Chapter 316
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FIVE YEARS LATER –
ZAIA
“Thank you, Alpha Cole, I appreciate it. We’ll speak after the holidays then?” I answer, smiling at the
man on the screen.
He beams and gives me a nod. “You are most welcome, Alpha Zaia, that sounds. great. We will meet
two full moons from now then.”
“I will look forward to it,” I reply before bidding him farewell and ending the video call.
I exhale in relief, unable to stop the smile from crossing my lips.
“Yes!” I exclaim, excitement coursing through me as I spin around in my office chair and gaze out at the
snow that fills the skies outside the floor–to–ceiling windows.
The view itself is breathtaking, away from the city and the skyscrapers. It’s winter, and snow fills the
white skies, covering the mountain and homes in blankets of white.
This place looks like heaven, and it makes me feel at peace.
This is our temporary home, here in the mountains. I’ve been working on a project for the last three
months and it was much easier to simply move here to overlook it for a period of time. I’m almost ready
to return home, and although Christmas is just around the corner, I can’t afford to leave right now.
The children will be heading back though. Dad is also spending Christmas over at Sebastian’s pack.
Over the last few years, he and Aran have mended their
relationship, and Dad is seeing someone now, too. Although he wants to officially introduce me to her
when we return.
I am excited for him. For once he seems genuinely happy in a relationship, and it’s not one where he’s
being cheated on or one made by the goddess. As long as he’s happy, I am happy for him.
I am hoping to be able to get back home two nights after Christmas and I can be there for New Year’s.
“Mom? Is it okay for me to come inside or are you working?” Zion’s quiet voicè
comes.
“I’m done. You come on in.”
The door opens and there he stands, my ten–year–old prince, who is now slightly taller than me. With
every passing year, he has taken on Sebastian’s features more and more. Even the way he walks is
like his father’s.
He comes over and hugs me from behind my chair, kissing the side of my head.
“Then come on down. Dad will arrive real soon,” he says.
My heart skips a beat, it’s the first time in a while that I’ll be in such close proximity to Sebastian. Of
course, he won’t really be coming inside as he had called earlier, saying there won’t be much time
between the flights. But it’s the first time I’ll be seeing him face–to–face in years.
“Of course, then let’s go and spend what time there is left together before he does. Is your brother
behaving?” I ask.
Zion smirks. “Nope, but Sia’s put him on time out right now. He keeps sticking his tongue out at her.”
Hmm, that one is a little devil… I don’t know what I did differently. I raised all three of them the same
way…
I smile at Zion before I stand up. “Come on then, I hope your dad can handle him for a full two weeks.”
“He’ll have to,” he chuckles.
Since I left the pack five years ago, Sebastian visited the kids almost every other day, and would have
them for weekends at times or when I was on a business trip.
It was the same with Sebastian. If he had a business trip, then of course he could visit but would video
call them, just like he did every single evening, when he wasn’t around them.
Even if it was for a few minutes. It became a core part of the children’s lives and when they were with
him, they’d call me daily or I’d call them.
Sebastian has respected the decision I made all those years ago. The only time he broke it was when I
was in labour…
(FLASHBACK)
“Push Alpha. The baby is bigger than we predicted. You have to keep pushing.” “We should have done
a C–section,” Valerie growls.
I can sense her frustration and concern, but there’s determination in her eyes as
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I breathe deeply and steadily through the pain.
+15 BONUS
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