<h4>Chapter 595: A Morning With Lioren</h4>


    <strong>Evaline:</strong>


    Morning sunlight spilled across the living room floor in soft golden ribbons, filtering through the massive ss wall that overlooked the front garden. The rain had washed everything clean overnight... the trees gleamed fresh and vibrant, the world looking almost newly born.


    And right in the center of that warmth, on the thick green rug spread across the floor,y my entire universe.


    Lioren.


    I sat cross-legged a few feet away, my chin resting on my palm as I watched him with what I was certain was an embarrassingly lovesick expression. He had rolled from his back to his side moments ago, tiny fingers clutching at the rug fibers as if they personally offended him.


    Now he shifted again.


    Slowly.


    Determined.


    He rolled onto his belly with visible effort, letting out a tiny grunt of frustration before lifting his head. His golden-green eyes... so bright, so alert... locked onto the plushie lion lying just slightly out of his reach.


    He stretched his arm toward it, but missed.


    Then something new happened.


    He pushed his tiny palms against the rug and started rocking his hips back and forth in the most adorable, uncoordinated attempt at forward movement I had ever seen.


    I gasped.


    "Oh my goddess," I breathed, barely holding backughter. "He’s trying to crawl."


    River, Kieran, and Oscar were scattered around the living room - Oscar leaning casually against the ss wall with a mug in hand, Kieran sitting beside me on the rug, and River sitting on one of the couches, his phone tucked away for once.


    "He’s definitely plotting something," River said dryly.


    Kieran chuckled softly beside me. "Look at that determination."


    Lioren rocked again. And again.


    His little legs kicked in the air, missing any real coordination, but the intent was there.


    I couldn’t stop smiling.


    "I think he’s going to start crawling soon," I announced proudly. "Just a few more days, or weeks maybe."


    Lioren let out an indignant little squeal when the plushie still refused to magicallye to him.


    Iughed... but theughter faltered.


    The warmth inside my chest dimmed, reced by something heavier.


    Because as much as I adored witnessing this moment, a thought crept in, sharp and unwee.


    <i>How many of these moments had I already missed?</i>


    Kieran’s hand came to rest gently on my shoulder.


    "What’s wrong?" he asked quietly.


    I didn’t try to brush it off. I didn’t smile and pretend everything was fine.


    "I hate that I have already missed so much," I admitted softly.


    The room went still.


    River turned fully toward me. Oscar set his mug down without a sound.


    "I missed his first realugh," I continued, staring at Lioren as he resumed his determined rocking. "I missed when he first rolled over without help. I missed when he began sitting without any support. And now... I’ll probably miss when he actually crawls."


    My throat tightened.


    "And when he takes his first step. And when he says his first word."


    Kieran’s thumb rubbed slow circles against my shoulder.


    "I feel like I’m constantly running between worlds," I whispered. "Work. Responsibilities. The council. The academy. And he’s growing every single day. I can’t slow it down. I can’t pause it."


    The guilt was sharp.


    "I’m going to miss more," I said. "And I hate that."


    Oscar moved first.


    He walked over and crouched in front of me, one knee pressing into the rug as he looked up at me with steady, unwavering eyes.


    "You are not missing his life," he said firmly.


    I blinked at him.


    "You are building it."


    That made my breath catch.


    River joined us, lowering himself to sit on Lioren’s other side while still facing me. "Do you think he’ll grow up remembering which exact moment you were physically present for?" he asked gently.


    I frowned slightly.


    "He’ll remember how loved he felt," River continued. "How safe. How secure."


    Kieran leaned closer to press a kiss against my temple. "And trust me," he murmured, "our boy feels his mom’s love every single second of his life."


    Oscar nodded. "You rearrange your entire schedule just to spend mornings with him."


    "You stayed up half the nightst Saturday because he wouldn’t sleep," River added.


    "You read to him even when he doesn’t understand the words yet," Kieran said with a small smile.


    "And you look at him," Oscar finished softly, "like he hung the moon."


    I swallowed hard.


    "I’m still going to miss things," I whispered.


    River reached out and gently brushed his knuckles against my cheek. "Then we’ll record them."


    Oscar smirked slightly. "Or we’ll dy teaching him anything new until you are home."


    That pulled a reluctantugh from me.


    Kieran squeezed my hand. "You are not alone in this, love. You don’t have to carry motherhood like it’s a punishment."


    My eyes stung.


    "I just want to be there for everything."


    "And you will be," Oscar said firmly. "Not for every single second... but for the important ones."


    River leaned closer, voice quieter now. "And for the ones you miss? We’ll make new ones."


    Lioren chose that exact moment to let out a triumphant squeal as he identally scooted forward half an inch.


    All four of us turned to him instantly.


    And Iughed through the lingering tears.


    Maybe I couldn’t freeze time.


    But I could treasure it.


    And I wasn’t alone in doing so.


    ---


    Breakfast passed in a blur of warmth and chaos.


    Lioren demanded attention between every bite, Oscar stole pieces off my te when he thought I wasn’t looking, and River pretended not to smile when Kieran teased him about nearly burning him by spilling my tea on him.


    It felt... normal.


    Comforting.


    By the time I stood to leave for headquarters, my chest felt lighter than it had the entire week.


    I kissed Lioren’s chubby cheek, inhaling his baby scent like it could sustain me through the entire day.


    "Be good," I whispered, even though he only responded by grabbing my hair.


    Oscarughed softly and untangled him from me.


    I hugged Kieran. Then Oscar. And headed toward River who waited by the front door.


    When I finally stepped outside and slid into the passenger seat beside him, I felt... content.


    I had woken early. Spent hours ying with my son. Surrounded by my mates.


    It was the kind of morning I had been craving since the holidays ended.


    As the car pulled away from the mansion, I turned my face toward the window.


    The world outside looked washed and renewed. Rain had poured all night and only stopped a couple of hours ago. The trees were impossibly green, leaves still dripping with lingering droplets. The sky remained nketed in thick gray clouds, and the mountain air that slipped in through the slightly open window was crisp enough to make me shiver.


    I considered closing it.


    But I liked the chill.


    It felt grounding.


    I was so lost in the rhythm of the passing scenery that I didn’t notice River shifting beside me.


    Not until a hand suddenly grabbed mine.


    Before I could react, I was pulled sideways - lifted effortlessly and deposited onto hisp.


    A small scream almost tore from my throat.


    I barely managed to p a hand over my mouth in time.


    My eyes widened as I stared at him. "River!"


    He didn’t look even remotely apologetic.


    "We are in the car," I hissed.


    He only raised a browzily.


    "And?"


    "The driver," I whispered urgently.


    As if on cue, the partition between the front and back seats slid upward.


    The driver’s silhouette disappeared from view, leaving us inplete privacy.


    I blinked.


    River smirked.


    "Problem solved."


    I stared at him for another second.


    Then sighed.


    There was truly no arguing with him.


    Not that I wanted to.


    I rxed against him, letting my body settlefortably into hisp as his arms wrapped securely around my waist. His warmth seeped into me instantly, familiar and intoxicating.


    "You are impossible," I muttered.


    "And yet," he murmured near my ear, "you are exactly where you want to be."


    I didn’t deny it.


    Because I wasn’t the type toin about being in his arms.