Chapter 14

-Canta Leung's POV-

It had been years.

It had been so long without Juniper that I had almost forgotten what she smelt like, what she felt like. I kept a picture of her hidden in my room, and I would always go back to it after Chang did something remotely upsetting, which he did several times a day.

I was a completely different person now, and I didn't want to admit how bad I felt because of that, and how proud I was of what I became.

My personality, my fire, had grown stronger over the years. With each and every mean word which Chang spat at me; it was as though another layer of armour had been acquired. In public, I was the perfect example of a wife. As soon as those doors closed, I didn't give him anything more than I had to in order for survival. Chang could easily kill me, and I learned how to toe the line which defined his patience.

I had a few visits from Juniper over the past five years, all of which were in her wolf form, which was not easily distinguishable from any other wolf. It was within those moments that I let my guard down, and I wept for everything which we could've had together throughout our late teens and early twenties. We missed so many of each other's milestones, which we would never gain back.

I would never forget a particular interaction, for as long as I would live.

I sat in the forest, wearing a long blue dress which was soft and gentle on the skin. I knew that Juniper would be waiting for me, somehow. I knew that it was just the bond which drew me here, so I took the first chance I got to escape the mansion which I lived in.

I had one friend here though, Luella, she was a maid, and she helped me escape the place whenever I felt like I was being suffocated. She had come up with the reasoning that I needed fresh air, or the baby might feel the effects.

Luella was a kind soul, who was far too generous for her own good. If I didn't know any better, I would think that she was an angel, but that didn't suit her well enough. Whenever I thought of the idea, memories of Kavi, and thoughts about how he was doing, crept into my mind.

Luella stood a few feet away from me and faced the other way, to give me and the approaching wolf some privacy. She hummed quietly, assuring me that she was there and wasn't listening to any of our conversation. She was the only one who I told about my soulmate, so she knew how vital these few minutes were.

"Hello," I said and reached my hands out towards Juniper, who quickly pounced towards me and looked up at me with sparkling eyes. She looked at me adoringly, before her head lowered and she looked towards my swollen stomach. "It's a boy," I whispered to her.

She placed her paw gently on my stomach, and my son moved in response.

I laughed giddily and lightly rested my hand on her paw. "He's due in just over a month," I told her. I couldn't help but let my adoration for him show. I was scared, terrified, of bringing him into this world. I knew what his father intended to do with him, Yet the thought of ensuring that Chang didn't have a child never went further than that simple possibility. I didn't consider it for more than a second. He had already stated that was one of the main reasons why he married me, and I had fallen in love with my child the moment I found out that I was pregnant.

I sighed. Juniper whined.

Juniper rested her head on my lap, and I stroked her soft fur. There were no other words shared between us the rest of that interaction. But I felt as though my batteries had been recharged. We finished the meeting with a kiss on her forehead.

That was three years ago. Now, I watched my son, Quan Leung, grow every day with a pain in my chest. Juniper and I should've been raising a child right now, that hurt. But what hurt more was the fact I was putting Quan in constant danger.

I should run away with him. I should wrap him up in as many clothes as I could and take him out of this prison. But I would never be able to get past Chang with him.

Ever since Quan was born, he had disregarded me, he didn't even spare me a second glance. His stare used to revolt and disgust me, but I would've preferred that to the hungry stare he sent our child. My child didn't have a normal life, either. I was taught how to do love magic at a young age, because my parents drilled it into me by forcing me to spend hours in my room with only spell books, or they forced me to make potions until I got them exactly right. Chang was plain cruel. He would lock Quan in a dark room, with nothing to see, nothing to hear, and only the cold walls to feel. I tried to sneak in once, and I ended up with another burn mark which would never leave.

It had gotten to the point where Chang no longer cared where I went. I even made it to the airport once, before the guilt piled in my stomach like a ton of bricks. I had to go back and give Quan the longest cuddle I had ever given anyone.

But I wouldn't do that this time.

Last night, I tried to stop Chang from throwing Quan into that awful room again. It resulted in a fight, which I couldn't remember clearly. I knew that I was forced to use more magic than I had used in my entire life, and that I woke up with burns in the shape of handprints. Quan was tucked safely in his bed this morning, so I suppose that my efforts weren't in vain.

But the fight taught me many things. Chang no longer cared about me, and that he wouldn't hurt Quan so much so that it would be beyond repair.

I pulled up to the airport in the car which I had stolen from the garage and booked the earliest flight back to England. I didn't bring any of my other belongings with me, in fear that they would be used to track me down. The lady at the desk was suspicious, but her mouth shut as soon as she saw the amount of money I had. I managed to get a first-class seat, which I was unexpectedly grateful for, since I slept through the entire journey.

Juniper was there to greet me as soon as I entered the airport in England. Her warm embrace fought off the cold shivers I was experiencing due to the changes in climates. She was the only one there, and she was wearing a supermarket uniform. It was a strange time to be getting off work, so she must have left in the middle of her shift.

As soon as I opened my mouth, a sob escaped. "Hello," I said with a teary voice.

She didn't let go or pull back from the hug. "I love you." Her arms tightened. "So much."

I laughed lightly. "I love you too." Now we could be together. There was no reason why anything would get in between us.

This was probably the most selfish thing I had ever done, and I would never forgive myself for leaving my Quan in the hands of that monster.