Chapter 86: Gentle Glow
The cottage was quiet now, save for the soft crackle of the hearth and the rhythmic breathing of her boys. Meredith gently tucked the blanket around Marcus, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. He stirred slightly but didn't wake.
His small fingers clutched the fabric of his shirt. Her weary gaze fell to his temple, where lay the bandage she'd carefully applied.
Slowly, she peeled it away, her heart skipping a beat. The wound that had bled so freely just hours ago was almost gone. Only a faint, silvery line remained, as if weeks—not hours—had passed.
Meredith sat back and sighed, her hands trembling slightly. She stared at Marcus, then at the other two boys nestled close to him.
Could it be?
The thought had crossed her mind before. The truth was, she had lied to herself, thinking that they would be normal. That they were humans, after all. But now, with this sign before her, it was difficult to ignore.
Her boys were different.
She was different.
"We're werewolves," she whispered to herself.
The word echoed in her mind. She swallowed hard as her throat tightened.
Should I tell them? Should I prepare them for the truth of what they might become? Or was it better to shield them from it, to lie to them? To let them live as normal a life as possible for as long as they could?
The questions lingered like a shadow over her, too heavy for this quiet moment. But a soft rustle drew her back to her senses. Daemond shifted in his sleep.
His small face scrunched slightly as he murmured, “Brave wolf… Save Mama… and Papa…”
Meredith's chest tightened. She leaned closer, her hand hovering over his cheek. She wondered what he dreamed about. Did he somehow feel it in his bones, in his very being?
As she pondered, a faint whimper made her glance toward Ksaver. His eyes fluttered open. He blinked up at her.
“Mama… are you happy… with us?”
Meredith's breath caught. She leaned down, cupping his face.
“Oh, Ksaver,” she said, wondering why he asked her that. “I'm happier than I ever thought I could be. You and your brothers are my entire world.”
Ksaver's lips curled into a sleepy smile, his hand reaching up to clutch hers. “Good… ’cause we love you, Mama. Lots…”
His eyes drifted shut again, his grip loosening as he fell back into his dreams.
Meredith stayed there for a long moment. Her heart swelled with love so fierce it almost hurt. She kissed Ksaver's forehead, then Daemond's and Marcus’s.
“And your fathers love you all the same,” she whispered.
The fire burned low, and the moonlight streamed through the window. Meredith rose to her feet, wrapping her arms around herself as she gazed out into the moonlit forest.
The stars above glittered like tiny diamonds, and the cool night seeped in through the cracks of the old wooden frame.
She could hear the faint rustle of the leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl, but her thoughts drowned out the sounds of the night.
“Five years,” she murmured.
Five long years had passed since she'd left it all behind. Since she'd run away from the life she once knew. The love she once had.
Her heart ached at the thought, and her fingers tightened against her arms.
What had become of them? Were they happy now that I was gone? Did they even remember me?
Her mind conjured blurred images of Damien, Xavier, and Magnus. Each face brought a fresh wave of sadness, and she wondered if they had moved on.
Had they found another mate? Someone stronger? Someone more beautiful than me?
She swallowed hard, the lump in her throat growing heavier. She could almost picture them with another—someone who could offer them everything she couldn't.
Someone who hadn't run. Someone who stayed for them. Someone who fought with them.
The thought of them being happy without her should have brought comfort, but instead, it shattered her.
Warm tears blurred her eyes as she clung to the windowsill for support.
“Damien… Xavier… Magnus…” she whispered. “I'm sorry…”
Their names left her lips like a prayer and a plea to the Moon Goddess. Her knees buckled, and she slid to the ground, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.
“I'm tired,” she murmured. “I'm so tired… I miss you… I miss all of you so damn much.”
Her tears fell freely now, soaking the hem of her dress. The emotions she had kept buried for so long finally surged to the surface, refusing to be ignored any longer.
“I wish…” she began. “I wish I could go back. But I can't. I can't. I shouldn't.”
She shook her head, her hands gripping her hair as if trying to pull herself back together.
“It's over now,” she whispered to herself, the words bitter on her tongue. “I fucking chose this…”
The house was silent except for her cries. The weight of her emotions left her drained, and for a long time, she stayed there, huddled by the window, letting the tears come.
Eventually, her sobs quieted, and she wiped her face with trembling hands. The moonlight cast a soft glow over her, illuminating her tear-streaked cheeks.
“I hope you're all happy,” she whispered to the night. “I hope you've found peace, wherever you are. Even if…”
She took a shaky breath, the words catching in her throat. “Even if it's without me.”
And with that, she closed her eyes.
After all this time, her heart still yearned for the mates she could never forget.
Suddenly, she found herself in a familiar clearing, surrounded by the scent of pine and the gentle rustle of leaves. She felt soft arms wrap around her.
She turned, and there they were—Damien, Xavier, and Magnus.
“We forgive you, Meredith,” Damien whispered. “We've missed you so much.”
Xavier's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he pulled her closer. “You were always in our hearts.”
Magnus's grip tightened as he kissed her forehead. “Welcome home, Little Wolf.”
Meredith's heart swelled. She buried her face in their embrace, feeling their warmth surrounding her.
Then, she felt smaller arms wrap around her legs. She looked down to see her boys. Their faces brightened as they hugged their fathers.
“We're all together now, Mama,” Daemond said.
Ksaver nodded. “We love you, Mama.”
Marcus reached up, his small hand gripping hers. “Thank you, Mama.”
Tears streamed down Meredith's cheeks. She held all of them close, feeling the greatest moment she had longed for.
Finally, she felt at peace.
“I love you all,” she whispered, as the moonlight bathed them in its gentle glow.