30
Years later. Life was finally settling into a rhythm. A peaceful one–something I never thought I would experience after everything that had happened. Inever imagined a day would come when I would wake up in my own bed, with my daughter resting soundly in her crib beside me, and feel a sense of true calm. But here I was, in the comfort of my new life, and for once, I could breathe without the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me.
The past few months had been a blur, but now, looking around my chambers, I could almost convince myself that I had always belonged here In my heart, I knew I was the princess, the heir to the throne. But some days, it still felt unreal
I glanced over at the crib beside my bed. My daughter, a tiny bundle of joy with a tuft of dark hair, was nestled under a soft blanket. Her name was Elara, after the moon goddess who had always felt so close to my soul, even when I hadn’t fully understood the bond we shared. It seemed only fitting that she would be named after the celestial being who had guided me through so much darkness.
As I stood, smoothing out the wrinkles in my gown, I heard the soft knock on the door before Laurent entered, his usual calm presence filling the room.
“How is she?” Laurent’s voice was low, his eyes soft with affection as he made his way toward the crib, immediately locking on Elara.
his
gaze
“She’s perfect,” I answered with a smile, my heart swelling at the sight of him standing there, so natural in his role as a father. Despite everything. I never expected him to be so… good at it. He’d been a pillar of especially when I had been in the deepest of doubts about myself.
strength for me,
Laurent looked over at me, his brows furrowing slightly. “You’re quiet this morning. You sure you’re alright?” “I’m just thinking.” I said softly, my fingers brushing over my daughter’s blanket “About everything that’s changed About Eros and Daisy and what happens next.”
Laurent’s eyes darkened, but his tone remained steady, filled with warmth. “You’ve made it through the worst of it, Princess. You don’t need to carry the weight of the past anymore. Not when you have everything you’ve fought for right here*
I nodded, but the shadows still lingered in my mind. The royal family had made sure Eros stepped down as Alpha of Lotus Pack. His disgrace was public, his name now tainted with the shame of having been exposed for what he truly was a man who only saw power as a game to be won. The royal family’s pressure on Lotus Pack had been more than enough to bring him down Raegan, ever the loyal brother, had ensured that no dealings would take place between our family and Lotus. And with that, the final chapter of my past with Eros had been closed
351 PM ď ď
truly was a man who only saw power as a game to be won. The royal family’s pressure on Lotus Pack had been more than enough to bring him down. Raegan, ever the loyal brother, had ensured that no dealings would take place between our family and Lotus. And with that, the final chapter of my past with Eros had been closed.
But Daisy and her family were a different story.
They couldn’t accept the change, the new kingdom ruled by my family. They couldn’t stomach the idea that I wa now their princess. So, they had left. Daisy, her parents–Alpha Donovan and Luna Kierra–had all packed their thing and left our kingdom for another, one that hadn’t yet been touched by the shadow of my bloodline. I couldn’t say I blamed them. There was no place for them in the kingdom now ruled by me.
I
I was still processing it all. I had no animosity toward them, not anymore, but the sting of betrayal was still fresh But even with all the chaos of the past few months, one thing had remained constant–Laurent. The man who had once been nothing more than a protector, a warrior, now stood beside me as r mate, my love, the father of my child
And despite the dark history I had come from, the uncertainty that clouded my every step, Laurent had never wavered. Not once. He had been there when I needed him the most, offering me comfort in the moments when my past came crashing back into my mind.
“Do you still think about Eros?” Laurent’s voice broke through my thoughts, his eyes searching mine for the trut I shook my head, but my fingers curled into the fabric of my gown. “Not in the way I used to. I used to wonder what would have happened if I didn’t discover his betrayals.”
Laurent’s eyes darkened slightly, but his grip on me tightened in reassurance. “You don’t need to wonder anymore, Remi. You chose what was right for you, and that was the only thing that mattered.”
I smiled at him, but it wasn’t a smile of joy–it was a smile of release. I had let go of so much, but there was still more I needed to reconcile with myself. The power within me surged and pulsed, and sometimes, it was overwhelming. It was the power of my bloodline, of the royal family, of everything I had been born into.
I let out a soft breath, leaning into his touch. “I just… I don’t want to lose this. I don’t want to lose you, Elara, or this life we’ve built together.
Laurent’s smile was soft but filled with unwavering confidence. “You won’t. Not as long as we have each other. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the peace of his words wash over me. The future was uncertain. I didn’t know what would happen, but I had learned something over these months. I had learned that I wasn’t alone. I had Laurent. I had my family. And, most importantly, I had the strength to fight for what mattered most.
When I opened my eyes, Elara was stirring in her crib, her tiny fingers reaching out for the world, already eager to explore it. Laurent bent down and gently lifted her into his arms, his eyes filled with a love that was
all–encompassing.
“This is our family,” Laurent said quietly, looking down at the small bundle of life between us. “This is everythin
we need.”
The End
