He Signed My Freedom Now He Wants Me Back Chapter 54
That claim had given me only Luna duties and sensitivity to Alpha orders. It had never given me anything like an equal response. Only now did I understand that a true bond wasn’t a stronger shackle. It was a channel in which both sides could be heard.
Chloe, unable to wait any longer, threw herself into my arms and called me “Mom” for the first time.
I held her and let my tears fall.
Outside the ceremonial garden, Lucian stood behind the Tidewatch boundary line with Noah and Iris.
They had not been granted permission to enter.
I walked over and stopped at the inner edge of the boundary, with the guards beside me.
Iris cried as she said, “Mom, you look beautiful today.”
“Thank you.”
Lucian looked at the fresh mark on my neck, his voice hoarse.
“We didn’t come with ill intent. We only wanted to offer our blessing.”
“I’ve received it. Please go back now.”
Noah asked quietly, “Are you really never going to see us again?”
I looked at them.
These two children had once been the most important people in my life. Even now, I wouldn’t pretend that love had never existed.
But neither would I deny the harm simply because I remembered the love.
“You’ll grow up,” I said. “You’ll have lives of your own. Don’t keep asking me to return to the past.”
Iris tried to cross the boundary to hug me, but a Highridge guard stopped her in time.
I did not step forward.
“Goodbye, Noah. Goodbye, Iris.”
As I turned away, I heard Lucian’s strained breathing and the children’s broken cries.
But Chloe was already running toward me with a flower basket, and Elias was waiting for me in the sunlight.