Willow's Choice

Thiry-Five

I woke to Valor's deep baritone slow dancing in the air in a sweet lullaby.

I sat up as he held the twins and Ava was on his lap in between her sisters, all of the girls fast asleep as their father sang to them softly.

I knew the song, I had heard Valor hum it times before to Ava as she fell asleep, even when I was pregnant.

On behalf of every man
Looking out for every girl
You are the God and the weight of her world
So father's be good to your daughters

He stopped singing and our seemingly normal moment was over and I remembered that just outside my father was on patrol of our house and a man was trying to destroy what I had here. What Valor and I created together. Our family.

"When the time comes, I don't want them here. I want them safe. Away from all of this." He said.

I completely agreed. If there was a small chance that my children could be hurt for any reason or if something happened to me or Valor, I didn't want them anywhere near the chaos that was going to inevitably unfold and I wanted them to be with people I knew would love them and care for them as if they were their own.

"Giselle and Pierre." I said.

Valor looked at me, nodding in agreement.

I could feel my emotions bubbling over and I blinked away the tears.

"We will see our girls again Willow. Do not think that way." Valor said.

I knew he was right, nothing would keep me from keeping my family together and seeing them again, but that didn't stop me from worrying.

I looked up as Giselle entered, followed by Pierre, their scents faint of blood and earth, of the hunt.

Giselle froze when she saw me.

"Willow? Darling, what's wrong?" She whispered.

"I need you to take my girls. To keep them safe." I told her.

"Willow, honey I-

"Please. You're the one I trust to take care of them, if anything ever happened to me or Valor. Tell me. Promise me you'll take care of them." I told her.

She nodded, "Of course, as if they were my own."

I hugged her to me, thanking her as she smoothed down my back with her hand.

I stood up, needing to get some fresh air.

I walked out to the patio where Pierre stood, staring into the darkness.

I could sense his unease.

"They did something to him. He got away too easily." Pierre said.

Valor's chuckle sounded and I turned, confused as to why he would laugh about this.

I saw him with the twins in his arms as he stood  in the doorway. I watched as his eyes began to change color, turning to a pale brown and then they lit up to a fiery amber and his chuckle was very feminine and sharp.

Almost like a witch.

That's when it hit me and I recognized the person behind the glamour. I moved immediately to grab my daughters but I had only taken one step when I was frozen in place, my eyes and lips the only thing I was able to move as I stared at the witch that was previously Valor.

It was fake.

None of it was real.

Valor.

This Valor has never existed.