But my mother wasn't looking at her. Her blue eyes—filled with disbelief, hope, and something I couldn't quite place—were locked onto me.
I swallowed, forcing a small, nervous smile.
She shuddered even more upon hearing my voice. Even Luna, looking at our mother with concern, instantly turned to face me. Her wide eyes sparkled like stars.
"Brother?" she whispered.
And then, without giving me a chance to react, she dashed toward me at full speed. Seeing her rushing at me while my mother remained frozen in shock, I quickly knelt and opened my arms.
Luna lunged at me, wrapping her tiny arms around my neck with all the strength her miniature body could muster. I caught her gently, holding her close.
"Brother… is it you?" she asked in a trembling voice.
I nodded, rubbing her back. "Yeah, Luna. It's me."
For a moment, she didn't move. Then, I felt her small body shake as quiet sobs escaped her lips. The sound of her crying felt like thousands of ants crawling over my heart, painful and unbearable.
"Brother, you big bear!" she sobbed. "I missed you so much! Where did you go without telling us? Mommy and Daddy were so sad! I was so sad!"
Her grip on me tightened as if she feared that if she let go, I would disappear again.
I held her even more tightly, my own eyes burning with unshed tears. "I'm sorry, Luna," I whispered. "I never meant to leave you... to leave any of you." I never wanted to make Mom and Dad sad. But… back then, I didn't have a choice."
She sobbed harder against me, her little body trembling as she clung to me like I would disappear again if she let go.
From the corner of my eye, I saw my mother still standing there, frozen in place. Her hands trembled, covering her mouth as silent tears streamed down her face.
"Mom…" I called out again, this time softer, filled with all the longing and guilt I carried for so long.
I was purchasing hot chocolate for Luna when I heard a voice—young yet familiar. It sounded different, yet the same.
At first, I shook my head, thinking it was just another illusion, like so many before. But as I turned toward the source of the voice, hope flared in my chest. What if… what if it was real this time?
My breath hitched. My body froze. The world around me blurred for a moment before snapping back into focus.
There he stood—my son. The boy who had been missing for two months.
His neatly organized white hair, so much like his father's. His striking blue eyes, filled with excitement, fear, and a storm of emotions I couldn't quite place. He wore a simple white hoodie that suited him well. But something about him was different.
It clung to him, whispering of something majestic—something that hadn't been there before. His stance was firm yet uncertain, as if the confidence he once had wavered beneath the surface.
I didn't know what had happened to him.
But I knew—without a doubt—he was my boy. My baby.
I watched as he spoke gently to Luna, explaining, apologizing. The way he held her, the way he soothed her sobs… It was too much.
Tears spilled down my cheeks, falling faster as memories of the past two months flooded my mind. Not a single day had passed without Luna asking about him. His disappearance had hurt us all, but none more than his little sister. She was closest to him. His shadow. His brightest star.
And now… he was here.
His voice rang out again, softer this time—filled with longing, with guilt. My lips trembled. My feet moved on their own.
Before I knew it, I was in front of him, crouching down.
My hands shook as I reached forward, terrified that if I touched him, he would disappear. But the moment my fingers brushed against his skin, warmth spread through me. He was real.
With a sob, I cupped his face, my voice breaking as I whispered,
"Kallus… my baby boy.
Hearing my voice, my mother walked toward me slowly, crouching down. With trembling hands, she gently stroked my hair, her touch filled with warmth and care.
The moment I heard her voice, I stiffened, my body going rigid for just a second—before I melted into her gentle caress, surrendering to the comfort I had longed for.
I ran my fingers through his clean, well-maintained hair, my hands trembling as I clutched him tightly—afraid that if I let go, he would slip away again.
"I… I thought I had lost you. We thought we had lost you," I choked out, pressing my palm gently against his cheek.
My voice wavered as I searched his eyes for answers. "Where were you, son? What happened to you? How did you suddenly disappear… so completely that even the authorities couldn't find you?"
I didn't answer her right away—I wasn't even sure how to answer.
Before I could gather my thoughts, my mother spoke again, her voice trembling.
"You know… we thought you were gone. Never to come back," she choked out.
Holding Luna, who had fallen silent in my arms, I responded calmly, "I'm here now," murmuring the words as if to reassure her.
Just as I was about to say more, I felt a presence nearby. Looking up, I saw my father standing just a few steps away, his silver eyes glistening with unshed tears. He held a few pieces of paper in his hand—tickets, perhaps—but his gaze was locked onto me.
Despite the emotion swirling in his eyes, he didn't waver. His voice, though calm, carried the weight of relief and unspoken pain.
"You're back, huh, son?"
I smiled, trying to reassure him. "Indeed, I am, Father."
My voice was steady and deliberate meant to calm the emotions running high in both my mother and sister.
My mother's eyes slightly furrowed, but I could still see the relief in them as she listened to my calm voice. She slowly stood up, watching me gently.
I nodded at her before turning my attention to the little princess in my arms. Patting her head softly, I said, "Princess, let Brother go for a bit. I want to show you something good. And when we get home, I'll give you a gift."
Luna hesitated for a moment before nodding, her small hands loosening their grip around my hoodie. As she moved, I felt a subtle shift—something stirring in the back of my hood, almost completely curled up. Luna's fingers brushed against it, making her realize that someone—or something—was nestled there.
Luna yelped in surprise. "What is that, Brother? On your hoodie?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and a hint of caution as she backed away slightly.
I couldn't help but chuckle softly at her reaction. "Don't be scared, Princess," I said, reaching back to gently lift the small creature resting against my hoodie. "Let me introduce you."
The small creature, curled into a ball, twitched as it felt my hand reaching for it. It opened its eyes, which were filled with slight annoyance, and let out a tiny woof, as if saying, "You stupid master! I was almost crushed by that little princess of yours!"
Despite its irritation, I noticed the way it gazed at Luna—filled not with hostility, but with gentle curiosity. Its eyes then shifted toward my mother, Amelia, and my father, Noah, observing them with the same cautious interest.
Luna, on the other hand, was staring right back at the little creature, her eyes filled with curiosity yet tinged with caution. My parents were the same, their expressions a mix of surprise and intrigue.
I gently set the small wolf down which looked more like a certain breed dog than a wolf on the ground before turning to Luna. "Come here, Princess. No need to be scared," I reassured her with a warm smile. "This is your brother's friend."
Luna hesitated for a second, but seeing the confidence in my gaze, she slowly took a step closer. The creature, too, tilted its head, watching her intently.
Smiling, I gestured toward it and said, "Let me introduce you—this is Fafnir."
My mother eyed Fafnir with slight intrigue before asking, "Is this a dog, Kallus?"
Hearing her question, I couldn't help but chuckle—only for Fafnir, who clearly understood, to glare at me. Letting out an indignant woof, he stomped his front paws up and down as if protesting, demanding that I properly explain that he wasn't just some ordinary dog.
Amused, I ignored his little tantrum and turned to my mother. "Something like that, Mom," I said, my voice laced with amusement.
Hearing me, my sister, who had been cautious just moments ago, completely threw her caution to the wind. She reached out and gently caught Fafnir by his front paws, her small hands brushing through his fur.
As she began to pet and ruffle his fur gently, her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Wow, Brother! His fur is so soft!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with delight. "I like him! Can I play with him?"
Fafnir, who had been so proud and indignant just a moment ago, froze under Luna's gentle touch. His ears twitched slightly, and though he let out a small huff, he made no attempt to move away.
I could tell he was already resigning himself to his fate.
I chuckled softly, wiping away a stray tear from Luna's cheek as she gazed up at me with those big, pleading eyes.
I sighed dramatically, ruffling her hair. "Alright, alright.
Smiling, I nodded. "Of course, Princess. But be gentle—he's proud, you know."
He might look like a little furball, but he's got a bit of an attitude."
Luna's face lit up with pure joy. "Yay!" She nuzzled Fafnir happily, her small hands stroking his soft fur as she giggled.