Forbidden Innocence (Book #3)

Chapter 16

Lilac's P.O.V

By the end of the week, my body was frail and fragile. My hands were a bruised mess from me putting in extra time at the dojo after training without Ophelia.

Without Landon, my body wasn't healing properly, my body wasn't active properly in general.

My appetite had slowly disappeared also, but Ophelia refused to let me break down, she kept pushing me.

So, when the man guarding me announced that the week away from Landon was up, I nearly started crying.

I hurriedly walked in front of my guard, my bond with Landon tingling as we got closer to each other.

"Landon!" I cry out when I see him. He smiles at me and speeds up his pace.

We hug for a while, our bodies enjoying one another's warmth and the reassuring feeling of our hearts beating, and our lungs breathing.

Finally, we pull away and kiss gently.

I've missed his touch so much.

A throat clears behind us and turn around to find Victoria and Ava. "Many people don't know this, but we're witches. Our mates have assigned to give you mental obstacles," Victoria starts.

I grip Landon's arm tightly and frown. "What kind of mental obstacles?"

Please don't be too difficult or endangering. Landon and I just reunited, and I don't want us separated.

Ava steps up and smiles. "Mental simulations that show different situations in a pack. The way you solve that problem will tell us if you're ready to be an alpha and a luna," She explains.

Sh*t! What if I'm not ready? What if I make the wrong decision? Or—even though this is highly unlikely—Landon chooses the wrong solution and I'm left to lead a pack by myself?

"When do we start?" I ask, scared.

Ava glances at Victoria. "Tomorrow. We'll let you two enjoy being together," She sympathizes.

Relief floods me.

I have time to let Landon in on everything I've been up to, and just relish his presence after being separated from him for so long.

••

Sex wasn't enough to bring us together again, so we settled on bringing the babies back to their normal room—ours—and cuddling on the large couch in front of the fire with a blanket throw over us.

The babies had fallen asleep not too long ago, but we didn't bother to follow. We just reached around them and whispered soft words to each other, caressing and kissing.

"You look pale, malnourished, and bruised. What did you do to yourself, Wife?" He asks with a deep frown.

I look down at my knuckles and shrug. "Just extra time in the gym. My appetite went away without you there, and I just felt like complete sh*t." I release a sob.

Landon kisses my forehead before bringing me as close as possible with the babies between us. "Shh... you're alright; we're alright," He soothes.

I pull away, and dry my tears, feeling pathetic and weak. "No, they're crushing us, Landon. They're throwing obstacle after obstacle at us, and I don't think I can do this anymore," I admit.

He crosses his arms, suddenly angry. "I'm stressed, Lilac, just like you. They're very demanding men, and they'll kill us if we crumble. Don't start acting selfish now," He growls.

Not a fight. Please.

My hand rests on Lucy's head and runs over it gently. "I'm not selfish, Landon! I'm tired, and worried for our children. What will become of them once we become an alpha and luna?" I retort.