And Gabriel… he did indeed carry my familiar scent.
Later, I heard from the old head servant that Ethan wasn’t doing well.
After Isabella was kicked out, the household was a mess.
Ethan was buried in work, his wolf increasingly unstable.
The two cubs were boarding at the wolf academy, their personalities growing more rebellious.
1/2
Chapter 12
They couldn’t even transform properly during the full moon.
They tried to come find me on the West Coast again, but security stopped them at the community gate.
Sometimes, I’d dream of the past.
I’d dream of staying up all night when Mason had a high fever, using secret wolf techniques to bring it down.
I’d dream of the cubs‘ excited smiles, calling me “Mommy” after their first successful transformation.
When I woke up, Gabriel would always sense it immediately, pulling me into his arms and comforting me softly.
His warm wolf scent always soothed the pain in my heart.
“Aria… do you regret it?” he asked hesitantly one time.
I looked at the two stray cats playing with Sophie in the yard and shook my head.
“I’m happy now. The future is bright. I’m not looking back.”
Just then, Sophie ran over, holding the two little cats, her face smudged with grass, asking happily,
“Uncle Gabriel, Auntie Aria! They’re so cute, can we keep them?”
“Of course, we can,‘
“I said with a smile, lovingly stroking Sophie’s sweaty little face.
“This is our home. You get to decide.”
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the three of them.
The shadows of my past had no power here.
In the light, with a new family, I was finally home.
