Five years after

New York City...

*Presently*

Five years had passed. Five years of isolation, depressed of being a single mother of my twins— the little monsters the moon goddess gave to me.

Five years now, I have no idea about what happened to her, my aunt. I'd be forever grateful to her. Years ago, I saw myself unconscious at a flowing stream alone. My aunt was nowhere to be found; the trucks; the drivers; it seemed as if they never truly existed. It all felt like a dream, but like a dream that came to pass in a painful way.

I wandered around New York, pregnant.

I slept by the subway for days, spent the little change my I found in my pocket, before I finally applied for a job at a barber's shop, then was I able to have somewhere to rest my head. I found a small apartment right after weeks of rigorous hard work.

All I ever do was to go to work, come back home, eat, sleep, and repeat. The day my water broke was at work. I was instantly rushed to the hospital by my boss, my savour, Edgar Powell. He was the one who rushed me to the hospital when no one responded to me while I was in labour. I was rushed that day, and at night, I gave birth to my twins, Derek and Diane.

I gave birth to title Diane, mute. That night, I couldn't forget. I cried so much when I gave birth to her without hearing her first cry. It was so painful to realize my daughter wouldn't be able to talk all her life.

For five years, I have been working tirelessly, five years I have been working to make sure my kids don't lack anything. I made sure my kids never cry, u made sure they got everything they had always wanted.

Today marked their fifth birthday, and we are getting some stuff at the stall. Then we will also go to the mall to get a nice outfit for both of them.

Derek suddenly stood still, staring at the moving machine in front of us.

"Mummy, what is that?"

I smiled, "That's a robot."

Diane lifted up her head, staring at me.

"Heather Zain has a robot. You kids shouldn't worry. As soon as we get to the new street, we will be seeing robots more often."

"Mummy, shouldn't we get the peaches now?"

"Yes, right! Thank you, kids, for reminding me."

Diane held my hand, while Derek was still staring the robot as it moved from a stall to another, mesmerized.

"Mummy, I want to be a robot creator when I grow up."

Robot creator? I chuckled.

"Okay, whatever you wanna do, you should always know mummy would always support you."

Diane pulled my hand and pointed at the peaches.

"Yeah, right." We approached the vendor, took four peaches for her to pack into a bag for us.

Paying up, "Ria? Ria?!" I heard a familiar voice behind us.

"Mummy, it's Mr Edgar." My boss.

"Sir?"

The young man of thirty-five approached us with a wide smile on his face. This young blonde who saved me when I was dying then, forever will I be grateful to him.

"Hello Ria, kids."

"Hello, Mr Edgar." Derek greeted, and Diane smiled at him.

"Thank goodness I was able to approach you today. Happy birthday, kids." He picked two bags from the five bags he was holding with him. "I was planning to go to your house." He was talking to me.

I nodded at him and forced out a smile. I still have issues trusting men, you know.

"So, where are you planning to take the kids on the special day?"

"We are going to the mall, then we go to the water park." Derek spoke up instead.

He grinned, "Really? Can I come with you guys?"

Derek lifted his head, staring at me, obviously waiting for my approval.

This sly kid. Of course, he likes Edgar and always pester me about Edgar being my boyfriend. That word - boyfriend - bothers me a lot. How can a little kid of five know what boyfriend is? But it was the opposite for Diane, I don't think she likes Edgar. Whenever he approaches us, her grip tightens, and she makes sure she moves away from him, just like she is doing now.

"Of course he can come with us." I finally approved. Derek happily jumped on his arm, while Diane held my hand protectively. I still don't understand why she acts like this.

The four of us went into the mall; Derek in Edgar's arm, Diane clawing to my fingers protectively.

"Mom, I love that dress for Diane. Don't you think it's going to suit her?" Derek pointed at a dress not too far from where we were standing. "And besides, it's her favourite colour."

"Then leave the man from the job." Edgar gently drops Derek. "I'll go get the dress for her royal queen."

Derek giggled, "So thoughtful of you, uncle."

"You guys should stay right here, I'd be back."

He left us standing, Diane still holding my fingers protectively, while Derek stood beside me, gawking at the nice clothes and nice dresses hanged around so beautifully.

"Mom?"

"Yes, dear?"

"Mom, why is he staring at us like that? It is creepy."

"Who are you talking about?"

I traced his eyes to see whom he was staring at so intensively, and at that moment, I felt the world slow down in front of me.

He stood there, staring at me, his eyes devoid of emotions.

He still has those handsome features I could remember; the man who stands out in every men I have ever seen before, but he is for the other woman.

I could feel my heart increase its pace.

My mate is standing right before me, Alpha Dante.

He moved closer to me, and I made sure I tightened the grip around my children.

I have been hidden for so long now that I can not allow him to take my children away. I will not allow him to do that.

He bent to Derek's size, but i made sure to hold him well.

"Hi, I am Dante." He lifts his head to look at me, "You are not running away from me this time, Ria."