Chapter 180

Chapter 180
Ximena

Two days later

I sat in front of my dressing mirror in my new massive bedroom. I stared at the reflection in the mirror which was almost blinding because of my skin, but it still worked.

Yes - the use of mirrors has been reinstated back into the pack. Carmine's no longer scared of his reflection in the mirror since the curse was gone.

A smile curled up on my lips as I stared at the beautiful dress Carmine got me hanging behind me while I sat still wrapped up in my towel, my baby bump bulging out a little, but it was a good thing that my dress would be able to cover it up.

I'll be leaving the room today after several hours. The people are going to see Ximena, no more Luciana. No more trays. No more hiding. No more running. Everything had finally fallen into place, the rebellious Alphas locked up in the dungeon, Dani included.

Damien - Damien refused to stay in the pack. He resigned as part of Carmine’s army, saying he couldn't watch the woman who was supposed to be his slip right into someone else’s hands. He couldn't forgive himself; he'd lost everything, his mate and power, and all he could put on was the shame of rejecting me.

A part of me wanted to pity him, but then I remembered the things I had to go through at the hands of the pack members, the omegas, Carmine who's now my mate, and a changed man.

He made his whole pack kneel before me to ask for forgiveness for the maltreatment, the insults, and the trouble, including the omegas back at the den.

Jasmine was the first to go on her knees, saying she'd always known I was more than the others thought from the very day we fought and my eyes lit up to her face. She pleaded to be part of my army, and just as I was about to accept, Dad's words echoed in my ears.

‘A trustworthy army,’ and someone who had hatred for me in the past didn't really fit into that description.

At this point, I just wished I didn't have to travel to the afterlife before I could get a hold of my parents; I wished they were both here, standing right beside me in all of this right now, especially in my journey of nurturing the seed growing within me.

But the only person who took that place right now was Carly, as she placed the final hairpin while she styled my long hair just like a queen from both worlds.

“Wow,” I mumbled under my breath, moving my head side to side in the mirror.

“You like it?” she asked.

“Like? Carly, I love it,” I replied, awe etched in my voice.

“I'm glad you do,” she replied with a smile on her face.

“Thanks, Carly,” I replied; at this point, my eyes became glassy with tears.

“What’s wrong, my queen? Is it too tight?” she asked, concern etched in her voice.

“No, Carly, this isn't about you,” I replied softly, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.

“Oh, then what is it about?” she asked.

“I… I… I just…” I started, my gaze fixed in the mirror.

Just then, the door swung open, revealing Carmine. The countenance on his face immediately changed the minute he saw the look on my face.

“Tears? Carly, what did you do to her?!” he fired at her.

“Nothing, my lord, I swear,” she replied.

“She did nothing wrong, Carmine,” I chimed, calming the rage in his tone.

“Then what's wrong?” he asked, rushing to my side, raising my gaze to meet his.

“Injustice hasn’t seen me this beautiful before, Carmine,” I muttered under my breath.

He sighed softly, turning his gaze to my reflection in the mirror.

“Luna…” Carly called out softly, with admiration in her voice.

“Can you give us a minute, Carly?” he said, turning to her; she just replied with a light nod before leaving the room, closing the door behind her.

Carmine turned his gaze to mine as he went to his knees.

“Please, Carmine, for a million times, stop apologizing already,” I shot at him, frustration in my voice.

He chuckled lightly, curling his lips into a smile. “I got that, Ximena, I'm not trying to apologize,” he replied softly.

“Oh,” I muttered, staring at him with creased brows. “Then what are you trying to do?” I asked, confusion etched on my face.

He smiled softly, placing his hands lightly on my baby bump as he leaned in, his lips connecting with my bump. I smiled softly, staring down at him; he raised his gaze up, his hands moving instinctively to my cheeks as he wiped off the tears from my eyes.

“I made a promise to your father never to make you cry, Ximena. I'm just here to renew that promise with my baby…” he began.

“What?” I mumbled under my breath, staring at him with furrowed brows.

“I promise to love you gently, Ximena, so gently that you'd forget whatever happened in the past. I promise to be the best version of myself with you, a man of my word, and give our child the best childhood. A childhood none of us ever got to experience. I promise to keep this beauty and skin glowing forever such that not even a scratch is permitted to be on it,” he said.

“Carmine…” I called out softly.

“Let me finish, Ximena,” he interrupted. “I've been too blind to see the treasure I had right in front of me. But now that the veil is off, I won't get tired of reassuring you that I'll never grow tired of loving you, Ximena. You gave me the freedom I've always longed for, you healed my heart, and most of all, you made me experience the best version of a mother by allowing Ma’am Lia—or should I say Ma’am Xylonia—to be my mother too. Even with all the atrocities I committed, the goddess gave me everything I needed, but I was too blind to see,” he said.

“So, my love,” he continued, “please don't cry. Whenever you feel like crying, I'll help you. Whenever you feel pains from the past, don't hesitate to call me in to take every single one of them away. And with that out of the way, I'm here to officially invite you outside. Everyone is waiting,” he added.

“Huh?... By everyone, do you mean?” I tried to speak.

“Yes, Ximena, just like you asked.” He cut in sharply. “Every witch and werewolf from the different packs in the city are all out there waiting for their new rulers. It's about time we bring in a new dawn and build an unstoppable army by doing what no one has ever done in centuries, and that's putting witches and werewolves together. Come on, hasten up, and let's give birth to our empire of hybrids,” he urged.

My lips curled up into a smile as I stared at him.

“Alright then, I'll be out soon,” I replied, but he just gave me a light nod as he went outside.

“Carmine?” I called out softly, making him halt in his steps.

“Yes, baby,” he replied.

“Could you call Carly back in on your way out? I really can't put on this dress alone,” I said.

“Sure,” he replied with a light smile.

Minutes later, Carly came in grinning from ear to ear as she walked up to me.

“And what's making my lady smile like this?” I asked with raised brows.

“Uhm… The healer just gave me exciting news,” she replied.

“Which is?” I asked softly.

“I'm pregnant!!!” she yelled in excitement.

My mouth dropped at the news as I stood up, wrapping my hands around her. “Wow, Carly, this is great news. Have you told Rogan yet?” I asked.

“Not yet, but I will,” she replied.

“Alright then, I won't try to ruin the surprise. But please do so fast; Aunt Ava and Rogan would be so happy about this. Congratulations… At least now I'm reassured that my child would have someone to play with… That's an opportunity Rogan and I never really got,” I said.

“I definitely will,” she replied.

And with that, I slipped into my dress as she escorted me out to meet the enormous crowd waiting for me outside. The minute they all saw me, they erupted in a loud scream, shouting and hailing Luna.

“Good evening, great people of Reflight Moon Pack!!” I greeted them, but they only responded with loud screams.

That's right; we had to give our pack a new name. A new dawn, birthed from pain, trust, mistrust, anger, but most of all love.

I turned my gaze back to them, and under the moonlight, Carmine addressed them, the moon being our witness, as witches and werewolves who've been mateless for years began to find their mates right under the moonlight as the moon goddess began to bless us with our very first generation of hybrids from tonight.

My heart leaped for joy as I stared at them. So this is it… This is my Empire, I thought inwardly.