Chapter 37 MOMENTS OF PEACE
OLIVIA’S POV
After Dominic left the hospital room that day, silence settled over me like a heavy, suffocating blanket. I lay there, staring at the ceiling, feeling like a ghost in my own life. My thoughts spiralled, not just about him but about the world my child would be born into.
A world where the truth was a tool twisted in the wrong hands, and unfortunately, what the truth is will ultimately be decided by Dominic. A world where Evelyn’s manipulative smile could win over anyone, even the man I once believed loved me. Where I- an Alpha’s mate–would still be seen as unworthy. My child, innocent and blameless, would bear the burden of my shattered status. I don’t think I would be able to tolerate the same treatment once this child comes. I know that my child’s actions would be whispered about, judged by association, and bullied simply for being mine.
I refused to let that be their fate.
James had been at my side since day one–unshakable, loyal, my truest anchor in the storm. I talked to him late that night as we sat by the hospital window. The stars blinked above us, distant and uncaring.
“I want to leave,” I said quietly, watching my reflection in the glass. “Once the baby is born… I’m not staying here.”
He didn’t try to talk me out of it. He didn’t ask if I was sure. He simply nodded, his expression calm yet resolute. “I can’t believe I am saying this, but I think that’s the right choice,” he murmured. “This pack doesn’t deserve you. And your child deserves peace. But if you truly want to leave, make sure to plan everything carefully.”
“I know, that’s why I want to wait until the birth; it will give me some time to plan and make necessary arrangements.” I replied, and he nodded. I felt something loosen inside my chest. Relief, maybe. Or perhaps the comfort of being understood for
once.
James had already run the tests–my pup was healthy. Strong heartbeat. No signs of distress. I could give birth safely, even if I was no longer Luna. He promised to stay by my side through everything, and I knew he meant it. Unlike the man who once swore the same and walked away.
Once I was discharged and had recovered enough, I made my way back to the only place I had ever felt truly safe.
Home.
Not the grand Luna’s quarters, not the cold, echoing halls of the Alpha’s estate. But my adoptive parents‘ cozy house on the edge of the territory–Beta Jason and his mate, Laura. They weren’t just my parents in name. They were my everything.
The moment I stepped through the door, the scent of home wrapped around me like a hug–lavender, woodsmoke, and something uniquely “Mom.”
Laura rushed to me, pulling me into her arms before I could even put my bag down.
“Oh my darling! You are finally here. I have been waiting for you.”
“Mom! Stop smothering me; I am not a child,” I said playfully.
“You will always be a child in my eyes. Goddess! What has happened to you? You’re too thin,” she scolded gently, then kissed my temple. “You need rest. You need food. You need us. And of course lots and lots of love.”
I nearly cried into her shoulder. Because she was right.
The next few days passed in a peaceful blur. I slept better than I had in months. My dreams were no longer haunted by Dominic’s cold eyes or Evelyn’s false tears. And when I woke up, it wasn’t silence that greeted me–it was the warmth of family.
That morning, I slipped into a soft cotton dress. The air smelled like heaven–roasted turkey and cinnamon waffles. My mother knew exactly what would lift my spirits. I padded into the kitchen, where James sat at the table sipping orange juice, scrolling through his tablet. He looked up and grinned when he saw me.
Chapter 34 AAEHTS OF PLACE
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“Looking less like a zombie today,” he teased, eyes twinkling.
I rolled mine. “Thanks for the glowing compliment.”
“Means you’re healing,” he said softly, and there was a kind of tenderness in his voice that made my chest tighten.
I sat across from him and watched as Mom flipped the last batch of waffles. “Dad already gone?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she replied without turning. “Emergency training session. Rogues at the border, nothing serious.”
I nodded and took a bite of turkey. The flavors exploded on my tongue. It felt like life again. Normal life.
For the first time in weeks, I felt a flicker of hope.
“I don’t need titles,” I told James suddenly. “I don’t need to be Luna. I just need this. My child and my family. There’s a special kind of peace in this that I have missed in these past years.”
James smiled and reached out to squeeze my hand. “Then we’ll give you just that.”
But before I could respond, a knock echoed through the quiet kitchen.
My stomach dropped.
There was something… off about the timing. About the energy in the air.
Laura wiped her hands and went to the door.
The moment it opened, I felt it.
The shift. The temperature in the room dropped.
There she was.
Evelyn.
Dressed impeccably, her golden hair gleaming, her lips curled into a concerned, too–sweet–to–be–real smile. The woman who had stolen everything–and now stood on my doorstep.
I rose slowly from my seat, hands instinctively shielding my bump.
What. The. Hell. Was. She. Doing. Here?
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Chapter 3 DGNER RETRAYAL
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.
