Chapter 81: Chapter 81 Castle of Dreams
Seraphina’s POV
The pack house felt suffocating, tension crackling in the air like lightning before a thunderstorm. Everyone stood frozen, waiting for the explosion they knew was coming after my words to Roxanne.
The silence stretched until I felt every hair on my arms stand on end. I knew that presence anywhere.
I steeled myself for Julian’s rage, for him to leap to Roxanne’s defense the way he always had before. Instead, an eerie quiet fell over the room.
He didn’t spare Roxanne a single glance. His eyes, which used to soften whenever she appeared, locked onto mine with an intensity that made my pulse race. The expression there was unreadable, dangerous in its stillness.
"Seraphina." His voice was a low growl that seemed to vibrate through my bones, cutting through the suffocating tension. "I need to show you something."
Without another word, he completely dismissed Roxanne’s existence. The shocked gasps from the pack members around us faded into white noise as he extended his hand toward me.
The instant his skin touched mine, electricity shot through my entire body. Every nerve ending came alive with sparks that danced along my skin, setting me on fire from the inside out.
A ridiculous smile spread across my face before I could stop it. I didn’t even try to hide it, despite my shock at his behavior.
He didn’t ask about the commotion. He didn’t demand explanations. He simply pulled me gently but firmly away from the pack house, away from the staring eyes and whispered judgments.
The moment we stepped into the sunlight, he called Theo’s name.
A blur of energy came racing toward us. Julian swept Theo up effortlessly, and our son melted into his father’s arms like he’d been doing it his whole life instead of just meeting him.
My chest tightened watching them together. The way Julian’s powerful arms cradled Theo, the protective way he held him, the natural ease between them - it was everything I’d imagined and more. The guilt crashed over me in waves, knowing I’d stolen years of this from both of them.
Theo would be thrilled when I finally told him the truth about his father.
Our son couldn’t keep his tiny hands still, touching Julian’s face, pressing against his chest, his questions spilling out in an endless stream. "Mommy, can I pet them?" he asked, pointing at the wolves with wide, fascinated eyes.
"We need to tell him soon," Julian murmured, watching Theo’s animated face. My throat closed up with unshed tears. "I know," I managed to whisper. "I wasn’t planning to keep it secret forever. He’s already showing alpha traits. In the human world, hiding was the only way to keep him safe, Julian."
I hated how defensive I sounded, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself.
When he met my gaze, there was no anger there, no accusations. Just understanding that felt like a gentle hand on my wounded heart. His calm acceptance was a gift I didn’t deserve, settling the chaos inside me for the first time in years.
But something nagged at me. The way he’d completely ignored Roxanne, dismissed her like she didn’t exist after I’d slapped her - something had shifted between them.
"Where are we going?" I asked, forcing myself to focus on something else as we walked further from the pack house. We’d been walking for several minutes now without him giving me any clues.
"Look ahead," he said simply, that hint of a smile playing at his lips.
I followed his gaze and my breath caught in my throat. In the distance, something magnificent began to take shape.
When I’d left, this area had been mostly empty, just scattered trees and open land. Now there were several houses dotting the landscape, but one structure dominated everything else.
My fascination grew with each step we took. The closer we got, the more details emerged, and I realized what I was seeing.
A castle. An actual, breathtaking castle.
Standing before it, I could only gape in stunned silence.
"Who built this?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. "Who does it belong to?"
Julian’s expression softened as he looked from me to Theo, who was practically vibrating with excitement in his arms. "It’s ours, Seraphina," he said, his voice carrying a weight that made my knees weak.
Theo’s eyes went wide as dinner plates. "Are we really going to live here, Mommy?" His voice shook with pure joy.
Julian chuckled, the sound warming me from head to toe. He nodded and gently set Theo down. Our son took off like a rocket toward the castle, his little legs pumping as fast as they could carry him.
While Theo explored, Julian turned his full attention to me. "Do you like it?" His eyes searched mine intently.
"I can’t believe this is real," I whispered, tears blurring my vision. "It’s beyond incredible."
"You better believe it," he said softly, never breaking eye contact. "This is our life now, Seraphina."
His words hit me like a physical blow. "But why?" My voice cracked. "Why would you do this for me when you haven’t even forgiven me?"
He stepped closer, his expression shifting to something serious but impossibly gentle. "I built this years ago, Seraphina," he explained, pain flickering across his features. "I imagined us building our future together inside these walls. Things went differently than I planned." His smile returned, sad but real. "But that’s okay. This is where Theo will grow up. Our son deserves everything."
The floodgates opened. I launched myself into his arms, my legs wrapping around his waist as I clung to him desperately. Tears poured down my face, hot and unstoppable.
"Forgive me, Julian," I sobbed against his chest. "Please let go of the past. I swear I’ll never disappoint you again. I’ll stay with you forever." His arms tightened around me, holding me as I broke apart and came back together in his embrace.
