Hiding the Alpha’s Heir

“Mother!”

“Hezekiah… Harolyn…”

Desmond and I watched their reunion as Hazel hugged her twins and rained them with kisses. Desmond intently watched them with his earnest expression. He was really watching them with wariness.

“What?” Desmond asked, surprised. His heart was racing so fast right now that he caught me looking at him.

I inhaled slowly, having his amber eyes piercing me. “Um… I am glad that you bestow Hazel a chance to be with her twins.” Even though Hazel threatened to kill me. She was just blinded by jealousy. I was certain that she would not do anything that would displease Desmond.

I hope so.

Desmond heaved out a sigh before he returned his glance to Hazel and the twins. “Actually, I am still hesitant to let Hazel see our twins. I still have no assurance that she really changed.” He lowered his eyes to the ground. “But if you say that she really changed then I will believe you, Seraphina.”

His tone was soft and gentle. It was still unusual for me that Desmond was being like this. I needed to get used to this kind of attitude from him again. He was capable of being like this but two years ago was not the same.

“I’d appreciate that you trust me, Desmond.” Ah… I really hope I made the right decision.

We were enveloped with silence. Neither of us was talking after a moment. But it certainly made us want to do something.

Desmond opened his mouth and was about to say something when Hezekiah and Harolyn called him. “Papa, let’s have a picnic with Mother. It has been a long time. Please…” Harolyn pleaded.

“Picnic?” He parroted. The twins nodded. He panicked and looked at me.

“Go on.” I urged him. I could tell that he was about to say no.

“But Seraphina…”

“It’s a picnic. It wouldn’t harm me. You are not going to repeat the same mistake, right?” Desmond nodded. “Then, it’s good.” Even though it was quite painful that he had to go with them for a picnic, I had to understand that the twins also wanted to be with their mother and father.

There was hesitation in his eyes. He did not like the idea that I was easily agreeing. He knew that I was a jealous woman. But I was not like that anymore. It wouldn’t hurt a fly to trust Desmond again.

I looked down when Hezekiah gently tugged my skirt. “Don’t worry, Mama. Papa loves you.”

“Ezek is right, Mama,” Harolyn said. “We’d rather want you to be with Papa instead of Mother.”

My eyes widened when they called Mama again. Even Desmond was surprised and had a bewildered expression written on his face. And besides, Harolyn said they both want me to be with Desmond.

“Um…” I did not know what to say.

“We will bring back Papa before supper. Pretty please, Mama.” Hezekiah pleaded.

“We will behave, Mama.” Harolyn pleaded as well.

“O-Of course.” I looked at Desmond who was shaking his head. “I shall see you later then.” He wanted to complain but the twins tugged his hands.

I looked at Hazel who was glaring at me. It was certain that she heard her twins calling me Mama which was not supposed to happen. She might think that I forced them to call me that.

“I am sulking that you did not look for me.”

I gasped upon hearing Niscia’s voice behind me. I turned around and squealed upon seeing her. “Niscia!” I immediately hugged her so tight.

“Oh, oh… Careful. I am bringing someone,” Niscia said with a chuckle as she hugged me back.

“Carrying…?” I quickly separated from her and saw that she was with a baby boy who I thought was near the age of Saoirse behind her. I slightly tilted my head seeing that the boy somehow looked like her and… “Hold on… Is this your pup? Why does it have your facial features and… Russell’s features?” Then it hit me when Niscia. “You did not tell me he is your mate!” I exclaimed happily.

Niscia chuckled and nodded. “I am still in denial that the captain of the elite warriors of Alpha Desmond is really my mate. And now, look… We have our pup and have been happily married for two years.”

“I am so happy for you!” I couldn’t help hugging her one more time. “How old is he? And what is his name?” I asked after a moment.

Niscia lifted her son and made his hand wave at me. “His name is Lefwyne. He is turning one year old soon.” She softened upon looking at Lefwyne. “Say hi to Luna Seraphina, Leafy.”

I scoffed and almost pinched her. “I am not Luna here.”

“You will be soon.” Niscia wriggled her eyebrows. “I could see that you are going along with Alpha Desmond. And don’t tell me that you two are going to be friends because that is not what you told me before you left. You said that you are going to return and make sure that you will be with Alpha again.” Her tone sounded teasing.

I just shook my head, smiling. “Have you met Sander and Saoirse?” I asked, diverting the topic.

“Yes,” she smiled. “Young Mistress Saoirse grows up so well.”

“Enough with that honorifics.” I hushed her. “Saoirse will do.” I rolled my eyes. Then my eyes darted at Lefwyne. “Where’s Russell?” I tried to play with his frail, little hands as he giggled at me.

“Guarding Alpha from afar as always.” Niscia shrugged. “You know, being part of the elite.”

“I understand.”

“Don’t worry.” She nudged me. “If Lady Hazel dares to make a move to Alpha Desmond, Russell will notify me. Then I will report it to you promptly, Seraphina. I don’t trust Beta Harvey’s sister after all. My son does not even like her.” She huffed, rolling her eyes.

I only smiled as an answer. “Let’s have some tea to kill the time if you are not busy anymore with your Gamma duties.”

I finally found out a long time ago how he became one of the pack members here. Niscia was once a rogue and earned the position of the Gamma here in the Rising Diamond pack. It was the same goes with Elron. Desmond picked certain rogues to be his pack members but before they could be officially welcomed, they earned Desmond’s trust first which they achieved after working hard.

One of Niscia’s missions to show her loyalty to Desmond was befriending me after Desmond found me after a year I was apart from him when I absconded from his pack for the very first time.

Niscia told me this after she and I decided to reconcile our friendship when I almost had a miscarriage with Saoirse two years ago.

“I would absolutely accept your invitation,” Niscia beamed.

When we arrived at the manor, Sander was not around. He was in the library to continue his successorship training as Desmond promised him that he would be still the heir apparent of the House of Verlice. This time the training leveled up since Sander missed the two years.

As for Saoirse, she was with her nannies and I managed to bring her into the drawing room so she could play with Lefwyne. We were watching our pups while we were having some tea.

“Do you think we should watch Alpha Desmond, Seraphina?” Niscia asked after we laughed and enjoyed each other’s company.

“Why?”

“You know, especially Lady Hazel.”

I shook my head. “It’s fine.” Mother would certainly watch Desmond over for me. She would not let Desmond fall for another scheme that would disrupt our relationship. I wanted to say that to Niscia but there was no reason for me to say those things as she wouldn’t believe me anyway. “Russell is there to watch over your Alpha, right? Just as you told me.”

“Fine… You are right.” Niscia had no choice but to nod before she checked the time on the wall clock. “Perhaps, I have to return now. Leafy must be hungry now.” We both stood up and hugged each other. “It is nice to have a conversation with you again, Seraphina. I really missed you.”

“I really missed you, too, Niscia. Let’s chat some other time.” I escorted her outside while I was having Saoirse in my arms. At the same time, I spotted Desmond who was lifting the twins as they fell asleep in his arms.

Niscia greeted him while Desmond greeted her back. He even greeted Niscia’s son before Desmond approached me.

“Exhausted?” I asked, talking about the twins.

Desmond nodded. “Indeed. I see you have a great time with Niscia.” His eyes darted at Saoirse. “Papa play-play?” he asked our daughter.

“No, no. Papa is tired.” I halted Saoirse when she nodded at Desmond’s question. “You can play with her tomorrow, Desmond,” I said and held my breath when he drew closer to us and planted a soft kiss on our daughter’s forehead before he turned to me and kissed my forehead as well.

I was surprised at his actions and he smiled. “Tomorrow then,” he said to Saoirse. “I will make it up to you, munchkin.” His expression softened.

“Bye-bye, da-da.” Saoirse waved her hand when Desmond entered the manor. She turned at me. “Da-da kiss?” She pointed at my forehead.

I nodded. “Yes. Papa kissed my forehead, too.” I gently tapped her nose. “Shall we see Brother Sander?”

“Hmm! Sandy!” She raised her hands. Saoirse liked to call Sander Sandy. I was certain that when she grew up, she would not forget calling her older brother with that nickname she created just for him.

Later that night, while we were having our supper, Desmond joined us even though he was full already. He asked about Sander’s progress after Sander asked where Harolyn and Hezekiah were.

“That is good to know, son. Good job!” Desmond praised as he disheveled Sander’s blonde wavy hair.

“Thank you, Papa!” Sander beamed at his father’s praise. “I had a great time even though the training is getting stricter every single day.”

I watched how they became so adorable as father and son. I thought before that Sander had a grudge against his father but it turned out that I was wrong. Mother said that Sander did something mischievous toward Desmond but She couldn’t tell me since those events only happened between Desmond and Sander.

I wondered what really happened between them back then. I always wondered that.

Desmond and I spent our time on the patio having some tea. When I prepared it for him, there was hesitation in his eyes again.

“I did not put anything in it,” I said and tried to drink from his cup to show him that I never added anything to his tea. “I understand if you do not want me to make some tea for you. You are wary that I might do the same thing again back then. I traumatized you.”

Desmond gasped, shaking his head vigorously. “N-No.” I arched my eyebrow. “I-I mean yes. Yes, you did but it was my fault in the first place, Seraphina.” He smiled sadly. “It was my fault…” He held my hand. “I am sincerely sorry for hurting you back then.” He gulped. My heart because he started opening up about the past. “I should have consulted you that I am planning to make Hazel a surrogate mother to our pup before. It was a wrong move because I saw at that time that you are desperate to have us a pup…” His eyes started to shed tears. “I have hurt you so bad you chose to run away from our pack.” Desmond stood up and knelt before me. “Seraphina, I deeply regretted what I did and got Hazel pregnant. But please don’t be angry with the twins. They had done nothing wrong.”

“I am never mad at the twins, Desmond.” I caressed his face. “The issue was with you and Hazel. Yes, you have hurt me so bad. I sometimes wished that you were dead.” He lowered his head as he nodded, understanding my statement.

“I know how you hated me back then. You always expressed it. I even chose to be a selfish one to keep you here and did not even consider your feelings.” His voice croaked. “I regretted all the actions I did to you, Seraphina. Instead of showing how sorry I was before, I ended up hurting you more with my actions…” He couldn’t help his tears fall from his eyes. “I was such an asshole to you. I really deserved to be punished by your mother… I even broke our wedding promise that I would make you happy.”

I couldn’t help shedding tears as well. Indeed. Desmond broke his promise that he would make me happy.

Sniffing, I held his face. “Yes, you broke it. It was very painful that you committed infidelity twice to me. I cannot find myself to forgive you, after all, Desmond.”

“You said that you will never forgive me and would never love me anymore because I had done it twice. I am sorry, Seraphina. Please forgive me. I have changed. I am only devoted to you. I never looked to any woman but you only.”

“I know, Desmond.” So do I. I wanted to say that but I should remain neutral for now and make him believe that I was not forgiving him yet.

He needed to earn my trust again. He needed to work for it. So, I would not bestow him easy forgiveness by saying it. He must show that he was really sincere.

“I will show you how sincere I am, Seraphina. Throughout this courtship, I will show you that even if we get remarried in the near future.”

I bit my lower lip as I couldn’t hide that he was really anticipating that I would marry him again. Well, yes, I do. But for now, I was not thinking about that. I wanted him to work on the things to earn me again.

“Confident, aren’t we?” I chuckled, caressing his wet cheek. “Well, I am not easy to get, you know. I am a hard-headed one, Desmond.”Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

He kissed my wrist and looked at me dreamily, not minding if his handsome face was covered with his tears. “Yes… I am willing to wait so I can earn you again, seraphim. I will show you that I am willing to work things with you again and be with you until death do us part.”