His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

"I've looked into it," he said without preamble. "Stefan's the one who bailed out Sienna. Everything's cleared up now. I'll make sure she's sent back to prison where she belongs."

Relief washed over me, but before I could say anything, Carlos continued, his voice firm. "You should come stay with me, Doris. It's safer there, and you won't have to worry about protecting Cyrus on your own."

I opened my mouth to refuse-staying with Carlos felt like too much-but he cut me off before I could protest. "You can't afford to take on this responsibility alone," he said, his tone serious. "If something goes wrong, and Cyrus is hurt... it's not a risk you should take." He was right. As much as I hated to admit it, I couldn't do this alone. The weight of protecting Cyrus from Sienna was too heavy, and if anything happened to him because I was too stubborn to accept help, I'd never forgive myself.

I hesitated, the words stuck in my throat. "I don't want to impose," I finally whispered, feeling conflicted.

Carlos cut me off gently, his voice firm but understanding. "This isn't about imposing. It's about making sure Cyrus is safe. You can't afford to let anything happen to him, and neither can I."

I paused for a moment, his words hitting me hard. He wasn't wrong, and I knew that refusing his help would be reckless. The thought of Sienna out there, ready to strike again, chilled me to the bone. I had to put my pride aside for Cyrus. Taking a deep breath, I nodded. "You're right. We'll come stay with you." It felt strange admitting that I couldn't handle this alone, but I couldn't let my fears put my son in danger. Chapter 76

The day we moved back into Carlos' home felt different from the last time. There was a warmth now, a sense of familiarity that hadn't been there before. I wasn't tense like I had been the first time, where every corner of his mansion had felt foreign and intimidating. This time, it felt... comfortable.

Cyrus, my little boy, seemed to sense the difference too. He loved it here. His little face lit up the moment we arrived, and I couldn't help but smile as the housekeeper and nanny greeted us with open arms. They were always kind, but this time, I noticed how genuinely welcoming they were. It was as if Cyrus and I belonged here, something I hadn't felt in a long time.

As we settled in, I couldn't help but notice how Cyrus immediately took to the space. He wandered through the grand halls with wide-eyed wonder, his little feet pattering across the polished floors.

The staff doted on him, offering him small treats and engaging him in playful conversation. It was clear that they adored him, and he thrived in their attention. His giggles echoed throughout the house, filling it with a joy that made my heart swell. This wasn't just a place to stay anymore-it was starting to feel like home.

I also felt a shift within myself. Where before I had hesitated, unsure of my place in this world, I now felt more grounded. Being in Carlos' home no longer felt like intruding into someone else's life.

Instead, I felt like I was meant to be here, that Cyrus and I fit into this puzzle that Carlos was building around us. The nervousness I had once felt in his presence had softened into something else-something that felt more like trust.

Carlos had made sure everything was arranged for us, right down to the smallest details, and I couldn't help but admire how thoughtful he was.

Carlos had told me about the professional trainers he had at his home, and I was curious about how that would unfold for Cyrus. Even though Cyrus was too young to bond fully with his wolf, Carlos believed it was never too early to start training the senses.

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Werewolves, even young ones like Cyrus, have heightened abilities-hearing,

smelling, all of it. The idea was to train these senses now, to sharpen them, so when Cyrus was ready to connect with his wolf, he would be ahead of the curve. I

was nervous, though.

I couldn't help but remember the brutal rehabilitation training Oliver had gone through-those memories never really left me. The thought of Cyrus going through something similar made my stomach turn.

But watching the trainers work with him quickly put me at ease. It wasn't anything like I had imagined. The trainers were gentle, and it was more like a game than anything else. They turned everything into fun exercises, and Cyrus loved it.

He giggled as they asked him to close his eyes and identify smells or sounds. It amazed me how quickly he picked up on things-his little nose twitching as he focused on picking up a scent, his ears perking up at the softest sound. I had no idea training could be like this. Carlos stood next to me, watching the training unfold with a calm expression. I glanced at him, curiosity gnawing at me.