True Alpha’s Chosen Mate - Chapter 215

Hugo and I spent the night wrestling on the bed. After rolling on the floor in the sitting room, we continued it to our bedroom. We didn’t stop as if the world was ending; it was as though it was our last night together, giving our all, indulging in each other’s heat.

Despite the exhausting yet fun night together, I wasn’t paralyzed on the bed like three years ago. I still had the energy to go out and see the situation. Bowie and the rest of our group traveled back to the empire with us, but we arrived earlier.

I knew they were full of questions. The reason I planned to welcome them in the empire… but I might do that later.

“Mama!”

I looked back. There, at the end of the corridor, stood a young, chubby boy. His eyes shimmering, clad in a noble attire fitting for a prince. My heart instantly warmed up at the sight of Toby that reached my eyes.

“Mama!” his voice echoed again, running towards me. The maid following behind him reminded him to be careful, but it faded with the little thuds of his steps.

“My son,” I whispered, going down to my knee. I spread my arms to welcome him. Toby leaped, pouncing on me giddily while yelling, “mama!”

Toby was a big child. But thanks to my experience and training in the past three years, I didn’t stumble back when all his weight pressed on me. Instead, I wrapped my arms around him and embraced him tightly.

“Mama! I missed you!” he exclaimed, burying his face into my shoulder. “I really… really…”

“Toby,” I whispered, stroking his back gently. “I’m sorry for leaving you, and I missed you so bad.”

It didn’t take long when he went silent and hiccuped. He didn’t cry loud or threw a tantrum. He didn’t even say anything aside from those three words, I missed you.

He didn’t need to.

I didn’t birth Toby, but he was my son. He never left my mind in these past three years. I loved him just as much. I might’ve tried to forget about Hugo, but never Toby. And I knew one day I would come for him.

“Have you been well?” I asked once I was certain he had calmed down, placing my hands on his shoulder to create a little distance between us. I studied his face painted in red, smiling wearily as I wiped the tears on his chubby cheeks.

“Ye — yes. Papa and Uncle Tito take good care of me, even though Papa was always busy.” He hiccuped in between, clearing his throat. “Mama, Papa said you’re dead and I shouldn’t look for you.”

“He said that?” I raised my brows, and he nodded.

“I didn’t believe him. I know he was just angry.”

I sported a smile and let out a sharp exhale. I cupped his cheeks with both my hands, searching for his eyes.

“Yes, he was just angry because I left him. But I won’t go anywhere now,” I reassured, nodding encouragingly at him. “I will never leave you or Hugo any more.”

“Promise?” his lower lips quivered, looking at me with expectant eyes.

I nodded and chuckled faintly. “Yes. I promise.” I raised my pinky, making Toby gaze at it with confusion.

“Pinky promise. I learned it from a country we traveled to two years ago,” I explained, helping his pinky wrap around mine before I shook them lightly. “It’s sealed now.”

Toby pressed his lips into a thin line and smiled in relief. He shook our pinky even more before releasing it.

I gazed up at the servant standing not far away from behind him. Hugo truly seemed he had taken good care of Toby. Unlike before, he didn’t slim down despite that Hugo kept pointing at his weight. I could see he even gained more. Also, for Toby to be present in the imperial palace and not in Belcoot, only meant everyone knew about him.

“Mama, you arrive yesterday a little late. I was already sleeping. If only I know you will arrive, I would’ve stayed up a bit longer.” I snapped my eyes from the maid back to Toby.

“If Hugo mentioned you are here, I would’ve gone to your room and woke you up.” I sighed, holding his hand as I stood up. “But it’s good now. We’ve seen each other and we’re together again.”

“Yes!” he gazed up at me with a bright grin plastered across his face.

Toby and I treaded through the hallways, hand in hand. The nanny followed our tracks, keeping her silent.

“By the way, where are you going?” I inquired.

“To Mama! I was told you are here, so I rushed to see you!” he grinned proudly. “Mama, where’s Papa?”

“He left this morning.” I smacked my lips as I gazed ahead, treading carefully so he wouldn’t need to hasten his steps. “But we’ll go see him now. He said I was dead, huh?”

I cast Toby a quick look, seeing the confusion in his eyes. But I didn’t say anything as I smiled, winking at him. I didn’t let his hand go as we marched to the training grounds.

Hugo woke me up before he left, giving me kisses before he left to attend to some important matters. When I woke up this morning and had breakfast with his sisters, they told me he must be training and sparring with the knights if he hadn’t come back yet.

Although I didn’t plan to see him immediately with Bowie and our group in mind, the plans changed. I didn’t want to leave Toby as soon as we reunited, and… I wanted to talk to Hugo about what he spewed to my son during my absence.

Not that I was actually angry. I understood he uttered those words out of his raging emotions. But even so, I wanted to tease him.

It didn’t take long when we reached the training ground. But unlike what I expected, Hugo wasn’t just training or sparring with the knights.

The training grounds were suffocating; knights standing from a good distance, and the Tempest’s who were present were watching alongside the knights with blank eyes.

The ground had evident cracks, dust fogging the air, and in the middle stood two figures whose aura was enough to make one go to their knees.

Hugo and Daniel.

“Interesting,” I whispered.