"Your children." Sera laughed bitterly. "They don't even know you. They love me. They call me mama. You're just some strange woman who makes them confused and upset."

"They're starting to warm to me," Lyra said. "You saw them. They're responding to the bond between a mother and her children….."

"There is no bond," Sera cut her off. "You severed that when you left. They're mine now. And if you keep pushing, if you keep trying to confuse them and steal them away, I'll make sure everyone knows exactly what kind of person you really are."

Sera turned and walked away before Lyra could respond, her shoulders tight with barely contained rage.

Lyra stood alone in the garden clearing, unease prickling down her spine. That had sounded like a threat. But what could Sera actually do? Lyra had done nothing wrong. She was simply trying to reconnect with her own children.

She spent the rest of the day thinking about the twins. About Luna's bright smile and Aiden's serious questions. About the way they'd begun to relax around her, to trust her. About the promise they'd made to see each other again tomorrow.

That evening, Lyra prepared a special treat. She found ingredients in the pack kitchen and made juice, mixing berries and honey the way her own mother, her real mother, who'd died giving birth to her used to make according to old pack recipes she'd found. It was something to share with the twins tomorrow. Something to make them smile.

She poured the juice into two small containers and went to sleep dreaming of her children's laughter.