Oh, Moon Goddess.
That was my mother. My real, my birth mother. Princess Lilyan. I try to control my emotions, but the tears keep coming.
“Nora, what is it? Sylviana, what did you do?” Asks Damian, worried.
“I’m okay, she just... gave me a very beautiful present.”
“I’m happy you liked it, Princess,” whispers Sylviana.
I can’t believe it... I just saw my mother! My mom, when she had just given birth to me. Oh, Moon Goddess... I’m just so happy right now, I can’t describe it. Her eyes were radiating with love. She loved me so much. I’m trembling with emotions, Damian hugging me to calm me down while I explain what I saw to him and the others. After a while, I turn to Sylviana, still a bit shook up.
“She... She called me Eleanora.”
“Yes, I heard it with you. It’s a really pretty name for a Princess.”
Damian smiles. “I like it, too...”
We discuss a bit more about my mother, and the revelation of my real name. I had no idea. I like it, but I think it’s a bit late now, I’ve gotten too used to just being called Nora. Eventually, that’s the name I’ve grown by. I’m just grateful to Sylviana for giving me a glimpse of my origin.
That night, when everyone goes home or picks a guest room, Damian carries me to our bed. I don’t really feel sleepy yet. This is the best Christmas of my life, and I’m still thinking about my mother.
My mate helps me change, and we lie facing each other in the bed.
“I’ve waited so long to be able to sleep beside you like this...” Whispers Damian.
“It feels good to be in your arms again. And I really love our house. Thank you, Damian, I love this Christmas present.”
He smiles softly, and we lie for a while, just staring at each other. His fingers are running through my hair. As Sylviana said, it turned a shiny white again. It’s still a bit odd to me, but Damian is used to it, though he prefers it black.
After a long while, I hear him breathe in deeply, and I wonder if he’s asleep. But his eyes are wide open, and still on me.
“Nora... I was thinking. Sylviana’s present... There’s something I have yet to give you, too.”
“What is it?”
“A story.”
I smile. “A story? A book you mean?”
He chuckles and gets closer to me. “Not a book, my Love. A memory. The beginning of our story.”
I gasp? Really now? Damian smiles, and I feel his breath as he softly starts talking.
“Twelve years ago, I was fourteen... Liam already told you about it, but life with our father was a nightmare, even more so after our mother died. He came and went as he pleased, not giving a damn about us. When he did come home, he was just a violent drunkard. He hit anything or anyone he could until he fell asleep or went out again. We were barely getting by. I had dropped out of school to work, but I made sure Liam and Nate still went.
“I tried to provide so they wouldn’t suffer from it, even if they obviously did. Nate had to get a night job, too, at some point. But we made it work, somehow. We had the apartment to live in, and enough food and supplies for the three of us. I didn’t really care about anything else. As long as my father didn’t hit Liam or Nate.”
“But he was beating you instead...” I whisper.
“You know, I wasn’t as strong as him, but I could handle it. My mom had left us, and my brothers were the only ones I cared about. I would rather suffer a thousand hits from my dad than let him touch a strand of Liam’s hair. Or Nate’s. Well, Nate did get hit, too, while trying to defend me.”
“He loves you. They both love you so much.”
He smiles tenderly at me. “I know, Love. That’s how our mom raised us. She was the sweetest woman, all she wanted was for the three of us to get along. Raising three boys, three Alpha brothers, she probably feared we would end up fighting each other, but we actually only sided against our dad.”
Now that I think about it, we might have the same issue with our children, since they will most likely be Alphas only...
Damian sighs and gets closer to me. Now, my head is resting against his arm, and his fingers are gently playing with my hair. I close my eyes, listening to the familiar deep voice of my mate.
