Home Again

RAISEL – POV

Soren looked worn out, eyes heavy with something deeper than exhaustion.

“I thought I killed him,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I really believed it. But then Killian and I reviewed the video… and it showed more.”

I leaned in, heart pounding. “What else killed Alaric?”

He nodded, eyes clouded. “A sniper. Hired by Joshua. The plan was to kill him and frame me.”

My hand flew to my mouth. I gasped. “Oh my god…”

“So technically, I’m not a criminal,” Soren said quietly. “But Viktor... he did die by my hands.”

I blinked at him, stunned. “Mathew left you?”

“He had to,” Soren said. “After I showed him the evidence… Killian tracked down the assassin, who confessed everything. Mathew

had no choice. He had to arrest me. But Viktor’s death… that part is still a mystery. Killian covered things back then.”

I couldn’t hold back any longer. I wrapped my arms around him, trembling.

“You’re finally home,” I whispered against his shoulder.

“I am,” he said softly, wrapping me in his arms. “Please don’t cry, Raisel. I’m here.”

And he was. Soren—my Soren—was back, and with him, a warmth that melted all the cold I'd carried. I nestled into his arms, letting

that comfort wash over me. I’d waited for this moment. Prayed for it.

We slowly pulled apart, our faces still close. His eyes were warm, full of something soft and safe. And when his lips brushed mine, I

felt myself melt again. The kiss was gentle, but held back hunger—restrained, controlled. When we pulled away, he was still

watching me.

“You came just in time,” I whispered, half-teasing. “Were you spying on me?”

Soren smirked and pulled me into bed with him. Through the baby monitor, I could hear Hazel and Fiora chatting with Aurelia.

“Yes. Bad habits die hard,” he whispered.

“Seriously, though. Tell me.”

“Rocher told me you were in the hospital. He tracked your phone.”

I curled into him, heart full. “I’m just glad you came. I never thought you would. I wanted you here, beside me, through this whole

journey. Even though your letter said you were happy about the baby… I still felt—”

“—like I wasn’t really with you,” he finished for me.

I nodded. “Yeah. I guess I was scared for nothing.”

But Soren’s expression shifted, his eyes distant.

“You weren’t wrong to feel that way,” he said quietly.

I pulled away just enough to look up at him. “What do you mean?”

“I was scared, Raisel,” he admitted. “When I found out you were pregnant… I panicked. I never felt loved by my parents. My

father… he hated me. I didn’t want to be like him. What if our child hates me too? What if I can’t break the cycle?”

I cupped his face, grounding him. “It’s okay. Even if you weren’t here… I always had a feeling it might go that way.”

He shook his head, voice calmer now. “That was back then. But as you kept sending those sonogram pictures… I started to feel ready. Like I could actually be a father. Be here—for our daughter, and for you.”

“Thank you… for being honest,” I whispered.

“No more secrets between us. No matter how bitter, we face it together,” he said.

I smiled and kissed him again. “We’re a team, Soren.”

His arms wrapped around me again as I rested my head on his chest. Exhaustion crept in—but just as I began to drift, Aurelia’s cry

came through the monitor.

I groaned, but smiled. Soren and I climbed out of bed together. When we stepped into Aurelia’s room, Hazel and Fiora looked at me helplessly.

“She’s pooping,” Hazel said, nose wrinkled.

I laughed. “Give her here.”

As I changed the diaper, three pairs of eyes watched every move like it was a life lesson.

“Aurelia, I’m your favorite aunt, right?” Hazel cooed.

“No way, she likes me best,” Fiora chimed in.

I chuckled. “She’s lucky to have both of you.”

Later that evening, Jace and Killian arrived to meet Aurelia. We had a small get-together at our place. Killian even cracked a smile

holding the baby—it felt like peace had finally found us.

Still, I noticed something off between Jace and Fiora. Some tension. Fiora seemed upset, and Jace was clearly clueless about why.

He was trying, though—his annoying kind of effort.

Soren stood beside me, looking more content than I’d seen him in ages.

“You look good,” I said, bumping my shoulder against his.

“What—do I usually not?” he teased.

“No, it’s just… you look relaxed. But there’s still something behind your eyes. Like a little fear.”

He nodded. “I feel calm. No gut warning, no lingering danger. Just peace.”

“I feel that too,” I whispered.

Killian stepped over, serious. “I need to talk to you both. Alone.”

We followed him into a quieter room. He handed Soren a folder.

“What’s this?” Soren asked, flipping through the papers, eyes widening. “You’re giving me back the company?”

Killian sighed. “Soren, I’m not your enemy.”

He glanced at me and smiled. I smiled back—he’d stood by both of us through everything.

“But why?” Soren asked.

Killian interrupted him gently. “Because I’m sick. Stage two cancer. I can’t keep traveling to New York for work anymore.”

I walked to him and hugged him tightly. “I’m so sorry, Killian. You don’t have to go through this alone. I’ll visit you in the UK, I promise.”

“Thank you, sister,” he whispered. Tears welled in my eyes, and he wiped them gently.

“I’ll be fine. I’m going to fight this. Stay alive for as long as I can.”

Soren stepped forward, eyes filled with emotion. “Thanks to you, I have my family. My daughter. Raisel. I never thought I’d say this… but I’m grateful.”

Killian gave him a brotherly hug. “And I never thought you’d trust me.”

“I do now,” Soren said, smiling.