CHAPTER 1 : A DAY IN THE PARK

The sun's warm rays danced across the theme park, casting a joyful glow over the laughter and excitement of the crowd. Lucas Blackwood stood tall, his piercing eyes scanning the area as he held his daughter May's hand. Amara, his Lunar, walked beside them, her bright smile illuminating the air.

"Can we go on the rollercoaster now, Papa?" May asked, her big brown eyes sparkling with excitement as she tugged on Lucas's hand.

Lucas chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Not yet, little one. Let's fuel up for the rest of the day's adventures. We don't want you running out of steam halfway through the rollercoaster."

May pouted, her lower lip jutting out in a comical expression. "But whyyyy?"

"Because, my dear, we need to keep our strength up if we're going to tackle the rollercoaster. And besides, your mother and I are starving." Lucas replied, chuckling.

Amara smiled, her eyes shining with happiness. "That's right, May. We need to keep our energy up if we're going to make the most of our day."

As they walked towards the food stalls, the sounds of laughter and music filled the air. Lucas felt a deep sense of peace wash over him, grateful for this day out with his family. The smell of sugary treats and savory delights wafted through the air, making his stomach growl with anticipation.

May chattered excitedly as they walked, her words tumbling out in a joyful stream. "Papa, can I get a hot dog? Pleeease?"

Lucas smiled. "Of course, little one. What toppings do you want?"

May's eyes widened as she scanned the options. "Ooh, can I get cheese and ketchup?"

Amara chuckled. "You know she's going to make a mess, right?"

Lucas laughed, shrugging. "That's what napkins are for."

As they waited in line, Lucas lifted May onto his shoulders, her giggles echoing through the air as she played with the stuffed animal he had won for her at the shooting gallery.

This is exactly what we needed," Amara said, leaning in as she squeezed Lucas's arm. "A day out, just the three of us."

Lucas smiled, feeling a sense of contentment wash over him. "I know. I'm glad we could make it happen."

May's voice piped up from above, "Papa, can we go on the rollercoaster now?"

"Not yet, little one. Let's eat our lunch first" was Luca's amused response at his daughter's barely restrained excitement.

Just then, a commotion broke out near the river that ran through the park. Lucas's trained ears perked up as he heard the sound of a child crying for help. He quickly set May on the ground, as he tried to pinpoint the exact cause of the uproar.

In the chaos, May wriggled free from Lucas's grasp and ran towards the river, her eyes fixed on something in the water. Lucas's heart skipped a beat as he saw her climb onto the railing, her tiny hands grasping for something.

"May, no!" Lucas shouted, dropping everything to rush towards her.

But it was too late. May lost her balance and fell into the river, her tiny form disappearing beneath the surface. Lucas's heart stopped as he saw his daughter struggling to stay afloat. He heard Amara's panicked cry, "MAY! LUCAS, HELP!"

He wasted no time, surging forward at breakneck speed towards the riverbank. But before he could react, Valerie Hill, his ex, appeared, her eyes locked on his as she roughly grabbed his arm.

For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still. Lucas's mind reeled as memories flooded back. He remembered the pain of her rejection, the humiliation of being turned down by his fated mate. The hurt still lingered, the pain woven deep.

Valeria's desperate cry cut through the haze, her voice a razor-sharp blade that sliced through Lucas's thoughts. "Lucas, please! Save your son! He's slipping beneath the surface!" Her words were a steel trap, clamping down on his heart and mind, forcing him to focus on her words with laser-like intensity. For one agonizing moment, May's terrified face faded from his mind, eclipsed by the sheer desperation in Valeria's voice.

Lucas's world tilted. His son? He didn't have a son...did he? But as he looked into the river, he saw May struggling alongside another child.

For a moment, Lucas's already chaotic mind was torn. He wanted to save May, but Valeria's words echoed in his mind, making him question everything. He needed to act quickly. He could hear Amara panicked shouts urging him to do something…anything really.

Without thinking, Lucas plunged into the river, the icy water enveloping him like a shroud. As he swam towards the children, his instincts screaming at him to save May, but Valeria's words kept echoing in his mind.

With a few swift strokes, Lucas reached the children and grasped the boy's arm, pulling him to safety. But as he spun around to save May, his heart sank. She was slipping beneath the surface, her tiny body disappearing into the dark water. The realization hit him like a tidal wave: he was too late. May's face was pale, her eyes lifeless, her small body limp.

A blood-curdling scream tore through the heavy air, Amara's voice shattering the silence. Lucas's world imploded, his heart splintering into a million pieces. The unbearable truth crashed down on him: he had chosen to save a stranger, condemning his own daughter to a watery grave.

As he watched, helpless, May's tiny form disappeared beneath the water. Lucas's mind went blank, his body numb with shock.

He pulled the boy to safety, but his mind was still back in the river, with May.

Valeria's voice cut through his thoughts, her hand coming to rest on his shoulders. "Lucas, you did the right thing. You saved your son."

Lucas shook his head, still trying to process what had just happened. "No, Valerie, I...I made a mistake."

Valerie's smile grew wider, her eyes flashing with triumph. "You didn't make a mistake, Lucas. You chose to save your own flesh and blood. That's what any parent would do."

The boy, racked with sobs and shivering uncontrollably, wrapped his tiny arms around Lucas's neck, clinging to him with desperate ferocity. Lucas instinctively drew him close, attempting to offer what little comfort he could, but his own mind was a maelstrom of anguish and self-recrimination, consumed by the devastating consequences of his split-second decision.