Elena’s POV.
I woke up the next morning feeling a lot more energetic. The flashback of my encounter with Aria slipped into my head fuelling my excitement. There was no way I’d let her step on me ever again. I never allowed it happen from the onset anyway.
And her threat meant absolutely nothing to me, not when I was leaving in a few days. All I need to do is get my mission here accomplished and return to my home. The Greenwoods pack. And to my ever loving Darius. I wondered what his condition would be right now. He will certainly be lying somewhere, sulking at the sudden disappearance of the kids and I as well. I couldn’t wait to be done here and return to him with our kids.
I laid on the bed for several minutes trying to put myself together before heading out. I needed as much strength as I could get to go about the days activities. The pack members were still startled to see me and dealing with that will require a lot of energy.
I would have preferred to stay in the whole day, laying on my bed and relishing the old memories but If I wanted to get this done as soon as possible, then I needed to go out and source for better ways out.
I quickly ran a cold shower and changed into a new cloth before heading out.
As I had expected, all eyes were on me, everyone I walked past turned to take a second glance at me. They all really believed that I was dead?
As I walked forward, my gaze suddenly landed on a pretty little girl playing with a teddy. She looked so focused and happy that I stopped to watch her.
She threw the teddy into the air and posed to catch it but instead, it rolled towards me. I bent forward and picked it up.
“I’m so sorry miss, did it hurt you?” She ran towards me, with a sorry look on her face. I couldn’t help the smile that broke out on my face. How can a little child be so thoughtful and kind? She instantly reminded me of Athena and a sharp pang of pain shot through my chest suddenly remembering that my kids are at the mercy of an unknown man. They shouldn’t be in such situation, they are supposed to be free and happy just like the little girl in front of me.
“Are you okay miss?” Her tiny voice interrupted me before I could wallow in my sorrows.
“Oh yeah… This is yours.” I handed the teddy back to her.
“Thank you… And I’m sorry if I hit you with it.”
“Of course not princess, you don’t have to worry about that… Have anyone told you that you are beautiful?” I smiled at her.
“Thank you, you are beautiful too, but only my father calls me princess.” She replied almost immediately.
I furrowed my brows in amusement seeing how serious she looked.
She is such a delight.
“Who is your father?”
“There you are princess.” I heard a familiar voice from behind, walking up to us.
It was Killian.
She ran towards him and he scooped her into his arms. “How’re you, princess?”
“Father, I met this beautiful lady, she calls me princess too,” she rattled and I chuckled.
He turned to face me with a warm smile. “Hi Elena, I see you’ve met my daughter.”
“She’s your daughter?” I was beyond shocked. How could a well behaved child like this come from Aria? She was nothing like her mother.
Killian nodded with a smile. “Yes, she is.”
“What’s your name princess?” I asked.
“Emily.” She replied with a smile.
Such pretty name.
“That is such a pretty name, well, it’s nice to meet you, Emily, I’m Elena,” I stretched out my hand towards her.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Aunt Elena.” I felt my heart tighten painfully as her tiny hands held mine in a warm handshake. Everything about her reminded me of my kids.
“We are about to have breakfast, please join us, Elena?” Killian suddenly blurted.
Oh no, I really don’t want to get too attached. “I’m sorry, but I have to refuse, I think I’m gonna head back inside now, there’s a lot of cleaning piled up for me.” I tried to avoid it.
“Please don’t say no, Aunt Elena, for me please.” Emily pouted cutely.
I cursed under my breath as I stared at her innocent face, I couldn’t refuse. “Fine, for you, Emily.”
She threw her tiny fist up in the air, in excitement. She is such a jolly kid.
“Thanks, princess,” Killian placed a quick peck on her cheeks. “C’mon,” he motioned me to follow him as he started heading towards the palace.
I watched as he tickled Emily at intervals and she couldn’t stop giggling as we approached the palace. The pain I felt in my chest increased drastically. I couldn’t help but wonder if he would be this happy if he found out about Hero and Athena. Would he fight for them?
An idea suddenly ran through my head. What if I told him about the kids and Aragorn? Would he give everything to fight Aragorn and rescue our kids? That way no one has to die.
I quickly snapped the thought out of my head, realizing how dumb it was.
The house workers kept staring shockingly at me as we walked into the palace.
“Grandma,” Emily squealed happily jumping down from Killian’s arms and ran towards her.
Luna Drusilla had her gaze fixed on me, she looked like she had seen a ghost. “Elena?”
“You know her Grandma?” Emily asked.
Luna Drusilla waved her off slightly and walked towards me. “It’s really you.” She gently held my hand.
Surprisingly, she leaned forward and pulled me into a hug. “You are really here,” she whispered.
After a short while, she broke the hug. “I’m sorry for the pain we caused you, it wasn’t Killian’s fault, he was under a lot of pressure, I hope you can forgive him, he has hated himself all these years.”
I stared at her without saying a word.
“Thankfully, you are here now, and even with how complicated the situation is, I hope you both can sort things out, please don’t let him get hurt again.” She held my hand as she spoke as if urging me to make a promise.