Chapter 14 Second Chance
Chapter 14 Second Chance
“Yes,” Louis answered evenly.
Cici snuggled into Lily’s arms, her eyes sparkling with affection. “Mommy, thank you for playing with me today”
Lily smiled, pressing a soft kiss to her daughter’s rosy cheek. “You’re welcome, baby. Did you thank your uncle?”
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Cici puffed up her cheeks. “Uncle Louis was more excited to come out than I was!” But, almost instantly, her tone softened. “Mommy, after today, will I have to wait a long time before I see you again? What should I do if I miss you?”
“No, baby. This time. I’m staying.”
Three years ago, Lily had almost drowned. If not for Louis risking his life to save her, she wouldn’t be here today. She had been on the brink of death, her body barely clinging to life.
It had taken three years of careful recovery before she was strong enough for surgery.
Many respected werewolf doctors in the Southlands had admitted they couldn’t remove the toxins from her body completely. Only Benjamin from the Bluemoon Pack had the skill to do it
Louis had no choice but to bring her back.
He had gone to great lengths to stage her death, severing all ties with Michael. Yet fate had a cruel sense of humor. During Cici’s wellness ritual, they had run into him. The moment Louis saw him, a cold sweat ran down his back.
Michael was everywhere.
When Cici was younger, Lily had been too weak to hold her for long. There were times when she had to spend months in the hospital, forcing them apart. That was why Cici worried that this outing with her mother might be their last for a while.
That was also why Lily refused conservative treatment. Though Cici spent most of her time with Louis, she still clung to Lily. She couldn’t bear to see the longing in her daughter’s eyes.
As a toddler, Cici would cry out for her mother. But as she grew older, she came to understand that Lily was too ill to hold her for long or take her outside. She became thoughtful and well–behaved, never wanting to add to her mother’s burden.
Having a child like her was both exhausting and a blessing.
Back then, Lily had given up hope of surviving. She appreciated Louis‘ tireless efforts to save her, but she couldn’t find the strength to keep fighting. Wolfsbane was draining Louis‘ fortune, and more than once, she had tried to end her life, unwilling to drag him down with her.
Then, Louis brought home a werewolf cub.
She was tiny, her cheeks soft as flower petals, and even her cries were delicate. She wrapped her little fingers around Lily’s, gripping tightly. Lily turned to Louis in confusion, the same expression mirrored on the infant’s face.
“This is my sister’s daughter. Louis exhaled heavily, his voice tinged with sorrow, “Her husband was a warrior who died in a Rogue attack. My sister couldn’t take it. She ended her life”
He hesitated, then added, “The child is only six months old. Will you help me raise her?”
Soon, Lily realized that Louis had already drained his savings on her constant treatments. Now, the only thing keeping her medical care going was the inheritance and benefits left behind by Cici’s parents.
Holding the orphaned child in her arms, she felt as though she were embracing the lost child she once was. Tears streamed
down her face.
From that day forward, she never thought of dying again. Someone other than Louis needed her. Someone who depended on her. That responsibility anchored her, keeping her alive.
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Chapter 14 Second Chance
She loved Cici just as much as Cici loved her.
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Cici’s health had always been fragile, likely due to being weaned too early. Now that they had returned to the Bluemoon Pack Lily remembered an old tradition and asked Louis to take Cici for a wellness ritual, hoping it would help her grow strong.
Outside, the night was cold, but inside the car, warmth surrounded them. After hearing her mother’s promise, Cici fell asleep contentedly and peacefully.
Lily loosened her scarf and suddenly asked, “I saw him. That was Michael, wasn’t it?”
Louis‘ grip on the steering wheel tensed. His first instinct was to deny it, but instead, he sat in silence for a long moment. That silence gave Lily her answer.
She smiled faintly. Louis, what are you afraid of?”
“…” He kept his eyes on the road. “I’m not.”
“I won’t love him again.” Her voice was gentle but unwavering. “Louis, I won’t make the same mistake twice.”
didn’t mean that.”
Louis cursed himself for being clumsy with words. But when he glanced in the rearview mirror, he saw no sadness or hesitation in Lily’s smile.
“You’re silly, Louis. Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Really”
For some reason, the way she called him silly felt unexpectedly sweet. He had to admit that he was afraid she would accept Michael again as her mate. He was even afraid she’d be hurt all over again
The memory of three years ago still haunted him. Seeing her lifeless in the water, he had acted with a terrifying calmness. Without her permission, he faked her death and took her away from the Bluemoon Pack.
Now, it felt like that nightmare was repeating itself. The moment he saw Michael again, his fists clenched instinctively. If he hadn’t been carrying Cici, he might have attacked him on the spot.
Lily didn’t say anything more after that. She lowered her gaze, stroking her sleeping daughter’s rosy cheeks, a faint smile on her lips.
Over the past three years, her bond with Louis had deepened, and slowly, she came to see him as her second chance from the
Moon Goddess.
But Louis never made a move.
He cared for her like a devoted friend, never crossing any boundaries.
Louis had loved Lily in silence.
But because of his hesitation–and Michael standing in his way–he had missed so many chances to be close to her. All he wanted was to protect her and make her happy.
Even if they never fully embraced their mate bond, that was enough for him as long as he could stay by Lily’s and Cici’s side.
But now, something in Lily’s voice made his heart race, as if he sensed something shifting between them.
1…” He faltered, his wolf stirring with anticipation.
After parking the car, he opened the back door to pick up the sleeping Cici.
But before he could speak, Lily stopped him. Her illness had left her pale, but her eyes sparkled brightly as she smiled. “Shh. Just wait a little longer.”
She wouldn’t accept Louis as her mate–not until she was free of wolfsbane.
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Chapter 14 Second Chance
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She feared that if the surgery went wrong, Louis would lose her and might follow in his sister’s footsteps, leaving Cici alone to die with his mate.
If she survived the operation, she would take the chance to place her wounded heart in Louis‘ hands.
As Lily watched Cici doze off, she softly patted her back, silently sealing her resolve.
He took a few steps back and dropped to one knee. He looked up at her with those alluring eyes, a smile playing on his lips, and asked the one question Theresa had dreamed of for so long.
“Will you marry me?”
No one knew who started it, but someone whooped, and the whole room erupted like boiling water, filled with noise and nonstop screaming.
Theresa was completely overwhelmed with emotion and slowly reached out her right hand.
“I will
Before she could even finish the sentence, the piano music stopped abruptly and ecrily.
The romantic atmosphere that had been building for so long vanished in an instant.
All the guests turned their heads in unison, trying to figure out what had gone wrong. But no one could find the issue, so their gazes shifted—almost instinctively–to the man at the center of the proposal: Blake.
Theresa also felt the mood had been spoiled. She pouted and began to act coy.
“Blake, the piano music…”
“I’m the one who stopped the music.”
Blake stood
up
and gave her the answer.
By the time he straightened up and lifted his head, the smile on his face had completely disappeared. All that was left was sheer indifference.
Seeing his sudden change in expression, many people sensed that something serious was coming.
They all held their breath.
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