Chapter 23 Celeste
Celeste's POV
Liam loves clear morning skies. He gets extra excited to go to school. And not just him—Levi can’t wait to play on the playground.
They’ve got friends now. I just hope nothing messes up those friendships. Their little hearts are soft and sincere, and it would crush me to see either of them sad someday.
"I want to go on the slide!" Levi jumped from one couch to another like a squirrel. He's so adorable. He never gets tired of the slide.
We were waiting for Liam, who suddenly got a stomachache and had to run to the bathroom. I’d already let his teacher know he might be late.
"Should I put a slide in front of the house so you can play with Liam?" I had actually been thinking about it for a while, but I hadn't talked to anyone about it yet.
I winced when Levi slipped off the single sofa—his knees hit the floor, and his head bumped the coffee table. He sat there holding his forehead, giving me a big grin.
I shook my head. Levi didn’t cry or groan in pain. It didn’t take long for his body’s regeneration to heal his wounds.
He was indeed a future Alpha. No one could deny that.
“Does it still hurt?” I asked as I picked him up. He wouldn’t even look at me.
Levi is just three, but he already gets shy when I carry or kiss him. He’s growing up way too fast, right?
"It doesn't hurt anymore," Levi said, shaking his head. "It was just a little pain, then it went away." He stretched his arms out dramatically, eyes wide.
I chuckled and kissed his cheek. Levi blushed, lowered his head, then kissed me back. He gave in when I tightened our embrace and showered him with more kisses.
"I want a slide in front of the house." Levi pointed to the main door. Apparently, he remembered what I said.
"I'll make sure we have a slide," I said, my eyes sparkling. Why was I the one so excited? "I'll let the kids play with you."
"Yeah. I'll have lots of friends!" Levi shouted happily, wrapping his arms around my neck. "Thank you, Mom."
"I'm glad you're happy, my son." I kissed his cheek.
Liam had finished in the bathroom. He was already dressed in his school uniform and his backpack. He was so ready to go to school.
I lowered Levi from my arms. Liam was surprised when I kissed his cheek and stroked his hair. I smiled as he hugged me, and then Levi wrapped his arms around my neck and Liam's.
We started the morning warmly. I thought of Benedict. He must be smiling enviously in heaven.
As we were about to get in the car, Beta Dylan stopped by to wish us good morning, bless us with the Moon Goddess’s protection, and remind us not to stay out for too long.
I gave him a strange look as he stared at me for a few seconds before he finally smiled at me and closed the car door.
The driver drove the car fast, but not so fast that it felt like we were flying.
Liam and Levi were talking about the cartoon they watched last night; it’s rare for them to watch movies.
I just read a message from Alpha Eiden. He was waiting for us at the lake near Liam's kindergarten. Liam looked nervous when I told him.
"The bell will ring in five minutes," I said as the car pulled into the forest. Alpha Eiden stood in front of the tree, and we could only open the car door.
"Good morning, everyone." Alpha Eiden smiled behind his mask, his eyes narrowed. He handed Liam a tote bag. "I brought your favorite lamb sandwich."
Liam accepted his lunch shyly and thanked his biological father. Unfortunately, there wasn’t any more conversation between them. Liam didn’t want to be late for school.
The driver drove us back to Liam's kindergarten. Meanwhile, Alpha Eiden walked to the playground. He invited us to join him for lunch.
Liam ran into his school, hugging Alpha Eiden's tote bag. I smiled. He liked his father's attention to him.
I held Levi's hand as we walked to the playground.
"Hey, guys!" Levi ran over to his friends as soon as we arrived at the playground. My two boys sure had a lot of energy.
Alpha Eiden was already sitting in the chair. He was wearing a leather jacket, a hat, sunglasses, and a mask. He leaned back, his arms folded across his chest, his eyes fixed on the kids.
Margot glanced back and forth at Alpha Eiden. When she saw me, she smiled and gestured with her chin to Alpha Eiden. I hope she never becomes interested in finding out about us.
Alpha Eiden stood up when I was in front of him and handed me a tote bag in a different color than Liam's. "I also brought lamb sandwiches for you and Levi."
"Thank you so much." I accepted it gladly. "Did you make them?"
"Too bad they weren't me," Alpha Eiden replied. "Are you disappointed?" He raised an eyebrow. I wondered if the corner of his mouth quirked up into a smile.
"If you made them, I wouldn't have eaten them," I said casually, unconcerned about his feelings.
Alpha Eiden rolled his eyes. “Do you think my cooking is that bad?”
I smiled faintly and shrugged. “Yeah, I was just anticipating.”
“You’d be surprised if I could make that sandwich.” Alpha Eiden felt challenged to show off his cooking skills. He hated being underestimated.
I smiled, remembering how annoyed he was with Liam and Levi because they thought he couldn't play basketball or solve a Rubik's Cube.
“Why are you smiling? Don’t you trust me?” Alpha Eiden was offended.
I looked away as my smile faded. How embarrassing it would be to be caught smiling in front of him.
“You don’t have to do something you rarely do,” I said, walking toward Margot, making sure Alpha Eiden heard me. “We’re fine eating your omega cooking.” I could listen to him snort.
I sat down next to Margot and ignored her curious gaze. I placed the tote bag on my lap. I watched Levi chase after his friend.
“I know you’re avoiding my gaze because you don’t want me to ask who that guy is,” Margot said. I turned to her with a wide grin. She snorted and glanced at Alpha Eiden. “Is he your boyfriend or an acquaintance?”
“He’s an acquaintance of mine,” I replied. As long as Alpha Eiden didn’t openly show his affection for Liam, and Levi was always around, no one would ever think he was Liam’s biological father.
And another thing—Alpha Eiden had to spray that scent-masking perfume on his clothes. If he ever forgot, his identity as an Alpha werewolf would be obvious, and everyone would instantly know he was Liam’s biological father.
I glanced at Alpha Eiden as I listened to Margot ramble about the flood that had hit her group's neighbors. He wasn't looking at his phone; he was focused on the children, occasionally smiling behind his mask.
I quickly returned my gaze to Margot when Alpha Eiden glanced at me with a raised eyebrow. After that, I didn't look at him again until Liam's school bell rang, signaling it was time to go home.