78 Chapter 78 I Want to Stay
The secret I carried felt like a stone in my chest, growing heavier with each passing moment. I’d never imagined we’d find ourselves here, in this fragile space between hostility and something else entirely. I couldn’t risk another misunderstanding,
another reason for him to blame me.
“What about us?” The question hung between us like a challenge. I knew the timing was terrible, but I needed to understand where we stood.
“You told me to make a decision,” his voice dropped to barely above a whisper. “I have. Now it’s your turn to choose.”
“I’m not sure we can forgive each other for everything,” he admitted, his honesty cutting through me. “But we’re parents now. And we were effective leaders of this pack together. I want that partnership back.”
Terror clawed at my throat, and I fought to keep my heartbeat steady. He couldn’t know how deeply his words affected me, couldn’t suspect the truth I was hiding.
“I want you to stay.” His words stopped me at the door. “Both of you. I want you to stay
with me.”
“You wanted me to prioritize our son, to give him the love and attention he deserves,” he said steadily. “I will. Because if I don’t, you’ll disappear again and take him with you.
I won’t lose him.”
“We need to start acting like parents,” he continued, his voice gaining strength. “Every choice we make will shape our son’s future. He’s going to be the next Alpha of this pack.”
Thankfully, Julian seemed lost in his own thoughts, distracted enough that my whispered admission went unheard. When he pulled back to study my face, I braced myself for the familiar flash of anger or disappointment in his dark eyes. Instead, something entirely different flickered there, something that made my breath catch.
“I’ll make them pay,” he murmured against my temple. “I don’t know who they are or what they’re after, but they’ll answer for this.”
“Theo will be the Alpha of this pack,” he stated with finality. I sensed deeper reasons behind his certainty, something connected to his daughter that he wasn’t sharing.
10:34
1/4
<
78 Chapter 78 I Want to Stay
Rather than push, I decided some battles could wait. Maybe peace between Roxanne and me required us both to stay in our own lanes.
I could see the worry etched in the lines of his face. His pack meant everything to him, but I also recognized the dangerous glint in his eyes. Julian never forgot a slight, never let an enemy escape unpunished. That relentless pursuit of vengeance terrified me, especially knowing our adversary would stop at nothing to get what they wanted.
I settled back onto his lap, my pulse skittering as he buried his face in my hair, breathing me in with careful deliberation.
His words weren’t what I’d expected. I’d always assumed the worst of him, believed he would trap me here in the life I’d fled from. But now I realized I wanted to stay. I’d seen how he loved his daughter, and I wanted that same devotion for Theo. More importantly, the threats that had seemed manageable were escalating into something far more dangerous. We’d be safer here, under his protection.
Seraphina’s POV
“I want to stay.” The words emerged without conscious thought, and my wolf practically purred with satisfaction.
“As for us,” he continued, “I won’t betray you. Believe it or not, I haven’t been with another woman in six years, and I never will be again. I expect the same loyalty from you.”
“I don’t know what will happen during your heat,” he said, his voice growing thoughtful. “But I’ll respect your boundaries. I won’t touch you without permission. I won’t invade your space. But you will be the Luna of this pack and my wife.”
“I won’t force you to be with me anymore,” he said, his gaze unwavering. “Every time I tried, you only pulled further away. I’m done fighting you. Consider this your freedom.” Those words sent a jolt through me, demanding my complete attention.
“We’re still investigating,” he replied, his jaw tight with controlled fury. “But at least they weren’t from our pack.”
“Who was killed?” The question escaped before I could think better of it. Whether I knew the victim or not, the weight of potential responsibility crushed down on me, Someone had died, possibly because of me, and that knowledge would haunt me forever.
10:34
TUE
5
O
III
O
<
2/4
78 Chapter 78 I Want to Stay
“I don’t think you’d be comfortable staying in that house with Roxanne and Elena, even if I moved them elsewhere,” he said. “That’s Elena’s home now, and it wouldn’t be fair to expect you to build a new life surrounded by those memories. I’ll take you
somewhere new.”
The confession slipped past my lips before I could stop it. My heart hammered against my ribs as I waited for his reaction, certain those words would only fuel his hatred for me. The last thing I wanted was more tension crackling between us like a live wire.
My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, yearning for things I couldn’t allow myself to want. Not now. Not when so much remained unsettled between us. I shifted to rise from his lap, needing distance from the magnetic pull of his presence.
“I want you to give Theo everything,” I said carefully. “But I won’t let him resent his sister because of it. They’re both your children. And Theo doesn’t need to be Alpha. He doesn’t even know about wolves yet.” The words felt selfish even as I spoke them, knowing I was asking him to choose between his children for my benefit.
“Good.” His relief was palpable. “But understand this won’t be like before. If you run from me again, I won’t chase you. I’ll take our son so far away you’ll never see him again. This isn’t a threat to keep you here. This is me being a father.”
My heart swelled with dangerous hope, but my mind raced with questions I knew he couldn’t answer yet.
“What about your daughter?” I turned to face him, searching his expression for any hint of doubt or regret. I found none.
“Don’t go.” His command was soft but firm as he drew me back against him. Only he possessed this power to shatter my heart and make it whole again in the same breath. “I should check on Theo,” I said, desperate to escape before my composure cracked completely. Every second in his presence increased the risk of my deception unraveling. Soon I would tell him everything, but first we needed to navigate the minefield of our existing conflicts.
“I want to be part of my son’s life more than anything,” he continued. “But I know I can’t make him happy if his mother isn’t happy.”
10:34
3/4
TUE
5
O OR
