Chosen By The Cursed Alpha King (Emilia) novel Chapter 261

< 116 Can We Stay Here Forever

116. Can We Stay Here Forever

LUCIEN’S POV

The blanket was spread out under the big oak tree, dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves and dancing across Adele’s hair. She’d packed everything-sandwiches, fruit, little juice boxes for Andrea, even a tiny picnic basket with a checkered cloth. Her idea, of course.

She said we needed a day like this, something normal and bright after all the darkness we’d walked through. She was right. Every time I looked at her, I felt the weight in my chest lighten just a little

more.

Andrea was running in circles around us, his little legs pumping, bubble gun clutched in both hands like a weapon. He was giggling so hard his whole body shook. Every few seconds he’d stop, aim the gun at us, and shoot a stream of shiny bubbles that floated up into the air like tiny rainbows.

“Got you, Mommy!” he shouted, pointing the gun at Adele.

She threw her head back and laughed-the real, full laugh that always made my heart skip. Her eyes sparkled when she looked at him, pure love pouring out of her. It warmed me from the inside out, like sunshine sinking straight into my bones. I couldn’t stop staring at them. My family. My

reason.

I still couldn’t believe it sometimes. Me. Lucien. The man who thought he’d never have anything good in his life. And now here I was, watching my mate and my little brother chase bubbles on a perfect afternoon.

Andrea wasn’t just my brother. He was my son now-in every way that mattered. I’d found out the truth in the dungeon when I confronted Naomi. She’d been chained to the wall, spitting venom, eyes wild with hate. When I asked why she’d hurt him-why she’d hit him, scare him, make him cry- she’d laughed, bitter and ugly.

“If that brat hadn’t come into this world, Harrison wouldn’t have seen what to use as bait,” she’d snarled. “He only used me because of him. He was disgusting. All of you are.”

I’d stood there, frozen, rage boiling so hot I could barely breathe. My little brother-my own blood- had been treated exactly like I had. Punished for existing. Used as a tool. The same bruises, the same fear, the same cold nights locked away. I wanted to tear the dungeon apart with my bare

hands.

Naomi was still down there. She wouldn’t see daylight for a very long time. Maybe never. I’d made sure of it. And I’d made a promise to myself right then: Andrea would never feel that kind of pain again. He’d have love. Safety. Laughter. Everything never got.

He still called me Daddy. Every time he said it, my chest ached in the best way. I didn’t correct him. How could I? He was too young to understand the whole twisted story-how Harrison was dead,

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how Naomi was gone, how I was his brother by blood but his father by choice. One day, when he

was older, we’d explain it gently. But for now? He had a mommy who adored him and a daddy who

would burn the world down before letting anything hurt him. That was enough.

Andrea stopped running and pointed across the grass. “Mommy! Look! I think there’s a rabbit!

Come!”

Adele’s eyes lit up. She jumped to her feet, brushing crumbs off her dress. “A rabbit? Let’s go see!”

They ran off together, hand in hand, bending down to peer into the bushes. I watched them, smiling so wide my cheeks hurt. But then I caught the glint in Andrea’s eye-the sneaky little grin he got when he was up to something.

It was a trick.

Adele realized it too late. Andrea spun around, raised his bubble gun, and blasted her right in the

face with a huge cloud of bubbles.

“You asked for it!” Adele laughed, grabbing her own bubble gun from the blanket. She started firing

back, pink and blue bubbles exploding everywhere.

Andrea squealed-his high, happy scream that filled every empty corner inside me. He dodged and darted, laughing so hard he almost fell over. Adele chased him, pretending she couldn’t catch him, letting him get away just so he could feel fast and brave.

I leaned back on my elbows, watching them. My heart felt too big for my chest. I never got to laugh like that when I was a kid. Never got to run and play and feel safe. Harrison made sure of

that. But Andrea? He would have all of it. Every single bit of joy I could give him.

I got so lost in the sight of them-my mate and my son, happy and free-that I didn’t notice them turning toward me until it was too late.

Andrea pointed the gun straight at my face. “Daddy You’re next!”

Before I could move, bubbles hit me-wet, sticky, popping against my cheeks and hair. Adele joined in, laughing like she’d never stop, her gun aimed right at my chest.

I threw my hands up in mock surrender. “No mercy, huh?”

They both ran at me, giggling like crazy. I pretended to dodge, but they tackled me anyway-tiny arms and soft hands pushing me down onto the blanket. I let myself fall, landing flat on my back with a dramatic groan. They collapsed on either side of me, breathless with laughter, faces flushed and eyes shining.

Andrea climbed onto my chest, grinning so wide I could see every one of his little teeth. “We got you, Daddy!”

Adele lay beside me, head on my shoulder, still catching her breath. She looked at me with so

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116 Can We Stay Here Forever

much love it stole the air from my lungs.

Clan

I wrapped one arm around her, the other around Andrea, pulling them both close. I pressed a kiss to the top of Adele’s head-her hair smelled like sunshine and flowers-then turned and kissed

Andrea’s forehead. He giggled and snuggled in tighter.

We lay there like that, three of us tangled together on the blanket, bubbles still floating lazily above us. The world felt quiet. Peaceful. Whole.

A man who once thought happiness was impossible-look at me now. My heart was so full it hurt in the best way possible. I had everything I could ever ask for.

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