Chapter 595: Bonding_Part 1

Viola, who had been watching the news, immediately turned towards the door at the knock and saw Laila poking her head through the gap.

"Can I come in?" Laila asked, glancing between Viola and the television.

"Of course. Come in," Viola said, turning off the screen.

She didn’t want Laila to see it. It seemed the Silver Broadcasting Network had nothing better to do than report on her friend’s misfortunes. She wondered how they would turn their attention to her once they discovered the truth about her babies. Every screen in the pack would be broadcasting the news, and a thin thread of dread crept into her stomach. However, she pushed the thought aside and gave Perry permission to leave.

Laila stepped inside, closing the door behind her. She approached the bed but stopped beside the crib, looking down at the sleeping babies. She had been standing outside since Sebastian told her to stay with his wife, but she hadn’t wanted to disturb the Luna thinking she was asleep until she saw the omega bring in food.

"How are you feeling?" she asked awkwardly, not good at all this checking up on someone after delivery or at the healing house.

"I’m fine. A little tired, but I’m getting better," Viola replied, noticing that Laila was still wearing the same outfit she had seen her in on the television, which meant the incident had happened recently.

Although Viola had her own problems piling up and knew her babies weren’t supposed to be revealed just yet, she also knew that Laila being allowed past the guards must mean Sebastian had permitted her visit. The way Laila stared at the pups without any surprise confirmed it.

Laila stared at the two girls again. "They’re beautiful."

Viola smiled proudly. "They are, aren’t they?"

There was a brief silence before Viola noticed Laila hesitating beside the crib, her hands clasped together as though she wanted to reach out but wasn’t sure she was allowed to.

"You can carry them, you know," Viola said, noticing her hesitation.

Laila looked at her in surprise. "Are you sure?"

"Of course. You don’t have to ask me twice."

Laila didn’t immediately move. She looked down at the babies again, almost afraid of holding something so tiny, until Viola came over and plucked one of the babies out of the crib. She turned out to be the troublesome one, who woke up immediately and stared up at her mother with a frown on her tiny face.

"Sorry, darling. I didn’t mean to wake you up, but Aunt Laila wants to say hi, and she’s too shy to hold you," Viola cooed, kissing the baby’s sweet-scented double chin as the little girl began sticking out her tongue.

"Say hi to your Aunt Laila." Viola introduced her as though her daughter could understand every word, and right on cue, the baby’s eyes lazily turned towards Laila, who froze.

"Does...does she understand you?" Laila asked in astonishment as she reached out to hold the tiny being, approaching her with caution and reverence.

Viola chuckled. "Who knows. She’s a little troublesome, Sebastian and I noticed that earlier. Come on, hold her, she’s staring at you already." She handed her daughter to the she-wolf, a woman she would never have thought she would come to trust this much with someone so precious to her.

Tentatively, Laila reached out and carried the baby into her arms, her heart beating so fast that Viola felt it against her arm, which grazed Laila’s chest as she handed the baby over.

"Oh my, I am holding a freaking baby." Laila remarked in fascination. "What is her name?"

Viola didn’t hesitate, having already thought about the names in the shower. "Hazel, she is Hazel, and her sister will be Vanessa, and their brother is...Seb will name him." She said sheepishly.

Laila chuckled at her words. Never in her life had she imagined there would come a day when she would envy a woman with children and a mate, but she did. By the Moon, she envied Viola, yet she was genuinely happy for her too, so much so that her eyes began to sting.

"Hi, Hazel, you have sharp eyes, don’t you?" Laila said as she stared back at Hazel, who already had beautiful eyes like her mother’s and an aura that promised to be like her father’s.

Hazel made a noise, wrinkling her nose and turning to rub her nose against Laila’s chest, cooing like she was about to cry. "Oh Lord, I think she doesn’t like me, Vee. Will you take her?"

Viola laughed. "She’s probably hungry, Hazel has an appetite bigger than Nessa’s. Come sit with us while she feeds." Viola took Laila’s hand and brought her to sit down with them on the bed, not wanting the she-wolf to feel bad about whatever had happened that had made it onto the news network that would reached the entire packs in the werewolf world.

Viola could feel Laila’s eyes on her as she fed Hazel. She glanced at the she-wolf and noticed the smile on her face as she watched the baby feed. It was almost as though Laila wasn’t even aware that she was smiling.

"I wish I had been able to get them their clothes, but I was refused entry to the malls," Laila remarked out of the blue.

Viola looked at her in surprise, and Laila continued, "Gilbert asked me to get them some clothes, but I messed up as usual. Don’t worry, though. I paid for them online and sent an omega from our house to pick them up somewhere else."

So that was it, Viola thought. She had been going to get her daughters clothes when that drama happened.

"It’s okay. You don’t have to worry. Hazel and Vanessa will have more dresses than they could ever wear once we leave here. Their dad and loved ones will see to that, I’m sure," Viola assured her, giving her hand a friendly squeeze.

Laila stared at their joined hands, tears filling her eyes. She tried to blink them away but couldn’t, so she lowered her gaze, hoping to hide them.

"Are we really... friends?" Laila asked, looking up at Viola with uncertain eyes. She knew Viola treated her like a friend, but she couldn’t help wondering if it was genuine, considering how she’d forced her way into Viola’s circle.