Chapter 45 Eiden
Eiden's POV
I thought I had misheard what Celeste said to me while we were grilling the meat.
When I first invited them to stay at my house, I built a small house with one bedroom, a bathroom, and a living room for Celeste and Levi behind my house.
I also prepared a room in my house because they might not be comfortable in the small house.
Two weeks ago, neither Celeste nor Levi complained about the house they were using for sleeping and showering, but this afternoon, Celeste told me she and Liam wanted to sleep in one of my rooms.
I knew the small house wouldn't be comfortable for them. I felt guilty that they couldn't find a home close to mine and safe from the reach of my enemy's spy warriors.
I asked the omegas to clean up the guest room for Celeste and Levi and put their things there.
After dinner, as usual, I spent time with Liam and Levi in the playroom. They were such fun kids. The feeling of tiredness and various thoughts in my mind disappeared.
I left the playroom to go to the bathroom.
I smiled when I saw Celeste playing on her phone in the living room. She never joined us. She was very thoughtful, giving me so much time to get to know her children.
“Hi.” I approached Celeste. She gasped in surprise, quickly putting her phone in her pocket. I smiled, amused. She always did that when I caught her playing on her phone.
“Hi.” Celeste smiled faintly at me. She was giving me her attention. It made me feel appreciated.
“Are you comfortable staying at my pack?” My question surprised Celeste. I was actually embarrassed, but I was genuinely curious. “So far, I’ve only asked Liam and Levi.”
“I’m comfortable.” Celeste nodded without breaking eye contact. “There’s nothing I want to complain about with you.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” I smiled, relieved. “I want you to feel comfortable while you’re in my territory.”
“I hope no one knows we’re staying at your house except the people you’ve already told,” Celeste said with a hopeful look.
I grimaced. Celeste sounded like she was subtly mocking me for not telling them that Alpha Jackson already knew about their existence, even though he couldn’t correctly guess our relationship.
“Yes. I won’t let that happen.” I couldn’t tell her about my carelessness. The most important thing was to make sure Alpha Jackson didn’t leak the secret and that my other two enemies didn’t find out.
“You’ve been so kind to us,” Celeste said. “You’ve really shown that you want us to feel comfortable and happy in your home.”
I was stunned by her smile. My heart skipped a beat. If I had known she was as beautiful as my ex-girlfriend, I wouldn’t have rejected her.
I couldn’t even remember how we met or what we did that night.
All I remember is that I was shocked when I woke up, realized the woman sleeping next to me was my mate, and rejected her without a second thought.
I was so reckless when I was drunk and didn't remember anything at all, and sometimes my wolf won't tell me.
I hurt her feelings. I was so grateful to her for caring for our child with such love.
I returned to the playroom. Liam and Levi would be there until they got sleepy. I sat between them and smiled, remembering our nap together earlier.
"I love animals," Levi said.
"I want to meet them," Liam said.
"When we're older, when we can switch bodies with our wolves, let's go to the wild forest," Levi said enthusiastically.
"That sounds fun." Liam agreed with Levi's idea.
I was still shocked to hear them talking like adults.
“Have you ever been to the Wild Forest?” I hadn’t anticipated Liam asking me that.
“I have been to the Wild Forest.” I nodded. “It has many animals that other forests don’t.”
“Does your wolf hunt animals?” Liam asked, intrigued.
“Yes, he hunts bears, but the only thing he actually managed to catch and eat was a lion.” I realized I was speaking with enthusiasm without meaning to.
My wolf grinned proudly.
“Whoa, that’s cool.” Levi gave a thumbs-up, his jaw dropping open.
“Did your wolf eat the lion meat without roasting it first?” Liam asked.
“Yeah, Arlo pounced on the lion, tore open its belly, and happily devoured the meat,” I explained.
Liam and Levi were shocked and amazed. They were growing even more impatient to become adults.
“Your wolf’s name is Arlo?” Liam asked hesitantly.
“Yeah.” I nodded. Then I remembered something. I had forgotten about it because my wolf never brought it up.
“Do you want to meet my wolf?” I asked Liam.
“I… we’ll meet someday.” Liam lowered his head, clutching his pants.
Now I know why my wolf never asked me to switch bodies with him when Liam stayed over at my mansion.
Levi yawned. His eyes welled up. “I want to sleep.” That night, Levi ended our time together in the playroom.
Celeste kept her word. She slept with Levi, and he didn’t complain about wanting to sleep with Liam. I didn’t know how Celeste managed to make Levi understand our situation.
“Good night,” Liam said to Celeste and Levi.
“Good night.” Levi waved, trying to be cheerful, but anyone could tell he would fall asleep as soon as he got into bed.
Celeste smiled broadly at Liam.
I held my breath as she gave me that same smile. Luckily, I quickly recovered and smiled back.
Celeste and Levi went to their room. I glanced nervously at Liam.
“Do you want me to read to you?” My heart was beating so fast behind my ribs as the words fell from my mouth.
Liam had just turned on his feet to head towards his room. He froze when he heard me. A few seconds later, he glanced over me and nodded at me.
A feeling of excitement filled my heart. We walked side by side to his room. Nervousness gripped me as I sat on the edge of his bed.
I read him a fairy tale about a boy struggling to awaken his wolf. Liam was surprised that I knew his favorite book. Of course, I asked Celeste.
“Have you ever been underestimated?” After I finished reading the book to him, he asked me a question.
For some reason, Liam always asked me questions I never expected.
“Sure.” I nodded. “My father died a few days after my eighteenth birthday. Since he had already declared me his heir, a week after his death, I was made Alpha.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know about that,” Liam said.
“It’s okay.” I smiled faintly. That means Celeste is not interested in my life, and Liam never asks her about me.
"How did you get them to acknowledge you as the Alpha?" Liam asked, yawning twice, his eyelids so heavy he could barely keep them open.
“I did my duty as Alpha and ignored them.” My brows knitted together, and my gaze fixed on the ceiling. “I guess I never proved to anyone that I was worthy of being Alpha.”
“I understand.” Liam nodded. “You’re great.”
I was shocked. I quickly looked at Liam, but unfortunately, he had already closed his eyes and was breathing steadily.
I longed to see the look on his face when he said those words to me.
I leaned back with my arms folded across my chest. I planned to just sit for thirty minutes, waiting for Liam to fall into a deep sleep, but the next morning, I gasped in surprise to find myself sleeping next to him.