CHAPTER 77: TIME HAS CHANGED

"The soup is delicious," Leia cheerfully said. "You three should start as well," she said.

Kieran filled three more bowls while Ronan moved the plate filled with toasts toward Leia. "Eat them too," he murmured.

"Hmm."

While eating Leia recalled how she used to eat alone on this table, but now these three were by her side. ’I don’t want them to ever leave me. I think I want them as my family,’ she thought.

After they finished their breakfast, Leia told them she would do the dishes, but the three Alpha brothers didn’t let her. "You should rest for some time. You even woke up early in the morning," Lucien said.

"Yeah because this is my house. I had to clean it," Leia said, crossing her arms together.

Just then, the doorbell rang, bringing their attention to the door.

"I’ll check," Leia said and hurried to the door. As she opened it, she saw Avery standing there with a box in her hands.

Leia quickly gave her the way inside.

"What’s in this box?" Leia asked.

"Apples for you and Delia. My father sent them as the season had started," Avery replied. "Delia isn’t her home either. She did tell me she would return this week. Do you know anything about that?"

Leia’s lips quivered, not able to able to understand how to come up with a lie. Just then, Avery heard the utensils clinking and she turned her head.

Her eyes widened seeing the same three man from the last night. One was washing the dishes, the second one was cleaning the counter while the third one had his gaze... On Leia.

"Oops!" Avery tilted her head to look at Leia. "Why didn’t you tell me they are also here? I think I should come later." She smirked at Leia, who shook her head.

"Wait! Don’t go. I have something to tell you," Leia said. She grasped Avery’s hand, gave a brief glance to Lucien and went to the garden.

"What’s going on?" Avery asked. "You look quite different since yesterday. Are you alright? And who are those three guys?" she inquired.

"They are just friends. Actually, I’m leaving this place forever," Leia revealed to her.

"What? Why?" Avery exclaimed in shock.

"I want to start a new life in a new place. Avery, you’ve been so nice to me since the days of my college. I was going to tell you this before leaving this place. I may visit my house in a few months interval, but I won’t live here anymore," Leia explained to her.

Avery wasn’t as close to Leia as Delia was. So, she never even shared anything related to her life, except a very few that too, specific matters.

"Alright. But why did you suddenly decide to leave this place? You loved being here," Avery stated.

"Well, a few things happened on my end. I feel I’ll be more happy in this new place I’m currently living," Leia stated. She still didn’t tell Avery about her werewolf identity.

"Okay. Then, I wish you a lot of happiness," Avery said, smiling. "You should’ve told me last night. I’d have brought a farewell gift for you," she asserted.

"You already did," said Leia. "The apples," she remarked.

"Yeah. But still. When you are leaving then?" Avery questioned.

"Tomorrow night," Leia replied.

"Then, I’ll see you either tonight or tomorrow if you don’t have any plans with those hotties," Avery said, grinning.

"I told you they’re just friends. And I’ll be free tomorrow," Leia mumbled, but her cheeks did turn slight red.

"Then, why are you blushing, huh?" Avery teased her. "Look how red your cheeks are. Well, one of them had his eyes on you. I don’t know his name, but he seems possessive of you. He looks you with the gaze that he wants you for himself."

’Lucien is the only one who sees me with those eyes,’ Leia thought. "You’re thinking too much," she murmured. "Let’s go in. We can drink coffee," she offered.

"Thank you, Leia, but I’ve to go to my shop. It’s the time to open it up," Avery stated, looking at the time on her watch.

"Ah, okay," Leia didn’t stop her and walked with her to the gate. Waving at her, she closed the gate and went back into the house.

"Avery looks more caring toward you than Delia," Lucien remarked, casually resting on the sofa.

"I agree with him," Ronan added.

"You don’t need to taunt me about trusting the wrong person," Leia said, resting on the armrest of the sofa chair in which Kieran seated. "I already feel upset leaving this place forever. I thought I would..." She paused, not wanting to speak further.

"Lucien, let Leia stay here for a few more days. This city is peaceful. No one even knows who we are," Kieran urged.

"We can’t stay longer here," Lucien said. "Leia, it’s better to leave this city because once people find out about our identities, they will gossip. I don’t care what they say about us, but it will bother me if they speak anything negative against you. I know this place holds a lot of memories for you , but I don’t want you to fall in any kind of danger," he explained.

Kieran and Ronan gazed at Leia, waiting for her response.

"I get it," Leia said. "I’m just being emotional," she murmured.

"It’s understandable," Lucien said. "Shall we go out and explore the city?" He suggested. "You wanted to have fun."

"Yes, we should!" Leia rose to her feet. "I’ll wear something nice," she asserted and ran to the room.

"She gets upset one second, but the other, she turns all fine," Ronan murmured, chuckling. "Where should we take her?" he asked.

"Well, she will be the one taking us," Lucien said. "Let’s change into something nice," he added.

~~~~

Azalea sat quietly, her eyes fixed on the photo of her late son and daughter-in-law. The faded frame rested in her hands, her fingers brushing over it with a tenderness only a mother could possess. A soft knock at the door broke the silence before it creaked open.

"Mother, you didn’t come for breakfast either," said Fleur Etkinson as she stepped inside. "And now you’ve skipped lunch too. Why won’t you eat?"

"Lucien is angry at the moment. He will call you back once he calms down. You’re aware how short-tempered he is," Fleur said.

"He won’t call me back," Azalea said. "If my son were alive, he wouldn’t have let his son do something like this to me." She placed the photo aside on the mattress and glanced at Fleur.

"Did he call you back?" asked Azalea.

Fleur turned quiet, a frown appeared on her forehead. "See! He doesn’t even care for his aunt. He has turned more arrogant with age," Azalea mattered. "That girl is manipulative. She has put some magic on Lucien. I’ve never been treated in such a manner, Fleur. Leia isn’t right for Lucien. We need to save him from that wench."

"Mother, but you shouldn’t have sent a woman of your choice in Lucien’s room. You know that he was clear about his preference since the beginning. He was in search of the last she-wolf and even found her. I can’t blame Leia entirely for this. She must have been upset with Lucien. He has a strange habit of making anyone annoyed," Fleur said, telling his mother not to whine about it.

"But I want their good. Because I’ve turned old and my thoughts are of old school, none of you understand me well," Azalea complained.

"That’s not true, Mother. The time has changed. I got married with the man of your choice, but not everyone can listen to you. You need to understand it. Let Lucien and his brothers choose what’s right for them. They aren’t some 17 or 18 year old boys anymore. And Lucien has always been serious in his work. You know how responsible he is when it comes to his pack and the people," Fleur explained in a much softer tone.

Azalea remained quiet, choosing not to say anything.

"Let’s go and have our lunch. You shouldn’t skip your meals in this age. It can affect your health," said Fleur and gently held her mother’s arm. She helped the old lady got down from the bed and took her outside to the dining room.

Fleur’s eldest son, Travis, pulled out a chair for his grandmother. "Finally, you decided to come and have lunch."

"Granny, Mom instructed the cooks to make your favorite dishes," Fleur’s daughter, Inara said, smiling.

Azalea smiled at her words and picked up the spoon to eat.

"Mom, I’m thinking to go to see my cousin brothers," Inara expressed her wish.

"Lucien is going to throw a tantrum about it. He will think I’ve sent you," said Azalea.

"I’ll ask them first. Who knows Brother Lucien agrees?" Inara said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"Well, even I want to meet them. I don’t think Lucien will mind it. And we can meet our future cousin-in-law too," Travis said with a broad smile.

Azalea knitted her brows together, hoping Lucien wouldn’t hurt them with his words.