Chapter 156 Side Story 2/2 - My Dear Alpha
As cake and finger sandwiches were passed along, tea poured into cups, and a gentle breeze carried through the group gathering, the conversation quickly became lively, especially as Beetle's son, Aidan, finally joined the duo. His nanny quickly excused herself afterward, unable to meet the eyes of the most powerful people in Mavez gathered in one place.
"This is mine, Aidan!" Lornel demanded, yanking the last slice of cake away from Aidan. "You're too old for cakes!" Aidan shouted back, reaching for the plate, but Lornel was a few inches taller than him. Lornel held the plate above his head and stuck out his tongue as Aidan scowled. Instead of fighting, Aidan crossed his arms and turned his attention to Heliana. The boys were only 1 year apart in age, but their personalities couldn't be more different.
"You'll give me a piece, won't you, Lia?" Aidan cooed, presenting Heliana with a charming smile that rivaled his father's. Heliana paused mid-bite and glanced down. She only had two bites left. The one in her hand, and the tiny remnant on her porcelain. She pressed her lips together and felt Lornel's scowl from here. She peered upon Aidan's large brown eyes and dark curly hair. The maids gossiped that at school, Aidan was always the center of attention, wooing little girls left and right.
"Fine, here," Heliana huffed, pointing the fork towards Aidan's mouth.
"No, Lia will feed me instead," Killorn grumbled, grabbing Heliana's wrist and chomping down on her fork before Aidan could. He chewed obnoxiously, glowering upon Beetle to contain his son before someone else did.
"And one bite for Mommy," Heliana decided, presenting her last and favorite part of the cake to her mother. There was a big fat strawberry resting on top of it and Heliana always saved the best for last.
"Thank you, sweetheart," Ophelia mused as she ate the cake from her daughter's fork, but left the strawberry for Heliana whose eyes lit up. She could already hear Killorn's displeased grunts that he had to steal it from his daughter whereas Heliana willingly fed Ophelia. "He's a charmer just like his father," Maribelle dryly commented as she watched Gerald sway his daughter back to sleep. The baby girl was beginning to fuss from all of the noise. Gerald softly hummed, the sight of his large body with such a tiny creature a sharp contrast that made everyone smile secretly.
"The girls go crazy for him at school," Lydia sighed, shaking her head in dismay. "He learns nothing but bad things from his father, I fear."
"And only good things from you, mother!" Aidan quickly corrected his mother, presenting her with a beaming grin. Lydia was unfazed as she snorted and rolled her eyes as Beetle innocently held up his hands in defense. "Look at the way Aidan talks at his age," Lydia sighed to Ophelia in dismay, shaking her head. Aidan proudly grinned, shooting Ophelia a wink that made Lornel tackle the little boy, wrestling him to the floor. Ophelia sharply gasped, but Killorn was already patting her upperback.
"Let them fight it out," Killorn deadpanned, agreeing with his son's decision. Like father, like son, the two spoke with their fists over words.
Within seconds, Aidan and Lornel were a squirming mess on the garden floor, their clothes soiled and covered with grass. They released a simultaneous huff and got to their feet, already knowing their wrestling was futile. They were of equal strength and will, and none of them would ever yield.
"See?" Killorn reassured Ophelia softly. "They've figured it out."
"Thank god I have a daughter," Maribelle wistfully said, clasping her hands together as she stared up at Gerald with doe-eyes. "I can't wait to dress her up and do her hair."
All eyes fell on the beautiful baby with long lashes and chubby cheeks in Geralds's arms. His muscles bulged through his tunic, but his lips were curled in a soft cooing motion to lure her back into slumber. But the girl was wide awake and already staring up at him before bursting into a fit of gurgled laughter.
"Isabella will make a fine lady one day, j-just like you, Maribelle," Ophelia commented with a bright smile.
"Hah!" Killorn laughed. "Maribelle, a lady? Says who? She flights and eats like a man."
Maribelle chucked a scone right at her brother. Killorn dodged, shooting her a displeased glare.
"And Ophelia is too good for you," Maribelle growled, irritated by his single comment.
Ophelia opened her mouth, but Killorn was quick to retort.
"My personality is so perfect, you just had to come for my wife, don't you?" Killorn bantered, his mouth curling when Maribelle's eyes narrowed into slits.
Suddenly, Isabella released a sharp cry, pushing at her father's face when he leaned closer to comfort her. "She must be hungry," Lydia said as the baby began to kick her little legs angrily at her father's chin.
"Quite a fighter," Gerald muttered as she fluttered her tiny limbs at his face. "Please excuse me," Maribelle mockingly said to Killorn, rising to her feet and dipping into a fake curtsy at her older brother just to prove his comments wrong.
"Wrong foot," Killorn deadpanned.
"How would you know?" Maribelle growled, even though she just realized he was right. The right foot was supposed to go behind, but she had pushed her left leg instead. "Because it's you," Killorn stated. He, in fact, didn't know if Maribelle had done it correctly or not. Etiquette wasn't his forte. He turned to Ophelia with a quirked brow, but she kept her mouth shut and wiped crumbs off of Heliana's mouth.
"I'm n-not going to take a side," Ophelia said, but Heliana was quick to speak up.
"I will!" Heliana chortled. "Auntie Maribelle did it wrong!"
"Hah!" Killorn bellowed, grinning down at his daughter before swinging her into the air by her waist, raising her to the sun. Heliana squealed in delight, her eyes lit up.
"Again, Daddy, again!" Heliana happily gasped out as he settled her back onto his lap. Within seconds, he repeated his actions, this time, tossing her into the air, and catching her instantly. Her giggles filled the air as he once more threw her up and she securely fell into his palms.
"You next, Lornel, come here!" Killorn beckoned, opening his arm for his son who stared at him like he was crazy.
"I'm a big boy now," Lornel scoffed, crossing his arms, but Aidan was already rushing past him.
"I want to be lifted too!" Aidan stated, which only made Lornel gasp and run straight for his father. "No, that's my turn!" Lornel growled.
Killorn smirked in amusement, dropping his arm and deciding no one was going to go next. They were bound to get into another argument anyway.
"Only you get to go, then," Killorn told Heliana who grinned up at him, revealing her missing teeth. He fondly pressed a kiss to her cheek, which only made her giggle and kick her feet. Suddenly, Lornel pounced onto his back.
"I won, Daddy, me next!" Lornel demanded, hanging from his father's broad shoulders and impatiently shaking the seated man.
"He spoils them rotten," Layla laughed to Ophelia, shaking her head at the sight of the big bad Alpha spoiling his daughter rotten. "But that's w-what I like about him," Ophelia responded, her heart melting at the sight of her children tugging at Killorn for his attention. A part of her couldn't help, but smile widely. With Ophelia's complicated pregnancy and near-death experiences, she feared how he'd react to the children. She was nearly immobilized when birthing her son, for her human body couldn't handle such a powerful creature growing inside of her. Killorn had vowed no more children from there on out, as she barely walked properly a year after having Aidan. But the boy was just two years old when Ophelia fell pregnant again.
One last time, Ophelia promised him the same way he'd lie to her during their passionate nights. He had refused, but she was determined to keep the child, but could barely push out Heliana. It was a miracle she survived, but at the cost of her limbs, for she could barely run anymore. If it wasn't for the last droplets of her blood in the bottle that Sanguis returned to them… "Only you would see the good in him," Layla mused. "I've heard from Beetle and Gerald how frightening Killorn was before and after he married you. He was an untamable beast on the battlefield, splitting the skulls of his enemies with his bare hands, and ripping their throats off with his canines." "K-Killorn's kind," Ophelia began. "Smart… Affectionate and attentive to b-both me and our children. How can I not love him with all of me?"
"He only shows that side to you," Layla stated. She laughed under her breath, watching as Beetle tended to their son's dirtied pants, patting away the dirt. Aidan was babbling about his sword practice and Beetle continuously offered him advice.
"Most people call him the cruelest Alpha of this generation," Layla stated, despite watching Killorn entertaining his children, tossing Lornel first, and then Heliana, catching them both each time.
Ophelia was already distracted by the sight. "N-no more, Killorn," she worriedly told her husband. "They've just eaten, I worry they might empty the contents of their stomach." Killorn placed both son and daughter back down. He returned to his wife's side instantly when he saw her distraught glances. "As you please, Ophelia." He knelt and wove his fingers upon her scalp, pulling her body towards him. He fondly kissed her forehead, his mouth lingering briefly as she sharply inhaled.
"There's people watching," Ophelia protested, pushing at his hard chest.
"Let them," Killorn responded, attempting to haul her into his lap, but she remained firmly on the picnic blanket, glaring up at him in protest. He chuckled at how adorable she appeared, angry and pouting. "It is good for children to see their father cherish their mother," Killorn said, but it was a blatant excuse. Everyone could see it, from the giggling Heliana and disgusted Lornel.
"One day, I'm going to find a husband who loves me as much as Daddy loves Mommy!" Heliana whispered at Lornel who gasped, outraged by the idea.
"Yeah right," Lornel grunted. "He'll have to get through me and Daddy first!"
Heliana rolled her eyes at the idiocy of her brother and dashed off without him.
"Wait for me!" Lornel demanded, dashing after her as she made a mad dash for the bougainvillea. Together, they ran under the small tree whose violet petals fell faster from the wind kicked up by the siblings that chased each other in circles of laughter and excitement.
Ophelia's heart felt whole in this exact moment, watching her son and daughter play, and tended to by Killorn. "Just one kiss," Killorn promised, curling his finger under her chin and capturing her lips. Her eyes fluttered shut as she melted against his warm mouth that took her slow and patiently. His arms came around her waist until their bodies were pressed helplessly against each other. Ophelia could feel his heartbeat match hers. Erratic and passionate, until their heart beated as one. She pulled away, breathless and red in the cheeks, shyly glancing to the floor, hoping no one had seen them. In the corner of her eyes, Lydia was leaning back and bathing in the sun, eyes shut as Beetle had laid his head on her lap, and Aidan was already playing with the Mavez heirs.
"Once more then," Killorn decided, leaning for his wife, but she was quick to shake her head.
"W-we've done it all morning," Ophelia squeaked out, knowing one more kiss and he'd carry her straight into their bedroom. The two of them would always drink a preventative medicinal soup afterward, but nothing could keep the husband away from his wife.
Killorn chuckled under his breath as he cupped the back of her scalp and settled for a forehead kiss instead. She let out a soft sigh, and he was enveloped in her sweet, floral scent that drove him wild.
"You're so cruel to me, my sweet wife," Killorn whispered. "W-what are you saying, my sweet husband," Ophelia mumbled.
The nickname nearly made Killorn laugh, for he was anything, but sweet. Maybe to her and the kids, but never to anyone else. "I am awfully addicted to you, so much so, that it is far too cruel for this world."
Ophelia's breath hitched.
"Whenever it comes to you," Killorn continued. "I am willing to be the cruelest man on earth to obtain you. Whether it means starting a war to keep you safe or laying my life down on the line, I'd willingly do it all for this outcome we have now."
Ophelia's breath hitched. Her chest was fuzzy and warm, her heart squeezing from his confession. She slid her palm upon his jawline and kissed him again, unable to contain herself. He responded instantly, gathering her into his lap, but she pulled back, straddling him and revealing a timid smile.
"I understand now," Ophelia whispered. "Do you?" Killorn teased
"Of course," Ophelia laughed. "I see why it is called a cruel addiction now, my dear Alpha." - - - - - The End.
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