âOkay,â I replied with a smile, though I felt a pang of sadness in my heart.
Since the war had ended, Caleb and I had been swamped with the responsibilities of managing the Thorn Edge Pack and had rarely spent time with our kids.
Often, they would eat at Jeniferâs place.
By the time they came home, we could only manage to bathe them and then tuck them into bed.
Today was a rare day when both of us were free.
Caleb noticed this too, without needing a reminder.
He promptly announced, âEveryone, take your seats.
Iâm going to cook a big meal for us today!â
âYay!â The kidsâ eyes lit up with excitement, and their faces beamed with joy.
âDadâs cooking is the best.
We canât wait!â
With a smile, Caleb slipped on his apron and headed into the kitchen.
The rest of us settled around, munching on snacks, glued to the TV, playing games, and savoring this uncommon moment of calm.
It had been a while since Caleb last cooked, yet his skills were as sharp as ever.
By sunset, he had laid out a spread of mouthwatering dishes that even Jenifer couldnât help but compliment.
âSon, youâre great.
Sometimes you cook better than the professional chefs.
â
Elena and Dylan were equally impressed, enthusiastically giving Caleb thumbs up and expressing their desire to pick up cooking too.
Time always flies when youâre having fun.
pressing down.
After dinner, Jenifer left as she usually did.
Caleb and I then got the kids ready for bed before we ourselves settled in for the night.
We lay in each otherâs arms, enveloped in the comforting scent of Caleb, which made me feel as serene as if I were lounging on a warm meadow, free and unburdened.
Yet, the sight of the rift in the sky through the window weighed on my heart once more.
âCaleb.
â The heavy psychological pressure forced me to mention the matter of vampire again.
âI need to talk to Enzo myself.
I believe he could be a vital lead.
Maybe he has some information that could help us.
â
Debraâs POV:
âNo.
â Caleb refused me again.
I felt powerless and asked, âWhy?â
Earlier in the day, I had almost succeeded, but Caleb had managed to change the conversation without me noticing.
Still, I hadnât given up.
âDebra.
â Calebâs brow creased with concern.
âYouâre pregnant now and quite fragile.
You need to take care of yourself.
â
âNoâ¦â
I was about to refuse again, but Caleb insisted firmly, âListen, you shouldnât involve yourself in this.
If it harms your health or the babyâs, the consequences could be severe.
â
âNo, I must go!â