Side Story 2

Jaselyn's POV

I took his hand, and he pulled me close, holding me from behind as we swayed gently to the music. His lips brushed my ear as he whispered, “You’re beautiful, you know that? Even after everything, you’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. And I’m the luckiest man alive to have you.”

Tears pricked my eyes, but they weren’t tears of sadness this time. They were tears of happiness, of gratitude. “Rion… you don’t know how much that means to me.”

He kissed my neck softly. “You mean everything to me, Jas.”

Suddenly, the music stopped, and a projector flickered on. I turned to see a slideshow of pictures—our memories together. Photos of us when we first arrived at the Pack, a few of the whole family, some from the day of our mating ceremony, which also doubled with the coronation, pictures of us as Alpha and Luna at a few events, including one of us at the Peace Ball. Pictures of me with the twins when they were born and finally, pictures of us with Luka and Mika. It was overwhelming, and I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer.

Rion noticed my tears and quickly wiped them away, concern etched on his face. “Are you okay? Did I—”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “These are happy tears. Thank you, Rion. Thank you for everything, it's so wonderful.”

He smiled, relief flooding his features. “The surprises aren’t over yet.”

He led me to a chair and gestured for the maids to bring over some nail polish. I raised an eyebrow, baffled. “What’s going on?”

He knelt beside me, holding up the nail polish. “I want to do your nails.”

I laughed, touched by the gesture. “Rion, you don’t have to. You’ve already done so much.”

He grinned. “I know, but I want to. I know it’s a small gesture, but I hope it helps you feel beautiful when the bad thoughts come.”

I nodded, my heart swelling with love for him. “Okay. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

As he painted my nails—pink and green, my favorite colors—I couldn’t help but smile at the concentration on his face. His brow was furrowed, and his tongue poked out a little, clearly focused on the task at hand. It was cute, so fucking endearing that I just wanted to kiss him.

“Where did you learn to do this?” I asked, curious and amused.

He glanced up, a sheepish grin on his face. “I’ve never done it before, to be honest. I watched a few tutorials while you were sleeping and… practiced on the maids.”

I laughed. “The maids let you practice on them?”

He chuckled, still focused on my nails. “I didn't want to use my authority as the Alpha so I asked them and they were happy to help. In fact, Mari was way too eager. I'll admit she gave great advice. But, I have to warn you, I’m still not very good. These might come out looking like something a toddler scribbled on.”

I smiled softly, touched by his effort. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll cherish them no matter what.”

When he finished, I looked down at my nails. They weren’t perfect, far from it. The lines were a little messy, and some polish had smudged onto my skin. But despite the imperfections, they were beautiful. Beautiful in a quirky, endearing way, just like Rion.

“I love them,” I said, and I meant it. “Thank you.”

He smiled, visibly relieved. “I’m glad you do.”

Afterward, Rion suggested we shower together. I hadn’t realized how much I needed that—the warmth of the water, the feeling of his gentle hands washing away the stress and exhaustion that had weighed me down for days. It wasn’t sexual, just intimate. He held me under the water, washing my hair, massaging my sore muscles, and I leaned into him, feeling safe, feeling loved.

Once we were both clean, we dressed and returned to the bedroom. I was feeling lighter, more at ease than I had in days. Rion wrapped his arms around me as we settled into bed, his fingers tracing gentle circles on my back.

“Where are the twins?” I asked, my voice soft with drowsiness.

He chuckled. “I ‘hired’ a doula.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “A doula?”

“Well… not exactly. They’re with my adoptive mum, Kathleen,” he confessed. “She’s watching them for a few days until you’re feeling stronger. You’ve been overwhelmed, and I want you to take time for yourself.”

I relaxed at the mention of Kathleen. She is like family to me now, and I know the twins are in good hands. “I’ll miss them,” I admitted, feeling a pang of guilt. “But… I think you’re right. I do need a break.”

He kissed my forehead, his lips lingering against my skin. “We’ll visit them every day, but you’re not allowed to do more than hold them for a bit. Deal?”

I smiled, nodding. “Deal.”

“Good,” he murmured, his arms tightening around me. “I love you, Jas. You’re doing an incredible job as a mother. But you don’t have to do it all alone.”

Tears welled up in my eyes again, but this time they were tears of gratitude. “I love you too, Rion. Thank you for everything.”

We lay there in the quiet, wrapped in each other’s arms, and for the first time in days, I felt truly at peace. The weight of motherhood, the stress, the fear—they all seemed to melt away in his embrace. And as I drifted off to sleep, I knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, we would face them together.