Page 98 of Abandoned By My Alpha Husband

The Davidson Restaurant was Reserpine's best family restaurant—warm atmosphere, exquisite food. I'd reserved a private room in advance and asked the manager to keep it confidential. I just wanted a quiet meal with my family.

We sat by the window with a view of the fountain in the garden. Anya sat between Elena and me, Liam on Elena's other side.

A waiter brought menus. I let Elena and the kids order first.

"I want this!" Anya pointed at the children's meal on the menu. "And ice cream!"

"Okay." Elena smiled. "But ice cream comes after you finish dinner."

"I know!"

The food came quickly. Pasta drowning in meat sauce, steak cooked just right, fried foods on flat plates drizzled with sauce, broccoli paired with boiled eggs arranged in pretty patterns.

"Wow!" Anya called out first. She speared a piece of pre-cut fried chicken and stuffed it in her mouth, her cheeks puffing out immediately. Liam twirled noodles onto his fork and eagerly shoved them in his mouth.

I watched them, then looked at Elena.

She was watching the kids, too. The light fell on her face, making her smile even warmer.

This was what I wanted.

A family of four, sitting together, eating, talking, laughing. No misunderstandings, no hurt, no separation.

Just warmth and belonging.

I'd waited ten years—five searching for her when I didn't know she was my mate, five pushing her away because of misunderstandings. Thank the Moon Goddess, she was kind enough to bring Elena back to me, along with our lovely daughter. And their arrival had changed Liam, eased the relationship between him and me—it had been too long since father and son had sat down to a proper meal together.

Anya ate happily, tomato sauce smeared on the corner of her mouth. Elena wiped it with a napkin, movements gentle.

"Mommy, look!" Anya held up her fork. "I cut it myself!"

"You're amazing." Elena smiled.

After dinner, Anya said she wanted to play in the restaurant's children's area. There were slides, swings, and a small climbing frame. She'd noticed it the moment we walked in. She pulled Liam along, asking him to go with her. Liam looked helpless—after all, his tall frame was too out of place in that pile of screaming, running kids—but he followed her anyway. The other kids took one look at him and quietly moved away. Anya was delighted. Now all the toys were hers.

Elena and I stayed in our seats, watching them through the glass window. Elena hummed a tune. She seemed in very good spirits.

"Elena," I gathered my courage. "I have something to tell you."

She put down her teacup and looked at me. "What?"

I took a deep breath.

"I want... I want us to start over."

Her fingers stopped on the rim of the cup.

"I know I hurt you." Every word came out seriously. "Five years ago, I didn't believe you. I drove you away. I let the bond break. It was the biggest mistake of my life."

"But now," I leaned forward, covering her hand with mine, "Elena, give me a chance. Let me make amends. Let me prove I'm worth trusting again. These past few weeks, I believe you've felt my commitment—"

She looked at me, hesitation and uncertainty in her eyes.

"Lucifer..."

"I know it's not easy." I interrupted her. "I know rebuilding trust and the bond takes time. But Elena, I'm willing to wait. However long it takes, I'll wait."

"I..." She bit her lower lip. "But..."