Chapter 5

Urgent footsteps echoed from downstairs, followed by the sound of keys turning in the lock.

My heart pounded wildly. Orlando was back—two full days earlier than expected.

I gently placed the sleeping Asher on the bed and tiptoed out of the room. The hallway lights were still on, and I could hear deep masculine voices and Beta Sarah's report from below.

"Luna Monica's condition has indeed changed, Alpha. Today she took the initiative to pick up Asher from school and even rescued an injured stray wolf pup..."

"What?" Orlando's voice carried obvious shock. "She took the initiative... to pick up Asher?"

I stood at the top of the stairs, gripping the banister. After eight years, I was about to face this man for the first time. The man who had silently protected me since childhood, who had endured endless coldness to save me.

Taking a deep breath, I began descending the stairs.

Each step made my heart beat faster. When I appeared at the stair landing, Orlando was facing away from me, talking with Beta Sarah, his broad shoulders tense beneath his black jacket.

"Alpha, you see..." Beta Sarah's words stopped abruptly as she spotted me.

Orlando slowly turned around.

The moment our eyes met, time seemed to freeze.

His blue eyes widened in shock, that mature yet weary face written with disbelief. Those eyes I remembered as clear as lake water were now filled with shock, doubt, and... a trace of cautious hope.

"This... this can't be possible..." he murmured, his luggage hitting the floor with a thud.

I continued down the stairs, each step feeling like walking on knife's edge. For the first time in eight years, I wanted to approach this man of my own accord.

"Welcome home, Orlando." My voice echoed in the spacious living room, soft and sincere.

Orlando stood frozen like a stone sculpture. I could see his breathing quicken, his hands trembling: "Monica... you're... you're really standing here?"

"Of course I'm standing here." I continued down the stairs. "Orlando, you look shocked."

"Shocked?" Orlando gave a bitter smile. "Monica, I thought I'd never see you look at me this way again."

I could see the shock, doubt, and cautious hope in his eyes. This powerful Alpha looked like a child afraid to believe in miracles.

"That's because I..." I paused, choosing the simplest words, "I want to change, Orlando."

Just then, little footsteps sounded from upstairs—clearly Orlando's homecoming had woken Asher.

"Daddy!" Asher's excited voice called from the stairs. The little boy rubbed his eyes as he ran downstairs. "Daddy's home!"

Orlando mechanically crouched to embrace his rushing son, but his gaze remained locked on me, as if confirming whether I was real.

"Daddy, what's wrong? Why do you look so scared?" Asher noticed his father's strange behavior, his small hand touching Orlando's face.

"Nothing, little guy." Orlando forced a smile, his voice hoarse. "Daddy just... didn't expect Mommy to..."

"To what?" I stepped closer, feeling his taut emotions like violin strings about to snap.

"To call my name." Orlando's voice was as fragile as gossamer. "Eight years, Monica. For eight years you've never voluntarily called my name, never said 'welcome home'..."

My heart clenched. That cold Monica wouldn't even give this man basic greetings?

"I..." I looked at the wariness and cautiousness in his eyes, my heart breaking, "Orlando, I want to hug you. May I?"

Beta Sarah tactfully withdrew, leaving us alone.

Orlando's breathing stopped for several seconds, his entire body freezing like he'd been struck by lightning. Then, trembling, he set Asher down and carefully straightened up, as if I were fragile porcelain.

"You... you're sure?" His voice choked. "Monica, are you sure you won't... won't push me away?"

Tears nearly spilled from my eyes. This powerful Alpha actually needed to cautiously ask permission for his wife's embrace.

I slowly opened my arms, and Orlando walked toward me like a sleepwalker. When my arms encircled his waist, I felt this strong man nearly collapse.

His body shook violently, his hands suspended in air, unsure where to place them, as if he couldn't believe this was real.

"It's okay, Orlando." I gently stroked his back, feeling his body's tension. "I'm not going to disappear. I won't push you away anymore."

"I... I can't believe this is real." Orlando's voice choked. "All these years I've been waiting, waiting for you to come back to me. But... but I'm afraid this is just a dream. I'm afraid when I wake up tomorrow, you'll look at me with those cold eyes again..."

I held him tightly, tears in my eyes: "This isn't a dream. I'm here, we're all here."

"Is Mama really not angry anymore?" Asher tugged at my nightgown timidly. "Can Mama and Daddy stay with Asher together?"

I crouched down, hugging Asher with one arm while taking Orlando's hand with the other: "Of course, baby. We're a family."

Orlando looked at me holding his hand, tears welling in his eyes: "Monica... is this really you? Has my Monica come back?"

"Yes, I'm back." I squeezed his hand. "Orlando, we need to talk."

Late at night, Asher slept peacefully again. Orlando and I sat in the study, surrounded by warm firelight.

Orlando sat in his office chair, hands clasped, extremely nervous. This commanding Alpha looked like a child who'd done something wrong in my presence.

"Monica, I know you hate me." He began, his voice filled with deep pain. "I know you can't forgive me for ruining your human life. I know you think I'm a monster who forced you to accept a werewolf identity..."

"Orlando..."

"Let me finish." He looked up, his blue eyes full of tears. "These eight years, I've thought countless times that maybe I should let you go. Maybe you'd find true happiness in the human world. But..."

He looked toward Asher's room: "But Asher needs you. He needs a mother's love. Even if you hate me, even if you'll never forgive me, please... please don't reject Asher anymore."

My heart ached like being cut by knives. This man had endured eight years of coldness and self-blame alone to protect me and our child.

"I'd rather bear your coldness than lose you both." Orlando continued. "I can sleep in the guest room, I can keep my distance, as long as... as long as you're still by my side."

"Enough!" I suddenly stood up, tears streaming down my face. "Orlando, stop blaming yourself!"