Clara

Four Years Later

“Hunter! Stop running around so I can dress you,” I said, chasing my son as he squealed down the hallway.

“Catch me, Mama!” he called, increasing his speed. I gave up, hunching over with hands on knees, taking a deep breath. I couldn’t imagine where a barely four-year-old got so much energy.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I turned to Damon, who’d scooped Hunter into his arms and was spinning him around.

“Dada, put me down!” Hunter yelled, then burst into laughter. Haven appeared behind Damon and ran to me.

“Mama!” she cried. I bent to catch her, showering her face with kisses as she giggled.

“Did you enjoy your stay with Aunt Deli?” I asked. She nodded, then pouted.

“Aunt was sad because Hunter didn’t come,” she said. I sighed. Hunter had refused to go with Haven, preferring to stay with me. He was definitely a Mama’s boy, even if he did make me run every morning.

“Next time, Hunter will go, okay? How was baby Mia?” I asked, walking toward Haven’s room with Damon trailing behind, carrying a squealing Hunter.

“She said ‘Mama’ today! She’s so cute,” Haven gushed. I giggled, kissing her forehead.

Delilah and Luca had a baby recently, and Delilah had been asking for Hunter and Haven to visit more often. I didn’t mind; two toddlers could be a lot to handle, especially Hunter. He’s not only Damon’s double but also inherited his strength and resilience.

I set Haven down as Damon put Hunter back on his feet. Hunter immediately pestered Haven, who tried to ignore him, but it was futile. He never gave up.

Damon pulled me into a warm embrace, burying his nose in my neck. A smile touched my lips.

“You didn’t kiss me this morning,” he murmured, sending a shiver down my spine. His effect on me still amazed me.

“You left before I woke up,” I replied. He sighed.

“Luca called; I had to pick up Haven. Delilah was in her feelings again,” he said. I sighed.

“I’m telling you, she’s pregnant again,” I said. He chuckled.

“Don’t tell Luca. He’ll lose it,” he replied. I giggled.

“Delilah will lose it. Remember how rough she was when she was pregnant with Mia?” I said. He groaned.

“Let’s not talk about them. When are we going on that vacation we planned four years ago?” he asked. I sighed.

I still had trauma from four years ago. Giving birth to Hunter and Haven had been a miracle. I’d been told my heart stopped, and if not for the witches, I might have died. Then, I was told I couldn’t have more children, which was initially sad, but Haven and Hunter were more than enough. Damon had fallen into a coma and woke up a month later. Hunter had also contracted a near-fatal illness. He recovered, but I was still paranoid and not ready to leave them, even though they were four.

Many people offered to help, believing we needed a vacation, but I wasn’t ready, and I didn’t know when I would be.

“Mama, Hunter’s bothering me!” Haven yelled, snapping me from my thoughts.

“Hunter, leave your sister alone, or you won’t sleep with Dada and me tonight,” I threatened. He stopped and ran to his toys.

“I want some alone time with you, Clara. It’s been so long,” Damon practically growled in my ear. He didn’t like Hunter sleeping in our room, but he was my baby. I couldn’t say no.

“I’ll sleep with Dada and Mama too!” Haven exclaimed. I smiled.

“You should have thought of that before knocking me up. Don’t you have Alpha King duties?” I asked. He spun me around, and I admired his handsomeness. I traced the scar on his face, a reminder of our fight with Sebastian.

“You and the kids are my priority, Alpha King duties be damned,” he said. I giggled, kissing him.

“Eww!” Hunter and Haven echoed simultaneously. Damon rolled his eyes; I giggled. Sometimes I forgot they were twins.

“I miss the feel of you,” Damon whispered, pulling me closer. I tried not to moan.

“The kids…”

“My parents agreed to watch them tonight. Hunter loves them; he’ll go. Just tonight, let me show you how much I’ve missed you,” he purred. I bit my lip, sighing.

“Fine, but you tell them they’re not sleeping in our room,” I said. He chuckled.

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll be the bad cop. As long as I get to taste you tonight…”

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