Chapter 18
Apr 17, 2025
Felicia pushed the door open, letting Danny and Max rush inside ahead of her. Their excited squeals filled the air as they explored their new room. The walls were painted a warm, inviting shade of blue, decorated with playful woodland designs. Two twin beds with soft, fluffy blankets sat against the far wall, adorned with little wolf plushies.
“Mommy, look!” Max exclaimed, running to one of the beds and bouncing on it. “It’s so soft! I love my room!”
Danny was already pulling open the drawers of a small dresser, discovering toys neatly tucked inside. His face lit up with excitement. “We have our own beds! And toys! This is the best room ever!”
Felicia stood in the doorway, her lips curving into a soft smile as she watched her sons. Despite the turmoil of the last few days, seeing their joy filled her heart with relief. “Say thank you to Uncle Lucien,” she reminded them gently.
“Thank you, Uncle Lucien!” the boys chimed in unison, their voices bright and cheerful.
Lucien, leaning casually against the doorframe, smiled warmly. “You’re welcome, boys. I’m glad you like it.” He turned to Felicia, his tone softening. “Lunch will be served at 1 p.m. in the great dining hall. I’ll let you settle in, and I’ll come get you when it’s ready. Sound good?”
Felicia nodded, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “That sounds perfect. Thank you, Lucien, for all of this.”
Lucien’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, his smile deepening. “Anything for you and the boys,” he said simply before turning to leave. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
When the door clicked shut behind him, Felicia exhaled slowly, the weight of everything catching up to her. She sat down on the edge of her bed, running a hand through her hair as the boys continued to explore. The room was beautiful, and Lucien had gone above and beyond to make them feel welcome. But despite the warm surroundings, her mind drifted back to Damien.
She shook her head, trying to push the thought away. Yet, his piercing green eyes haunted her, as if they were still watching her every move. She couldn’t forget the way he had looked at the boys at the festival, as though he already knew the truth. And now, here she was, in Lucien’s pack, trying to build a safe haven for her children. But was it truly safe? Could she trust Lucien?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Max tugging at her sleeve. “Mommy, do you think Daddy would like this room?” he asked innocently, holding up one of the wolf plushies.
Felicia’s chest tightened, and she forced a smile. “I think Daddy would think it’s perfect,” she said softly, her voice wavering just slightly. “Now why don’t you and Danny unpack your toys, hmm?”
Max nodded happily, running back to his brother. Felicia watched them, her heart heavy. No matter how hard she tried, Damien’s shadow loomed over everything.
Back in his packhouse, Damien was a storm waiting to break. His office was a mess—papers scattered across the desk, books thrown to the floor, and a chair overturned in the corner. He stood in the middle of the chaos, his chest heaving as rage boiled inside him.
“Damien, you need to calm down,” Xavier said, standing near the doorway. His best friend and Beta kept his arms crossed, his expression a mixture of concern and frustration.
“Calm down?” Damien’s voice was a dangerous growl as he turned to face Xavier, his green eyes blazing with fury. “She fucking moved in with Lucien! Into his pack! How the hell am I supposed to calm down?”
Xavier sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I get it, man, but you’re not going to solve anything by tearing apart your office. You need a plan, not a tantrum.”
Damien slammed his fist down on the desk, the sharp crack of wood splitting echoing through the room. “I don’t need a plan,” he spat. “I need to get my sons back! And her—” His jaw clenched as his mind raced. “That woman… I’ll make her regret this.”
“You’re not thinking clearly,” Xavier said, his voice steady but firm. “You need to slow down and think about this. You don’t even know why she went to Lucien’s pack.”
“I don’t care why!” Damien roared, pacing the length of the room. “He has no right to take what’s mine! My sons. My mate.” He stopped abruptly, his hands balled into fists. “Oh, Felicia… she thinks she can run, but I won’t let her.”
“Felicia isn’t yours anymore,” Xavier reminded him carefully. “She made her choice, Damien. Maybe if you tried talking to her instead of—”
“Talking won’t fix this!” Damien snapped, cutting him off. His eyes glinted dangerously. “I’m going to make her see that she belongs here—with me. Not with that snake Lucien.”
Xavier sighed heavily, shaking his head. “You’re letting your jealousy blind you. If you storm into Lucien’s pack without thinking, you’ll only push her further away.”
Damien paused, his breath coming in sharp bursts as Xavier’s words sank in. He knew his Beta was right, but it didn’t stop the fire burning in his chest. Felicia’s absence was like a wound that wouldn’t heal, and the thought of her trusting Lucien instead of him only made it worse.
He let out a frustrated growl, raking a hand through his hair. “She’ll regret this,” he muttered, more to himself than to Xavier. “I’ll make her see that I’m the only one who can protect her.”
Xavier watched him silently for a moment before speaking. “You need to decide what matters more, Damien. Your pride… or Felicia and the boys.”
