Today was the cotton harvest season here in the Rising Diamond pack.
It was a fruitful year again because we got to harvest more cotton this year. Cotton was one of the main agricultural products of the Sowinski Kingdom. We sold and distributed them to the cotton fabric manufacturers here from our local area. Sometimes, we were exporting them to the three different kingdoms called Estasia Eglaria Kingdom, Yuanzhong Kingdom, and Waevalon Kingdom.
I giggled as soon as I saw Desmond joining with the fellow men. He had a huge frown on his face seeing that he really didn't like harvesting cotton because it annoyed him when some of the strands of the cotton stuck to his clothes.
'It seems you are enjoying harvesting, cinnamon,' I mind linked him while chuckling.
Desmond looked for me in the crowds and spotted me. He playfully rolled his eyes. 'I cannot believe I have to do this every year just to impress our pack members,' he mind linked back.
'Come. I'll wipe your forehead, cinnamon.' I waved my handkerchief.
Desmond's face brightened up. He didn't hesitate to leave even though all of our men, who are not pack warriors, were still working in the fields.
The women who were with me were teasing me when their Alpha was coming in my direction. I only chuckled and met him.
He sighed in exasperation. "Do I really have to do this?" he asked as I wiped the beads of sweat forming on his forehead and neck.
I pecked his lips. "Of course. You need to show your compassion that you cared for your pack members."
His arm instantly snaked around me before he pulled me against him. "I only cared about you, seraphim," he whispered seductively, causing me to inhale sharply and grin. "But I know this makes you happy to boast and be proud of me to your fellow women so I will keep doing this for you." He growled immaculately.
I licked my lips and chuckled. "Ah, Desmond... You are really turning me on," I whispered back.
His hand dug to my side. "Then, I shall make them watch how I pound you so fast and make you scream my name. Shall we do that?"
I distanced my face and shot him a glare. "There are kids here."
He grinned. "Is that even a problem? I can tell their parents to take them away and—"
I covered his mouth. "No, no. Calm your horses, cinnamon. We are in the middle of the harvest festival right now. So, go back and fulfill your duty as a farmer." I gently tapped his cheek, smiling sheepishly.
Desmond frowned but he sighed and smiled before he kissed my lips. "Alright. Be sure that I have a reward for doing this," he said meaningfully.
"Of course." I winked. "You can do anything you want from me." That was enough of a bargain for this man to play the role of a farmer.
"Tsk, tsk. Then, shall I tie you up in the bed and make you beg me?"
"I said, anything, cinnamon." I rolled my eyes. But I felt my wolf squirm at his words.
"Spanking?" I nodded. Desmond grinned. "So, anything, huh?"
"Don't forget rough and by force. That is not what you did last night." I frowned, acting like I didn't like it.
He squinted his eyes at me. "I am being gentle because I don't want—"
"How many times do I have to tell you that I like it rough? And do not pity me. I am not weakling." I drew closer to him. "You've gone too soft to me since we married, Desmond. Where is the primal instinct of making me feel trapped in your arms, huh?"
He growled. "Don't insult me, seraphim."
I chuckled. "I am not insulting you, cinnamon. I am just telling you that you can go extreme on me. I will take them and be a good slut for you," I said seductively.
"Oh, is it?" There was a sly smile on his lips. "Then you shall receive them later," he whispered to my ear. "Thank you for the lewd invitation, Marchioness Beryl-Verlice. I shall attend to it later tonight," he whispered darkly.
"Yes, Marquis Verlice. I am looking forward to it." I bit my lower lip when Desmond gently pinched my chin.
"I love you," he said before pecking my lips one more time as he stepped back.
"I love you, too." I felt butterflies fluttering in my stomach as my wolf was feeling needy of our mate.
Desmond's face brightened up at my response. Then he happily returned to the cotton field. I could already tell that saying I love you to him was making him happy.
I could still remember that time when I finally accepted him as my mate and reciprocated my feelings for him. Desmond didn't expect that he wouldn't have to force me by that time.
We were too complicated before. I almost refused him because he was too much. What I mean too much is he was too cruel for my own good. He was so obsessive and couldn't control his jealousy. Back then when I was first arriving at this pack, we argued a lot. No one backed down and... we couldn't deny we so wanted each other.
I smiled, reminiscing about those crazy memories. I could have wished if the Moon Goddess meant us to have a pup, I wished to tell our pup that their father was being hilarious.
I could already tell that if our pup is a girl, Desmond would be so overprotective with our daughter.
Later that night, we had a big celebration all over the pack. It was a festive event that happened every time we got to harvest cotton every year. Every pack was celebrating it so we were not the only ones who were having to celebrate and harvest this morning.
Tomorrow, it would be the continuation of the celebration and Alpha King Azarius would show himself in the festival. Desmond and I had already planned to go to the capital tomorrow to attend the meeting with the Alpha King Azarius.
I was enjoying talking and laughing with my pack members when I came to spot Desmond who was speaking with Harvey right now. Then I furrowed my eyebrows when Harvey showed Hazel to Desmond.
I tried to hear their conversation using my sensitive hearing but we were surrounded by our pack members in one area and the crowds were too noisy so it was hard to hear it. I excused myself as I swam through the sea of crowds and was about to call Desmond because it was bizarre that he didn't get to tell me that he would leave for a moment.
My heart sank as soon as Desmond and Hazel went along with each other.
I furrowed my eyebrows as I got to see them going to our manor.
"What is happening?" I murmured as I tried to get off from the crowds without being seen by our Betas and Gammas.
I looked at my bracelet and thanked myself that I was wearing it. It would mean so much to me to wear this because this bracelet has an incantation to hide my scent. I was using it because I had plans to make fun with Desmon later.
With careful walking, I headed straight to the manor and went inside after seeing Desmond and Hazel go there.
I went in the direction where Desmond's study room was located. That was where I could smell his scent. I carefully removed my heel shoes so that they wouldn't make a noise on the marble floor. I walked barefoot while heading to the study room of Desmond.
"Why are you choosing me to have this task, Alpha?"
I inhaled quietly when I came to hear Hazel's flirty voice. I was already at the door which wasn't closed enough so I was able to hear what they were about to talk about.
"Because you are fit for this, Hazel. And I don't want to worry my wife anymore."
My heart stopped when Desmond mentioned my name. I carefully knelt on the marble floor without making any noise so I could peek in the hole of the doorknob.
There, I saw Desmond leaning on his desk while facing Hazel who was holding a parchment.
"Hmm..." Hazel hummed as she chuckled. "Oh, I see. Luna does not know about this, am I right, Alpha? You should have brought this topic to her."
I furrowed my eyebrows. What on earth were they talking about? What were they referring to me?
"I will eventually tell her."
Hazel chuckled. "I don't think Luna will approve of it. Me? You will make me a surrogate mother? Luna Seraphina doesn't even like me, Alpha."
My eyes widened in surprise. Surrogate mother? What—
"I asked Anderson to conduct a test between Seraphina and me to see which one of us is having a defective state. He found out that Seraphina is infertile. It is the reason why we cannot bear a pup even after being married for five years."
I stiffened and felt like something exploded in my body right now. Me? Infertile? My heart sank more. So... am I really the problem as to why we haven't conceived a pup?
Is that the reason why he was speaking to Hazel? To make her a surrogate mother?
"Alpha, do not act so naive. Luna will not approve it even if you discuss it. She'd rather not have me to surrogate your pup because she feels threatened about my presence."
I clenched my hands when I saw her stepping forward towards Desmond whose expression was still stoic.
"Seraphina will understand. She has been troubled that until now, we haven't had a pup yet, Hazel. I know that she wants to have a pup already even if I tell her that I am not worried if we can have one or not," Desmond said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
I gritted my teeth when Hazel was already in front of Desmond and leaned forward to him. I wanted to open the door and smash that flirty expression of her but I couldn't find myself moving at my ground.
When I looked at my hands, I found them shaking. Shit... What I heard tonight was making me shiver right now.
"I can agree to be the surrogate mother, Alpha. But there is one condition."
"What is it? For my wife, I will do anything."
I immediately returned my gaze back to the hole upon hearing his icy tone yet... there was desperation. When I checked Desmond whose eyebrows were furrowed while Hazel's grinning face was so close to him, I already knew that I wouldn't like what was going to happen.
"Spend one night with me, Alpha. That is all for my condition," Hazel said before she descended her lips to Desmond causing my eyes to widen in shock.
"Seraphim, are you alright?"I snapped back. "Huh?" I blinked and looked at Desmond who was tilting his head, looking at me. "Are you saying something?"He creased his forehead before he sighed. "I am asking you if the food is to your liking. You haven't touched it. Isn't appetizing for you? Shall we change to a different restaurant?" he asked. There was a concerned expression on his face.I shook my head as I looked down at my food. He was right. I haven't touched it. "I don't have an appetite right now, cinnamon." I forced a smile as I sighed."Is there... something wrong?" Desmond asked, hesitant as he took my hand.I glanced down at his hand. I secretly gnashed my teeth. I almost smiled bitterly before I put up my real smile. "No, cinnamon. We have been eating a lot for the past two days so I think I am still full. You know what I mean..."We had arrived at the capital two days ago to attend the meeting with Alpha King Azarius. Since we arrived there, the palace never failed to pr
"Seraphina, grab me some electric blue taffeta, will you?" I nodded my head as I went to the shelves for fabrics where they were arranged by fabric type and by color. Then I took the electric blue taffeta and bestowed the fabric to Nicia who was busy hand sewing a new cicada gown ordered by Lady Helga. I returned to my seat to finish the bonnet matching the ball gown for Lady Helga. Nicia and I were the ones handling this while my other fellow seamstresses were busy dealing with the new customers from the noble ladies. I took the needle and black laces to sew it to the brim of the blue hat. "Are you going to stay late again, Nicia?" I asked when I continued sewing. Nicia glanced at me. "Probably. It is not as if we have a choice. We didn't even have a break for work, Seraphina." She grinned. I chuckled, huffing. "You are right." But I sighed one more time. "I do not know what to explain again to Sander if I come home late and he is waiting for me again." "If only Madam Ibanez wa
I woke up the next morning having Sander, not in my arms. I panicked and got up from the single bed where we both slept."Sander?" I went to the dining room to see brown-colored bread, made from barley flour with rye, on the table. Then I heard a hissing sound coming from a pan and saw Sander's small back and messy golden hair locks inherited from mine. "Sander..." I called when I found out that he was cooking.My son named Sander stiffened before he turned around and smiled. "Good morning, Mama!" He instantly hugged me.I hugged him so tight and carried him in my arms. "You're cooking for Mama again, little man." I checked what he was cooking and saw that he was cooking some salmon. Upon finding it out, I couldn't help kissing his forehead as I felt a little bad that he was doing this for me. I must be the one who must do this to him but it turned out to be otherwise."I woke up early, Mama, to catch a salmon in the river for our morning meal!" He beamed.I lifted him down and knelt
"There are so many food stalls here, Mama! I can't pick one!" Sander beamed as we came to walk to the seaside and saw some food stalls.I chuckled and held his hand tightly. "How about we go to a nearby restaurant? I am very sure you haven't experienced coming there, have you?"His eyes widened in awe. "Restaurant?" I nodded, caressing his hair. "I would love to!"I fixated on his bowtie and his hat. "There." I cupped his cherub face. "My baby pup grows up so fast. I can't accept it yet," I said, feeling emotional as I gave him some kisses which Sander giggled at."Mama, I want to grow up so I can protect you. I will look for work and I will earn so hard that Mama won't work anymore."That made me teary-eyed. "What did I do to deserve you?" I kissed his forehead. He was such an adorable child. I really don't deserve this pup..."Because I love my Mama. My playmates teased me that you don't love me anymore because Mama is not staying with me for the whole day. But I told them you are w
I was bothered by Sander's words as soon as we headed back home. Even though days had already passed, I could still feel chills down my spine. I didn't get a chance to ask him about it and what the man really looked like.But if what Sander proclaimed that the man looked like my son, could it be... him? He was here?That was impossible for sure. This rural town was far away from where I lived before. It was impossible that he would be able to find me since I never used my maiden surname or his surname.I only used my own name since as a peasant, they don't have any surname. I knew that I was safe because having a name, Seraphina, was a very common name here in the Sowinski Kingdom.But... if Desmond managed to find me, then I must do what it took to hide my son away from him. There was no way that he had a chance to see our son.Never.After he hurt me... After he made me a fool from our marriage...Did he really think that he deserved to know about our son?Absconding from his pack..
"This is our new home, Mama?" Sander asked with his eyes widened in awe.I roamed my eyes around seeing that this new flat I rented was well maintained. I was glad that I found a caring landlady who was so accommodating to her tenants, unlike the landlady where Sander and I stayed before. Her rent was cheap yet it was dilapidated.I only rented there because I wanted to live in a simple flat that would avoid having me found by Desmond. But I was glad that I found a flat that would fit in my budget for my wage of being a seamstress and my workplace was two blocks away from our new flat.I looked at Sander and gently caressed his hair. "Yes, little man. This is our new home with no annoying neighbors," I said.He giggled when I gently pinched his nose. "Can I go out while you are away, Mama?" he asked. "I saw a river that isn't far away from here."I chuckled. Sander would always love going to rivers and going to hunt some salmon. "As long as you are not going anywhere aside from that r
"Mama, please take care."I kissed Sander on his forehead. "Yes. Continue to write them, alright? Then, we will proceed to the next lesson once I go home. Be a good boy here, Sander."Since we already had a new home, I already introduced Sander to studying more by reading and writing. Though I couldn't say that I had knowledge about it, I only thought about what I thought would be convenient for my son while I was away.The education here was only favorable to all the nobles. It was a good thing that Desmond had made me study lessons when we were still getting to know each other. At that time I was still wary of him but still, I accepted the education he bestowed on me since he insisted. It was the time he knew that I couldn't read and write.It was very helpful for me and thanks to that, I could pass my knowledge to Sander.I went to the tailor shop early this morning. I even got to meet Niscia along the way."I hope Madam Ibanez is not here yet," I said when we went to our workstati
"You must be..." Desmond paused, acting like he wanted to know my name.I froze to my ground, unable to speak. Shivers kept coming, seeing his stare piercing me. Talk, Seraphina! Talk!"I—""Her name is Seraphina, one of my seamstresses. She will be the one taking your measurement, Lord Verlice," Madam Ibanez answered.I inhaled almost sharply when I heard Madam Ibanez say Lord Verlice. I almost pinched myself for failing to hear the surname, Verlice. How could I ignore it at all times?Verlice surname was only owned by Desmond himself. The devil in disguise!"I see. Seraphina, it is..." I snapped back, feeling my heart was about to explode as I faced my mate I rejected who was also my former husband. I felt shivers down my spine when he mentioned my name as if he was tasting it, wanting to see if it was according to his taste or not.I could feel my hands fidgeting right now when I came to see Oakley, one of his Betas, who was settling beside him. Our eyes met but he didn't react tha