Chapter 86: Silent Wishes
Desmond
Just as we talked about, I was staying in Verlice’s vacation house to be my son’s mentor while still doing my Alpha duties. Right now, I was sparring with Sander with the wooden sword.
“Is that the best you can do, Sander?” I mocked my son when he was attacking me by calculating my movements. “You are boasting that you can defeat me but I do not see a good result.”
Sander frowned, annoyed at my remarks. But he did not let himself be distracted by how I was ridiculing him. In fact, he was focusing more on how to counterattack me.
Sander was excellent at dwelling on the wooden sword. It would be a matter of time before he would be holding a real sword soon.
To finish this sparring, I made a dirty tactic by tripping him with my foot. Sander fell to the ground and glared at me. “That is so unfair, Papa!” He looked frustrated and was near to bursting tears.
I chuckled and winced his hair. “This is not always about how well you can hold your sword, son. You must think on the battlefield, you must learn how to play dirty lines to defeat your enemy,” I advised. “Listen to me because I was in the rogue war eleven years ago.” I flicked his forehead causing him to frown more.
“That hurts…” He caressed his forehead.
“Uh-huh…” I sat on the ground, looking up at the sky. “That’s even a bit of mosquito. How much more if we really duel and must hurt each other?” I shook my head, wincing his hair more. “You are improving but you are still not a good match for me, little Alpha.”
His eyes squinted upon hearing that ‘little Alpha’ as an address to him. My son looked offended somehow.
“I will practice more. Then I will definitely defeat you, Papa.”
“Certainly.” I scoffed a smirk. I decided to squat and looked behind him where Seraphina was watching from afar. When I returned my gaze to Sander, he had a bewildered expression written on his face. “I know that you want me to stay away from your Mama but for now, allow me to tell you that it is my right to stay here now that your Mama is giving birth soon. I do not want to miss any chances that your Mama is giving birth to our second pup. I already missed it before when she gave birth to you and she was left alone in her pregnancy. This time, I shall make things right,” I said earnestly. “I will never fail her and you, Sander. Please remember that.” I decided to stand up. “And I know you hate me as your father based on the past actions I did to your Mama but remember that I am still your father.”
“Are you saying that I must respect you as my father immediately?” I nodded. “Papa, you must earn my respect for you. Mama said that to me.”
“Yes. I am willing to do that.” I smiled. “I hope one day, you will also forgive me, Sander.” I looked behind him and saw that Seraphina was calling Sander already. Sander looked and turned at me. “Go now.”
“Mmm.” Sander nodded before he turned his back on me. “This talk, Papa… It does not mean that we are going along, alright?”
He didn’t wait for me to respond as he transformed into his wolf form and ran towards Seraphina who just chuckled. I felt envious as they looked like they were enjoying each other’s company while I was here watching them from afar.
“Say, Niscia. Is there no chance that Seraphina and I will be together again?” I asked when I felt her presence behind me.
I knew that she had been watching us from a short distance. Seraphina asked her to watch over us and observed what I was going to do.
Niscia settled beside me. “They looked happier without you. You can vividly see that, Alpha,” she said.
“I see…” My heart was being pricked right now, feeling hurt at what she said.
She bowed and bestowed me the report. “This is my report from the last two weeks I had been staying here, Alpha. Sander said that you will need it.”Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.
I snorted, shaking my head at my son’s absurdity before I took the report from her. “Summarize it for me,” I ordered, seeing Seraphina raining kisses at Sander.
I suddenly remembered the part where we stayed here. But I also remembered how Seraphina had been vocally saying that she would never forgive me and how she loathed me.
“Seraphina has renovated one of the chambers here to serve as a nursery room. She also spent most of her time making some baby clothes in the sewing room. You might want to see them later, Alpha. As for Sander, he is doing the assignments you assigned to him. All his work is delivered to your study room to check thoroughly. That is all.”
Nodding, I looked up seeing the orange hue sky. “I must go to the nursery room later. I haven’t gone there ever since I arrived here three days ago.” All I did during those three days staying here was to settle my Alpha duties and be Sander’s mentor.
“As you wish, Alpha Desmond.”
That was my agenda when everyone was asleep. I went to the nursery room which was near the sewing room. Seraphina had already prepared everything for our little pup.
While caressing the new clothes for our pup, I felt envious again. “I could have wished I contributed here…” I sighed as I hugged the small clothing. I couldn’t help shedding tears.
If only my relationship with Seraphina was established properly, I wouldn’t end up suffering like this. If only I had been considerate of her feelings and genuinely showed how sorry I was for committing infidelity in our marriage…
“I deserve this punishment…” I mumbled.
I scrutinized the whole nursery room and even checked the cradle that our little pup would be using soon. I could have wished I could demand that I would stay here for more. I also wanted to take care of our second pup.
I wanted them to stay in the manor so I could be at ease but Seraphina wouldn’t like to stay there anymore. My pack members were being hostile already to someone who wasn’t even our pack member. I did not want to harm Seraphina there.
I decided to go out of the nursery room after spending some time there. I wanted to take my rest now as I couldn’t be with Seraphina. She was still uncomfortable with my presence around here which was why I limited myself from interacting with her.
Also, this was part of the negotiation with Sander. I must stay away from Seraphina even though I did not want to.
I looked at the north wing where Seraphina and Sander were staying ever since they arrived here. Seraphina was not using our old chamber. I understood if she would be uncomfortable staying there.
I became alert when I heard some soft clunking sound in the kitchen area. I growled softly and went there but I was surprised that I came to smell Seraphina’s scent and I was right that she was there… munching some strawberries.
“What are you doing here at this hour?” I asked, surprised that she was eating here… alone. It was already midnight.
Seraphina suddenly got choked and gently punched her chest. I hurried to bestow her with a glass of water. “T-Thank you…”
“You’re welcome,” I said softly and glanced at her bulging stomach. “Are you having more cravings lately?” I asked, distancing myself from her as I did not want to make her uncomfortable with my presence again.
I stared at her beautiful face. She had gained weight and her cheeks were becoming chubby but she still looked like a goddess to my eyes.
How I wish I could hold her…
Seraphina looked away, nodding shyly. I smiled as she looked so adorable. “Is there any food that you wish to eat right now? I will try to get them for you,” I said softly.
Her hands on the table started fidgeting right now. I could tell that in that gesture she really had one. Ah… She was still easy to read. How I missed her so much.
“T-There is a food I want that only you can do…”
I snapped back when she spoke. I was glad that she was engaging in conversations with me. Sometimes, she acted tough, sometimes she was shy, or sometimes she avoided me.
“That is?” If she was saying that only I could do… Was she referring to the lava cake and caramel pudding, perhaps?
“Lava cake and caramel pudding,” she answered as she gulped. I knew it! “I asked George to make me one but… they do not taste the same taste that you made before.”
My eyes widened. I also felt like getting teary-eyed because Seraphina still remembered them. She was not fond of sweet desserts but when she tasted my lava cake and caramel pudding, she told me that were the only desserts her sweet taste buds could endure.
“Would you like me to make them now?”
“Will you make them if I request them now?”
I nodded promptly. “Of course. If it is for you and our second pup, I would do them now.” I stood up and went to the kitchen sink. I checked the ingredients I needed and I was thankful that George was keeping the pantry complete.
Seraphina’s request had been granted. I watched her eating them with so much delight. I had never seen that expression of hers when I coerced her to return to my pack.
If only I did not turn out to be a jerk to her… I would be seeing that expression more.
“You have something on your lip,” I said and didn’t wait for Seraphina to say something as my hand automatically stretched out and wiped the chocolate on it. With that, I didn’t hesitate to lick my thumb after that.
She gasped, wide-eyed. She must have not expected that I would do such a surprising action.
I only smiled seeing how adorable she was.
Seraphina did not say anything and just cleared her throat to release the tension between us before she finished the dessert. “Did you leave something for Sander?” she asked when she realized that she asked it too late.
“Yes. I want him to taste them, too.” I somehow realized that I never served them to my son before when we had a vacation here. “Are you going to sleep now, Seraphina?”
“Indeed, yes.”
I followed her and remained at a distance. I secretly clenched my hand, wanting to hold her right now. My wolf was urging me but I must not fall for that.
But seeing Seraphina that she was having a hard time going upstairs was making me overprotective. It was too late to halt myself when I lifted her in my arms.
“D-Desmond, put me down,” she said in a harsh whisper.
“Do forgive me but I cannot take it seeing how you are having a hard time going upstairs. Allow me to do this just once, please.” That made Seraphina stay in silence.
I heard her sigh but she did not say anything. I secretly smiled when she leaned toward me. I even heard her sniffing me.
I almost squirmed at her action especially since I could smell the scent of her as my mate. Alluring as ever…
Halt, Desmond! Do not make Seraphina uncomfortable.
I focused my eyes on her chamber door and opened it carefully. I glanced at Seraphina when I found out that she was already sleeping in my arms when I carefully placed her in her bed.
“She fell asleep after being full…” I muttered under my breath before my eyes glanced at her bulging belly, wanting to touch it. I really wanted to caress my hand on her stomach but I did not wish to displease Seraphina.
I jumped to my feet when Seraphina took my hand and placed it over her stomach. “You could have asked for my permission.”
“I-I thought you were already asleep…” I gulped, leaving my hand on her stomach.
Seraphina rolled her eyes. “Are you going to say good night to our little pup or are you going to miss this chance?” Her tone became hostile.
I panicked and immediately knelt before her. “I-I will take this chance,” I answered immediately and caressed her stomach. I couldn’t help but gasp and get teary-eyed when I felt our pup move. “Wow… This pup is strong…” I said with fascination when I felt the kick. “Hello there, little one…” I said to her stomach and placed my ear to her stomach. “Papa is here… Do you miss me?”
I received a kiss of kick from that.
“Oh!” I looked at Seraphina. “Our pup answered me!” I exclaimed happily. “Did you feel it? She kicked me!” I couldn’t help getting excited right now.
Tears had already fallen from my eyes. I felt joy when she granted me permission and now… I could touch her stomach right now.
“Thank you, Seraphina…” I said to her after that and wiped the tears from my eyes. Her lips stretched out into a small smile before she yawned. “Have a good night.”
I made a bold move by kissing her forehead before I stormed out of her chamber. I had a big smile on my lips when I caught her off guard.
I felt giddy tonight. I felt like I wouldn’t be able to sleep because I had some interactions with Seraphina.
My seraphim…