The Luna’s Second Chance Mate

Kaden’s POV

The room was silent as Larissa and I stood hand in hand, watching Amaya sign the divorce papers in the corner of the study. Larissa’s hand was placed over mine, caressing softly as we waited. Soon, Amaya flipped through the last page and then stood. She walked in our direction tentatively and then handed me the papers. When she looked up at me, an apologetic look was apparent in her eyes.

I took the papers from her and looked through them to make sure. Everything was intact. Larissa smiled gently and rubbed my arm. It had been two weeks since the huge battle. Larissa had stayed by my side every day until the gunshot wound healed. A few days after that, Amaya came to see me. I was so mad that I had the guards send her away. But she kept coming anyway, begging for a chance. Larissa convinced me to see her finally and it turned out that she was here to sign the papers. I had insisted Larissa be here because it was an important moment for the both of us.

“I’m sorry,” Amaya spoke up, her voice hoarse. It was not the first time she was apologizing, and I had found it difficult to forgive her, but after Larissa spoke to me, it did not hurt so much anymore to be in her presence. “I’m sorry for everything,” Amaya continued.

She turned to Larissa. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I ruined your wedding. I was just so…so jealous of you. You’re a good person, Larissa, more than I’ll ever be, and you’re a better mother to my own son. I understand now what Kaden sees in you. I’m sorry, again.”

“It’s okay,” Larissa nodded.

Amaya took a deep breath and continued. “I know I’ve been a terrible person, and I don’t deserve to even stand in front of you, but I beg you…please, if you could let me see Declan once in a while, I would be eternally grateful. I won’t fight for custody, because I don’t have what it takes to take care of a child…but I want to be in his life, get to know him, to make up for all my years of absence.”

Larissa and I exchanged looks, and then she gave my arm a gentle squeeze and smiled. A part of me wanted to refuse Amaya as the memories came rushing back, but I did not want to deprive Declan of his biological mother. And Amaya seemed remorseful. I could see the pain and regret in her eyes.

“It’s okay,” I finally said. “We can schedule visitation days. I won’t stop you from seeing him. You are his mother, after all. Just…don’t hurt him again.”

She nodded. “I won’t, I promise. Thank you, Kaden. Thank you so much. I don’t deserve your kindness,” she whimpered, tears filling her eyes. “After all the hurt I caused you I don’t deserve it. Thank you…”

I looked on at her. I waited for the anger. For the hate to consume me. But it never came. Larissa was right. Forgiveness took a huge weight off your chest. “I carried so much anger and bitterness against you in my heart for years. I let it consume me. I let it change me. And when you came back, I felt the old me slowly drifting back, and it almost cost me my family. I don’t want to do that anymore. I don’t want to be that person. So, I forgive you, Amaya. I forgive you for everything.”

Tears streamed down her face as she thanked me again. She gave a friendly nod to Larissa and I before finally exiting the room. For the first time, I felt my chest relax completely. I could breathe. I was fine. And it was the best feeling ever.

“That was amazing,” Larissa said as soon as the door clicked shut. “I’m so glad everything finally worked out.”

I wasn’t listening anymore because I was getting on one knee. When Larissa turned around, she gasped. A small box which contained the ring I had proposed with weeks ago was open.

“Larissa,” I spoke up. “I know we have been in this position before, but to me it feels like the first time. Over these last few weeks we faced so many hurdles that would either make or break our relationship, but it only made me more certain that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you, Issa. I love you even more each passing day. I love everything about you. I want a redo of our relationship. A fresh page. I promise to be a good father to our unborn child. I promise to make you the happiest woman alive from this point onward. Will you marry me?”

Tears ran down her cheeks as she nodded. “I would love nothing more than to be your wife, Kaden.”

A wide grin lit up my face and I slowly put the ring on her finger. We both stared at it in silence for a while, as though in disbelief, and then all of a sudden we started to yell in excitement.

“Can you believe this?!”

“No! Can you?!”

“No, it’s wonderful!”

“I love you so much!”

“I love you too!”

We both burst into loud laughter and began to dance round the room, and I watched her beautiful face glow with joy.

As I pulled her closer and kissed her, I knew there was absolutely no one I would rather spend the rest of my days with.

***

Larissa’s POV

“Richard!” I called out to my brother as he emerged from the front door. “Over here!”

A bright smile pulled at his lips as he sighted me, and he quickly made his way over to me and enveloped me in a hug.

“The baby’s growing so fast,” he laughed, being extra careful not to squeeze my huge belly too tight.

I laughed. “I know, right?!” I said, struggling to speak over the loud music. We were in the banquet hall of the mansion where my wedding reception was taking place. It still felt like a dream to me, and every now and again I would pinch my hand just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

Richard and I moved to a corner of the hall and began to chat. It had been almost a week since I was reunited with my family, and I missed them all so much. Kaden had made it a huge surprise. One afternoon he had just driven off, and returned hours later with my parents, my brother, and my best friend Chloe in the backseat. I was so shocked I could hardly breathe. I did not remember the last time I saw them, and I was so excited. After a teary reunion and a small party to celebrate, Kaden insisted they all stay with us until the wedding.

I was still chatting with Richard when my parents approached us. There were huge smiles on their faces and I laughed, knowing something was up. “What’s going on?” I laughed. “You both have that look.”

Mom chuckled, walking to me and leading me to the door. “We have a surprise for you.”

“Really?”

They nodded. I waited expectantly as the doors opened, and two people walked in. At first I could not recognize them, but as soon as I did, I rushed to them, nearly bursting with excitement. “Joy! Kylian!”

They both hugged me. “Miss Larissa. It’s so good to see you.”

It had been so long since I saw them both, and I could barely recognize them. Joy, my handmaid when I was Luna at Tokenmoon, and Kylian, the stable boy who had saved my life. Tears of gratitude filled my eyes. “I never thanked you properly for saving my life. Thank you, again. I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for you.”

Kylian waved it off with a smile. “It was an honor, Miss Larissa. I’m just so glad you’re happy.”

I spent the next hour chatting and catching up with my family and friends. Joy and Kylian informed me that they were married now and we all cheered them on and made a toast. Kaden had also introduced me to his sister, Elizabeth. Everything was perfect. Later on as I sat watching them mingle and laugh, my heart was bursting with so much happiness. I thought I knew what happiness was, but this was the peak of it.

There was no malice, no tension. Even Amaya had come over a few hours ago to drop a wedding gift. Everything was perfect. All the people I loved and cared about were in the same room, chatting happily and getting to know each other.

Declan was jumping and playing on my mother’s lap as my parents cooed and talked to him. My two best friends, Gwen and Chloe, were chatting with Elizabeth and motioning towards a group of men, probably discussing love lives. Kylian and Joy were drinking and talking with Hunter, Jackson and the Gemini. Kaden and Richard were engaged in an animated conversation, bursting into laughter every few minutes.

If I were asked to paint a picture of contentment, this would be it. Tears of joy filled my eyes as I looked round the room. I believed now that happiness was attainable. I just never thought a moment like this would come.

A tear slipped down my cheek and I wiped it off. When I looked up again, Kaden was in front of me. He gave me a knowing look and kissed me lightly on my cheek, and then he pulled me to my feet.

“Will you dance with me, Mrs Larissa Griffin?”

I chuckled playfully. “Of course, Mr Griffin.”

Soft music began to play and Kaden led me to the dance floor. As we swayed slowly to the music, he whispered in my ear, “You’re so perfect. I love you.”

“I love you too, baby.”

He twirled me around playfully and then got on one knee, kissing my belly affectionately, and then he got back up and began to twirl me around.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

I could not hold back my laughter. The smile etched on my face was permanent this time. This moment was the one I’d been waiting for my whole life. I was genuinely happy, I was going to be a mother soon, and I was married to the love of my life.

Happiness was freeing. It was beautiful, even more so than I imagined. I was surrounded by the most important people in my life, and nothing could be more perfect. I pulled Kaden into a passionate kiss, after which I motioned everyone else to join us.

And as we danced the night away, I knew I had just taken the first step into the best years of my life.

THE END.