Hiding the Alpha’s Heir

“Dine with Papa from now on?”

Sander raised his voice as soon as I was dressing him in his indoor clothes. I told him that this supper, we would dine in the dining hall, not here in the north hall.

“Yes. Your Papa and I already talked,” I answered softly.

“But Mama…” I could tell that he wanted to stomp his foot on the mattress but he didn’t.

I exhaled slowly before I cupped his cheeks with my hands. “Just one meal with him, Sander. If after this you still don’t like to dine with us together, then I shall respect your decision.” Even if I said that I was silently praying that he would not change his mind after this night. “Alright?”

Hesitant, Sander nodded. But there was a slight frown sitting on his face.

“Tonight, let yourself the experience of having us together as a family, sweetheart,” I convinced him.

“A-Alright…” he finally spoke.

Smiling, I held his chin. “Good. Shall I expect pleasant manners tonight?” I asked softly.

His eyes stirred before he nodded. “Yes, Mama.”

I sighed in relief when I received that response from him. Sander watched my action and slightly tilted his head.

We were interrupted when a maidservant was being summoned and told us that supper was ready. I nodded and told her that we would go there now.

Sander went to hold my hand as we were sauntering our way to the dining hall. Ever since we arrived here, Sander and I never got to dine with Desmond before. My pride told me not to dine with him even though my wolf was urging me to mend things with him.

I silently scoffed because mending things with him was not part of my plans. That was going to be impossible.

Arriving there, I was surprised that the long table was now exchanged into a normal one. It was not long or short, just enough to have more than three people at the table.

“H-Hi…”

I held my breath when Desmond appeared out of nowhere. I could have sworn he came from the kitchen. I felt Sander hiding behind me all of a sudden as Desmond knelt to speak with him. He still smiled even though Sander was avoiding him.

He stood up and gestured his hand. “Come.”

Nodding, I caressed Sander’s head. “Sander…”

He looked at me and nodded. He glanced at Desmond shyly before he held my hand more.

I guided Sander to his seat. His eyes widened seeing the dishes prepared for all of us. Most of them were his favorite seafood, salmon, scallops, shrimps, and crabs.

“Wow…” His eyes were full of fascination when he sat down.

“I want you to taste different dishes with your favorite seafood, Sander,” Desmond explained as he helped me to sit down.

I murmured thanks to him. He smiled and nodded. That made my heart feel ticklish because of that.

“Can I dig in?” Sander asked excitedly.

“No, not yet,” I chimed in before Desmond spoke. “We must thank the Moon Goddess first before we eat.”

“Hmm!” Sander smiled.

I glanced at Desmond who was watching Sander. I caught his attention when I beckoned my hand. He had a bewildered expression when he saw my hand.

“We shall pray first,” I said, answering the question he had on his head.

“Oh, I see.”

As soon as our hands came in contact, I shivered and suddenly felt uncomfortable when his thumb was grazing the back of my hand. I ignored the sensation I was feeling and watched as Sander was hesitant to accept Desmond’s hand. But in the end, he still managed to hold it.

We prayed to thank the Moon Goddess for the food we have on our table. When we were finished, Sander didn’t hesitate to start digging into the food prepared here.

“They are delicious!” Sander exclaimed happily, eating.

Desmond couldn’t help but chuckle. “Eat more and fill your stomach,” he said.

“Sander, don’t hasten to eat. You might get a stomachache later,” I said, concerned. I bestowed him a glass of water when he couldn’t handle the food he was eating. “Tsk.” I sighed, shaking my head.

“You should start eating, too.” I glanced at Desmond who was looking at me.

I lowered my head to the… peach honey grilled lamb chops. My heart was conflicted because of that. I reached for the dinner knife and fork to start eating.

My eyes widened when I tasted the flavorful ingredients of the grilled lamb chops. I glanced at him, shocked because this wasn’t the same taste I remembered.

“So, what do you think?” he asked. His voice sounded hopeful.

“It’s…” I chewed it first before I swallowed. “It is more flavorful than what I remembered. I-I like it.”

“Thanks.” Desmond smiled widely.

I blinked at what he said. “What…” I paused and gasped from the realization. “You are the one who cooked them?”

Desmond nodded. “Yes…” He pursed his lips into a thin line as if he was stopping himself from cackling.

“Papa made it?” Sander asked, jaw dropped.

“Yes.” Desmond became excited when our son talked to him. “Do you wish to learn it?” Sander nodded. “I heard from your mother that you are a good cook. I can teach you if you want.”

“Can I, Papa?”

“Yes. We can even start tomorrow. We can even prepare our morning meal if you are up for it.”

“I will wake up early!”

I watched them as I was feeling left out now. But even so, I was alright because this was easier than I thought. I meant Sander had been holding back because he cared for my sake. He really wanted to get along with his father. But the problem was the past I had with Desmond.

Before, when Sander tried to ask about Desmond, it was either I dismissed him or scolded him for being a nuisance. I never wanted to speak about Desmond because I was still bitter from the past. But little did I know from that time, Desmond had already known the existence of our son.

I had no idea.

Seeing my son being talkative right now, unlike from the past few days because he had been acting hostile for my sake, was making me happy. Sander deserved this. He deserved to have a mother and a father dining together at the same table.

When we were finished with our meal, I stood up. “I shall make some tea,” I said and glanced meaningfully at Desmond. He simply nodded back before I turned my attention to Sander who held my hand.

“I-I will be left alone…” He must have realized that he had become talkative to his father. It meant that he let his guard down.

I smiled and kissed his forehead. “Your father is here. I won’t be that long, alright?” Sander had no choice but to nod.

I left them alone just as I planned. I asked Eisenberg to prepare me boiling water which he had done immediately.

“Say…” I leaned to the counter and looked at him. “Are you the one who cooked our evening meal, Eisenberg?” I asked suspiciously.

Eisenberg bowed his head before me, shaking his head. “He has been learning to cook ever since you ran away, Lady Seraphina,” he said politely.

“He doesn’t know how to cook…” That was incredibly suspicious for me as I found it hard to believe that Desmond could really cook now.

However, shouldn’t I doubt my skills as well? I learned how to cook ever since I had to provide for myself and for Sander.

He was about to answer but I dismissed him. “Nevermind. It is wrong of me that I doubted him,” I said, feeling guilty all of a sudden.

Eisenberg smiled. “I understand, milady. But believe me. We know that Alpha Desmond doesn’t know how to cook even from the time you married him but he had this dedication one day that he wanted to learn it and cook for you and for Young Master Sander once you return here in the Rising Diamond pack.”

I stared at him, wanting to see if he was lying or not. But I could see that he was telling the truth. Sighing, I surrendered before I turned my attention to the teapot where I made an herbal tea for Sander and peach blossom tea for Desmond and me.

I was bewildered when I saw no one in the dining hall. “Where are they?” I asked one of the maidservants who was helping clean the hall and returning the long table to its proper place.

“They are in Luna’s Garden, milady,” she answered politely. “Shall I help you bring the tray?”

She was about to take the tray with me when I halted. “No, no. It’s fine. I can handle it. I shall go to the garden then.”

She curtsied before me and allowed me to go now. I glanced at her one more time and didn’t bother to ask her name. Some of the maidservants here were unfamiliar to me. Some of them I still knew.

When I arrived at the Luna’s Garden, I heard Sander’s voice not so far from my ground.

“They were yellow orchids before?”

I also heard Desmond’s voice as well and followed where it came from. I felt that they were in the tall bushes.

“Mama likes yellow orchids, right? Then, I just thought she might like the other colors as well… I used to make an orchid flower crown for your mama on our wedding anniversaries.”

I halted upon hearing what Desmond said. My heart was racing wildly as I remembered that time he made me those orchid flower crowns. I remembered keeping them in the box from our chamber before.

“I want to make one for Mama, too!”

I snapped back when I heard jealousy in Sander’s voice. I smiled and took a peek at them. They were sitting on the grass facing each other. I saw Desmond grin. “I am the only one who can make that, kid. I cannot let you steal my limelight from your mother.” He scoffed.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Sander frowned. “Mama loves me more than you,” he said.

“Huh… Arrogant, aren’t we? That’s not true.” Desmond crossed his arms over his chest.

Sander frowned more at Desmond’s teasing tone. Before things got heated up, I showed myself.

“Mama!” Sander stood up and reached for my thigh. “Papa is annoying…”

“What did you two talk about?” I asked, feigning ignorance.

Sander was about to speak when Desmond chimed in. “Well, some father and son stuff.” He stood up. “Let me help.” He took the tray from me before I could react.

“Mama…” My son was frowning more as he glared at Desmond, tugging the hem of my dress.

I caressed his hair. “Tell me about it later. I made herbal tea. You can mix it with milk and with sugar cubes.” His face brightened up as he went to sit on his chair.

When I sat across from Desmond, I saw the hesitation in his eyes looking at the tea I served to him. He must have noticed that I was looking at him so he looked up and met my eyes.

“I am already full. Thank you,” he said, coercing a smile.

“I see…” I said. I was bewildered when he settled aside from the peach blossom tea I made. It looked like he was frightened about something. But somehow, I felt my heart being squeezed for some reason because I prepared that tea yet he said that he was already full.

“Mama, can I have the peach blossom tea instead?”

“Um…” I glanced at the teacup that was set aside before I took it and placed it near Sander. “Here. Are you certain? I don’t want you to wet the bed later, Sander,” I said.

“I don’t, Mama.” He frowned, causing me to smile.

Desmond feasted his eyes on us, not making any remarks now. He remained silent now through the whole night while Sander and I were the ones talking to each other. It felt bizarre that he was acting like this now.

Before the night ended, Sander said good night to Desmond. Slowly, Sander was opening up to Desmond. I could tell that in no time, they would get along.

“Can I get a hug if it is alright with you, Sander?” Desmond asked.

I wanted to scoff at asking permission from my son. Why didn’t I get to have that before? Desmond always took advantage of me and never asked for my permission.

When Desmond knelt, Sander looked at me, hesitant. I smiled and nodded. “Go on,” I urged him.

Sander didn’t think twice and ran towards his father.

At that moment, I knew that it was enough to coax Sander.

Desmond managed to win our son’s heart when he hugged him back.