4 days until birthday
Lottie’s POV
I struggled to sleep last night. Not because I was afraid of what happened, but because I didn’t tell my mom. I told her everything, Caren too. Between us, we have no secrets. Family is important to all of us, especially me. Mom thinks it’s because I am part wolf and with wolves being pack animals, they depend and rely on their families more. She encourages us to live similarly, which is why we are over protective of one another.
Before me and Caren left for school that morning. I told our mom that something had happened last night on my run. She gave me a questioning look. I also told her I felt it was time for her to tell me about my real mom. She told us that after school we would all sit down and she would tell us everything we wanted to know.
This was the only thing in our lives our mom refused to tell us until we were ready. Her agreeing to it now must have meant that she believed we were.
It was a long day at school; I was so tired. I didn’t need anyone’s dramas today, but my idiot classmates had other plans by being verbal pricks all day. I just kept my head down and kept out of the way. Fortunately, for once, it worked and they ignored me all day. The bell rang at the end of the day and it was finally time to go home and find out what really happened that day all those years ago.
Me and Caren rushed home. We didn’t know what to expect when we got there. But I knew it wasn’t good. Mom was sitting at the kitchen table waiting for us. There was a box in front of her, 3 mugs of tea and a towel. “Take a seat, girls.” She said.
Millie’s POV
I have never told Lottie about what happened to her real mom. It was a traumatic day. Not only because of how Lottie came to be with me. But because it was also the day I lost Caren’s father, my soul mate. I always told them it was because it may upset them. But the truth is, the day was so traumatic for me as well. I didn’t want to relive the memories repeatedly. At least now they’re old enough to understand and I only have to go through it once.
Today was obviously that day. “I grew up with my coven about a 5-hour drive from here. We kept within the coven walls, avoiding humans and other creatures. We were safe, but isolated. The day I turned 18, I went out of the coven, into the fields looking for some herbs.” I took a sip of my tea
“That day, I had an urge to wander outside of the boundaries of our home. I had butterflies in my stomach and was restless. I had just been granted access to my powers and just assumed it was the excitement of my birthday.” The girls nodded in acknowledgment.
“It was when I was in the field, I saw a wolf running towards me. I watched it get closer and closer, expecting it to run off in the opposite direction at any time, but it didn’t.” The memory makes me smile. “It eventually reached me.”
“Dad?” Caren asked.
I nodded. “He pinned me to the ground and licked my face and neck. I instinctively knew he wouldn’t hurt me. The wolf made me laugh and giggle until my sides hurt.
Eventually, the wolf shifted into a naked human who had a huge grin on his face. All he would say was the word ‘Mate’. As I am not a wolf, I don’t get the bond, but he knew I was supposed to be his.” Happy tears started rolling down my face. I grabbed the towel. “He was gorgeous. His blonde hair was the perfect contrast to his emerald eyes. He held my hands as he told me he loved me.” Both girls were smiling.
“Aidan had been visiting a friend miles away and caught my scent. He started tracking me down. He said he had been running for hours and didn’t know how he had tracked me so far.
I trusted him instantly. We talked for hours. When it started to get dark, I didn’t want to say goodbye, but a wolf would not be welcome in my coven and he wasn’t sure a witch would be welcomed into the pack he lived in. If we wanted to be together, we had to stay somewhere that would either accept both our species or not know about either species. Neither of us knew where that would be, but we both felt we had a future together.
I agreed to meet him in the morning, giving me time to collect a few things and say goodbye to my loved ones. It was heartbreaking leaving my family, but they were my past and he was my future. That night I packed as much as I could carry and left.” I cried all the way to the wall, but the girls didn’t need to know that.
“He was waiting in a truck exactly where he said he would be. He said he spoke to a friend of his, a close friend called Veronica, who was willing to help us. Veronica had mated a few years earlier and had offered us somewhere to go in the human world. Her only request was that Aidan live a full and happy life and that if she ever needed help, we would give it without question. How could we refuse such a generous offer? She did not know me at all, but she was willing to do this for a friend who found his mate. She didn’t care what I was.”
“We lived happily for 3 years, then I found out I was pregnant. We talked about names for our pups and settled on Caren for a girl or Brandon for a boy.” I smiled at my baby girl.
The day I gave birth, I was so happy. My family was complete. Our first night with Caren was surreal. She was a perfect baby and I was so content.
I settled her, her next afternoon when Aidan jumped up. He could sense something.
His senses were unparalleled. He ran out of the door, yelling at me to strengthen the protective barrier we had surrounding our home. I knew something was wrong. He never raised his voice at me. I did as he instructed and waited at home. I tended to Caren’s needs, telling myself he would be home soon.
It felt like an eternity when he burst out of the bushes carrying a semi-naked woman. I lowered the barrier and let them in and put it back as soon as they had passed the line. He placed her on the table. She was bleeding all over the place, deep cuts on her legs, back, arms, chest and face.”
“Millie, this is Roni,” he told me.
Millie’s POV “He placed her carefully on the table. She needs help, he told me. But he didn’t need to tell me. I could see she needed help. She was bleeding so badly. He dashed back to the front door. Shouting that he had to hide her sent from the rogues. He kissed me before he ran off. I panicked for our safety when he said rogues were chasing her, but I also panicked for his seeing as he planned on luring them away. It was when Roni rolled onto her back to reveal her huge pregnant stomach, I forgot about the rogues when I saw how pregnant she was. I set to work on the wounds I thought I could heal, but it had been years since I had to heal anyone. Aidan never needed this skill of mine, as his wolf healed any injuries he had. Her wounds were so deep and there were so many. She told me one of the rogues was in his human form and he used a silver dagger to cut her. He also dipped it in silver shards to make sure her wolf couldn’t heal her. She was struggling to brea
Lottie’s POV What a bombshell our mom landed on us this afternoon. I didn’t know what to expect, but I don’t think I was expecting all of that! Both me and Caren got a lot out of the conversation though. I know I never knew what happened to my biological mom. But I don’t think Caren ever knew what happened to her dad, either. It must have been hard for our mom. I guess that is why she hasn’t told us before. She lost her soul mate while he diverted the rogue’s attention away from my mom. She raised me based on a promise. Our mom and her soul mate perfectly matched each other. Aidan was brave, he must have been. Mom is brave and loyal. She has strong morals, which she teaches us. I can’t imagine the life Caren would have had if they had both raised her. But then again, I can’t imagine my life being any other way. They have always been there for me. Mom raised us alone and did a great job, in my opinion. But here she was, a crying wreck, telling me how I came to be in he
Maddox’s POV Here she was pouring her heart out to me and I just laughed at her. I did offer to help her with some things she was struggling with. “How can you help me?” She asked. “Remember the wolf from the valley, the big black scary one you said was a good boy?” “Yeah, but he wasn’t that scary. More like a big puppy, really,” she replied. “Who is she calling a puppy?” Xavier asked me. “That was Xavier. He’s my wolf and he is pretty scary.” She looked confused. “Let’s start at the beginning. Do you have a wolf? Maybe voices in your head started when you were about 16. I guess you’re not part of a pack, seeing as you know practically nothing about what you are.” “I hear a voice when I need to be cautious or am in danger like last night, but not any other time. I live with my mom and sister. Not sure what makes us a pack. Mom is a witch, Caren is a hybrid, 50% witch and 50% wolf. I know my mom was a wolf but know nothing about my dad, so I could
3 days until birthday Lottie POV I feel so tired. Thank goodness it’s Friday. One more day in that hell hole and then the weekend. I went downstairs to find Mom and Caren having breakfast. “Are you joining us sweetheart?” mom asked. “Thanks for yesterday.” I told her as I sat down. “I know it can’t have been easy and I know it hasn’t been easy raising us over the years. On a positive note, I met someone last night. He is offering to help me with the wolf stuff.” Caren started choking on her cereal. “What?” I explained to Mom and Caren about the wolf attack in the valley a few nights ago and meeting a man on my run last night, as well as his offer to help me figure out my future. When I looked at Mom, she was just staring at me with her jaw open. “Come on, Caren, we’re going to be late for school. Bye mom.” She sat there, staring at me in silence. As we got to school and were about to part ways, Caren turned to me and said, “They’re only human”. I hate thi
Parker’s POV I can’t believe Caren still wants to protect the humans, even after everything they put Lottie through. There was no need for what that girl and her friends had done to Lottie. I am very surprised she stayed so calm. Especially after seeing her in action the other night. Caren, being a wolf/witch hybrid, is different. I have never met a witch before. I was always told to avoid them, as they are an angry, selfish species who only think of their coven. Historically, there has always been disagreement and fighting between the species, so the two avoid each other at all costs. But Caren isn’t like the witches I have heard about. She protected Lottie. She defended her not with magic but with her fists. As a wolf, she is weak. She is probably on a par with a human. I like the pair of them and not just because I think Lottie is Maddox’s mate. They are different. The afternoon was quite amusing in this high school, though. The girls were flirting like crazy wi
Maddox’s POV “Hey Maddox, fancy meeting the monster-in-law?” Is what I hear Parker ask through our mind link. Not really, I want to say. But I want to see Lottie again. Xavier also tells me he would like an ear scratch again, maybe even a belly rub. I reminded him she doesn’t have a wolf, so he needed to calm down. She may not even be our mate. But if she needs guidance. I am more than willing to be there for her, maybe even when the clock strikes midnight on that day. Just to find out! Borrowing a vehicle from Alpha Hudson, I drove to Lottie’s house. I was possibly getting to know my future mother-in-law. I parked next to Parker’s SUV and walked toward the house. Lottie came bounding down the path and punched me in the face. It was quite feeble, really. “You have some explaining to do, mister.” I rubbed my jaw, pretending it hurt. “You sent Parker to spy on me?” She was not happy. “It’s a good job he’s funny, otherwise Caren may have killed him. She was in a foul mood af
Maddox’s POV I walked out of the house after my informal chat with Millie. When I mean informal, I mean she threatened my life. But I understand her motives. I do not approve of her actions, though. Then again, she is a witch and I am not familiar with their customs. What I am familiar with is wolf customs, and that right now is what my beautiful future mate is waiting for me. Me and Xavier concluded while we were in there that Lottie had to be our mate, as we wouldn’t have tolerated being treated that way. “What was all that about?” Lottie asked with her hand on her hips. The clothes she was wearing, showing off every part of her body in a good way. I mean, I don’t want anyone looking at her. But I admire the view. “Your mom just wanted to check I would not hurt you, that’s all.” She didn’t need to know about the rest. “She has invited me to come spend the weekend with her to help you understand your wolf side and what to expect.” I noticed Parker and Caren sparr
Xavier’s POV I more or less trotted beside her. She was going at a reasonable pace for a human, even if she would have a wolf in a few days. It had just started getting dark when she stopped running. We were miles from everything. She sat down, patting the space for me to come and join her. Which I happily did. Right now, I had her attention, not Maddox, and I was going to relish the experience. She ran her hand through my fur. If she had a wolf right now, I would have mated with her at that minute. Every place she touched sent a tingle to my core. “Keep control,” Maddox screamed in my head. I did the only thing I could do. I laid down on the ground. But as she was already sitting next to me, her stroking became more vigorous. She must have thought I liked it and I really, really did. “Maddox, I need help.” “This is what you wanted, now deal with it.” he tells me. Which is no use at all right now. “How do I do this, Xavier?” Lottie asked me, stroking my head. Never mi