The sun stread gently through the curtains, casting a soft golden light across the bedroom. Anne and Damien sat side by side on the bed, leaning comfortably against the pillows. Between them, Anne held her phone, scrolling through photos and videos of Ryan from over the years.
Damien’s eyes were glued to the screen, watching in wonder. A newborn Ryan, tiny and swaddled in soft blankets, his little face scrunched up in sleep. Then, a series of pictures showing his first smiles, his chubby hands reaching out, and the way his blue eyes glead with curiosity and innocence.
Anne smiled softly, the mories flooding back. "He was such a quiet baby. Rarely cried, just watched everything around him like he could understand everything."
Damien’s expression softened as he watched a video of Ryan crawling for the first ti, his little hands and knees propelling him awkwardly across the floor as Anne cheered in the background.
"Look at him," Damien murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "So determined, even back then."
Anne glanced at Damien, noting the wonder in his eyes. This was the first ti she had really shown him these monts—the milestones he had missed during Ryan’s early years. It felt bittersweet to share them now.
Another video played—Ryan’s first steps. Anne’s laughter echoed through the room as Ryan stumbled towards her, his tiny arms outstretched, his legs wobbly but determined. Damien’s hand tightened on the bed spread as he watched, his jaw clenching slightly.
"I can’t believe I missed this," he whispered, his voice barely audible. His gaze remained fixed on the screen, but there was a heaviness in his eyes.
Anne paused the video, her hand resting gently on his arm. "You’re here now," she said softly. "That’s what matters."
Damien let out a slow breath, shaking his head. "I know... but I regret it, Anne. I regret missing his early years—all those firsts that I’ll never get back." His voice wavered, the weight of his words hanging between them. "I should have been there for him. For you."
Anne’s heart ached as she listened to him. She could hear the pain and the regret that lingered beneath the surface of his calm exterior. She hadn’t expected him to react this way, though she understood. It wasn’t just the milestones that Damien had missed. It was the bond, the connection that ford in those early years. And no matter how much ti they spent together now, he couldn’t turn back the clock.
"He asked about his dad when he started school," Anne said quietly, her thumb absentmindedly tracing the edge of the phone. "I told him that his dad loved him very much, but he had to go away."
Damien’s eyes flicked to her, his expression a mixture of gratitude and guilt. "I didn’t even know... I didn’t know what I was missing, and that makes it even worse."
Anne set the phone down on the bed and turned to face him fully. "You couldn’t have known," she said gently, her hand resting on his. "I made the decision to leave, to keep Ryan hidden. I did what I thought was best for him. But you’re here now and Ryan adores you. You’re his father, Damien. He’ll grow up with you by his side, and that’s what matters."
Damien’s gaze dropped to their hands, his thumb brushing over her knuckles.
Anne squeezed his hand. "You’re going to be here for everything else. You’ll be the one to guide him as he grows, to teach him about his heritage, to help him beco the wolf he’s ant to be."
For a long mont, they sat in silence, the soft hum of the outside world filtering through the window. Damien leant down, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, his arms wrapping around her in a gesture of comfort and reassurance. Anne closed her eyes, letting herself sink into the warmth of the embrace.
"Thank you for showing this," he said, his voice quieter now. "Even if it hurts... I’m glad I got to see it."
Anne smiled faintly, picking up the phone again. "There’s more," she said, scrolling to another video. "You haven’t seen him at two years old yet. That’s when he started climbing everything. I couldn’t keep him still for more than five seconds."
Damien chuckled softly, a bit of light returning to his eyes. "I think I’m ready for it," he said, though there was still a wistful edge to his tone.
As the next video played, Anne rested her head against Damien’s shoulder once more, feeling the warmth between them grow.
******************************************
Emily strolled down the streets of town, her eyes wide with curiosity as she took in the sights. She had been aning to explore for a while now, and with the sunny afternoon stretching out before her, it felt like the perfect ti. The town had a charming, rustic feel to it, with small shops lining the streets, flowers blooming in window boxes, and locals bustling about. It was peaceful, but lively in its own quiet way.
As she passed by a small market stall, a burst of colour caught her eye—apples, plump and shiny, stacked high in a wooden crate. A handso guy, with a rugged look, stood behind the stall, polishing an apple as if it were the most important job in the world.
"Good afternoon, miss. Looking for sothing sweet?" His voice had a playful edge to it, and Emily’s face flushed almost instantly. She cleared her throat, stepping closer to inspect the apples.
"I—uh, I just need a few apples," she said, trying to sound casual.
"Well, you’ve co to the right place. Best apples in town. But you know," he added with a wink, "they say an apple a day keeps the doctor away... unless the doctor’s as cute as you. Then maybe we’ll need to rethink that advice."
Emily’s blush deepened.
Really? Was he actually flirting with her?
"Uh, I’ll just take these," she said, fumbling for her purse. The guy’s grin widened.
"Sure thing, sweetheart. That’ll be four dollars. But if you smile for , I might just knock off a dollar." He flashed her a wink, and Emily, despite herself, couldn’t help but let out a soft, embarrassed laugh.
She handed him the money, took her apples, and mumbled a quick thank-you before practically fleeing the stall. God, why did she always get so flustered around attractive n?
As she walked further, she found herself standing in front of a quaint little school building. The sign out front proudly proclaid it as Riverbend Elentary. A small smile tugged at her lips as she looked at it. Maybe I could get a teaching job here, she thought. The idea had crossed her mind more than once since she’d arrived in town. She missed teaching.
And now that she was settling in, it might be the perfect ti to put down so roots.
She made a ntal note to enquire about it later, then continued her walk, humming softly to herself as she made her way towards the lake. The path was quiet, shaded by trees, and the gentle sound of the water lapping against the shore filled the air. It was a peaceful walk... until sothing caught her attention.
She stopped in her tracks, her brow furrowing. Was soone following her? She glanced over her shoulder but saw nothing. The trees rustled gently, but there was no sign of movent. She shook her head, telling herself not to be paranoid, and kept walking.
But the feeling wouldn’t go away. She heard the faintest crunch of leaves behind her, and her heart skipped a beat. Okay, this is definitely weird.
Emily turned sharply and called out, "Chris, is that you?"
There was a mont of silence before, sure enough, Chris sheepishly erged from behind a tree.
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