82. Let go of the past.

Deangelo.

I had been back for a week now and things were starting to fall back into place. The house had resumed its usual routine. I had just finished reading a report from one of my clients when I heard a burst of energy coming from outside my study. I looked up to see my five-year-old son, Diego, sprinting into the room with a huge grin on his face. I could not help but smile at the sight of my son's excitement.

"Dad, Dad, guess what?" Diego exclaimed, breathless from his sprint, his eyes wide with anticipation.

"What is it, Diego?" I asked, setting aside my work.

"My new friend invited me to a carnival in town tonight!" Diego exclaimed, jumping up and down.

My smile faded, replaced with a look of concern. I was always nervous about letting my children out of the house except it had to do with somewhere close enough or school generally, especially with the recent security threats. However, before I could even express his doubts, Elena walked into the study behind Diego.

"Diego has been invited to a carnival by one of the kids he met at the fundraiser," she said, reading my expression. "I think it would be a great idea for all of us to go. We can make it a family outing." It was as if she could sense my hesitation.

I mulled over the idea, but the thought of the carnival's potential dangers made me uneasy. Elena could sense my reluctance, and before I could object, she suggested that we all go together. "It'll be fun, and we can keep an eye on the kids," she said reassuringly.

I felt a small sense of relief at the suggestion. The idea of going out with the whole family, with his men to patrol and secure the area, made the situation more palatable. It was still a crowded area and a potential target, but the likelihood of an attack would be reduced with his men present.

However, I was still unsure, as I was about to give my unapproval, Diego's pleading puppy dog face caught me off guard, and I found myself unable to refuse.

"Please, Dad, please," Diego begged, his eyes wide and pleading.

I sighed, hoping that I would not regret doing this. "Alright, we'll go," I relented. "But Luca and the rest of the men need to prepare. We can't be too careful."

Diego's face lit up with excitement, and Elena smiled gratefully at my decision. Despite my reservations, I was looking forward to making memories with my son at the carnival.

But then, when I asked Mia if she would like to come along, she refuses immediately, and that was a bit suspicious because she loved things like this, was she outgrowing every darn thing now?

I could feel the tension in the air as Mia excused herself, leaving me, Elena, and Diego in the study. I sensed that there was something she was keeping from me, and I tried to probe further but Elena immediately jumped in, saying that Mia was just working on a group project that was due the next day. However, I still knew that there was something more to it. I had always been able to read Mia like an open book, but lately, I had noticed that she had been a little more guarded. I decided to let it go for now and focus on the task at hand.

I turned to Diego whose eyes were still very bright with excitement. I still had my reservations, but I knew that I cannot deny my son this experience. I ordered Luca and the rest of the men to prepare for the outing and make sure that the area was very secure.

As we were about to leave, Chef Jane handed us a basket of snacks, insisting that the carnival might not have good enough sweets. Diego, however, was not pleased with the idea of bringing food from home, fearing that William, his friend, would think he was a dork. The fcat that he was already thinking about pleasing dome friend was surprising to me and I also did not appreciate his tone and so I ordered him to apologize to Mrs. Cali.

Elena stepped in as a mediator, accepting the basket of sweets on Diego's behalf and smoothing things over. I watched as she effortlessly diffused the situation, and I could not help but feel impressed. As we left, Alessandro announced that he will not be joining us, saying something about how he is no longer a young man, but I could not care less. To be honest, I was not even planning on inviting him in the first place. However, I noticed the suspicious looks exchanged between Mia and Elena and wondered what they could be hiding. I decided not to push the issue, though, and we all got into the car, ready for a night of fun and adventure.

As we entered the carnival grounds, I was immediately struck by the noise and chaos around me. Bright lights, blaring music, and crowds of people filled the air with a palpable energy. I watched as Diego's eyes light up with excitement, eager to explore and enjoy everything the carnival had to offer.

Elena took charge, acting as a chaperone to the boys as they ran from one attraction to the next, their voices loud and boisterous with laughter. I followed behind, watching my son with pride as he seemed to come alive in this lively environment. I saw Diego making new friends and talking to strangers with ease, his confidence growing with every passing moment.

Despite the noise and the chaos, I felt a sense of peace knowing that my men were on high alert, securing the perimeter and keeping a watchful eye on everything that was happening. As the night wore on, I relaxed a little, letting myself enjoy the carnival atmosphere and the sight of my son having so much fun.

I watched as Elena gracefully navigated the crowd, her eyes constantly scanning our surroundings for any signs of danger. I felt very grateful to have her by his side, admiring her intelligence and resourcefulness.

My heart raced as I soon decided to lead Elena away from the boys and into the crowds of the carnival. I knew that my men were watching from a distance, ensuring the boys’ safety so I decided that maybe I should have some alone time with Elena. I glanced over at Elena, who looked excited and carefree, and I felt a sense of warmth spread through me.

As we walked, I noticed the curious looks we received from passersby, and I felt a sense of pride at the sight of Elena's hand in mine. I felt like I was walking with royalty, and for a moment I forgot that we were just two people enjoying an evening at the carnival.

"Want to go on a ride?" I suddenly asked her impulsively, and was pleased when she agreed with a smile. As we walked to the ride, I could feel her hand in mine and it made me feel strangely content, It wasn't often that I got to let loose and have fun. When we reached the ride, Elena looked hesitant and mentioned her fear of heights. I couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness towards her as she held on tightly to me.

We went on several rides, each time with Elena clinging onto me tightly. I was glad to be able to provide her with some sense of security, but at the same time, I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement every time she held onto me. Eventually, Elena suggested that it was my turn to face my fears.

I could think of a number of things that scared me, but my mind immediately went to the one thing I was scared of the most - falling in love with Elena.

I knew that I shouldn't be having these feelings, but every time I looked at her, I couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. I knew that I couldn't say that out loud, so I let her suggest the haunted house or the mini treasure hunt island. Elena seemed to think that I had seen too much in my life to be afraid of anything, but I knew that my fear was much deeper than any haunted house or pirate island.

As we walked towards the treasure hunt island, I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth spreading throughout my body, I couldn't help but steal glances at Elena, my heart beating faster with every passing moment. I knew that this moment would be one that I would never forget.

After the treasure hunt island, Elena pulled me towards the witch's stand, curious about having her fortune read. I was immediately reluctant and skeptical, but I could not resist her persuasive charm at the end of the day. Elena took a seat while I stood beside her, crossing my arms over my chest.

The witch suddenly asked Elena to leave, and I hesitated for a moment before agreeing. I sat uneasily in front of the witch's stand, my skepticism growing with each passing moment. I had always been wary of these kinds of things, and even now I couldn't help but feel like I was wasting my time.

The witch, an old and wrinkled woman with piercing green eyes, smiled at me knowingly. "You don't believe in what I do," she said, her voice raspy and low.

I shrugged. "Not really, no."

The witch chuckled. "That's okay. Many people don't. But there are some things in this world that we can't explain, and that's where I come in."

I raised an eyebrow. "And what can you tell me that I don't already know?"

The witch leaned forward, her eyes fixed on mine "You have suffered much," she said. "But happiness awaits you, if you let it."

I snorted. "That's a load of rubbish." I said as I attempted to walk away but the witch's smile faded, and she grabbed my hand tight. I tensed, surprised by her strength. I was taken aback by her strength, and I tried to pull away only to be unable to.

What? Where did the old woman get such strength over an alpha.

"You can't keep torturing yourself for things that happened in the past," the witch said, her grip unyielding. "Or you'll miss out on the opportunity for love."

My eyes widen as I stared at the witch. I felt a strange connection with her, as if she knew more about me than she should. I tried to pull away again, but the witch's grip only tightened.

I was finally able to pull my hand away, my eyes narrowing. "What are you trying to say?"

The witch leaned back, her smile returning. "You know what I'm saying," she said. "You have a chance at something real, but only if you're willing to let go of the past."

My expression softened, and I glanced over at Elena, who was waiting patiently nearby. I couldn't deny that I felt something for her, something that I hadn't felt in a long time.

I did not know what to make of the witch’s words. I had never believed in fortune-telling or magic, but there was something about this witch that made me feel uneasy. I simply left the stand, feeling confused and shaken.