Chapter 140: More Than Anything

Chapter 140: More Than Anything
M

"Mama..."

The word suddenly pierced through the chaos like an arrow to her heart. Meredith's entire being shivered. She broke free from Damien and immediately turned around.

Through the trees, small figures emerged. Their little feet pounded against the ground, their cries filling the morning breeze.

Marcus was in the lead. His tiny fists clenched as he skidded to a halt between her and her mates. Even though his legs trembled violently, even though his little chest heaved, he threw his arms out, standing as a shield.

"Don't you dare hurt my Mama!" he shouted.

Behind him, Ksaver followed closely. His hands shook, but his stance tightened as he, too, spread his arms protectively.

"You'll have to kill us first before you can touch our Mama..."

Daemond, meanwhile, ran straight to Meredith, throwing his arms around her waist, burying his face in her stomach.

"Mama!" he sobbed. "Did they hurt you? Are you okay?"

Magnus, Damien, and Xavier suddenly stilled. They just stood there breathlessly, watching three little boys blocking them from Meredith.

Meredith barely had time to react before Magnus suddenly moved. In one swift motion, he scooped Marcus into his arms.

Marcus gasped. His tiny form went rigid as he was lifted effortlessly into the air. His widened eyes darted toward Meredith, and then terror clouded his handsome face.

“Mama!” Marcus screamed right away, thrashing violently in Magnus’s hold. "Mama, help! He's taking me away!"

Meredith's heart stopped at his words. Her own arms instinctively reached out, trembling at the sheer panic in her son's cries. But then she stopped herself from doing so. After all, Marcus was finally in the safest hands.

Marcus kicked and pounded his little fists against Magnus’s broad chest, his sobs breaking into wails.

“Let me go! Let me go! You're bad! You're bad! I hate you!”

But Magnus didn't flinch. Not even once. He just held on, weathering every hit, every thrash, every scream. He didn't stop Marcus. He didn't try to quiet him. He just took everything. Like he deserved it.

From a distance, Meredith could see the heartbreak in Magnus’s face.

"Magnus..." she called softly.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, Magnus did something that made Meredith cry. He gently hugged Marcus. As if he was holding the most precious thing in the world.

Marcus then froze mid-thrash. His tiny fists, which had been hitting Magnus with all his strength, suddenly lowered. His hiccups stilled. The sheer warmth, the familiar scent, they finally reached him.

His little hands clutched at Magnus, and his small frame shuddered from the overwhelming emotions.

Magnus didn't say a word. He just stroked Marcus’s back, pressing his chin gently against the top of Marcus's head, holding him like he never wanted to let go.

A strangled sob escaped from Meredith's throat. "I'm sorry..."

And then, Marcus finally lifted his head. His small hands grabbed Magnus’s face, forcing him to look at him.

That's when it happened. Marcus’s tear-filled eyes widened, his tiny lips parting slightly. His breath stopped. His small fingers traced Magnus’s strong jawline, then his scruffy beard, then the faint scar along his cheek.

And then, in the softest whisper. “You…”

Magnus stilled. His grip on Marcus tightened ever so slightly, his eyes shimmering against the rising sun. Marcus sniffled, his small hands trembling as they cupped Magnus’s face.

"You're the good guy..."

Magnus’s entire body tensed. A violent shudder racked him, his jaw clenching tightly to keep himself from falling apart. His breathing turned shallow, his chest rising and falling unevenly as Marcus’s words finally reached his heart.

Marcus’s own lips quivered. His small fingers curled into Magnus. His tiny shoulders shook until he finally broke.

Marcus threw his little arms around Magnus’s neck, hugging him tightly. He squeezed his eyes shut, his small form trembling uncontrollably as the words finally spilled out.

"I knew it! I knew you'd come back! I knew you'd find me!"

A ragged breath escaped Magnus as his hands fisted the fabric of Marcus’s tiny shirt. He buried his face into his son's curls.

"Of course..."

Ksaver suddenly tensed as Xavier took a slow step toward him. Xavier's eyes softened, but Ksaver couldn't help it. His little hands balled into fists, his chest rising and falling with quick breaths.

The last time he saw a man this big come near him, it had been to hurt him. To take him away.

So Ksaver stepped back.

Xavier immediately stopped in his tracks. For a long, silent moment, they just stared at each other.

Then, Xavier dropped to his knees.

Ksaver gasped at the sudden movement. He blinked rapidly, his small fingers gripping the hem of his shirt as his heart pounded against his ribs.

"Come, my son…" Xavier's voice came low, full of something Ksaver couldn't yet understand. Something so warm. Something so safe he'd never felt before.

Ksaver's eyes widened. His breath hitched. His fingers trembled.

Xavier opened his arms wider, waiting patiently for him.

Ksaver then turned to Meredith, and she nodded immediately, her tearful smile giving him the truth he needed.

With a small sob, Ksaver launched himself forward. His little feet barely touched the ground before he collided into Xavier's chest.

Xavier caught him easily, wrapping his muscular arms around the small figure that fit so perfectly against him. Like he'd been meant to hold him forever.

Ksaver buried his lovely face into Xavier's neck, his tiny fingers clinging onto him desperately. His little chest heaved.

“Papa…” he whispered.

Xavier sucked in a sharp breath. His grip on Ksaver tightened as he trembled from the sheer weight of that one word. His voice came ever so softly.

"I'm here..."

Xavier's arms curled protectively around Ksaver, pressing him closer.

"I'm here, my boy."

Ksaver's little shoulders shook violently. “I w-waited…” he whimpered. “I waited for you, Papa…”

Xavier closed his eyes tightly, his jaw clenching as if holding back a choked sob.

"I know." He exhaled shakily, pressing a firm kiss to Ksaver's soft curls. "And I'm so sorry."

Ksaver sniffled, but he didn't let go. And neither did Xavier. Because neither of them wanted to wake up if this was just a dream—the greatest one.

Meredith wrapped her arms tightly around Daemond, pressing him close to her. Her heart ached as she felt his little figure trembling against hers.

“Mama,” Daemond whispered, his arms tightening around her waist. “Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

Meredith's throat tightened. She ran her fingers soothingly through his hair, pressing a firm kiss to the top of his head.

“I'm alright, my love,” she murmured, holding back her own tears. “I swear..."

Daemond exhaled deeply, as if he had been holding his breath all this time.

Suddenly, there was a sharp gasp, and Meredith froze. The sound came from beside her. She turned immediately, her heart lurching when she saw Damien.

He had collapsed onto his knees. His fingers were curled into the grass, his head bowed so low, his entire frame shaking violently.

For a brief moment, Meredith thought he had fainted. But then, the sound of his little sobs reached her ears.

Damien was crying...

Her chest tightened as she glanced at Daemond. Right now, she knew his father needed him more than she did. So, with gentle hands, Meredith slowly pushed Daemond forward.

Daemond blinked at her, his brows furrowing slightly. "Mama..."

“Go,” Meredith whispered softly, cupping his cheeks. “Your Papa needs you, Daemond.”

Daemond hesitated for a moment. Then, he slowly turned toward the broken man kneeling before him.

Damien didn't move. His breath was ragged, his fingers digging into the ground.

Daemond took hesitant steps toward him. And then, carefully, he hugged him. Without another word, Daemond wrapped his tiny arms around his father.

As if he were holding Damien's broken pieces. As if he were telling him he wasn't alone. That even an Alpha also needed someone to hold him together.

Damien's entire frame went still until a shattered sob escaped him. His arms shot forward, clutching Daemond against him, burying his face into his son's small shoulders.

“I'm sorry,” Damien choked, his breath hot against Daemond's skin. “I'm so, so sorry...”

For the first time in his life, Daemond heard the strongest man in the world break right in front of him.

"It's okay, Papa…” Daemond whispered. "Did you know, when we were babies, all we could do was cry and cry?"

Damien let out another shuddering breath, pulling Daemond even closer.

“But I should have been there,” Damien rasped, his forehead pressing against Daemond's tiny shoulder. “I should have protected you. I should have protected all of you—”

Daemond shook his head. “But you're here now, Papa,” he murmured.

Damien pulled back slightly, his trembling fingers cupping Daemond's small face. His eyes searched his son's face as if trying to commit every little detail to memory.

“You are so strong,” Damien whispered.

Daemond's little brows furrowed.

Damien let out a tearful chuckle, shaking his head.

“You didn't even hesitate,” he continued, brushing Daemond's curls back. “You stood in front of your mother. You tried to protect her.” He swallowed thickly. “You remind me of myself…”

Daemond blinked up at him, tilting his head.

Damien exhaled deeply, his forehead pressing against his son's.

“I'm going to make it up to you, my son,” Damien whispered so softly, so fiercely, so lovingly. “I swear on my life, I'll never let you go again.”

Daemond smiled softly before he nodded. And with that, Damien pulled him into another tight embrace, unwilling to let go ever again.

Meredith's hands clutched at her heart.

Her mates and her sons. Six souls who had always been destined to meet and love each other for all eternity.

“I love you all so much,” she whispered from afar. “More than anything...”