Betrayed By My Mate Saved By His Rival

---- Chapter 21 Seraphina's POV "Mommy!" Asmall figure darted out from behind a door and threw herself into my arms. Lydia. My daughter. She was alive. "T'm so sorry, my sweet girl," I sobbed, rocking her fragile body in my arms. "Mommy is so sorry. I should have protected you." "Don't cry, Mommy." She wiped my tears with her small hands. "I'm okay." "But we're together now," she said with a pup's innocence. "Uncle Julian said we'll be safe from now on." Uncle Julian? I looked up and saw Julian leaning against the doorframe, a gentle smile on his face. "She's not hurt?" I asked.

---- "Just some scrapes and bruises," Julian said, walking over and crouching beside us. "A werewolf's healing is strong. She recovered well." "Thank you," I looked at him. "If it wasn't for you..." "Don't thank me," he said, stroking Lydia's hair. "It's what I should have done." Lydia seemed so comfortable with Julian, not scared at all. As if he had always been her father. "Uncle Julian bought me lots of toys!" Lydia said excitedly. "And pretty dresses!" "Did he?" I forced a smile. "Mommy, are we going to live here forever?" Lydia asked. I looked at Julian.

"If you want to," he said, his gaze serious and kind. "This will always be your home." Home? That word felt so foreign to me now. "T'd like to get Lydia settled first," I said. "Of course." Julian stood up. "I've had adjoining rooms ---- prepared, so you can be close to each other." He had thought of everything. He was more thoughtful than Ethan ever was. Half an hour later, Lydia was asleep in her new room. I closed her door softly and went to the living room. Julian was on the sofa, looking through some documents. "Work?" I asked. "Mmm." He looked up. "Some pack business.

Sit." Isat across from him, feeling a little awkward. "Julian..." I began. "I want to ask you something." "What is it?" "Why?" I finally asked, the word quiet in the large room. " Why are you doing all this for us?" He put down his papers and thought for a moment. "Do you want the truth?" "Of course." "Because I'm in love with you, Seraphina," he said, his ---- voice quiet but unshakable. He held my gaze. "I think I have been since the first day I saw you." "What?" "The Goddess never blessed me with a fated mate," he continued, a hint of old sorrow in his voice.

"But from the moment I met you, my wolf knew. It chose you. It has only ever wanted you." I stared at him, stunned. "But... Ethan and I severed our bond..." "T know," he said, standing and walking to the window. " I'm not expecting anything, Seraphina. I just want to protect you and your daughter. Give you a safe place." "Is that all?" "Unless you wanted..." He turned, his gaze intense. "We could try. To build something new." "Try what?" "To start over," his gaze was sincere. "I know you're hurting right now. I can wait." I looked at him, this man who had quietly watched over me for so long.

---- Strong, gentle, reliable. The complete opposite of Ethan. "Julian..." "Mommy!" Lydia suddenly ran out of her room. "I hada bad dream!" "Baby!" I immediately scooped her up. "T dreamed the bad dad was going to push me again..." she sobbed. The bad dad. She meant Ethan. "It's okay," Julian crouched down, his voice gentle. "The bad man can't hurt you anymore." "Really?" Lydia looked at him. "Really," Julian held out his hand. "I promise to protect you and Mommy." Lydia hesitated for a moment, then took his hand. Lydia looked up at him, her small face impossibly serious.

"Uncle Julian?" she asked, her voice small but clear. " Since the bad daddy is gone... can you be my new daddy?" ---- Julian froze, then looked at me. "If your mommy agrees," he said softly. I looked at the man who had saved us, and at the daughter who was finally smiling again. A fragile warmth bloomed in the frozen landscape of my heart. "Okay," I whispered, the word feeling both terrifying and hopeful. "We can try." A flash of surprise crossed Julian's face, but he quickly composed himself. "T'll be patient," he said. "We'll take it slow." Lydia clapped her hands. "Yay!

I have a new daddy!" Seeing my daughter's happy smile, I felt a sense of security I hadn't felt in a long, long time. Maybe this place really could be our home. And so, my daughter and I began our new life in Julian's pack.