Chapter 11: The Son I Refused to Lose

Faye’s POV

Leo fell asleep less than an hour later.

His small hand was still wrapped around two of my fingers.

I sat beside his hospital bed, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest.

He looked so young.

So innocent.

It was difficult to reconcile this little boy with the cold man I had met at the end of my previous life.

But perhaps that was the point of my second chance.

I couldn't change the man Leo had become.

But I could change what happened between now and then.

The hospital door opened quietly.

Sebastian walked in.

He had changed out of his wet clothes, but his expression remained tense.

He looked at Leo first.

Then at me.

“The doctor said he'll be discharged tomorrow.”

I nodded.

“That's good.”

Sebastian remained standing.

“Faye.”

I looked up.

“What?”

He hesitated.

“Thank you for staying.”

Those simple words surprised me more than they should have.

In our marriage, Sebastian had rarely thanked me for anything.

He had simply expected me to be there.

But now he looked almost uncertain.

I turned my attention back to Leo.

“He's my son.”

Sebastian's eyes lowered.

“I know.”

“Do you?”

He looked at me.

I kept my voice calm.

“Because for years, you treated his connection to me like a weakness.”

“You taught him that being strong meant distancing himself from me.”

Sebastian's face tightened.

“I was wrong.”

I wasn't prepared for that answer.

He continued.

“I thought I was preparing him for the life he would inherit.”

“I thought weakness was something the Alpha bloodline couldn't afford.”

His gaze moved to Leo.

“I never realized I was teaching him to be ashamed of the person who gave him life.”

I was silent.

Because that was exactly what had happened.

“You can't undo it with one apology.”

“I know.”

“And I won't return to Shadowmoon Estate.”

Sebastian's jaw tightened, but he nodded.

“I won't force you.”

I looked at him carefully.

“Then what do you want?”

His answer came quietly.

“A chance to make things right.”

I almost laughed.

“You had five years.”

His eyes closed for a moment.

“I know.”

Silence settled between us.

Then Leo stirred.

“Mom…”

I immediately leaned closer.

“I'm here.”

His eyes opened halfway.

“Don't leave.”

My heart clenched.

I brushed his hair away from his forehead.

“I'm not leaving tonight.”

Leo relaxed.

Sebastian watched the exchange without speaking.

For the first time, I saw something change in his eyes.

Not possessiveness.

Not Alpha authority.

Regret.

Real regret.

…

The next morning, Elena came to the hospital.

She stood outside the room for several seconds before entering.

Leo looked at her.

“Aunt Elena.”

She smiled faintly.

“How are you feeling?”

“Better.”

Her eyes moved toward me.

There was no hostility in them now.

Only uncertainty.

“Faye, I want to apologize.”

I didn't answer immediately.

She lowered her head.

“I know an apology isn't enough.”

“But I lied to Sebastian about what my family wanted.”

“I encouraged the elders to believe you couldn't be Luna.”

“I told Leo things he should never have heard.”

My fingers tightened around the edge of the chair.

Elena's voice trembled.

“I was jealous of you.”

“And I convinced myself that if I could make you leave, everything would fall into place.”

Sebastian stood near the window.

He hadn't said a word.

Elena looked at him.

“I'm leaving the estate.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Where will you go?”

“I don't know.”

She smiled sadly.

“But I don't deserve to stay in a place where I destroyed someone else's family.”

Leo frowned.

“Are you leaving because of me?”

Elena shook her head.

“No, sweetheart.”

She knelt beside his bed.

“I'm leaving because I made choices that hurt your mother.”

Leo looked at me.

Then at Elena.

Something seemed to shift inside his young expression.

“Mom isn't weak.”

Elena froze.

Leo's voice was quiet.

“She stayed with me when I was sick.”

“That's what strong people do.”

My eyes burned.

Sebastian turned toward the window.

I could see his shoulders tense.

Maybe he was hiding his emotions.

Maybe he was ashamed.

Either way, I didn't ask.

That afternoon, Leo was discharged.

Sebastian offered to take us back to the estate.

I refused.

“I'll take Leo to my apartment.”

Sebastian looked surprised.

“Your apartment?”

“Yes.”

He was silent for a moment.

Then he nodded.

“I'll drive you.”

“No.”

His eyes met mine.

I softened slightly.

“You can follow if you want.”

He nodded again.

As I walked toward the parking lot with Leo holding my hand, I realized something.

Sebastian wasn't chasing me anymore.

He was following.

There was a difference.

And for the first time since my rebirth, I wasn't sure what the future would look like.

But I knew one thing.

I would not abandon my son.

And I would not abandon myself.