Seraphina’s POV
I woke up to silence.
This was different. Softer. Warr.
Ho.
The thought hit before I could stop it. Before I could remind myself that this wasn’t my ho anymore. That I’d given up the right to call it that three years ago.
But my body knew. Recognized the sheets. The mattress. The way morning light filtered through curtains I’d picked out myself a lifeti ago.
I kept my eyes closed. Just for another mont. Pretending.
Then I felt it.
Weight against my side. Small. Warm. Breathing softly.
Lily.
My daughter was curled against like she belonged there. Her small hand fisted in my shirt. Her face peaceful in sleep.
My chest tightened so hard I couldn’t breathe.
Three years. Three years I’d missed of this. Of waking up to her little face. Of feeling her warmth. Of being her mother.
I turned my head slowly. Carefully. Didn’t want to wake her.
And froze.
Damien was there.
Slumped in a chair he’d pulled up to the bedside. His upper body collapsed forward onto the mattress. His head resting on his folded arms. Fast asleep.
He’d stayed. All night. Watching over us.
Over .
Sothing twisted in my chest. Sharp. Painful. I couldn’t na it. Didn’t want to.
I shifted slightly. Tried to sit up without disturbing Lily.
Damien’s eyes snapped open imdiately.
His hand shot out. Grabbed my wrist. Not hard. But firm. Desperate.
"Where are you going?" The words ca out rough. Panicked. Still half-asleep.
"Damien." I kept my voice low. "I’m just—"
"Don’t." His grip tightened. "Don’t run again. Please."
"I’m not running." I looked down at his hand on my wrist. "I just need to wash up."
He stared at for a long mont. Like he didn’t believe . Like he expected to vanish the second he let go.
Then slowly—so slowly—he released my wrist.
I stood up carefully. Lily stirred but didn’t wake. Just curled into the warm spot I’d left behind.
Damien stood too. His movents were stiff. Sore from sleeping in that chair all night.
I walked toward the bathroom. Felt his presence behind . Too close.
I stopped. Turned around.
"Why are you following ?"
"Because." His jaw clenched. "Because I need to know you’re really here."
The raw honesty in his voice made my throat close up.
"I’m not going anywhere," I said quietly.
His eyes searched my face. Looking for the lie. The crack. The mont I’d bolt.
"You promise?"
"I promise."
Sothing shifted in his expression. Relief so profound it was almost painful to witness.
"Okay." He took a step back. "Okay."
I turned toward the bathroom again. Made it two steps before his voice stopped .
"Sera?"
"Yeah?"
"Will you..." He paused. Swallowed hard. "Will you stay? Here? With us? Like... like before?"
The question hung in the air. Heavy. Loaded with three years of longing.
I thought about saying no. About explaining all the reasons why this couldn’t work. Why we couldn’t just pick up where we left off. Why everything was too broken to fix.
But I looked at Lily sleeping peacefully in our bed. Thought about Adrian’s face when he’d run to in the rain. Thought about three years of running and where it had gotten .
Nowhere. Just broken and alone and fighting for scraps in underground rings.
"Yes." The word ca out barely above a whisper. "Yes, I’ll stay."
Damien’s whole body sagged. Like he’d been holding himself together through sheer force of will and I’d just cut the strings.
"Really?"
I nodded. "Really."
He moved fast. Crossed the distance between us in two strides. His arms wrapped around . Pulled against his chest so tight I could barely breathe.
"Thank you." The words were muffled against my hair.
I stood there. Let him hold . Felt the tremors running through his body.
This wasn’t fixed. We weren’t fixed. There was so much damage. So many wounds that hadn’t even begun to heal.
But maybe—maybe—we could start.
I walked into the bathroom and closed the door.
Leaned against it for a mont. Just breathing.
I turned on the water. Let it run hot. Splashed my face until my skin burned.
When I erged twenty minutes later, Damien was still there. Standing by the window. Staring out at nothing.
He turned when he heard . His eyes swept over . Checking. Making sure I was real.
"I made coffee," he said. "And there’s food downstairs if you’re hungry."
"Thanks."
Awkward silence fell between us.
This was going to be hard. Living together. Pretending to be normal. Acting like everything was fine when nothing was fine.
But we had to try. For the kids.
"Damien?" My voice ca out steadier than I felt. "I need you to know sothing."
He tensed. "What?"
"I’m staying. I ant that. But..." I took a breath. "I’m not going to just sit around the house being useless. Being worried about. Being a burden."
His expression shifted. Guarded. "What are you saying?"
"I want to help." The words ca out firm. Final. "With the pack. With whatever you’re dealing with. I can fight. You’ve seen that. And I’m not going to waste away in this house while you handle everything alone."
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