Sophia’s POV
As I stood there beside Alexander, facing his grandfather’s stern gaze, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of nervousness and curiosity. Teddy Williams’s nod hinted that I wasn’t entirely unknown to him Alexander must have mentioned me before. But his first question caught me off guard, causing my cheeks to flush slightly.
“Is she your surrogate wife?” he inquired, his tone as unyielding as his expression.
Alexander’s jaw tightened, his displeasure evident. It was a reaction I’d seen before, the result of others trivializing our relationship with that term. Without skipping a beat, he stepped slightly in front of me, as if instinctively sheltering me from the harshness of his grandfather’s words.
“No, Grandfather,” Alexander retorted firmly, his voice tinged with a protective edge. “She’s not a surrogate anything. She’s a woman who means a lot to me.”
The air seemed to thicken as the tension hung between them. I exchanged a quick glance with our children, but they also looked a little bit annoyed.
“Grandfather, don’t speak about Mom like that,” Daisy said, her tone a blend of frustration and indignation.
“Yeah, she’s not some substitute,” Daniel chimed in, his expression mirroring his sister’s determination.
The room crackled with opposing emotions, the generations clashing. But then, to my surprise, a hearty laughter filled the space. It was as if a storm had suddenly cleared, replaced by a warm, inviting breeze. Teddy Williams’s laughter was infectious, and I found myself smiling despite the lingering tension.
He looked at me with a kindness that hadn’t been there before, his eyes twinkling as he said, “My dear, I was only pulling your leg. No need to mind an old man’s jest.”
The tension that had gripped my shoulders released, replaced by a mixture of relief and amusement. Alexander’s grandfather wasn’t the stoic figure I’d first perceived; he had a mischievous side. He turned his attention to Alexander, his laughter subsiding but the twinkle in his eyes remained.
“Alexander, my boy, to see you so taken with a woman, it warms my heart,” Teddy Williams teased, his tone more playful now.
Alexander’s cheeks flushed, his embarrassment palpable. “Come on, Grandfather, can we be serious?”
The children nodded emphatically, their support unwavering. Teddy Williams’s laughter bubbled up again, more joyous than before. He glanced at our children, a fond smile forming.
“Well done, you two,” he commended, his voice gentle. “Protecting your mother that’s how it should be.”
Standing before Teddy Williams whose stern expression had betrayed nothing but formality. Yet, in a mere heartbeat, the atmosphere shifted like the wind changing its course. His hand enveloped mine, his grip firm yet unexpectedly gentle. His gaze, once scrutinizing, now radiated a warmth that seemed to erase the earlier distance.
My heart skipped a beat at the transformation, the surprise rendering me momentarily speechless. He held my hand as if he had known me for years, his affectionate eyes revealing a depth I hadn’t expected to encounter so soon. It was as if the gruff exterior he had worn earlier was merely a guise, now replaced by a genuine fondness.
Looking at our intertwined hands, he spoke with a gruff tenderness, “You know, my boy here might not express it much, but he’s a better man because of you.”
A smile tugged at the corners of my lips, the sincerity in his words resonating deeply within me. Alexander stood beside us, a small but proud smile curving his lips as he watched his grandfather’s unexpected display of emotion.
Teddy Williams’s tone shifted, becoming a mixture of gratitude and nostalgia. “I owe you my gratitude, for not just bringing light to my grandson’s life, but for giving us these two adorable children.” He glanced towards Daniel and Daisy, who stood close by, their eyes shining with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.
His next words held a weight that made my heart race. “I once said, if my stubborn grandson managed to father children before the age of 35, I’d hand over my property to him. And here we are.” Alexander Williams chuckled, a gleam of pride in his eyes as he looked at Alexander.
Alexander’s gaze met his grandfather’s, an unspoken understanding passing between them. The promise, the years of hard work, it had all led to this moment.
Teddy Williams’s eyes twinkled with a mixture of mischief and genuine affection as he turned his gaze back to me. “And you, my dear, have made this possible. You’ve given me more than I could have asked for.”
Tears welled in my eyes, my heart overflowing with emotions I struggled to put into words. I managed a shaky smile, the swell of gratitude and love making it hard to breathe. Before I could even respond, Teddy Williams’s expression grew more serious, his tone carrying a weight of authority that hushed the murmurs around us.
“Listen, everyone!” His voice echoed, commanding attention. The members of the shadow clan, who had been watching in curious anticipation, fell silent. “As the head of this clan, I’ve made rules to protect us, to maintain our way of life. And one of those rules has been to keep humans out of the Shadow City.”
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in the air. I felt Alexander’s grip on my hand tighten, his support unwavering.
“But,” his tone softened, “there are exceptions. Today, before all of you, I declare that this girl, Sophia, the mother of these children, is one such exception.”
My breath caught, disbelief mingling with the astonishment that surged through me. He was saying the words I had never dared to hope for.
“The humans,” his voice grew firmer, more resolute, “will not see her as a trespasser, but as our own. As the Luna of the Shadow Clan.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd, the significance of his words resonating within the hearts of those who had always known the harshness of our world.
Alexander’s grip on my hand now felt like an anchor, grounding me as the magnitude of this moment swept over me. I turned to look at him, and our eyes met, an unspoken understanding passing between us.
His grandfather’s gaze bore into mine, a silent acknowledgment that I was no longer an outsider, but a part of something greater, something that would span generations.
“And not just her,” Teddy Williams’s voice carried a paternal pride, “but her family as well. Her father and mother will be under our protection.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks, emotions overwhelming any words I could have spoken. The weight of his promise settled upon my shoulders, a mantle of responsibility and belonging that I was ready to carry.
Alexander Williams stepped back, his presence commanding attention as he raised his voice once more. “Let it be known that the humans who gave rise to these children, who brought light to my grandson’s life, will forever be regarded as our own. They will be protected by us, and their legacy will intertwine with ours for generations to come.”
As the cheers continued to echo around us, Alexander pulled me into a tight embrace, his voice a tender whisper against my ear, “Welcome home, Luna.”