Chapter 70: Platonic Relationship
“I don’t hear anything but your stomach grumbling, Mama.”
Chuckling, I caressed Sander’s head when he was still laying his head on my flat stomach. “It’s because I am not in my two months pregnancy, little man.” I explained to him that a female werewolf could be pregnant within a three-month gestation period. “Just like you when I had you in my stomach before.”
“How did I manage to get inside your stomach, Mama?”
I gently pinched his cheek. This adorable son of mine… He was pretty smart and all yet… Ah, yes. He was still a kid. He didn’t understand yet what it means to have a pup inside a stomach.
“You were still a baby back then so you were fitted inside me.” I silently wished Sander would halt asking questions. He might ask how I conceived him, but I couldn’t answer that properly.
“Oh…” Sander was astonished. Then he returned placing his ear to my stomach again which earned me a laugh again.
“Can we talk?” I went inside his study room after knocking several times.
Desmond looked surprised. “C-Certainly.” He removed his spectacles and immediately went beside me to help me sit on the couch.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
“T-Thank you.” Why did my heart flutter with his gentle touch? This was the fault of my wolf again, right?
“Is something the matter?” he asked while my eyes roamed around.
I slowly exhaled because it really made my heart ache every time I was entering his study room. But I snapped back and looked at Desmond. “Here.” I bestowed him with the signed divorce agreement.
“Ah.” There was a pain registered on his face. “I see.”
“There is something I wish to discuss with you as well.” I ignored my heart reacting every time Desmond would show that kind of expression. Hesitant, Desmond urged me to speak. “I am agreeing with your demands.”
His jaw dropped. “R-Really?” I nodded as an answer. His gloomy expression brightened up. His amber eyes were even sparkling in happiness. “Thank you, Seraphina!” He was about to stand up but I summoned my hand to halt him.
“It’s alright.” No need to be touchy, I wanted to add. There was disappointment on his face but he still smiled brightly. “Since we are now divorced, let’s not discuss it with Sander for a while. It would be heartbreaking that we would reveal it to him.” Also, Sander was already aware of how we became distant from each other. He was watching us and sometimes he was asking me if there was no chance that we could be together again. I only answered him with a smile. “We can just pursue what you said. A platonic relationship, you say…”
Even though this would be difficult for the two of us since our mate bond had reconnected, this platonic relationship had its disadvantages. Disadvantage meant our wolves might put the two of us at risk especially if one couldn’t control our emotions when it came to jealousy or any other emotion that might influence our mate bond.
One might demand more of what we had. We might end up kissing or touching if that happened.
“Ah, yes…” He was silent for a moment. “If that is what you want, then I could agree.” His chest rose up and down, releasing a sigh. “This is better than nothing though…”
I could have sworn my heart galloped so fast upon hearing that murmur from him. He wasn’t talking to me. More like, he was talking to himself.
Or was it intentional because it was enough to hear it from here?
“Since you told me that I can make my decisions, I am hoping you are not a hindrance to it when I make one in the near future. I also hope you are not going to do something to plot a scheme on me again. If I happen to know that, it shall be certain that we would be a broken family, Desmond. You wouldn’t like it if that happens. I hope I make myself clear here.”
With my tone wrapped with earnestness, it meant business. This was a negotiation and a threat.
I wanted to let him know that he was not the only one who had the power to ruin everything. I could make him ruin his image in front of Sander which I never did and never admitted to my son yet about his infidelity because I didn’t want to hate his father as we grew old.
Perhaps, when he was capable of understanding everything and old enough, I might say… or might not.
“Yes, loud and clear.” His eyes shone with melancholy. He tried to hide it in his smile. “I understand. If you have anything else, you can tell me.”
“If there is, I shall inform you.” Nodding, I decided to stand up. But I suddenly felt dizzy.
“Easy…” Desmond was beside me and held me in his arms. “You’ve been having dizzy spells. You must retire now.”
“Yes…” I held my head. I even closed my eyes and leaned my forehead on his chest when I felt dizzier than before.
“Seraphim…” I gasped when in one swift motion, I was already on his lap while my face was buried in the crook of his neck. His hand on my waist raised to caress my back.
“D-Desmond…”
I couldn’t help myself finding comfort in that. I let myself succumb to his touch for a while. His scent as my mate lingered in my nose which made me at ease.
My nose traced the slenderness of his neck to inhale more of his scent. It felt… addicting. I even heard Desmond’s soft purr reverberating on his chest.
Then I realized what I had done. I gasped and distanced myself from him. “I-It’s not what you think!” I was about to stand up but Desmond halted me. “It’s my p-”
“Pregnancy hormones. Yes, I know that.” He was smiling-a dazzling smile, to be precise. “If you wish to cuddle with me, just say so, seraphim.” With that, his hand cupped my cheek before he used his thumb to caress it.
That made me feel shivers down my spine. I suddenly wanted to lunge at him. Damn him for being a gorgeous man and a father to my kids!
Another week had passed when I told Desmond that I was agreeing with what he wanted. He looked so thrilled at the news. He never failed to show how he cared for my pregnancy.
In fact, it was his right after all. I didn’t want to be selfish to our second pup.
Desmond needed to watch over my pregnancy.
“Desmond, you do not need to escort me here,” I said for the nth time when he asked me where I was going. I told him that I was going to the town because I had been wanting to take a stroll along while Sander was busy with his studies. I was expecting he would summon an escort but instead, he was the one who volunteered to be my escort. “It’s not like I am going to abscond. I am not going to do that. You can go back and fulfill your duty as the Alpha of your pack and as Marquis of Blackmont.”
We walked side by side on the pavement.
I already turned one month so the bump on my dress was already showing.
Desmond told the news to everyone that I was pregnant with his second pup. People were enthralled by the news but some of them secretly ridiculed me. They looked unhappy when Desmond announced that I would stay here and would never become his pack member.
That would make them hostile to me since I was an outsider.
But I didn’t really care. I never belonged to any pack anyway.
A rogue would always be a rogue.
“It’s fine. I have finished some of the tasks for this morning anyway. I also have something to do here right now.”
“Oh, I see.” I felt a little embarrassed. I thought he came here with me because he wanted to escort me.
Desmond left for a moment when I told him that I was going to see some books meant for Sander in the bookshop. He said that he would purchase something valuable in the jewelry shop.
I went to the bookshelves when I came to sniff the smell of the books. It was so addictive yet… bizarre.
“Seraphina? Is that you?”
I stiffened when a familiar baritone voice called my name. I spun around to see a good-looking man whose raven black hair was a bit disheveled.
“Um…” I creased my forehead, trying to remember who this man was. Especially that raven black hair.
Wait.
Raven black hair? There was only one man I knew in the past that has that hair color.
He chuckled. He was about to speak when I gasped upon knowing him immediately. “N-Nicklaus? Nicklaus Romero?!” My heart raced rapidly. “I-Is that really you?”
Oh, my dear Moon Goddess!
My fellow rogue was here!
And… my very first love! He was here in front of me!