Chapter 100
100
~Elara’s POV
The soft beeping of the machines, the faint smell of antiseptic, and the gentle hum of the hospital air-conditioning could have made the room feel cold and impersonal, but somehow, with Darlon by my side, it felt like home. He never left my side. Every time I shifted, his hand was there to steady me. Every time I blinked wearily, his gaze held mine, soft but unwavering, almost as if he was silently telling me that I had finally come back to him and that nothing in the world could hurt me now.
I laughed quietly to myself when I realized how much attention he paid to the small details. When I blinked too fast, he would cup my face. When I tried to stretch or move too quickly, he would adjust my blanket, tuck me in, or gently hold my wrist to slow me down. “You’re still weak, my Luna,” he said softly one time, brushing a damp strand of hair from my forehead. “I can’t let you push yourself p>
“I’m fine,” I murmured, trying to shrug off the gentle restraint, though I felt my heart lift at how tender he was. “Really p>
“No,” he said firmly, pressing his forehead against mine lightly. “You’re here, and that matters more than anything else. You rest, and I’ll handle the rest of the world for you p>
I had to laugh softly, because of course, he was already acting like the Alpha of the city even while sitting beside me in a hospital bed. “Even here?” I teased lightly, wiggling a little under his watchful gaze.
“Even here,” he replied with a small grin, brushing my hair back again. “No one touches what’s mine p>
The teasing continued, light and soft. I laughed quietly when he pulled the blanket tighter around me, saying, “You need to be cocooned. You are my Luna p>
“I think I can manage,” I said, trying to tease back, though my voice was weak.
“No,” he whispered firmly, leaning closer, his hands on my shoulders now. “I will manage everything until you are strong enough again p>
We talked softly, our words easy, playful even, and I realized just how much I had missed this simple intimacy. It was not just the grand, dangerous moments of life and death that had marked our bond; it was also these quiet, mundane moments that made love feel alive and warm. I felt his fingers brush mine as he adjusted the blanket, the smallest touches filling me with comfort I had almost forgotten existed.
Then, the next day, as he was adjusting a pillow and making sure I was settled properly, I noticed a small plaque on the wall near the window with his name engraved on it. “Wait… this hospital… it belongs to you?” I asked, staring at him, feeling a little shocked.
“Yes,” he said calmly, not looking up from tucking the blanket around me. “It is the best hospital in the city. I built it for everyone… but now, I want it for you p>
I blinked at him, trying to process his words. “For me? But I… I can’t take that, Darlon. It’s too much. It’s yours, not mine. You worked hard for this p>
He finally looked at me, his eyes soft but firm. “It is mine, yes,” he said quietly, “but it is yours too. Everything I am, everything I build, I build for you. You are my wife, my Luna, and nothing is ever too much if it is for you p>
I shook my head slowly, feeling overwhelmed by the gesture and the intensity of his words. “I can’t… I can’t accept it. I don’t want to take what is yours,” I said softly, my voice trembling a little.
His hand found mine again, fingers entwining with mine. “You’re not taking it from me,” he said gently. “You are part of it now. Part of everything I do. I want this to be our place, Luna, for you, for us p>
I looked into his eyes, feeling the quiet weight of centuries of love, protection, and devotion. I could see the truth in them, the same intensity that had carried him through everything to find me again. And though my pride and hesitation were strong, my heart ached to trust him, to accept that his love did not demand anything but our bond.
“Maybe… maybe one day,” I whispered, squeezing his hand back. “Not now. Not until I can stand beside you fully p>
He smiled, leaning down to kiss my forehead softly, letting his warmth settle into me. “Then we wait together,” he said, voice low.
Even when the nurses and doctors came to check on me, bowing respectfully and treating us with the utmost care, Darlon remained by my side. He whispered playful comments under his breath to make me laugh, and I responded, teasing him back. When they told us I could leave, he nodded thoughtfully, his hand still holding mine tightly, as if refusing to let go would keep the world in place for just a little longer.
Then, as the maids returned with more food, Darlon insisted on feeding me himself, ignoring my weak protests. “You need it,” he said softly, guiding a spoon gently to my lips. “And I want to do it p>
I sighed but allowed him, laughing softly despite myself, feeling a warmth and joy that I had thought lost forever. Each bite, each laugh, each whispered joke or gentle touch built a new memory, a new foundation for a life I had dreamed of but never thought I would have. With Darlon by my side, even a hospital room became a place of love, of hope, and of quiet, persistent happiness that had been waiting for us both for far too long.
Finally, it was time for me to be discharged. David appeared promptly, bowing as always. “Luna Elara,” he said calmly, “allow me to assist you with your things p>
I nodded, letting him lift the small bag of my belongings while Darlon took my hand. His grip was firm and gentle at the same time, as if he was silently promising he would never let anything happen to me again. When we reached the front of the hospital, he bent slightly to help me down the few steps to the car.
David opened the car doors, careful and precise, helping me settle in while Darlon slid in beside me. Once we were all secure, David drove smoothly through the city streets, heading toward our mansion. I watched the city pass by through the rain-streaked window, feeling surreal that I was finally going home after everything.
When we arrived, the maids were waiting at the front doors, bowing and murmuring greetings. Darlon and I stepped inside, and the familiar scents and warmth of the mansion wrapped around me like a blanket.
He led me upstairs without a word, his hand holding mine as if he wanted me to feel grounded. When we reached our room, I hesitated for a moment at the doorway. The familiar furniture, the soft linens, and the little personal touches we had added together, it all felt like a part of me I had missed terribly.
I sank onto the bed, letting out a small sigh. “I’ve missed this room,” I said softly, almost to myself.
Darlon’s gaze softened, but I could see the concern in his eyes. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” he asked, moving closer and resting a hand lightly on the bed beside me.
I hesitated, my eyes flicking down to the blankets. “It’s… it’s nothing,” I started, then shook my head. “It’s just… Aunty Stella didn’t even come to check on me. I didn’t expect her to, not really, but I guess… I realized that family, what it really means… I got to experience it fully in my past life p>
He knelt beside the bed, his hand covering mine. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I know it hurts. I wish p>
I looked up at him, my throat tight, feeling the weight of centuries and the small sting of that lost connection. “It’s not your fault,” I whispered, though the ache was real. “I just… I never got to have that family in this life. I never got to feel what it was like to belong… not really p>