New Family Ties–1
Thea’s POV
“Mom, where are we going?” Leo asked excitedly, bouncing beside me as I locked up our
house.
I felt the early summer breeze brush against my cheeks, taking a deep breath of the fresh air. This little trip hadn’t been planned, but I knew it was something I needed to do. Seraphina and Maximus had been calling me non–stop these past few days. They wanted
to build a relationship with me, but I’d been keeping them at arm’s length.
I decided to give them a chance. After all, how would I know if they truly loved me if I kept pushing them away? And frankly, I needed more kind people in my life.
I crouched down and adjusted Leo’s collar, inhaling his faint honey scent. “We’re going to
meet some special people.”
As we walked toward the car, I noticed a moving truck parked near my house.
“Looks like someone’s moving in,” I told Leo, pointing to the truck. “We’re getting new
neighbors.”
The house had been vacant for several months. It had a similar structure to mine, just
slightly bigger in appearance.
“Mom, I hope they have a kid about my age,” Leo said excitedly. “Don’t get me wrong, I like it here, but the other kids live too far away, and there are old people everywhere.”
I laughed, ruffling his hair. I’d chosen this community because it was quiet enough and
not too far from Leo’s school. But I definitely hadn’t anticipated having so many elderly
retired werewolves who liked to gather around the house and gossip about Leo and me.
“Let’s hope so, baby,” I helped him into the car and fastened his seatbelt.
I got in and started the engine. My nerves were already on edge, and we weren’t even halfway there. I’d grown so accustomed to being hurt that I approached anyone who wanted to get close to me with suspicion and doubt.
Pushing the anxiety aside, I tried to focus on driving.
1/3
New Family Ties–1
“So who are we meeting?” Leo broke the silence, bouncing in his seat.
That was one thing about Leo–he hated being kept in the dark. Just like his father in that way. He liked knowing things in advance, didn’t appreciate anything that surprised him, which was a bit odd for a child.
“You’ll just have to wait and see,” I smiled at him. “They’re people I’ve met recently, and they’ve been really eager to meet you.”
He frowned. In that moment, he reminded me so much of Sebastian. Leo was his father’s carbon copy. From his looks to his mannerisms, everything screamed Sebastian.
“Can’t you just tell me? You know I hate surprises,” he complained.
See? He didn’t like the unknown.
“I promise it’s a good surprise,” I assured him.
He’d be thrilled when he realized he was getting two additional grandparents. Mostly
because he knew it meant more gifts and love coming his way. Though he was looking
forward to having a sibling, he couldn’t hide the fact that he enjoyed being the only
grandchild.
“Mom, is Dad going to marry Aunt Aurora?” Leo asked after a while.
My breath hitched at his question.
“Maybe,” I mumbled.
Though I felt the familiar ache, it wasn’t as heartbreaking as before. I’d accepted this a long time ago. Sebastian wasn’t mine. He never was. He had always belonged to Aurora, body and soul.
They might be having difficulties now because of her lies, but they would eventually find their way back to each other.
Their love had spanned a decade. There was no fucking way they wouldn’t repair what was broken.
Sooner or later, when they resolved their issues, they would resume their love story.
2/3
New Family Ties–1
“I don’t want that… I don’t want a stepmother,” he said quietly.
My heart broke hearing him so sad, but there was nothing I could do about it. Sebastian and I had been wrong from the start. We should never have gotten married, and I would forever regret not fighting harder when he said we should get married.
If I had done that, life would have been easier. Instead, we got married and pretended to love each other in front of Leo. Now he was having a hard time accepting someone else as Sebastian’s potential wife.
“Leo…”
“I want you and Dad together. You were happy and in love before. Why can’t you go back to that?” he asked, frustrated.
How could I tell him that everything he said wasn’t true? Sebastian and I weren’t happy together. We weren’t in love; we were just acting for his sake. How could I tell him Sebastian had always loved Aurora? That my obsession with Sebastian had led to their
breakup.
Chapter Comments
LIKE
POST COMMENT NOW
<SHARE
3/3
New Family Ties–2
“You’re too young to understand right now, but when you’re older, I’ll explain everything, and then you’ll understand why your dad and I can’t be together.”
Seeing the sadness in his eyes hurt me, but in this situation, I had to hurt his little heart. There was nothing between Sebastian and me. There never was and there never would be.
Our ship had burned to ashes before it even set sail.
“I’m not giving up, Mom. I told you, I want you and Dad together, and I always get what I
want,” he said determinedly.
I sighed. “Not this time, my love.”
Silence enveloped us as we drove. Soon, we arrived at the upscale neighborhood where
the Kincaids resided in this city.
I drove up to the electronic gate. After entering the code on the small touchscreen beside it, the gate opened. Maximus had given me the code earlier in case I wanted to visit them.
We drove down the tree–lined path. After about five minutes, we reached the massive,
beautiful house.
“Wow, that’s awesome. Even grander than Grandpa and Grandma’s house,” Leo said, referring to Sebastian’s parents‘ house.
I grinned. He’d be so shocked when I told him these were his grandparents too.
I parked the car in front of the meticulously landscaped garden. After turning off the engine, we got out. I held his hand as we slowly walked toward the house.
Leo’s eyes darted around, taking in as much as he could. Excitement and awe were written all over his face.
Before I could ring the doorbell, the door opened, and a middle–aged man came out, who I
guessed was Maximus’s Beta..
“Welcome, ma’am and young sir,” he said politely, his hands behind his back. “Please follow me, and I’ll take you to them. They’ve been waiting for you.”
1/3
New Family Ties–2
We followed him silently. The inside of the house was as impressive as the outside. Everything gleamed.
We found Seraphina and Maximus sitting in the living room. As soon as they saw us, Seraphina stood up and rushed toward us. She hugged me first, then Leo, who froze in
shock.
“Let the child breathe, my dear Seraphina,” Maximus said in an amused tone.
“I’m sorry, Leo,” she said to him, then turned to me. “I just never thought you’d come or give us a chance. I’m so glad you’re here.”
Before I could say anything, Leo cut in. Direct as always, getting straight to the point.
“Excuse me, ma’am, but who are you people?” he asked, his eyes fixed on Seraphina and
Maximus.
Seraphina seemed a bit thrown off balance, but Maximus looked proud of Leo’s directness.
“Leo, I’d like you to meet my parents, your grandparents, Seraphina and Maximus Kincaid,” I watched him closely to see how he’d react.
“I’m confused,” he said with a frown. “Weren’t Margaret and Derek your parents?”
“Not my biological parents. I was adopted by them. You know what adoption means, right?” I asked, kneeling in front of him.
He nodded, “Yes, it’s when parents take in a child who isn’t theirs by birth and raise them
as their own.”
“That’s right.”
“But where were they? Why did they let Margaret and Derek adopt you? Didn’t they want you?” he paused, his expression hardening. “If they didn’t want you, then I don’t want
anything to do with them.”
My heart filled with love for my baby boy. His willingness to reject anyone who didn’t want me meant everything to me.
Seraphina knelt beside us, cradling Leo in her arms. “We did want your mom. We just thought she died when she was still a baby. We didn’t know someone stole her from the
2/3
New Family Ties–2
hospital and lied to us.”
I watched as Leo tried to process the information he was being told. He turned to me, silently asking if this was true. I nodded, and the frown on his face disappeared.
“What about Grandma Margaret? Won’t she be sad about losing you? Do I have to stop seeing her?” he asked.
I would never stand in the way of their relationship. Margaret might never have truly cared about me, but I wouldn’t hinder her relationship with Leo.
“She’ll always be your grandmother, Leo. Nothing changes that. Think about it, you’re a very lucky kid. Having five grandparents is like hitting the grandparent jackpot,” I smiled at him.
“We just want to be part of her life and yours, if she gives us a chance, that’s all we’re asking for,” Maximus said, kneeling beside us.
I looked at Leo, waiting for his answer. He was silent for a moment, then smiled. When he did, I knew he had given his approval.
I looked at the parents I’d found. “I want that. We want you in our lives.”
Their eyes filled with tears as they pulled us into their arms. I felt their love surrounding
- us.
Things were falling into place, and I wanted to believe they would only get better from now on, but experience had taught me that doom strikes when you least expect it.
I was happy now, but deep down, I knew this roller coaster that had become part of my life was far from over.
