His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

Chapter

45

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, very sure. Now, let's focus, people."

As the laughter died down, I noticed a fleeting look of sadness in Issca's eyes from where he stood by the door. He quickly masked it with a grin, but I caught it. I didn't dwell on it, though. There was work to be done, and I had to keep my focus. I was the alpha now, and my pack came first.

The meeting proceeded smoothly after that. We discussed logistics, future plans, and how we were going to manage resources now that we were independent. The pack members asked questions, and I answered them confidently, feeling the trust they had placed in me. By the end of the meeting, everyone seemed reassured, and I dismissed them with a sense of accomplishment.

As I stepped out of the room, Issca was waiting with Cyrus in his arms. The little one was giggling, his small hands clinging to Issca's shirt. My heart warmed at the sight. Issca had always been great with kids.

"Ready for the playground, Cy?" I asked, reaching out for him.

Cyrus nodded eagerly, practically bouncing in Issca's arms. "Playground, Mama!"

We headed foward the playground together, with a few of Issca's pack kids tagging along. It was the perfect day for it sunlight streaming through the trees, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves, and the laughter of children echoing through the

air.

The playground wasn't too crowded, just a few families scattered around, pushing their kids on swings or helping them down the slides. I could already see Cyrus' face light up at

tiny hand slipper of

and the

he ran ahead, his excitement almost

the kids scatter to their respective corners

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Chapter 45

playground. He leaned back against a tree, folding his arms with a content smile on his face. "They grow up so

nodded, my eyes following Cyrus as he made a beeline for the sandbox. "Yeah, faster than we expect sometimes." There was a peacefulness to watching him play, the way he carefully picked up a toy truck and started pushing it through the sand, creating little tracks as if it were

these

and the constant worry-fade into the background, if

while.

my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced

Cyrus to go ahead and play. "Hey, Vesta,

Vesta's voice was warm and teasing. "They've been asking when you're coming back. Especially

"I'll come back soon, I promise. Just

Carlos misses you too. He's been dropping by a lot lately... you know, to see the kids, of

an eyebrow. "oh I see, Is that

cry rang out from the sandbox. I turned to see Cyrus, his small figure standing firm but trembling, facing off against another boy..had snatched a toy truck from Cyrus, holding it high above his head with a smug grin,

clenched at the sight. Cyrus, though younger and smaller, was glaring up at

at his sides. with a mix of fear

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