<h4>Chapter 781: Grown into a big boy</h4>


    Carlos lifted a stray leaf from the top of Noah’s head, holding it up. "It’s a three-clover leaf," he whispered as if sharing a secret. "Do you want to see some magic with it?"


    Noah watched with wide, rapt attention as Carlos ced the greenery in the center of the pup’s tiny, soft palm. Carlos ran his fingers over the leaf with a slow flourish, and a secondter, a tiny white flower sat where the clover had been.


    "Waaa!"


    Noah’s eyes shone with pure wonder, his little mouth falling open. He began to babble a string of excited sounds, his tiny fingers reaching out to poke at the petal.


    Carlos remained on his knees in front of the stroller, a genuine, soft smile reaching his eyes as he watched the boy’s reaction.


    "Did you like it?" he asked, his voice low and warm.


    Noah kicked his feet in the stroller, letting out a high-pitched squeal of delight that echoed through the garden.


    "Noah, I’ll be leaving soon for my ce," Carlos said, a touch of mncholy softening his voice. "I wonder... by the time I return, you might have already grown into a big boy. Maybe this tall," he added, gesturing with his hand as he imagined Noah running around on his own two feet, no longer needing the stroller.


    The pup, however, was entirely lost in his own tiny world. He had already shredded the white flower in his hand, his chubby fingers repeatedly pressing and pulling at the petals until they were nothing but bruised fragments in his palm.


    "Shall we go back into the house? Your father and mother will be awaiting your return," Carlos stated, rising to his feet and brushing the grass from his knees.


    As he began to turn the stroller, a flurry of white butterflies suddenly descended, dancing in circles around Noah. The pup let out a series of melodic giggles, his arms iling as he tried to catch the fluttering wings in mid-air.


    "Look at that," Carlos said, a broad, genuine smile breaking across his face. "Even these little beings love our Noah."


    He began to push the stroller back toward the mansion, the butterflies trailing them like escorts.


    As they entered the mansion, Carlos found Amelie and Gabriel on the couch, their heads leaned close as they whispered to each other. The moment they noticed the stroller, they both pulled back.


    "Carlos, you’ve returned! I hope Noah didn’t trouble you too much," Amelie said, rising to her feet instantly with a mother’s reflexive reach.


    "Not at all. If anything, he only enjoyed our morning visit to the garden," Carlos replied, stepping back to watch as she scooped Noah into her arms.


    "Bufu..." Noah babbled, his eyes shining a deep, ethereal blue as he looked up at her. He reached out a chubby, flower-stained hand to grab at her hair, his tiny face lit with a toothless grin.


    Gabriel stood up as well, cing a hand on the small of Amelie’s back as he peered down at his son. "He looks like he’s had quite the adventure. Those blue eyes only get brighter when he’s been outside."


    Carlos smiled as Noah continued his report on everything he had discovered in the garden.


    "What’s bufu?" Amelie asked, tilting her head as she looked down at her son’s babbling face.


    "He’s talking about butterflies, I guess," Carlos stated, leaning against the back of the sofa. "A whole cluster of white butterflies suddenly crossed his path while we were near the fountain."


    "That exins it," Amelie said with a softugh, kissing Noah’s forehead. "I’ll go feed him his milk now. You two should resume your conversation," she affirmed, giving Gabriel a lingering look before walking away toward the nursery with Noah in her arms.


    Gabriel watched them go until they disappeared around the corner of the grand hallway. He then turned to Carlos.


    "I’ll leave in the afternoon. I have to meet some high-ranking witches back home, along with a few of the old sorcerers," Carlos told him. "Once I’m ready with a n to approach the Alpha King, I’ll inform you. Also, thank Cynthia for me for showing me the path, if you see her again."


    "Sure," Gabriel replied. "I’m d you’re finally ready to walk the path meant for you. Don’t look back anymore, and don’t fear anything. You’re an Ashfall. Keep that in mind."


    "Thanks, Gabriel," he said with a genuine smile.


    "Don’t be. Just be happy," Gabriel stated, his hand reaching for his friend’s shoulder to pat on it.


    ~~~~


    Juniper brushed her hair and pulled it into a loose bun, letting a few soft curls frame her temples. It was the weekend, and she was determined to explore San Ravendale.


    After fastening her watch, she tucked her wallet into a small round sling bag and stepped out. She locked the door behind her and pulled up the city bus schedule on her phone.


    However, when she reached the bus station, her heart sank. The tform was a sea of people,muters and tourists alike jostling for space in the midday heat.


    "Turns out I’ll have to book a taxi," she murmured, pulling up a ride-sharing app.


    The screen showed a frustrating spinning icon; because of the peak weekend rush, every avable car was miles away.


    She stood on the curb, shielding her eyes from the sun, and waited. It took twenty minutes of refreshing the app before a sedan finally epted her request.


    As she waited, she watched a group of friendsughing nearby, making her smile and recalling the memories of her terrible childhood.


    The bus arrived and people quickly got inside before it departed.


    As she checked the app, she found the ride was cancelled.


    "What? Why?" She eximed in shock, trying to book it again but again she couldn’t find one.


    "June!" She heard Chelsea’s voice and looked up only to find her in the car with Marcus on the driving seat.


    "Get in," she said, "we will drop you."


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