Upon reaching the train station, the mother and the quadruplets walked alongside the chauffeur, who was pushing a cart containing their luggage.
Gazing around curiously, they hugged their lunchboxes.
But Leon's expression was purely hostile as he fixed his gaze on the chauffeur.
"I think we are lost, Mama. This is not the right way home." Said Lucien, his ocean blue eyes wide, his hand in his mother's grasp.
Aurora pursed her lips and clenched her hold on his tiny hand. "We are returning home, sweetie. To your Grandmother and Grandfather."
"Huh?!" Adrien was taken aback. "But you always say grandmother and grandfather are selfish and evil."
Aurora suppressed a smile at that statement. She cast a glance at Theodore, who remained expressionless.
"We do not have a choice." She muttered, sounding a little more stern. Telling them about the circumstances was not a smart idea.
"I have nothing against them if they are wealthy." Alexandre stated, shrugging casually.
Aurora laughed at that remark. "Of course, my little money maker."
Alexandre stomped with pride, while his brother laughed at him.
Aurora's smile suddenly vanished. They were right at the entrance, and stepping into the train station meant there was no turning back.
But just as Theodore stopped in his tracks, Aurora held her breath and turned to face him, noticing the worry lines etched on his face as he stared at the cart. However, when he turned to her, his expression transformed into a blank, unreadable mask.
"I have to accept this. Stay right here." And he walked away, leaving the cart behind.
Aurora looked down at her children, who were staring up at her with wide, curious eyes. They were obviously confused and hadn't expected things to change so drastically for them.
"I am hungry, Mama." Leon grumbled, pressing his hand against his stomach.
Aurora sighed. Considering they had clearly eaten their lunches ahead of time, she had somewhat expected this.
Her eyes swept around the area. "A store has to be here somewhere."
She let go of Lucien's hand. "Stay here until Theodore comes back. I will look around for some snacks." And she patted his head as they all nodded.
"Okay." Breathing, she hurried back to the direction of the carriage stand. She had noticed a store nearby when they all got out of the carriage earlier.
But as soon as she pulled into the carriage stand, "MAMA!!!"
Her ocean blue eyes dilated in full alertness and she found herself running like the wind, back to the spot she had left her children.
"Mama?" A deep, velvety voice, dripping with confusion, resonated, its familiar tones caressing her senses.
Aurora stopped walking, panting heavily. Her gaze first met the wide bright eyes of her four gremlins, then settled on a darker, mesmerizing shade of silver that glowed with a dangerous darkness that only served to draw her in like a magnet to iron.
She completely forgot how to breathe! Nonetheless, she found herself screaming aloud.
"Y...you kidnapper! Let go of my child right now!"
....
~A few minutes ago~
"I am growing impatient here, Christophe." Playing with the cigarette between his long fingers, Sebastian's silver eyes darkened.
Just then, the door opened, revealing a husky auburn-haired man with captivating emerald eyes. He had a bright, teasing smile on his face as he stared at the unconscious woman next to the impatient man.
"This will not happen again, Your Grace."
"Of course." Sebastian tucked the cigarette between his teeth.
"Would you like me to bring you another assassin? They are not exactly masters of stealth, after all." Christophe's face brightened.
Sebastian clenched his teeth around the cigarette. "No." And he glanced at the woman beside him.
Christophe curtsied. "Would you like to return to the station? That is, if you wish to depart London immediately."
Sebastian stroked the back of his neck, his face contorting with displeasure. He let out a long, frustrated sigh. "Prepare the others."
Christophe grinned. "Yes, Alpha." and shut the door behind them.
.
Sebastian stepped out of the car, his face wearing a blank expression as he hung his coat over his shoulder.
He looked at the men who were getting ready to follow him and back at his golden pocket watch.
"We are here. We shall leave immediately." Christophe was standing beside him, beaming broadly.
Sebastian nodded.
As the Duke and his retinue stepped out of the carriage stand and onto the train station's platform, all eyes in the bustling train station fell upon them.
The noble's stately demeanor and the dignified bearing of his attendants drew admiring glances from the assembled travelers, their fine attire and confident stride commanding respect as they made their way into the station.
"Is there a primary cause behind the delay?" Sebastian asked, casting another quick glance at his pocket watch.
Christophe's eyes flickered. "It was attacked by the Ocean Fire pack."
The Duke's expression remained expressionless, but the information made him furious.
"I have been making an effort to prevent a massacre." He muttered, shrugging his eyes away from his watch.
Christophe chuckled at the irony. "You can never stay away from carnage, Your Grace. You initiate them, most of the time."
Sebastian said nothing. He stopped abruptly, and his retinue followed suit, freezing in place as his eyes blazed with vehemence, their fierce gleam highly unsettling.
"Is something wrong?" Christophe was taken aback by his action.
Sebastian didn't reply. He didn't want to. He preferred to suppress his anger quietly by simply taking his attention to something else.
He jerked his head in the direction of the carriage stand.
"Your Grace?" Christophe asked, bewildered.
Looking back at the lane ahead, Sebastian noticed four children standing next to the train station's main entrance.
They looked at least ten years old. At least three of them did. The fourth one looked rather small, frail and paler compared to the other three.
He froze. Their scent!
Each of them had tiny healing scratches in their faces and small bandaids adorning their faces. They merely stood there, speaking to each other, their expressions a plethora of emotions shimmering in their bright eyes.
Three of them had bright silver eyes, while the fourth had ocean blue eyes.... A perfect mix... A perfect detail...
Hesitantly, he opened his mouth. "What the.."