Hiding the Alpha’s Heir

“Alright, alright, Sander. Halt,” I said, sighing exasperatedly when Sander was tugging my hand as we were near the location of the boot camp.

The boot camp was set up near the river of Tana Forest to the north. That vast area was enough to have mandatorily gruesome training for the rookies and the pack warriors. Their mentors were the Gammas. Sometimes, Desmond and the two Betas, Oakley and Harvey, participated in teaching the privates.

I was not certain if they were still doing it.

I was also expecting that I would be able to see Niscia there since she was one of the Gammas.

“Mama, hurry!” Sander said impatiently, frowning.

Chuckling, I hastened my steps. “Alright, little man.” I almost shook my head. He really had the same temper as Desmond. It shouldn’t be a surprise already since Sander has Desmond and I’s blood running in his veins.

When we arrived there, all of their eyes were on us. All the training had been halted before they all bowed to me.

“Greetings, Luna Seraphina, Young Master Sander.”

I almost barked at that moment when I was being addressed as ‘Luna’ again. I did not even perform the Luna ceremony again yet they were expecting that I would act as the Luna of this pack? Huh… No way!

This was Desmond’s doing for certain.

“How’s everyone doing?” I asked when they were already surrounding us. I was left with no choice but to comply with communicating with them.

“We are doing good, Luna!” My eyes widened at their zestful, scintillating attitude.

I was utterly surprised that they were acting this way. I mean… I absconded from this pack without anyone’s knowledge and abused my power as the Luna of this pack.

Why did they still welcome me with a warm greeting?

Was this because of Desmond again?

“Go back to your training.” They nodded their heads. In my peripheral vision, I almost frowned seeing Niscia coming on my way.

She bowed before me. “Greetings, Lady Seraphina.”

I arched my eyebrow. Well, at least she knew the proper honorific to use, not what Desmond had ordered them to call me.

“And greetings to you, too, Young Master Sander.” She made a bow to Sander.

Sander giggled. “Auntie Niscia!” With that, he hugged her and buried his face in her stomach.

Niscia chuckled and gently patted his back. “My, my… We just saw each other yesterday, young one.”

“That was yesterday, auntie.” Sander giggled.

While they were busy chitchatting, my eyes roamed around. I saw many changes here, even the facilities that were built here. There were more buildings here and more pack warriors than the last time I remember.

The surroundings were noisy indeed but it was something you could enjoy watching.

It felt… nostalgic to be back here.

“Mama!”

I flinched and snapped back when Sander tugged my hand. “Y-Yes?” He pointed to the building where they usually prepared meals for the people here.

“I can smell some good food there. Auntie Niscia said Solomon prepares me a rice cake filled with red bean paste!” He exclaimed.

I looked at Niscia. She nodded her head, saying that it was true. “Right… We should go there then.”

Niscia gently bowed her head. “Please enjoy yourselves here.”

I rolled my eyes and ignored her. I saw her eyes register a painful expression. She coerced a smile at me before I gently tugged Sander’s hand.

We settled under the tree when Solomon, the chef who prepared the meal for the pack warriors, prepared us some snacks and tea.

“I hope this is your liking, Lady Seraphina.”

I creased my forehead when I could almost hear the bitterness in his tone. But there was a smile on his face.

I almost scoffed when I saw hatred in his eyes. “Sure,” I said.

Ah, yes. It was refreshing to see that one of them had a grudge on me. That was supposed to be the case here. They must cast me away because of what I did to Desmond.

Which reminds me… I could feel criticizing stares when I arrived here with Sander. I only ignored it since Sander was enough to distract me.

When Solomon left, I glanced at Sander who was already munching on his food. I suddenly lost my appetite after realizing that I shouldn’t come here. It was the reason why I never wanted to leave the manor because they were being forced to greet me.

When in fact, they held grudges against me. For certain, they didn’t know that it was Desmond’s fault why I left the pack.

I came to see Anderson, the pack doctor, who just arrived. Along with him was… Desmond.

Our eyes met when he looked in our way. I could have sworn my heart reacted when our eyes met. My wolf even squirmed at that usual adoration gaze he had in his eyes.

He spoke to Anderson one more time before he tapped his back. Then, he went in our direction.

I pretended that I didn’t see him and focused on munching the rice cake. I chuckled upon seeing was smeared with red bean paste in the corners of his mouth.

It was a good thing I brought some spare towels.

“Let me wipe it,” I said to Sander, who was enthusiastic about munching the rice cake and drinking some tea. “Is it good?”

He nodded. “Delicious!” He beamed. Then his eyes looked behind me. “Papa is here!” His beaming voice was enough to gather others’ attention.

“I already knew you were going to come here for some snacks, Sander.” Desmond chuckled.

“Hmm! I brought Mama with me, too!”

“Yes. I can see that…”

I looked at him when I heard the tone of his voice sounding dreamy. My heart was in a turbulent state again when our eyes locked on each other.

Ever since that night, I had never looked at Desmond again. And now, shit… Why did he look so freaking alluring and gorgeous when his beard was growing?

Damn it! I want to run my fingers in them.

“Where have you been?” I asked to lessen the awkward tension between us. Also, he was wearing his expensive clothing so he might have gone somewhere.

He approached Sander and lifted him in his arms before he sat where his son sat earlier. He removed his hat and placed it on the table.

“I went to Stonnered.”

He was talking about the town that was a bit far from Denca where the Rising Diamond pack was residing. It was a remote town actually.

Desmond munched on the rice cake. “I was ordered by Alpha King Azarius to capture some bandits there who caused disturbance to that town,” he added. “There is a small pack there and they need some assistance to establish their pack. So, I will be busy these coming days.’

“I see.” I didn’t ask what business he did there since I didn’t want to get pry with his Alpha’s duties and be a servant to the Alpha King. I didn’t want to pry since I wasn’t acting as his Luna and his wife even if we were still married. “Understood then.”

I distracted myself by sipping some tea while my eyes roamed around again. In my peripheral vision, Desmond was glancing in my direction causing my wolf to feel giddy all of a sudden.

I even felt my hair standing up at the back of my head with his intense gaze before I returned my attention to him. My heart flipped upside down when he dared to meet my eyes. And the emotion registered…

There was longing in them.

I immediately looked away when I couldn’t handle his stare. My heart was pounding so wildly right now I wanted to shove my hand to my heart and pull it out. My stomach even felt ticklish somehow.

It was pretty annoying.

“Seraphina.”

I flinched when he called me. “Yes?” Why did I feel nervous all of a sudden?

Hearing my name slip from his mouth made me want to curl up like a kitten in an instant.

“Since Sander is the future Alpha of the Rising Diamond pack, he has to undergo early training as soon as he reaches seven years of age which will happen next month.”

We fought glances as soon as he finished speaking. His expression seemed like he was already expecting me that I would burst out but I couldn’t since Sander was with us right now.

This man…

Desmond deliberately discussed it in our son’s presence so I would leave with no choice again.

I reclined to my seat, looking at him earnestly. “Since you have already decided on his future, why do you still need to tell me? Do you expect me to agree?” With my bitter tone, Sander looked at us.

“I am saying this since you are his mother and I want to let you know my plans for him as the future heir of the House of Verlice,” he answered me in his calm tone.

I snorted, shaking my head. “Sure.” I smiled bitterly. “You are the one who has the power to execute and what I need to do here is to submit to your unfair treatment.” There was disappointment smeared in my tone. And bitterness as well.

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This was making my blood boil right now.