To Take You Back Home
1052 Words
Lazarus' POV
As soon as I landed in the lands where Gianna had been living for four years, I was unable to contain my excitement. The bakery shop was already located, and I, along with my beta, reached it in no time.
Not wasting another second, I pulled the door open and walked in.
"Sorry, we are closed for today," the same familiar voice fell into my ears after four long years. My eyes shone red the moment Gianna turned to look at me.
And my body automatically moved. "Gianna," I whispered and hugged her tightly. I inhaled the natural scent that always radiated from her and confirmed it was hers alone.
But she pushed me away, looking at me with a cold stare.
"Gianna, I—"
"Mama, I'm back with Daddy!"
I heard a kid's voice from behind and turned to look.
Mama, Daddy? Those words rang in my head as I turned toward the source of the voice.
I had just hoped what I heard was nothing but my imagination, but seeing the two people standing there with a smile mixed with a look of confusion, I almost lost my composure.
When my eyes fell on the child, I couldn't believe how similar he looked to Gianna. There was no doubt that he was her son!
"Who are they?" I inhaled deeply and asked Gianna, but she didn't say anything.
"Darling!?" The man opened his mouth as if his words had pierced through my heart. "Who is this gentleman? Do you know him?"
"I…" Gianna's lips trembled, but soon she pushed me aside and went to them. "Baby, go inside."
"But Mama, I've made a drawing and I wish to show it to you!" The little guy said with a smile.
I didn't want to admit it, but that smile looked exactly like Ginna, which was now missing from her face. And those eyes… Those eyes are her replica.
"I'll see it later," Gianna said, her voice slipping into that soft, coaxing tone I hadn't heard in years. It was the same tone she used to use when she wanted to calm me down, but this time, it wasn't meant for me.
"But Mama, who's that uncle?" the little boy asked, looking up at her with wide, curious eyes and still clutching his drawing with that innocent excitement only kids have.
The word uncle hit me so sharply I almost forgot how to breathe.
Uncle.
My Gianna's child was calling me that as if I had no place in her story, as if I were just some passerby who accidentally stepped into their world.
I couldn't accept that.
I couldn't believe that the child she carried… the child who had her smile, her eyes, her warmth was looking at me like a stranger. I should've been the one standing there as his father. I should have been the one standing beside her.
My patience was thinning every second I stood there, I felt like I was losing my composure. The tightness in my chest grew worse when Gianna finally opened her mouth again.
"He is just a customer. He'll leave soon," she said, her tone suddenly turning icy, as her eyes met the child's. There was no warmth in her voice as if I were a stranger.
That coldness… it startled me.
I had never seen her look at anyone like that. The woman I knew was warm even when she was angry, soft even when she was stubborn. Even when life was hard for her, Gianna's eyes were still filled with gentleness.
But now? All I could see was frostiness in her eyes.
"Dear," Ginna looked at the man beside the child. "Take Theo inside."
"Are you sure you are alright, darling?" The man asked.
"I'm fine, take him inside," she pronounced firmly. "And do not come out until I say so."
"Sure," the man took the child and walked away from there.
"Gianna…" I finally said, my voice trembled a little. "Don't… Don't tell me that… He is your new mate?"
"Mister!" Gianna inhaled. "I've already told you that the store is closed, so please be on your way, as this is my family time!"
"Why are you acting as if you don't know me?" I asked. "Are you trying to cut me off?"
"Cut you off?" Gianna finally snapped. "You were the one who left me to die! How dare you blame me!"
Left her to die?
I couldn't understand what she meant. But that was not the time to ask her.
I inhaled deeply and began, "I've come to take you back home."
"Excuse me?" Gianna's eyes shot up, turning wide. "This is my home, with my family, my son, and this place!"
"You left me without saying anything, and now you are saying that you have a family here, while I was living in agony for the past four years?" I almost raised my voice.
"Hah!" Gianna scoffed. "Agony?" She closed her eyes as if she were holding herself back. "Your Highness, the fourth alpha prince, this is not where you should be! Here is the world of humans, and you do not belong here!"
"And so not you!" I proclaimed. "You are my mate, and you belong to my side."
"How dare you claim me to be yours!" Gianna yelled as she turned her back on me. "I think your memory has become hazy, so please try to polish your memories!" She said and took a step to leave, but I couldn't let her go.
I glanced at Romero, and he didn't need to be told twice what I meant.
Before Gianna could disappear from my sight again, I grabbed her, hoisted her over my shoulder, thus not giving her a chance to protest.
She let out a shocked gasp, her hands hitting my back already.
"Put me down, Lazarus! What are you doing?"
Finally, she called my name, but with a fierceness I hadn't expected.
I didn't listen. I just walked out of the bakery, taking her away.
Romero was already moving to follow us when I stopped him with a sharp look. My grip on Gianna hadn't loosened for a second.
"Also, bring that kid with us," I ordered and walked out of the bakery shop, taking my mate with me.
- Writer
