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Story: The Rejected Princess
I picked up my son near the end of Family Day.
He was supposed to jump happily into my arms, but instead I was holding a sobbing boy.
“Mommy, do I have a daddy?”
Desmond’s voice trembled as he enquired, his tear-stained face red and swollen. I’d never seen him cry like that before. “Daddy came to Family Day today. I wanted to sit with him, but he pushed me away. He said he was Celina’s daddy.” Desmond’s sobs grew louder. “My classmates said I don’t have a father. They said you found me at the dump.”
Desmond clung to me, burying his face in my shoulder, as his cries echoed around us. Children passing by gave him mocking glances, their expressions cruel.
I held him tightly, my heart aching for his pain; I wanted to console him, but the memory of Jalen’s cold, detached expression cut through my thoughts like a knife.
Three years had passed since I began raising Desmond alone in Snowshade Territory, and when the Beta soldiers informed me that their Alpha was returning, I was overjoyed, believing he was finally willing to accept us.
I had planned a grand welcome banquet for him.
Desmond arrived at the banquet dressed in a black suit and wielding a small wooden sword. He examined his face in the reflection of a silver pole before nervously asking a question.
“Mom, Daddy has never met me before. Will he like me?”
“Of course.” I stroked his head and winked at Desmond. “You’re Daddy’s only son, Desmond. You inherited his noble bloodline. You are a future Snowshade Territory warrior. Why wouldn’t he like you?”
“Yay! I am Daddy’s warrior!”
We had been filled with hope, believing that our difficulties were finally over.
When the doors opened, a tall, imposing figure stepped inside: Jalen. He carried an air of authority that silenced the room, but all I could see was him holding a three-year-old Celina in his arms.
Nyra, Celina’s mother and Jalen’s sweetheart, walked beside him, leaning into him and making intimate gestures. They appeared to be the ideal family.
I stood frozen.
Desmond, on the other hand, didn’t hesitate; he’d spent countless mornings greeting Jalen’s picture and recognised him right away.
“I want a hug, Daddy!””
It only ended with Desmond falling because Jalen backed away to avoid the hug.
Jalen frowned, his piercing eyes locked on me. “What arrogance. Helen, how dare you let him approach me!”
I quickly picked up Desmond; I assumed Jalen avoided the hug because he didn’t recognise him. “He’s your son. “He has been looking forward to seeing you…”
“You know very well whose son he really is.” Jalen looked up and stared coldly at me. “Tell him not to call me ‘Daddy’!”
My mouth dropped open in surprise; I had no idea why he was losing his cool.
Nyra gently caressed his chest and said, “Jalen, calm down. Princess Helen did not do this on purpose. “Don’t get upset over trivial matters like this.”
“You have a large heart, Nyra. If she had the sense to be as wholesome as you, I wouldn’t have left my territory for three years.” Jalen carried another woman’s daughter and walked away without looking back at Desmond.
The memory hurt so much, like a thousand needles piercing my heart. Tears streamed down my cheeks, and the despair I felt was suffocating.
He was supposed to jump happily into my arms, but instead I was holding a sobbing boy.
“Mommy, do I have a daddy?”
Desmond’s voice trembled as he enquired, his tear-stained face red and swollen. I’d never seen him cry like that before. “Daddy came to Family Day today. I wanted to sit with him, but he pushed me away. He said he was Celina’s daddy.” Desmond’s sobs grew louder. “My classmates said I don’t have a father. They said you found me at the dump.”
Desmond clung to me, burying his face in my shoulder, as his cries echoed around us. Children passing by gave him mocking glances, their expressions cruel.
I held him tightly, my heart aching for his pain; I wanted to console him, but the memory of Jalen’s cold, detached expression cut through my thoughts like a knife.
Three years had passed since I began raising Desmond alone in Snowshade Territory, and when the Beta soldiers informed me that their Alpha was returning, I was overjoyed, believing he was finally willing to accept us.
I had planned a grand welcome banquet for him.
Desmond arrived at the banquet dressed in a black suit and wielding a small wooden sword. He examined his face in the reflection of a silver pole before nervously asking a question.
“Mom, Daddy has never met me before. Will he like me?”
“Of course.” I stroked his head and winked at Desmond. “You’re Daddy’s only son, Desmond. You inherited his noble bloodline. You are a future Snowshade Territory warrior. Why wouldn’t he like you?”
“Yay! I am Daddy’s warrior!”
We had been filled with hope, believing that our difficulties were finally over.
When the doors opened, a tall, imposing figure stepped inside: Jalen. He carried an air of authority that silenced the room, but all I could see was him holding a three-year-old Celina in his arms.
Nyra, Celina’s mother and Jalen’s sweetheart, walked beside him, leaning into him and making intimate gestures. They appeared to be the ideal family.
I stood frozen.
Desmond, on the other hand, didn’t hesitate; he’d spent countless mornings greeting Jalen’s picture and recognised him right away.
“I want a hug, Daddy!””
It only ended with Desmond falling because Jalen backed away to avoid the hug.
Jalen frowned, his piercing eyes locked on me. “What arrogance. Helen, how dare you let him approach me!”
I quickly picked up Desmond; I assumed Jalen avoided the hug because he didn’t recognise him. “He’s your son. “He has been looking forward to seeing you…”
“You know very well whose son he really is.” Jalen looked up and stared coldly at me. “Tell him not to call me ‘Daddy’!”
My mouth dropped open in surprise; I had no idea why he was losing his cool.
Nyra gently caressed his chest and said, “Jalen, calm down. Princess Helen did not do this on purpose. “Don’t get upset over trivial matters like this.”
“You have a large heart, Nyra. If she had the sense to be as wholesome as you, I wouldn’t have left my territory for three years.” Jalen carried another woman’s daughter and walked away without looking back at Desmond.
The memory hurt so much, like a thousand needles piercing my heart. Tears streamed down my cheeks, and the despair I felt was suffocating.