Rejected and Claimed by her Alpha Triplets-Chapter 300 - to remedy

300

~Thorne’s POV

I stared at Elara for a long moment. Slowly, I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers. It wasn’t gentle or hesitant; it was desperate, almost like I was trying to make up for lost time. When I pulled back, I whispered, "I’m sorry... for making you feel like you weren’t enough. You are enough, Elara. You’ve always been enough."

She laughed softly, a sound that warmed something deep inside me. "Thorne... It’s fine."

She tilted her head, eyes sparkling with mischief and care. "But I have another suggestion for you."

I raised a brow. "Another suggestion?"

"Yes," she said. "You should ask about your mother from Great Luna Seraphine. Your stepmother."

I blinked, caught off guard. "Seraphine? Why didn’t I think of that?"

She smiled knowingly. "Probably because you never thought about it, or maybe because your father forbade you from talking about her."

I exhaled, feeling a mix of relief and shame. "You’re right. I never thought of it because of him."

And I was a bad son to Seraphine. She actually cared about me, but I refused to perform my filial duty as a son to her. It’s been a while since I checked on her, and to be honest, I had no idea how she had been faring.

Elara reached out and gently squeezed my hand. "Then let’s go. I’ll come with you. It’s been a while, and I should visit her too."

I nodded, grateful for her support. "Alright. Let’s go."

We walked together through the palace corridors. My mind was racing. What would Seraphine say? Would she still want me as her son? Would she... listen to me?

Finally, we reached the doors to her chamber. The maids and guards bowed as we entered. I took a deep breath and stepped forward with Elara at my side.

And then I saw her. Great Luna Seraphine.

She was beautiful, even at her age, graceful and commanding. Her silver hair framed her face perfectly, and her eyes... those eyes had always held wisdom and warmth. I could see immediately why my father had married her, why people revered her. Despite being around seventy, she radiated power and presence.

Seraphine’s gaze fell on us, and a smile spread across her face. "Thorne! Elara! How wonderful to see you both." Her voice was strong yet gentle, carrying both authority and affection.

I bowed respectfully. "Great Luna, how have you been?" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Elara curtsied lightly, smiling. "It’s good to see you, Great Luna."

She chuckled softly, motioning for us to come closer. "Please, come in. Sit, sit... Don’t stand so stiffly."

Elara squeezed my hand again as we stepped further into the room. "See? She looks happy to see us," she whispered.

I nodded, still taking in the sight of Seraphine. Her presence was overwhelming, calm, strong, and kind all at once. "It’s... been too long," I said softly.

Seraphine’s smile grew wider. "Yes, it has, Thorne. Too long indeed! And Elara... my dear, you’ve grown so much since I last saw you. Truly remarkable." Her voice carried pride, and I could see the genuine warmth in her eyes.

Elara bowed her head slightly, smiling. "Thank you, Great Luna. It’s good to see you again."

Seraphine motioned toward the chairs near the large window. "Sit, both of you. Come, rest your feet."

We obeyed, taking our seats.

Seraphine chuckled softly, then clapped her hands lightly. "Girls! Bring refreshments, something to eat, and drink. These two need it."

The maids hurried over, bowing as they set out a small tray with fruit, warm bread, and tea. The aroma of freshly baked bread and herbs filled the room. I glanced at Elara, and she gave me a small smile.

"Thank you," I said, looking at Seraphine.

She waved her hand dismissively. "Nonsense. You’ve both been through so much. Sit, eat, drink."

Elara chuckled softly.

"She hasn’t changed at all," I whispered to her.

"She hasn’t," Elara replied, her eyes glimmering. "And I’m glad for it."

Seraphine’s eyes twinkled as she leaned slightly forward. "You know, Thorne, it warms my heart to see you standing tall and strong. I see the fire in your eyes, the determination. And Elara... you complement him well. You’ve always been wise beyond your years."

I felt a flush of warmth at her words, but I kept my expression neutral. "Great Luna... It’s an honor to hear that from you."

Seraphine waved her hand again, gesturing toward the refreshments. "Eat, drink, and regain your strength. You’ll need it. And then... we will talk about more important matters. I have questions, advice, and yes, guidance for both of you. But first, nourishment."

Elara picked up a piece of bread and smiled at me. "We can finally rest for a moment," she said quietly.

I felt a strange mixture of nerves and excitement as we sat. Memories of her and father, the palace halls, the lessons, all came rushing back.

She studied us for a long moment, her piercing eyes scanning both me and Elara. Then her expression softened, and a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"Thorne... It’s been a while since you visited me," she said, her voice gentle but carrying that quiet authority only she could command. "And Elara, my dear, the same goes for you, too."

Elara returned her smile, bowing her head slightly. "We are sorry, Great Luna," she said, her tone warm. "There were a lot of things to handle. And don’t forget, you handed over the internal duties to me at a very young age."

I could hear the teasing in her voice, and I caught a glimpse of Seraphine’s twinkling eyes. She leaned back in her chair, her silver hair catching the morning light, and she shook her head slowly, a smirk playing on her lips.

"So..." she said, her voice rising just enough to make it clear she was teasing. "I’m at fault here, right? And is that the reason why you both decided not to give me a grandchild?"

I froze, blinking at her in surprise. My mouth opened, but no words came out. I felt heat rise to my cheeks, a mixture of embarrassment and guilt.

Elara let out a soft laugh, almost musical, and I could see the amusement in her eyes. She reached out and gave my arm a gentle squeeze, a silent reminder to stay calm.

"I... uh..." I stammered, trying to find the right words, but nothing sounded right. Every time I opened my mouth, Seraphine’s teasing expression made me falter.

Elara laughed again softly, covering her mouth with her hand. "Great Luna, it’s not exactly like that," she said, trying to explain, though I could tell she was enjoying the moment too.

Seraphine leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand, eyes glinting with mischief. "Not exactly, you say?" she repeated, her voice playful. "I’ve known you both for years. I can see when something isn’t being said. Come on now, you two. Don’t hide from me."

I shifted in my seat, feeling both nervous and exposed. "Great Luna... It’s complicated," I admitted finally, my voice low. "We... we didn’t mean to... I mean..."

Elara rolled her eyes at me but kept smiling. "We were busy," she said lightly, laughing. "And it wasn’t because we didn’t want to give you a grandchild. Life... duties... circumstances."

Seraphine chuckled, a deep, warm sound that filled the room. "Circumstances, eh? I see. And yet, you came here today, so perhaps it’s time to remedy that?" She leaned back, crossing her arms, still smiling.