Chapter 126

Chapter 126
Amara’s POV.

A month had passed since the bloody battle, and Axel and Natasha had finally gone to glory. Most of the loose ends had been tied up. Everything was looking bright for the pack after the turmoil we had been through.

Damien had graciously offered Phoenix’s clan a property within the Dark Crescent Pack’s territory to give them their own space. They had declined joining any pack as they thought they were way too different from others.

Astra, Max, and Layla were planning to start a business in the capital.Layla had chosen to settle down here permanently, although I could sense something fishy between her and someone in the pack. Perhaps it was her mate, yet she refused to disclose their identity.

It was unusual to have a mate who wasn’t a wolf. Most werewolves’ partners were hybrids, being half-wolf and half-another creature. Layla, however, was a witch-human hybrid. Maybe she didn’t want matters to get complicated.

Turning my gaze to the garden, I witnessed our children gleefully playing. Samael stood beside them, his eyes filled with adoration as he watched them. The sight brought a genuine smile to my face.

In our previous life, we were unable to experience the simple joy of smiling and laughing without the weight of tomorrow’s uncertainties burdening us. Somehow, Selena’s curse had turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it allowed us to appreciate the little things we had missed before.

Taking in a deep breath, I shifted my attention to Masha, Phoenix, Enna, and even Remi, who were gathered together, chatting and enjoying their drinks. They teased and laughed with each other. 

I couldn’t help but chuckle as Enna playfully punched Phoenix. If they were to claim they were meant for each other, I wouldn’t doubt it for a moment. The Moon Goddess herself would be hard-pressed to deny their destiny. These two were as stubbornly connected as ever.

My eyes then landed on Count who was quietly reading on the side. He seemed content, finding his own pleasure in solitude. A soft chuckle escaped my lips. 

Some things never change.

In my peripheral vision, I caught sight of my sister, Amelia, scowling at Henry, who sheepishly scratched his head. He knew better than to argue so he endured his wife’s ire. 

Just a week ago, we found out the news of my sister’s pregnancy, so it wasn’t surprising he was grumpy, and his wife’s unstoppable cravings were driving him crazy. Elena, Apollo, Dianne, and Ryder were amusedly watching the two. They teased poor Henry, who scowled at them in return.

Odessa and Simon weren’t here at the moment. They had gone out to the market, or so they claimed. But I knew they were stealing some time for themselves. They were probably on a private date away from prying eyes.

I leaned back on the sofa and absently traced my dry lips, gazing off into the distance. The atmosphere was loud yet peaceful for me.

Every member of our pack seemed happy. The conflicts and mysteries that once plagued us had been resolved. Although I knew we would face many more challenges in the coming years, I hoped that our family would remain intact forever.

Lost in my thoughts, I was slightly startled when someone settled down beside me, their hand tenderly caressing my head. Instantly, I calmed down when I recognized his scent.

I glanced at my beloved husband. "Are you done?" I asked, referring to his meeting with the Royal Council.

Having left early in the morning, he had just returned from his meeting in the afternoon. A subtle smile played on his lips as he nodded in response.

"How’s your day been?" he asked, returning the question.

"It’s been nice. I’ve been enjoying watching everyone here," I gestured to the pack members present in the pack house, as we had decided to hang out.

He glanced around and nodded approvingly before focusing back on me.

"That’s wonderful. Unlike me, I’ve had a frustrating day," he complained, sounding like a child.

I shook my head and adjusted my position on the sofa before reaching for his hair and running my fingers through it. I grinned at him, which annoyed him, but it only made him more attractive to me.

"Speaking of which…" I began, trailing off before continuing, "Did you find a good place for our surprise vacation?"

He nodded. "Yes, but my bank account is trembling," he answered, pretending to be penniless.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh please, don’t even try that. You’re not just wealthy from your businesses, but also from your old ancestral money. That won’t work on me," I teased.

He chuckled and pulled me closer. "You know me too well," he admitted, a satisfied smile gracing his handsome face.

I snuggled against him and rolled my eyes again. He let out a small laugh, which made me laugh too. He rarely laughed, but when he did, it was enchanting. I couldn’t help but find him irresistible, whether he was smiling or not.

"Back to the topic," he steered the conversation, leaning in closer. "Everything is all set. We just need to decide on the date."

"Do you think it would be nice to celebrate his birthday here?" I asked softly.

He immediately understood what I wanted to say.

He shrugged his shoulders. "It’s your call, honey. Anything works for me, as long as our family is happy," he replied.

I sniffed, hastily wiping the side of my nose with the back of my hand. I felt like crying because of too much happiness. He stared at my face and chuckled at my reaction. He must have found me amusing.

"You always cry when you’re happy, but give me that mischievous glare when you’re up to no good," he jested.

I arched my left eyebrow. "Take it or leave it," I shot back in a sassy tone.

He shook his head and hugged me again. "I’ll take it anyway," he replied, and I secretly smiled.

Good.

"By the way, I almost forgot," he began, as if recalling something. "What do you think we should do about the Wilson’s Pack? Should we take them in?"

I suddenly considered the situation. Right. Their Alpha and the rest of the family were deceased, including Axel. This meant that if they didn’t find a deserving Alpha or leader soon, they would become rogues.

I shrugged, unsure. "Either way is fine. They don’t appear to be causing any trouble, though."

He laughed at my response. "Fair enough."

I chuckled as he rested his head on me. He wasn’t too heavy, so I didn’t mind. But our moment didn’t last long because two children squeezed themselves between us. Damien furrowed his brow, looking at our pups.

"I can’t believe it. I only show affection once in a while, and it gets ruined," he complained through our mind link, which made me laugh.

He glared at me for laughing at his misery, while Lily innocently looked at me.

"What’s funny, Mom?" she asked.

I glanced at Damien, who was scowling and staring at me, causing me to laugh again, which irritated him even more.

I sighed and smiled at Lily. "Nothing, sweetheart. Mommy is just happy," I replied.

She smiled widely, warming my heart. "Me too. We can play together again," she said, briefly pouting.

She pointed at Daniel, who was sitting on Damien’s lap, reading quietly.

"But brother and Uncle Simon are teaming up against me," she complained.

I pinched her cheek. "Why do you think that?" I asked, playing along.

"I overheard them planning to play baseball without me," she snorted.

I glanced at Daniel, who chimed in even though he wasn’t looking at his sister. We were just observing them. Their personalities were different from each other, but that’s what made them unique.

"It’s because we’re worried you might get hurt. Baseball is usually seen as a game for boys, and we just want to keep you safe," our son explained to his sister, clarifying why she wasn’t included in the game.

Lily’s lip quivered before she turned to me with pleading eyes. I smiled at her, anticipating her request.

"Is it true, Mom, that the game isn’t suitable for me?" she innocently asked.

I gently smiled at her and caressed her soft cheek. "Well, in a way, yes. You’re still quite young for a game like that, sweetheart. The ball could hurt you," I cleared up.

She seemed to ponder for a moment. "Then, can we arrange our own game?" she requested hopefully.

Who was I to refuse? She was just too adorable.

"She didn’t inherit from you," Damien remarked.

I shot him a glare, feeling my blood boil. "Shut up!" I snapped.

I wanted to beat this bastard. Was he saying that I wasn’t cute? How dare he belittle me like that? I rolled my eyes, choosing to focus my attention on Lily instead.

"What game do you want to play? Mommy will help," I offered.

Lily’s face lit up, and she even clapped her hands together in excitement.

"A cooking game!" she suggested.

I smiled at her. "Hmm… How about I teach you how to bake a cake?"

Her eyes widened in delight. "Really?" she exclaimed.

I nodded, my heart swelling with love for my daughter. She threw herself at me, wrapping her small arms around me in a tight hug.

"I would love that! Thank you, Mom," she said.

Damien lovingly stroked Lily’s hair while planting a gentle kiss on Daniel’s head, who was seated on his lap. Our son didn’t mind at all. Instead, he leaned into his father. 

I smiled in content as I watched them. This was the life I had always dreamed of ever since.