Chapter 34

(Julia’s POV)

We didn’t speak on the drive home, but Ronan never let go of my hand. I took comfort in that, drawing on the contentment his touch always brought me. He had come to save me. I asked him, told him I needed him, and he came. It was more than anyone had ever done for me.

Once we got home, we went upstairs and straight to the bedroom. I sat down on the edge of the bed and watched Ronan pace, still frustrated from the events of the night. I wanted to just lay down, close my eyes, and pretend that this was all just a bad dream, but I knew that wouldn’t fix any of the problems between us.

“We need to get everything out in the open,” I said. Ronan stopped pacing and looked at me in surprise. “I don’t want us to be angry at each other again,” I explained. “I don’t want us to go days without talking, and — and I don’t want to ever be away from you like that, ever again.”

Ronan nodded, then came and sat down next to me on the bed. He clasped his hands in front of him nervously, and I knew the typically unemotional Alpha was struggling to share his feelings with me.

“I’ve been…jealous,” he said quietly. “And I’ve been taking it out on you, which was unfair. I apologize for that.” I tilted my head. “Jealous? Of what?” Ronan took a deep breath, then said, “Of your relationship with Kevin. I saw you in the parking lot that night. When he brought you flowers. I know you two have rekindled things, and that’s right, you should. He’s the father of your child.”

“But I couldn’t help myself,” Ronan continued. “We’ve grown so close, and I suppose seeing you get close to someone else affected me more than it should have.” He looked up at me, searching my eyes for a reaction.

I gave him one, but probably not the one he was expecting — I laughed. Ronan’s eyes immediately filled with hurt and anger, and he got up off the bed. “I’m sure it is funny to you, knowing that you have such a power over me, but I would ask you not to make your amusement so obvious.”

“No, no,” I said, wiping the smile from my face. “Ronan, I’m not laughing at you. I would never. I’m laughing at the idea of Kevin and I getting back together.” His eyes lit up, but he waited for me to explain.

“That night, Kevin did ask me if we could try again,” I said. “But I told him no. I told him I didn’t want to be in a relationship with him.” All the tension seemed to flow out of Ronan; his shoulders dropped and he almost smiled.

I briefly wondered why my getting back together with Kevin would have caused him such distress, but now wasn’t the time. I needed to share my own problems with Ronan, so that we could finally clear the air between us.

“Now, I guess it’s my turn.” I straightened my shoulders and met Ronan’s eyes. “I heard you. On the phone with Alex?” Ronan looked confused. “I heard what you said about my baby being part of your plan to secure the Alpha title.”

Ronan’s face fell, but I kept talking. I needed him to know how badly he had hurt me, and how greatly he had broken the trust between us. “I was so mad at you for using me and my child,” I went on. “After everything we’ve been through together, everything we’ve shared with each other…how could you?”

To my surprise, Ronan slowly dropped to his knees before me, still seated on the bed. “Julia, I am so sorry,” he said. “What I did, what I said…it’s unforgivable, I know. When I first approached you with our deal, it was because I thought your child could help strengthen my claim on the Alpha title.”

He looked down in shame, then back at me. “It was wrong of me to do so, and wrong of me to keep it from you. But Julia, you have to know, I’ve changed. I don’t feel that way any more, and I haven’t for a long time.”

“And if you had stayed until the end of the call, you would have heard me tell Alex you and the pup were not to be involved at all,” Ronan said gently, a teasing tone in his voice. He took my hand, so small in his. “I would do anything for you. You have to know that.”

Without thinking, I threw my arms around Ronan, hugging him as hard as I could. Now that I understood everything, my anger and hurt were gone, replaced with my affection for him. Slowly, Ronan’s arms came up to return my embrace.

Once I let go, Ronan cleared his throat. “So, next, I suppose we should discuss what happened with your family.” I groaned, my head sinking into my hands. “Oh, God. It was horrible. I knew they were awful, but I never dreamed they would try to convince me to get rid of my child.”

“I know I’m safe here with you, now,” I continued. “But I’m scared. I’m scared that they’ll keep coming after me, trying to get me to abort my baby. Or — or what if they wait until it’s born, and then they try to take her from me?”

Ronan held my elbows, squeezing lightly to reassure me that he was here and he would protect me. “You are safe,” he said, his voice low. “As long as I’m alive, you will be safe, as will your pup.”

“When it comes time for the child to be born, I know of a safe and secure location where you can give birth,” he continued. “You no longer need to fear your family, or anyone else, for that matter. I will keep you safe.”

“Now,” he said. “I have one more thing I want to talk to you about. The Beta selection.” I shook my head. “Ronan, I rea—” He interrupted me. “I know you withdrew your name from consideration, but surely you must know you’re the only one who can take on the job.”

I hesitated, but knew it was important to tell the truth. As much of it as I could, anyway. “I had been planning to leave when I gave birth,” I said slowly. “I would take some time off to be with the baby, of course, but I always planned to return to PackHouse.”

I laughed a little. “I guess I knew that no one else could be the Beta — at least, not for long — so I was just counting on you and the rest of the high-ups at the company to appoint me Beta once I returned.”

I braced myself for Ronan’s anger, sure that he would be frustrated with me for keeping this from him, and for implying he would make me Beta whenever I wanted. It was disrespectful, but since there really were no other serious competitors in the running, I knew I was right to think it.

Instead, Ronan gave me a lopsided grin. “Of course, you had a plan.” He shook his head, laughing a little. “You always have a plan, Julia. I should have known.” I smiled back. “So you think it’s a good idea?”

“Yes, I do,” he nodded, the ghost of a smile still on his face. “You know I think you’re the only choice for Beta. Who else could do what you do, and still make it look so easy? You’re incredible, Julia, whether you realize it or not. I’ll always be on your side.”

Ronan’s words washed over me like a wave, bringing me calm and comfort. He was so kind, so supportive, so completely concerned with my own wellbeing. It was so overwhelming, which I suppose explains what I did next — I forgot everything and grabbed Ronan’s neck, pulling him towards me and pressing my lips to his own.