Chapter 129 Camping

Chapter 129 Camping


Vuk Laskovic

“Are you okay, my love?” I asked quietly as I pulled Maureen into my arms, holding her carefully as if she might still break apart if I loosened my grip. Her body leaned into mine without resistance, and for the first time since the chaos began, I allowed myself to breathe properly. The tremor in her shoulders had lessened, but not disappeared, and the memory of her screaming in darkness still burned behind my eyes like an open wound.

She nodded faintly, her fingers curling into the front of my shirt as if grounding herself in something real. Her breathing had steadied, but the exhaustion clinging to her was obvious. Fear lingers long after danger passes, and what she endured tonight would not fade easily—not from memory, not from blood.

“Please tell me you actually killed that bitch,” she said suddenly, her voice rough and hoarse, the anger barely masking the lingering fear beneath it.

I let out a quiet breath and shook my head once.

“No,” I replied calmly.

Her head lifted sharply, confusion flashing across her face. “What do you mean no?” she snapped weakly. “After everything she did—after what she put us through—you didn’t kill her?”

I studied her for a long moment before answering, letting the silence stretch just enough to settle the storm inside her chest.

“She’s not dead,” I said quietly. “She’s imprisoned.”

Maureen blinked.

Once.

Slowly.

“Imprisoned… where?” she asked cautiously.

My jaw tightened slightly before I answered.

“In Hell.”

The words settled into the air between us like stone.

Maureen froze completely, her fingers tightening instinctively against my chest. For a moment, she said nothing—just stared at me as if trying to measure the weight of what that truly meant.

“She will not walk freely again,” I continued calmly. “Not here. Not in this world. She has been bound, sealed, and locked beneath forces even she cannot manipulate.” My voice lowered slightly. “She will live… but not freely.”

Relief moved slowly across Maureen’s face—not explosive, not loud, but deep and quiet, the kind that settles into bones rather than bursting outward.

Good.

That meant the fear was finally loosening its grip.

After making sure she drank the tea placed beside her, I stayed close while she gathered enough strength to stand properly again. She bathed soon after, washing away sweat, blood, and the lingering traces of fear clinging stubbornly to her skin. By the time she returned, dressed in clean clothes, her shoulders had straightened slightly, and the faint glow of her natural confidence had begun returning.

We went to check on the children next.

Nyxara was already there.

She stood beside the crib like a silent guardian, arms folded across her chest, her sharp gaze scanning every movement in the room as if daring danger to appear again.

Maureen paused at the doorway for a second before stepping inside.

“Nyxara…” she whispered softly.

Nyxara turned immediately, her expression softening just slightly at the sight of her.

“You’re awake,” she said calmly.

Maureen nodded slowly before stepping closer to the crib, her hands trembling slightly as she reached down to lift Lauren into her arms. The baby stirred faintly, making a small sound as she settled against her mother’s chest.

That single moment—mother holding child again—felt heavier than any victory.

“Thank you,” Maureen whispered quietly to Nyxara.

Nyxara waved her off dismissively. “Don’t thank me yet,” she muttered lightly. “You’re not rid of me that easily.”

“Of course. I wouldn't want to do that to my best friend…”.

" Did you hear that?? Did you hear that Alpha!! She called me her best friend!!!” Nyxara screamed , carrying Maureen up and hugging her tight.

" Careful… careful now” I mumbled, as she carried Maureen around the room.

" Oh my goodness…I've been promoted. This deserve a celebration…"

" Hmm. Vuk do you mind getting us a wine”

" Of course Your highnesses “

With an exaggerated sigh I walked out while the girls kept smiling and giggling like teenagers.

\---

\[Two weeks Later\]

“Vuk!”

“Yes, my love…” I answered absently.

“What are you doing?” she demanded sharply.

“Packing,” I replied, holding up a box of carefully stacked cookies.

She froze in the doorway.

Then sighed loudly.

“Oh gods… the cookies go to the other side,” she muttered, walking forward with the determined expression of someone who had already decided I was doing everything wrong. “You know what? Leave it for the maids. Come out.”

“But I can—”

“Come out!” she snapped, pointing toward the hallway.

I dropped the cookies back into the box with a dramatic sigh.

“Yes, ma’am,” I muttered, rolling my eyes slightly.

She narrowed her gaze at me immediately.

Sharp.

Suspicious.

“You rolled your eyes,” she accused.

“I did not.”

“You did.”

I sighed again, stepping away from the table before she could lecture me further, knowing fully well that arguing with Maureen when she had already made up her mind was a losing battle I had no intention of fighting today. She continued moving around the room with determined precision, folding clothes, checking supplies, adjusting boxes like a general preparing for war instead of a woman preparing for a simple camping trip. There was a spark in her movements—an excitement I had not seen in weeks—and I found myself watching her longer than necessary, quietly relieved that the shadows clinging to her mind had begun to fade.

“This camping trip,” she continued firmly, stacking another bundle into the travel chest, “has to be the best one yet. The best. No chaos. No danger. Just us. Do you understand?”

I leaned against the doorway, folding my arms loosely across my chest as I studied her expression. Her focus, her determination, the faint glow of excitement in her eyes—it all reminded me of the woman I fell in love with. The one who refused to break, no matter how hard the world tried.

“Yes, my Luna,” I replied lightly.

She turned sharply, narrowing her gaze at me.

Hard.

Suspicious.

But beneath that glare, there was warmth now. Real warmth. The kind that made the house feel alive again instead of tense and watchful.

Eventually, after what felt like hours of rearranging, correcting, and rechecking every single item I had packed “incorrectly,” she finally clapped her hands once, satisfied.

“Done,” she declared proudly.

I exhaled slowly. “Finally.”

She shot me a look.

Sharp.

Warning.

But then she smiled—wide, bright, unstoppable—and that alone made every second of chaos worth it.

Soon enough, everything was loaded into the car, and we finally drove off, the castle gates opening wide as the vehicle rolled forward into open roads and clear skies. Maureen sat beside me, practically glowing with excitement, her eyes darting from one passing tree to another like a child experiencing adventure for the first time.

“You’re very happy,” I noted casually, glancing sideways at her.

She grinned immediately. “Of course I am. I’ve been planning this trip for weeks. Two full weeks. You have no idea how hard it was keeping everything secret while pretending nothing was happening.”

I chuckled under my breath, shaking my head slightly.

She had endured nightmares, battles, betrayal—and still found time to secretly plan a camping trip like it was the greatest mission of her life.

Eventually, after hours of driving, we reached the camping grounds, the wide stretch of forest opening beautifully before us. The air smelled fresh, wild, untouched, and the quiet hum of nature wrapped around the clearing like a protective shield.

And they were already there.

Nyxara stood near the fire pit, arms folded confidently across her chest, while beside her stood her two husbands—Eryx and Azrael. My Beta and my Head Guard. Both strong. Both loyal. Both completely ruined by one incubus woman who had somehow managed to claim them both without shame.

That girl was selfish.

Utterly selfish.

To extend her selfishness even further, she had somehow stolen my wife’s attention the moment we stepped out of the car.

Maureen rushed forward instantly, excitement lighting up her face as Nyxara welcomed her with that usual smug grin of hers.

“Ohhh, finally!” Nyxara exclaimed, pulling Maureen into a quick embrace. “You took forever!”

Maureen laughed brightly. “Blame your Alpha. He packs like an old man.”

“Traitor,” I muttered under my breath.

But they ignored me completely.

Ignored.

Me.

To make matters worse, Maureen grabbed a plate of roasted pork from the table and sat herself directly beside Nyxara, practically glowing with excitement as she began feeding her small pieces like she was tending to royalty.

“To extend her selfishness,” I muttered under my breath, watching the scene unfold before me, “she even stole my wife.”

Maureen held out a piece of pork toward Nyxara’s mouth with dramatic care.

“Ahhh…” she said playfully.

Nyxara leaned forward slightly, accepting the bite without hesitation.

“Aww… this is so soft, Luna,” Nyxara hummed dramatically, closing her eyes in exaggerated delight. “You cook better every time.”

Maureen beamed proudly.

Actually beamed.

Like she had just received the highest honor known to existence.

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

Jealousy crept in before I could stop it.

“Maureen,” I called calmly.

She didn’t respond.

Did not even look at me.

Instead, she reached for another piece of pork and fed Nyxara again.

“Try this one,” she said cheerfully. “This part is even better.”

Nyxara leaned slightly against her shoulder like she owned the place.

And Maureen allowed it.

Allowed it.

“Maureen,” I called again, this time slightly louder.

Still nothing.

Ignored.

Completely.

My jaw tightened slowly.

Meanwhile, Eryx walked up beside me, watching the same disaster unfold with identical irritation written across his face.

“She abandoned us,” he muttered flatly.

Azrael joined seconds later, arms crossed tightly across his chest as he studied the scene with mild disgust.

“Both of them,” Azrael added calmly. “Left us standing here like decorations.”

I exhaled slowly through my nose.

“Unacceptable,” I muttered.

Eryx nodded once.

“Very unacceptable.”

Azrael tilted his head slightly. “We should retaliate.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And how do you suggest we do that?”

Eryx shrugged. “Hunting.”

Azrael nodded once in agreement. “Yes. Leave them here. Let them enjoy their little feeding ritual while we enjoy something useful.”

I glanced back one last time.

Maureen laughed brightly at something Nyxara whispered into her ear, completely lost in their conversation.

Not even a glance in my direction.

Unbelievable.

“Fine,”

I muttered. “Let them stay.”

Azrael smirked slightly.

Eryx rolled his shoulders.

And together, the three of us turned toward the forest.

“If they ask,” Eryx muttered casually, “we were never jealous.”

“I am not jealous,” I replied flatly.

Azrael snorted softly.