Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 67: My family

Chapter 67: My family

LUCIAN’S P.O.V.

The first thing I noticed was the stroller. Sitting there innocently in the corner like it didn’t hold the power to detonate my entire world. But I didn’t think much of it—not at first. My mind was preoccupied with Teresa. Asking for her forgiveness wasn’t just on my agenda; it was the only item on it. My entire focus was on finding the right words to make her see I wasn’t the same man who had driven her away two years ago. I was different now, I was a man who was willing to love, protect and respect her forever, if only she would let me.

And then it happened.

A tiny, high-pitched cry pierced the air. Teresa’s head snapped toward the stroller as if someone had called her name. She moved faster than I’d ever seen, scooping up the baby with a grace and tenderness that looked practiced and also very natural at the same time.

A baby.

"Is that a—" my voice cracked, which, let me tell you, never happens. "Is that a baby?"

Teresa didn’t look at me. She was too busy soothing the tiny ball in her arms, humming softly as she rocked back and forth. The baby’s cries quieted almost instantly, but my mind... my mind was chaos.

"Teresa." My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I couldn’t help it. "Whose baby is that?"

"Teresa," I barked, stepping closer to her, "I asked you a question. Whose baby is that?"

"Calm down, Lucian, we don’t want to scare her into running away from us again." Ares warned but my mind was a jumbled mess.

Her steps faltered for a split second before she turned her back to me, shielding the baby like I was some kind of threat. That stung more than I cared to admit.

Luke, of course, saw his opportunity to play the hero. He stepped in, planting a hand on the stroller like he was daring me to try something. "Back off, Lucian." His voice was calm but firm, the kind of tone you use when warning a dog not to bite.

"Is he..." My throat tightened as I glanced between the baby and Teresa. "Is he mine?"

Ares, growled in my head. "Ours," he corrected, his voice laced with equal parts hope and fury."He smells like a mix of Teresa and us."

Teresa clutched the baby closer, her lips pressing to the boy’s curly hair. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but her expression was unreadable.

"What difference does it make, Lucian?" she asked, her voice cold enough to freeze hell over. "You made it clear you wanted nothing to do with me. Why should it matter now?"

For a moment, the weight of her words crushed me. She was right, wasn’t she? I had been the one to push her away, to build walls so high even I couldn’t see over them. But seeing her now—with our baby in her arms—those walls crumbled like ash in a storm.

Jennifer’s shrill voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Oh my God, Lucian, are you the father? Please tell me it’s not true!" She clutched her pearls like some soap opera villain, her eyes darting between me and Teresa with theatrical horror.

"Jennifer," Kenneth snapped, his usually mild tone sharp as a blade. "That’s enough."

I ignored them both. My focus was locked on Teresa and the baby.

"Teresa," I said, my voice quieter this time, almost pleading. "Please. Tell me the truth."

Her gaze finally met mine, and what I saw there nearly brought me to my knees—anger, hurt, and something else I couldn’t quite name. Slowly, she nodded.

"Lucian," she said, her voice barely audible, "meet Ollie, and the sleeping baby is Mai...they are your children. "

The room spun. My knees buckled, and I had to grip the edge of my desk to stay upright. Ares let out a triumphant howl in my head, but all I could do was stare at the tiny boy in Teresa’s arms. My children.

Jennifer tried to speak again, but I wasn’t in the mood for her theatrics. "Kenneth, kindly escort her out," I said, my tone as sharp as a blade.

Predictably, Jennifer wasn’t going to leave quietly. She was like a soap opera come to life. "Lucian, you can’t just—"

"Now," I barked, cutting her off, letting my Alpha’s voice sink into the command.

Kenneth, bless him, didn’t need further instruction. With the efficiency of someone well-versed in the art of removing drama queens, he grabbed her arm and started leading her out. Jennifer, naturally, squawked like a hen being evicted from the coop, her protests echoing down the hall until the door mercifully shut behind them. Peace at last. Or so I thought.

I turned to Luke, who was standing like a guard dog ready to pounce. "Leave," I ordered, my patience already worn thin.

"No," he shot back without hesitation, crossing his arms and planting his feet. "I don’t trust you alone with her."

My teeth were grinding so hard I was surprised they didn’t turn to dust. "This is a sensitive matter," I said, trying—and failing—to keep my temper in check. "I need to talk to Teresa. Alone."

Luke squared his shoulders, fully embracing his role as the overprotective big brother. "And I need to make sure you don’t hurt her. Like you did last time."

"Luke," Teresa’s voice broke through the tension like a cool breeze on a hot day. She touched his arm gently, her calm presence a stark contrast to the brewing storm. "Please. I’ll be fine. Just... give us a minute."

Luke hesitated, his jaw clenching so tight it looked like he might crack a molar. After what felt like an eternity, he nodded, but not before glaring at me with a look that could strip paint off walls. "If you hurt her again, I’ll make sure you regret it."

Message received loud and clear.

When he finally left, I turned back to Teresa, but the air between us was thick with unspoken words. I took a cautious step forward, only to watch her step back as if I were a venomous snake. The sight of her retreating was a gut punch.

"Teresa," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why did you keep them from me? I would have been there. I wanted to be there."

Her laugh was sharp and bitter, cutting through me like a dagger. "You? The man who treated me like garbage? Who used me and tossed me aside? How was I supposed to trust you with my children? And moreover, what if you tried taking them away from me? I wouldn’t move it past you."

Ouch. Direct hit. I flinched, her words landing harder than I cared to admit. But she wasn’t wrong. I’d been cruel. Selfish. And now, I was reaping the consequences.

"I never hated you, Teresa," I said, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions. "I hated myself. I’m sorry—for everything. But please, believe me when I say I’d never take them from you. I just... I just want to be a part of their lives. Of your life."

Her eyes narrowed to slits. "You’re delusional if you think I’ll ever be anything more to you than the mother of your children."

Ares, growled in protest, but I silenced him with a thought. She had every right to feel this way. But I wasn’t about to give up. It wasn’t in my nature; and besides I did die before I gave up on her.

"I’ll earn your forgiveness," I said, my voice firm. "Whatever it takes. But please... let me hold them."

For a moment, she stared at me, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly and with obvious hesitation, she handed me Ollie, her little boy. My heart stuttered as she reached into the stroller and lifted a tiny girl, placing her carefully in my other arm.

The world tilted. Time stopped. All I could see were their faces—my children. My beautiful pups, with green eyes that mirrored my own.

I swayed gently, overcome by a tidal wave of emotions. Ares rumbled his approval, his pride mingling with mine.

"Teresa," I said, my voice thick with emotion, "why now? Why did you come back? I’m over the moon to see you back but what made you decide to came back to me?"

She hesitated, her gaze falling to her hands. When she looked up, her face was etched with worry.

"I need you to protect my babies," she said, her voice steady despite the clear as day fear I could see in her eyes.

Those seven words sent ice through my veins. Without hesitation, I handed Ollie back to her, pulled out my phone, and called Kenneth.

"Bring the car around," I said, my tone leaving no room for argument. "We’re going back to the estate."

"Lucian," Teresa began, panic creeping into her voice, "what are you—"

"This isn’t a discussion for the office," I cut her off, my tone final.

The stakes had just been raised. Whatever—or whoever—was threatening my family, they were about to find out the hard way that no one messed with what was mine.