CHAPTER 191: MOTHER AND SON

Rafe’s POV

I closed my eyes and tried my best to calm down. After a while, I returned outside and handed her over a water glass filled with warm water, as it was cold.

Sitting in the lounge chair, watching the kid in silence, she accepted the water without any protest or showing any hostility towards me after that kiss.

Well, she kissed me back as well after I let her go just after the brief touch of her lips. So what happened later, she was the one to escalate it. Not like I was putting blame on her, because I was the one to start it out of my own greed to be close to her, to touch her. But I appreciated she was well aware of her own actions.

"The beautiful night calls for the drinks," Lucian said, to which others agreed.

At the mention, Jason soon brought the liquor bottles from inside the home, but two were different—two tiny almond milk bottles that were meant for the kids.

Jason passed each bottle to everyone. The liquor bottles to us, while he offered a milk bottle to Raven. "You are still a kid, so this is for you."

Raven accepted it.

Jason went to Eira and offered her one. "For you."

She didn’t look at him and frowned.

At least this guy was now trying to communicate. But given her temper, she wasn’t going to forgive me for that torture anytime soon. To be honest, bastard deserved it.

Lucian went to Eira and offered her his liquor bottle, "Want this one instead?"

She accepted the opened bottle and had a sip of it already.

Roman settled in the chair next to her. "It’s not a strong one, so you will be fine."

The Eira we remembered was minor and never had drinks, so that’s why Jason must have brought milk for her.

But time had changed, and god knows what kind of evil stuff had been downed her throat all these years. Alcohol was nothing in front of it.

"She is a big girl now," Lucian commented as he looked at Jason, who simply got himself one liquor bottle and settled in one lounging chair, away from hers.

"Yeah, she just tried to prove it to me a while ago," I commented with a wicked chuckle and settled in the lounge chair next to her.

She glared at me and looked away.

My brothers knew what I was talking about.

Kael had all his attention on Raven. He opened a milk bottle for him and said, "You should drink it slowly while sitting."

The kid was truly so obedient to him.

But then Kael noticed something. He gently rubbed Raven’s arms and said, "You seem to be cold. Let’s get you covered first."

"I had brought one for him already," I told him and looked towards the table I had placed it on. "Huh? Where has it gone?"

Just then Fluffy barked. The bastard had gotten on the ground and was sitting on it like a king.

"I’ll get another one," Lucian said, but...

"I have it. Come here," Eira said as she looked at Raven. "It’s big enough for the two of us."

Woah! She finally talked on her own, and that too nothing bitter at all.

Raven looked at Kael.

This boy, why did he always look at Kael for any permission? It was surprising. Not like he was following the rules under the Alpha of the pack.

Kael offered an approving nod and Raven walked towards Eira. The lounging chair was wide, comfortable, inclined backward, the front part curved perfectly to straighten the legs and relax.

Eira moved to one side, and it had more than enough space for Raven to settle in. Kael lifted him and settled him comfortably, while Eira pulled the cover over him.

They looked perfect, mother and son, only if she knew it.

Kael offered him a bottle of milk, and then walked away to sit in one lounge chair as he picked up the liquor bottle for himself.

Lucian settled in the empty chair next to Jason. He wouldn’t let his brother feel lonely. Eira now sat between me and Roman, Lucian next to him and then Jason. While Kael was next to me. One chair was left empty as Raven had settled with Eira.

Eira quickly finished her bottle, set it aside and turned to Raven, who was slowly finishing his.

"Did you like it?" she asked him, her expression soft.

He met her gaze and nodded. She fixed the sheet properly on him. "Are you cold?"

He paused a little before shaking his head.

Maybe it was her motherly instinct, but she understood he was feeling cold a little and didn’t want to trouble her or anyone.

Just then he finished that bottle. She got it from him and dabbed his mouth clean with the long sleeve of her dress.

The kid followed certain rules and mannerisms, but when she just used her sleeve, he didn’t mind. During the travel with us, he would always look for a paper napkin and wipe his mouth clean gracefully.

She put his bottle aside and pulled him closer to her, her arm surrounding his small body. And he let her. Well, not like he ever resisted anything. It was like his principle was to just go with the flow and be at peace.

We brothers talked about things here and there, that included mostly the new additions to this estate. We had decided on building a playground for Raven, and everything he might enjoy.

Eira heard us while she continued to pay attention to the kid in her arms, holding him close, letting him feel her warmth.

Raven fell asleep soon, and she held him close like he was her baby. They looked cute together. I knew Lucian had already clicked their pictures.

"It’s getting cold. Let’s head inside," Kael said as he looked at the sleeping Raven, and already moved toward Eira. "Not good for him to sleep in the cold. Let me take him inside."

She didn’t deny. Kael picked up the sleeping boy carefully so as not to disturb his sleep. His small face rested against Kael’s broad shoulder, his soft, slightly chubby cheek pressed flat against it, his mouth slightly open to form an O.

"He looks like a cute little bunny when he’s sleeping," Roman commented as we followed Kael, "Unlike how adult-like he acts when he’s awake."

"Trust me, when he sleeps in your arms, you won’t want to let him go," Lucian added. "It’s a sweet and overwhelming feeling."

I looked at Eira. She quietly followed Kael, her gaze fixed on the sleepy boy.

Once inside, Kael said, "I am taking him to my room. Good night," and was already walking toward the stairs.

Eira’s expression soured a little. "Wait!" she finally said.

Kael stopped and looked at her, his gaze questioning.

"I... want him... to sleep with me..." she said with hesitation. "Can’t you leave him with me...?"

"You can sleep in my room as well, if you want," he replied, waiting for her answer, but she didn’t respond.

Kael turned around and walked upstairs to his room.