Hiding the Alpha’s Heir

Desmond didn’t say a word after that. As always.

He just kept tapping his finger on the table to kill the silence that suddenly enveloped us. Neither of us was speaking after this.

“How’s your lesson for today, son?” Desmond asked after a long moment of silence.

Right… Desmond already provided some mentors that came from noble households to teach Sander. His lessons included how to be a proper noble in an aristocratic society.

“I am doing good, Papa. Count Geney said that I could easily pick up the lessons in economics. Then later, Lady Cecy from the House of Noe will teach me about etiquette, ethics, and personality development tomorrow,” Sander said in his enthusiastic tone.

He gently caressed our son’s hair. “That is good to hear, son. Those lessons are helpful once we attend some parties hosted by the noble families or we are the ones hosting a party,” he said proudly. “You will be able to use it more when you reach adulthood and in your coming-of-age.”

Sander looked pleased that his father praised him. He took a sip of his tea before he looked up at the sky. “Papa, can we return to the town where Mama worked?”

I creased my forehead when he asked his father about that. “Why?” I was the one who asked instead of Desmond.

“Yes, why?” Desmond was slightly bewildered at our son’s question.

Sander exhaled sharply, smiling. “I wish to see Lady Clariscia.” Then he glanced at Desmond. “I haven’t returned the books I borrowed from the public library, Papa. Can we go back and see her?”

“No!” I immediately said.

“Of course, son.”

“Desmond!” I scolded him because he was going to tolerate letting our son see Lady Clariscia.

He chuckled and winced Sander’s hair. “Don’t worry, son. We can go later this afternoon.” He had a quick gawk at me. “It’s better that I will get to know our future daughter-in-law. Right, Seraphina?”

I scoffed, shaking my head. “Halt it, Desmond. Sander is too young to even realize what mate is.” This man… I couldn’t believe that he was going to support Sander’s wish. I must not let him spoil our son.

It would be hard to discipline him when he grows up into a fine, young man.

“I just want to meet her,” he said, feigning ignorance.

I rolled my eyes, realizing that this man was not going to listen to me anyway. My opinion did not matter to him anymore.

I decided to stand up. “It really is useless to speak with you.” I couldn’t help uttering the words even with Sander’s presence. I could feel my son’s stare. “I am going to return to the manor. I am already tired.” I looked at Sander who looked panicking right now. “Stay here if you wish to be with your father, Sander. I am going to retire now.”

When Desmond and I’s eyes met, he had a look of dejection written on his eyes before he coerced a smile at Sander. “We can visit her with… just the two of us. Papa will be with you.”

“I also want Mama to come…” Sander’s tone lowered.

“Also, go to the flat where Sander and I stayed,” I ignored Sander’s statement since I didn’t wish for him to see Lady Clariscia thinking that she really was his mate when she was not, I guess. He was too young to even realize that. “There are some valuable things I have there. Sander already knows what they are.”

“Seraphina.”

I halted from leaving when Desmond called my name but I didn’t turn around to look at him. Just as I was about to turn around, Sander spoke. “Come!”

“Come?” I arched my eyebrow and looked at Sander. He was not looking at me but behind me. As soon as I spun around, I came to hear some voices calling me.

“Luna! Luna!”

I gasped when I was greeted by the rookies aged 16 years old. They surprised me as they surrounded me.

“Um… Yes?” I smiled wryly. Why did I suddenly be surrounded by these children again?

One of them spoke. “Young Master Sander told us that he heard that you used to spar with Alpha Desmond. Can you please show us your moves, Luna Seraphina?”

“Um…” I was rendered speechless. Damn it! Sander really told them about it? I looked at Desmond, asking for his help but he had a look of amusement smeared on his face. It was somewhat annoying to see but he was not doing to help me. “I… am lacking in my combat skills ever since I gave birth to Sander, everyone. My body now was not the same back then.”

And I gained weight, I might add. I wasn’t the one who had some petite features. I couldn’t even return the belly fats I had but Desmond even ignored them when he was pleasing me. Just like I said before, he still worshipped my body even from the time I was working his tuxedo.

“But you have the same agility, I believe.”

With Desmond’s statement, I immediately shot him a glare. If he was talking about the time he threatened me when I attempted to make him believe that I absconded, then he was winning.

I coerced a smile at him, finding him useless. “I can only show a few movements but I am not really good at combat now.” Though enhancing my combat skills in the past was so important, when I gave birth to Sander, I couldn’t find time to ponder enhancing it again.

I used it for survival when I was a rogue.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

But I never used it again because I didn’t need to use it.

“However, I am wearing a heavy dress. I cannot do that for now,” I reasoned out.

“Perhaps, we can go to town to get you some new clothes. I also would like to see your movements again.”

I could have sworn I wanted to slam this man who kept interfering with my talk to these children.

“I knew an excellent seamstress,” Desmond added.

I suddenly felt insulted when he said that. “You must have forgotten that I am also a seamstress, Desmond.”

Desmond must have realized his mistake. He gasped and cleared his throat. “M-My apologies. I-”

“I can make my clothes. I just need some raw materials,” I stated. I turned my attention to these children who were in front of me. “I can show them next time. Perhaps, once I finish my new clothes?”

I was hoping this kind of bargaining would make them bite this.

“Yes, Luna!” I felt relieved when they agreed.

“Sander, go to them first. There is something I wish to discuss with your Mama.” Desmond lifted Sander down as soon as Sander agreed to play with them. “I wish to discuss my preparation for his seventh birthday,” he stated when they left.

I crossed over my chest when I saw him making strides in my direction. My heart felt troubled all of a sudden but I remained on my ground, pretending that I was not faltering at his presence.

“Discuss that again? I thought you already have made the preparations. You even told me I do not need to get involved.” I almost rolled my eyes after that.

Desmond showed an earnest expression. “You have informed Russel about the divorce of our marriage.”

My back straightened upon hearing that. “Indeed.” I watched his eyes sparkling in pain which made my stomach somersault after that. “Is that what we are going to discuss now?”

He exhaled sharply. “Is… I mean… Are you sure?” I nodded. “Is there… no way that we can still fix it?” I could sense the fear in his tone.

The way he sounded was the same as the time he was begging for my forgiveness when I caught him sleeping with a courtesan.

“O-Our marriage is sacred. And I wish to preserve-”

I didn’t wish for him to finish his words as I slapped him upon hearing such a ludicrous statement. “Our marriage is sacred?” My voice croaked as I looked at him in disbelief. “You dared to say that when you were the one who cheated on me twice, Desmond?!” I raised my tone as I felt this anger rise inside me.

I ignored the stares from the people around here. I even heard their gasps and murmurs but I chose to ignore them. My eyes were focused on this man who was lowering his head. He didn’t even meet my eyes.

Desmond’s lips were quivering when he slowly looked at me. “I…” He couldn’t say anything. “It was my fault… I broke it…” he said, breathless.

“Then grant what I wanted.” His eyes widened. He shook his head. Stubborn… He was really stubborn. “Then, don’t blame me if you ever lose your son as well. We shall divorce or else-”

“Please, wait.” I jerked his hand when he tried to take it. “Seraphina…” He looked dejected and panicking right now. “Not the divorce, please… I beg you…” His eyes were glistening with tears.

I could see that discussing the divorce was too painful for him.

I only smiled. It was an empty one. “You brought this problem to yourself. I have forgiven you once. But twice? I am not dumb, Desmond.” I stepped forward so we were close to each other. I even looked up at him because he was towering over me. “You shattered my heart when you promised to our wedding vows that you shall never do that to me. But what did you do?!” Anger rose again. “You made me a fool! You betrayed me! You should have made Hazel your next Luna, not me!”

Desmond knelt in front of me. “I-I… I said that I will not give up on you… I promise myself that I will do anything that will make you trust me again. I do not wish for us to cut the ties of our marriage. I had been holding on to that and as well as our mate bond.” He held my hand. He didn’t even care that people were looking at us. “Seraphina, please… It would kill me this time that-”

“Didn’t you even kill me before? Have you realized that?” My wolf was feeling melancholy that Desmond and I ended up exchanging this kind of conversation again. She was already expecting that Desmond and I would never get to be fixed.

Desmond cried and couldn’t answer me. His hand on mine was slowly released. There was a fullness of guilt registered on his face.

There was a long pause before he gathered his courage to speak. “If… If I grant it, w-will you be happy?”

I scoffed. “I have been wanting to feel my freedom. It is a shame that I married someone like you. You should not have become my mate.” Those words were enough to make him in pain right now.

I won seeing his heartbroken expression before he coerced a smile. “I-I see…” He slowly breathed, shaking. He gulped and looked up at me as tears cascaded down his face. “If… that is what your point of view is, then… then I will process it. I will approve our divorce.”

As soon as Desmond said that, someone must have pierced something in my heart because I felt like it was bleeding silently.

I suddenly wanted to leave when my eyes were already blinding my vision.

Oh, dear Moon Goddess… Did I make the right decision, right? Right, Mother?