Chapter 181
I blink at her.
She blinks at me.
And then I turn to Laura.
âOh dear, Violet honey.â
Laura scoops Violet in her arms much to Violetâs protest as those chubby hands make grabby gestures at me. Sheâs whining, fussing in Lauraâs hold when I find new profound confidence inside me. Shakily, I stand and reach my arms out to the child. She immediately halts her fussing, big eyes blinking and starts leaning into my arms when she sees them extended her way. The sour look on her face wiped clean and in place a look of content.
Laura doesnât miss the change of expression and takes it in kind.
âMy niece Violet really seems to like you. She usually doesnât take to strangers.â
Laura says, easing the toddler into my arms.
Violetâs small body radiates with warmth. The softness of her little form a comforting, nostalgic feel when she clings onto my neck. Her little head settling at the crook of my shoulders. The feel of her silky hair tucked between my neck and shoulder makes me freeze in slight concern. This was the first time I held a child since then. I didnât have the courage to do so before.
âShall we? The men must be antsy waiting for us. Hopefully no one broke anything yet.â
Violet tightened her hold around my neck, nuzzling her little face into my hair. It took all I had not to think about how Lila used to do the same. The feeling of a child pressed up to me was almost too unusual after everything that happened. The trauma of the last time I held a child and what followed still fresh in my memory.
A wound that was so deep it couldnât even scar.
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Laura and I walked down the stairs side by side, loud murmurs of conversation and bustling sounding from where we were. I could hear Weston arguing with Emerson, Isaac cutting in a few times to ease the the tension but overall was sure the argument wasnât anything alarming. After hearing the words âIronman is betterâ, I was sure it wasnât anything life threatening.
We walked into the living room, Stefan and Raizel talking in the corner of the room while the other three was huddled in the center. Xavier crawling on the floor looks up when he senses us and starts going my way when he sees Violet in my arms. Heâs still looking up at me, grabbing onto my legs that he uses as leverage until heâs unsteadily standing up. Those puffy cheeks puff when he starts bouncing on his feet.
âUp. Up.â
Violet pulls from my neck and stares down at Xavier in scrutiny,
âNo.â
Itâs that one word that catches everyones attention. Emerson is the first to respond.
âD-did Violet just talk?â
Isaac goes next.
âHoly sh it your neck-â
Then goes Weston,
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The Female Alphaâs Sanctuary
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J Chapter 181
âAwww, look at how cute they are. Alpha, Alpha! Take a picture. You know you want to.â
I drift my gaze to Raizel and he openly stares. His father looked at him strangely, noticing the shift in his mood. Raizelâs eyebrows scrunched together like he was seeing a confusing puzzle at hand. His firm body tight and upright. He slowly walks over to me, blinking as he stares down at the dress. The look of pure disbelief laced in his expression,
âThat dress-â
He mumbled, trailing off at the end. He looked so shell shocked. The words he wanted to say escaping him as he stared. I could feel his wolfâs excitement reach me but from the look on his face he looked utterly confused. Laura who hadnât really noticed the grave look on Raizelâs face gushes in glee,
âOh, that old thing. It was a gift from your grandmother. She wanted me to pass it on to my daughter as an heirloom, but seeing as you would never wear it I gave it to Selene-â
âNo,â
Raizel shakes his head, his hands lightly gripping my arms. Violet whoâd been peacefully cocooning herself into my chest makes a face at Raizel. She grabs onto the neckline of the dress, small fingers curling into the fabric tightly. His expression and tenseness setting her off with alarm,
âThat dress, I- Iâve seen it before.â
He swallows thickly, eyes searching mine with determination overpowering everything else in his eyes.
Thereâs a mixture of emotions flooding out of him. Panic. Confusion. Intrigue. Hope.
Glimmering, thick hope.
âRome, have you been going through my closet? I hadnât taken it out since I was pregnant with you-â
âThe vision.â
He cuts her off sharply, not looking at his mother. Itâs like something triggered the change in the air. I feel everyone tense aside from Isaac, the kids and I.
âThe vision with the witches. I saw it then. The silhouette I was chasing afterâ
his gaze falls to the pure white fabric draped over me. Lifting one hand, he holds the strip of apparel in between his fingers. A look of astonishment written on his face.
â-she was wearing it. â
Raizelâs eyes never left mine.
The heated fix set deep in his expression never wavering from the evident confusion he felt. I didnât understand why he looked at me like that. Why it seemed like he couldnât believe I was standing there or why he stared after the dress like it was some magical thing balancing on a thin beam of needing to be destroyed or worshipped. That alone set me on edge.
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