Chapter 163
Elena’s POV
Deacon stared at him for a long moment, then knelt down until they were eye level. His large hands covered Rafael’s tiny ones, and his voice, usually edged with command, was gentle.
He grabbed the box from his hand and opened it, showcasing his mother’s precious paperweight. I couldn’t forget that one. It’s made of ceramic and wood.
I remember that very well. It’s still like yesterday when I caught my 3rd brother, Xavier, at his studio, where he spent time with his other hobbies, which are mostly crafts.
I saw him carving two werewolves side–by–side in a meadow with the moon up in the sky on a circular wood. When I asked him who it was for, he said it’s for Hillary, his fated mate. They just started dating then.
Later on, he coated the surroundings and the bottom of it with ceramic, while the top of it was coated with epoxy resin in a spear shape.
My eyes widened.
“Rafael, it’s the token of love of your parents,” I added softly, my hands on Deacon’s shoulder.
“Rafael… this belonged to your mother. It’s yours by right.” Deacon added, knowing the importance of it.
Surprisingly, Rafael nodded. “I know. But it’s no use to me right now as a child. Keep it for me.”
Deacon let out a smile, closed the box and held onto it tightly like Rafael did earlier before tapping his head lovingly. “If you truly wish for me to keep it, then I will. And I will guard it with my life.”
Rafael’s lips curved in a faint smile. “Yes. I want you to.”
“When you get older and become an Alpha, I’ll have it at your desk,” Daecon vowed, and they shared a hug.
I swallowed against the emotion clogging my chest. Rafael had just entrusted Deacon with a piece of his family’s soul. And Deacon, despite all the weight of his station, accepted it with reverence.
“Thank you, Rafael. I will honor this, and I will honor you,” Deacon whispered in Rafael’s ear.
Rafael’s shy smile widened, and for the first time in a long while, I saw a glimmer of ease in his eyes.
That evening, once Rafael had been tucked into bed by one of the maids and left sleeping soundly, I found Deacon in his study. He was still holding the box, his fingers tracing the engraved crest as if memorising every detail.
“You’re smiling,” I teased gently, leaning against the doorframe.
Deacon glanced up, a rare, unguarded smile indeed tugging at his lips. “How could I not? Your nephew entrusted me with something precious. It feels like…” He paused, searching for words. “…like he already sees me as family.”
Warmth filled me. I walked over, resting a hand on his arm. “He does. And you deserve it.”
For a moment, silence hung between us, comfortable and steady. Then Deacon set the box aside and turned to
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Chapter 163
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me, his gaze intent. “Speaking of family… there’s something we should discuss. Our wedding.”
My heart skipped.
Right, we had been very busy with issues regarding Rafael’s reappearance, so it slipped my mind.
“Our wedding?”
“Yes.” His lips curved into that subtle, knowing smile that always unsettled me. “You’ve been so focused on Rafael that I haven’t had the chance to tell you… I’ve already begun preparations.”
I blinked. “Preparations? Without telling me?”
“Of course,” he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Do you think I would leave something so important to the last moment? I’ve been planning since the day I asked you.”
Heat rose to my cheeks. “You’re insufferable sometimes.”
“And yet you love me,” he countered smoothly, brushing a stray strand of hair from
my cheek.
I rolled my eyes, though the gesture was softened by the way my lips curved. “So, tell me then. What have you planned?”
Deacon leaned back slightly, studying me. “The ceremony will be held here, in the palace gardens. The elders and council will attend, as well as the leaders of our allied packs. Your pack will have their place of honor, of
course.”
My chest tightened with both excitement and nerves. “That’s… quite large.”
“It should be,” he said firmly. “You are not just my bride. You are the future Lady of this estate, the future Princess, and Rafael’s guardian. The world must see and acknowledge it.”
I hesitated, then asked the question that had been circling my mind since our last visit. “And… your mother?”
Deacon’s jaw tightened, but only for a moment. “She will have no choice but to accept it. And in time, she will see why.”
I let out a slow breath, my heart swelling at his certainty. “You think of everything, don’t you?”
He smirked faintly. “It’s what I was trained for.”
I tilted my head. “Trained?”
He nodded, his gaze distant for a moment. “I studied at the training camp when I was younger. The same camp you once mentioned your master belonged to.”
My eyes widened. “You…? You never told me that.”
“There are many things I haven’t told you,” he said softly. “But yes. That camp shaped me. Discipline, leadership, endurance. It gave me the foundation I needed for this life. Perhaps that’s why I understand how important it is for Rafael to begin early. He needs that kind of guidance.”
A strange mixture of pride and surprise filled me. “So you’ve walked the same path I did. Maybe not alongside me, but… close enough that fate kept us tethered.”
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Deacon’s smile gentled. “Perhaps fate has always been weaving us closer.”
I leaned against him, my heart pounding steadily. “You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you? The wedding, Rafael’s future, even my comfort in this house…”
His arm wrapped around me, pulling me against his chest. “Because you are everything. You, Rafael, our future -I will not leave any of it to chance.”
I closed my eyes, listening to the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear. For once, the fear and weight of responsibility eased.
Yes, storms still waited ahead. But in that moment, with Deacon’s arms around me and Rafael safely sleeping nearby, I believed that together we could weather them all.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
