Chapter 25 #2
"Why were you watching me?" she asked, sounding embarrassed.
I paused, only then realizing I'd been staring at her throughout the whole event on stage.
"I was just..." I stepped closer, the distance between us only inches. "I was just surprised."
"Surprised at what?" She frowned.
"Surprised you've changed." My gaze settled on her face. "Elena, you've become stronger. More captivating."
"I love you even more." I lowered my head, forehead almost touching hers. "More than five years ago."
She jerked her face away. "You... you're talking nonsense..."
But I noticed her ears had turned red.
I couldn't help but smile, and gently pinched her earlobe. She jumped back like she'd been burned and glared at me.
"Come on," I said. "The news is cleared up. Your shop can reopen."
Over the next few days, everything went as I'd predicted.
The press conference video went viral. Elena's line, "I won't become what you are," became a trending topic. Everyone discussed her courage and grace. Windsor Flagrance' orders exploded. Long lines formed outside Elena's shop every day.
And I did start supporting promising human companies.
I'd been doing this secretly for a long time.
Now I was just making it public, because these human companies had grown through covert development and could now compete with the traditional noble werewolf enterprises.
This meant noble werewolf power would be weakened, including those ancient werewolf families, like the Grays.
It also meant I'd be going to war with the conservative Elder Council.
But I wasn't afraid. I knew that to reform, to change Reserpine's werewolf supremacy and pure bloodline theory, to change the environment for Anya, Liam, and all mixed-bloods, I had to support humans in confronting the noble werewolves.
Reserpine's noble werewolves had been arrogant too long, intensifying conflicts and spawning Butcher Squad. I had to eliminate the root cause.
I sat in my study, looking at comments about Windsor Fragrances on the computer screen, a smile tugging at my lips.
"Your Majesty," Marcus knocked and entered. "Ms. Windsor says she's considering opening branch locations. Business is too good for one shop."
"Good." I nodded. "Tell her to let me know if she needs anything."
"Yes."
After Marcus left, I stood and walked to the window. The setting sun was sinking west, painting the sky gold and crimson.
I took out my phone and called a florist.
"Prepare a bouquet of lilies," I said. "The best ones. Deliver them to Windsor Fragrances tonight."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
I hung up, thought for a moment, then dialed Elena's number.
A few rings, then she picked up.
"Hello?" Her voice came through, tinged with fatigue.
"Elena." I smiled. "Free tonight?"
"What's up?"
"Wanted to take you to dinner," I said. "As a celebration. To celebrate your shop reopening, business booming."
She was quiet for a few seconds.
"Just... just the two of us?"
"No," I laughed. "The four of us. You, me, Liam, and Anya."
"Oh." Her voice sounded a little disappointed, but quickly recovered. "I mean, sure."
"Seven o'clock. I'll pick you up." I pretended not to notice.
"Okay."
I hung up. My wolf stretched lazily inside me, tail wagging slowly.
Soon. Our mate is coming back to us. I can feel it.
At seven sharp, I stood at Elena's door.
I rang the bell. The door opened quickly. Anya rushed out and wrapped herself around my leg.
"Daddy!"
I froze—this was the first time she'd called me "Daddy."
I crouched down to her level. "Anya, who told you to call me Daddy?"
Anya tilted her head. "You're Liam's daddy, so you're my daddy, because Liam is my brother. Mommy said so!"
I couldn't help but look up at Elena. She was coming slowly down the stairs. My eyes lit up. She wore a trench coat, her figure as upright as a tree. She tugged at her hair self-consciously. I noticed she was wearing pearl earrings.
"How do I look?" she asked.
I was completely sincere. "Beautiful."
"We're going to dinner!" Anya said happily. "Mommy said you're taking us for yummy food!"
"That's right." I ruffled her hair. "You're going to love it."
The Davidson Restaurant was Reserpine's best family restaurant—warm atmosphere, exquisite food. I'd reserved a private room in advance and asked the manager to keep it confidential. I just wanted a quiet meal with my family.
We sat by the window with a view of the fountain in the garden. Anya sat between Elena and me, Liam on Elena's other side.
A waiter brought menus. I let Elena and the kids order first.
"I want this!" Anya pointed at the children's meal on the menu. "And ice cream!"
"Okay." Elena smiled. "But ice cream comes after you finish dinner."
"I know!"
The food came quickly. Pasta drowning in meat sauce, steak cooked just right, fried foods on flat plates drizzled with sauce, broccoli paired with boiled eggs arranged in pretty patterns.
"Wow!" Anya called out first. She speared a piece of pre-cut fried chicken and stuffed it in her mouth, her cheeks puffing out immediately. Liam twirled noodles onto his fork and eagerly shoved them in his mouth.
I watched them, then looked at Elena.
She was watching the kids, too. The light fell on her face, making her smile even warmer.
This was what I wanted.
A family of four, sitting together, eating, talking, laughing. No misunderstandings, no hurt, no separation.
Just warmth and belonging.
I'd waited ten years—five searching for her when I didn't know she was my mate, five pushing her away because of misunderstandings.
Thank the Moon Goddess, she was kind enough to bring Elena back to me, along with our lovely daughter.
And their arrival had changed Liam, eased the relationship between him and me—it had been too long since father and son had sat down to a proper meal together.
Anya ate happily, tomato sauce smeared on the corner of her mouth. Elena wiped it with a napkin, movements gentle.
"Mommy, look!" Anya held up her fork. "I cut it myself!"
"You're amazing." Elena smiled.
After dinner, Anya said she wanted to play in the restaurant's children's area.
There were slides, swings, and a small climbing frame.
She'd noticed it the moment we walked in.
She pulled Liam along, asking him to go with her.
Liam looked helpless—after all, his tall frame was too out of place in that pile of screaming, running kids—but he followed her anyway.
The other kids took one look at him and quietly moved away.
Anya was delighted. Now all the toys were hers.
Elena and I stayed in our seats, watching them through the glass window. Elena hummed a tune. She seemed in very good spirits.
"Elena," I gathered my courage. "I have something to tell you."
She put down her teacup and looked at me. "What?"
I took a deep breath.
"I want... I want us to start over."
Her fingers stopped on the rim of the cup.
"I know I hurt you." Every word came out seriously. "Five years ago, I didn't believe you. I drove you away. I let the bond break. It was the biggest mistake of my life."
"But now," I leaned forward, covering her hand with mine, "Elena, give me a chance. Let me make amends. Let me prove I'm worth trusting again. These past few weeks, I believe you've felt my commitment—"
She looked at me, hesitation and uncertainty in her eyes.
"Lucifer..."
"I know it's not easy." I interrupted her. "I know rebuilding trust and the bond takes time. But Elena, I'm willing to wait. However long it takes, I'll wait."
"I..." She bit her lower lip. "But..."
"Also," I continued, "I've already set up a trust fund for Anya. Her education, her living expenses, everything she'll need in the future—it's all arranged."
Elena's eyes went wide. A trust fund. We both knew what that meant.
"And if you're willing," I gripped her hand tighter, "I can give you custody of Liam."
Her head snapped up. "What?"
"Custody of Liam," I repeated. "Elena, I know you've felt guilty about not being there as he grew up. So if you want, he can stay with you. Both children with you."
"But..." Her voice trembled. "But the Elder Council—"
"I'll handle them," I said. "Elena, I'm the king of Silver pine. I can decide who gets custody of my son."
"But this..." She shook her head. "This will put too much pressure on you. The Elder Council won't agree—"
"That's my problem." I cut her off. "Elena, I just need to know—will you give me a chance?"
She looked at me. Finally, tears spilled down her cheeks.
"Lucifer..."
"I know the bond I broke isn't easy to repair." My voice was soft. "I know the hurt you suffered won't heal quickly. But Elena, I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I'll prove I'm worth your trust."
Her hand trembled in my palm.
"I..." She took a deep breath. "I need time."
"I need to... adjust," she explained carefully. "Lucifer, these five years, I've raised Anya alone. I'm used to being independent. I don't know... I don't know how to trust someone again."
"I understand." I squeezed her hand. "Elena, however long you need, I'll wait. You don't need to feel guilty."
She looked at me, tears still on her face, but a small smile curved her lips.
"Thank you," she said softly.
I smiled too. "Don't thank me, silly. I love you."
Even though Elena hadn't agreed yet, the hollow place in my chest felt like it had been filled with something warm.
I would wait.
However long it took, I would wait.
Because she was worth it.
Because she was my mate.
Because I loved her.