Chapter 345 345
Sabine POV
Delphine took one look at me seated across from her mum at the breakfast table and immediately decided that wouldn’t do. Within seconds, she had me dragged outside for what she declared was girl time.
I was pushing her on the swing now, the chains creaking softly as she chattered on about Roland and how baby Frédéric had developed a habit of waking at all hours of the night. It wasn’t long before Dominique joined us, and soon I was rotating between them pushing one swing, then the other until Caroline eventually stepped outside and offered to help.
I liked this. Being with the children felt easy, untainted. The conversations were innocent, filled with small joys and trivial dramas that somehow mattered immensely to them. Through their stories, I learned pieces of their world, their routines, their worries. They held no resentment toward me. No suspicion. Only affection.
To them, I was simply Auntie Sab.
Didier sat a short distance away, his presence heavy even in stillness. His gaze never left the four of us as laughter bubbled up between pushes. He perched on the edge of a sun lounger, fingers rubbing at his temples, tension etched into his posture. He hated being here. I could see it in the way his shoulders stayed tight, in how exposed he seemed beneath the open sky.
“He looks uncomfortable…” I murmured under my breath to Caroline as she pushed Dominique higher at his enthusiastic request. “How is he?”
“He wants to leave,” she replied quietly. “He wants us to move again.”
I pushed Delphine higher, matching her brother’s height as she giggled, determined to beat him. “Where would you go?”
Caroline exhaled softly. “I don’t know. Maybe overseas. He’s always wanted that.”
“If that’s what you want, I could talk to Damien,” I offered. “See if he can help”
“No.”
Didier was on his feet now, striding toward us, his voice sharp enough to cut. “No, Sab. Enough.”
I stopped pushing Delphine, letting the swing slow. “Didier…” I sighed.
“I said enough.”
Before I could respond, a familiar, unwelcome cheer cut through the tension.
“Morning, my not-so-happy campers.”
Gilles strolled out, coffee mug in hand, that infuriatingly playful smirk already in place. He had a talent no, a gift for appearing at exactly the wrong moment and somehow making everything worse.
“Why are you still here?” I snapped, scowling at him.
“I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“And get paid,” Didier shot back as he guided Dominique toward the climbing frame, staying close as his son began scaling it with reckless confidence.
“Well,” Gilles chuckled, taking a long sip of coffee, “that too.”
I wanted to lash out. To swear. To scream. But the children’s faces grounded me, reminded me to keep myself together.
“I feel stupid,” I said quietly. “So gullible.”
“Yes,” Gilles agreed far too easily. “You are. But no more than these two.” He nodded toward Didier and Caroline. “They didn’t even know you were a hybrid. How did you manage it?”
“Manage what?” I frowned.
“How did you stay so cold all the time? You were always freezing.” His eyes sharpened. “How do you hide her?”
“Hide who?”
“Your wolf.”
A tense silence settled as Caroline looked between us. “You do have a wolf… right?”
Shit.
“I” I cleared my throat, bracing myself to answer when footsteps interrupted us.
Maurice and Damien stepped outside, instantly drawing every gaze.
“Dominique, down,” Damien ordered as Dominique reached the top of the climbing frame.
Didier had been spotting him the entire time, so the command surprised me. Still, he lifted Dominique easily and set him back on the ground.
“But, Dad” Dominique protested.
“No ‘but, Dad.’ You haven’t even had breakfast.” He glanced at Delphine. “Or you, princess.”
Both children groaned but obeyed, trudging back inside.
Once they were gone, Maurice reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head.
And I watched.
No perved.
Sunlight spilled across his bare skin, highlighting every carved muscle, every line of power. His body looked like it belonged beneath the sun, as though it absorbed the heat and reflected it back.
Maybe it was my imagination, but warmth bloomed low in my core sharp and sudden. Too familiar. Like those dreams I used to have.
Except this time, he wasn’t a dream.
He was real. Standing there. Tangible.
Touchable.
Lickable.
Stop it, I scolded myself.
Slowly, his gaze lifted to mine. A knowing, sultry smirk curved his lips, as if he could feel the weight of my stare feel the thoughts I was desperately trying to rein in.
I swallowed, heat flooding my cheeks.
“What are you doing?” Gilles grunted.
“Shifting,” Damien answered calmly as he walked away. “Our wolves want to meet yours. You can wait inside. I’ll settle the bill when I get back.”
My attention snapped to Didier and Caroline as they began removing layers of clothing, preparing to shift.
Panic surged.
Were they expecting me to shift too?
“I think I’ll help Aurélie with the kids,” I said quickly, already heading toward the back doors.
“Bee?”
Maurice’s voice followed me.
I pretended not to hear.
I wasn’t ready. Not to explain. Not to confess what I’d been doing what I couldn’t do.
He wouldn’t understand.
They were gone for hours.
Hours.
Surely they had ventured beyond the family lands there was no way Damien and Aurélie owned that much territory.
I couldn’t settle. Anxiety gnawed at me. Questions would come why Didier and Caroline hadn’t seen me shift, why I’d refused to join them. From their perspective, my wolf should have been just as restless as theirs, just as desperate after six months of confinement.
These lands were safe. Perfect.
Why would I say no?
I was curled on the sofa with Delphine when the thoughts became too loud. She was explaining very seriously that a new princess movie had been released since they last saw me, along with a list of cartoon shorts I’d apparently missed over the past six months.
I even offered to hold Frédéric so Aurélie could shower and catch up on emails. He settled easily in my arms. Even Dominique commented on how Frédéric cried constantly with Damien.
Gilles watched me from the corner of the room, his gaze never wavering. Every time I met his eyes, daring him to speak, Delphine would distract me with a doll shoved proudly into my face.
Laughter echoed from the kitchen eventually familiar voices returning. Frédéric stirred in my arms as Damien entered, squirming just slightly.
Odd.
“Where’s Aurélie?” Damien asked, his eyes scanning the room before landing on Gilles sulking in the corner.
“She’s taking some time to herself,” I replied softly, rocking Frédéric back to sleep. “I said I’d watch the kids.”
“I’ll shower and take Frédéric off you.”
“No rush,” I said gently. “I’m happy to hold him.”
Damien nodded and headed upstairs.
Maurice followed him partway into the room, his attention flicking briefly to Gilles before he closed the distance between us. He bent down, studying Frédéric with quiet focus.
“It suits you,” he murmured.
“Oh really?” I laughed softly. Typical man.
“Can I use the shower in your room?” he asked. “The other one’s shared.”
“Of course.”
“Thanks.”
He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, his thumb brushing along my jaw. A trail of tingles followed his touch long after he pulled away.
“It really does suit you.”