Chapter 38

(Julia’s POV)

My heart was pounding so loud, I almost couldn’t hear Cordelia’s words. Ronan? Destroying me? He would never. He could never. I couldn’t imagine a world in which Ronan, who had been my protector and supporter, would hurt me or my child.

“I’ve never had a premonition and not seen it come to pass,” Cordelia said. “I knew I had to do something to protect you and keep you safe, the way your parents would have wanted me to do. So, I tracked Ronan down.”

“What did you do?” I whispered, holding my baby closer to me. “Cordelia, what did you do?” She took a deep breath, then said, “I placed a curse on him. I knew I couldn’t hurt him because it would be too easily tracked back to me.”

“Instead, I cursed his eyes and his mind,” she said. “I made it so that he would never be able to recognize his true mate if he saw her. I thought this would be enough to keep you two apart. Ronan was such a proud and angry young man, and I knew that, if he saw you and didn’t recognize you as his mate, he wouldn’t give another thought.”

Cordelia smiled sadly. “I knew that he would know he was cursed. I knew that, by placing it on him, I was giving up my life. I had to go on the run and stay on the run, trying to keep away from Ronan and the wolves he sent after me.”

“I was willing to do all that and more, just to keep you safe.” Cordelia put her hand on my cheek. “Julia, I know this is a lot to process, but I just want to make sure you know that I love you and I would do anything to keep you safe.”

I nodded, trying to get a handle on my emotions. I was filled with sadness, anger, excitement, disappointment — it was all mixed up with the joy I felt at finally becoming a mother and holding my daughter in my arms.

“I would never have approached you, but one day, I saw an article about you in a magazine,” Cordelia explained. “In the article, you spoke about the Alpha, and I realized you two had become very close.”

She continued, “I watched you for a few days, and my worst fears were realized — not only had you become close to Ronan, you were living in his house! And, though I didn’t see any evidence, I was sure you had become…romantically involved with him.”

I blushed and nodded, looking down at my daughter. Cordelia laughed lightly, then said, “I knew you were pregnant, and in more danger than ever, so I decided to keep watching you. Everything seemed to be fine. Ronan was keeping you safe.”

“But then I saw your sister bring you down to the parking lot and put you in the trunk of the car, and I knew the bad luck I had seen in my premonition was coming to pass. I followed you and, once I saw you wake up, I knew I had to bring you somewhere safe where you could give birth.”

I took Cordelia’s hand and squeezed it. She was still in tears, as was I. I was still marveling at the fact that I had had a family. I had had parents who loved me and wanted me; something I had always feared wasn’t true as a child.

And now, here was Cordelia, telling me that Ronan, the father of my baby, was a danger to the two of us. That his presence would only bring us misfortune. I didn’t know what to do or say. It was all too much.

“And now, you have some hard choices to make.” I looked up questioningly at my aunt. She said, “Your daughter is a hybrid, too. Well, she might be. You have witch blood, and it may have passed into her.”

“If she is a hybrid, people will want to find and destroy her,” Cordelia warned. “You cannot let that happen. If you want, you can go on the run with me. I can help keep the two of you safe. But if you don’t want the danger I face to become your problem, you can go out on your own. I would understand.”

I stared at her, eyes wide. Go on the run? How can I go on the run? I don’t have any money or place to go, and I just gave birth. And now, here’s this woman telling me she’s my family, and she wants me to leave everything and everyone I know? She wants me to leave Ronan?

I took a deep breath. My first reaction was to say no to Cordelia. I wanted to leave and find Ronan. Ronan had promised he would always keep me and my child safe, and I believed him. Why should I stop now?

But then I looked at the baby in my arms, and I knew that I was no longer making decisions for me anymore. I had to think about what was best for my daughter and, if what Cordelia said was true, then I needed to stay away from him, no matter how much it hurt.

Finally, I nodded. “I understand. I need to leave. It’s what’s best for the both of us.” Cordelia smiled and said, “I had a feeling you would say that. I can help you on your way with whatever you need: money, clothes, a place to stay.”

“I just don’t know how I can leave without telling Ronan where I’ve gone,” I said. “I know I need to stay away from him, but I don’t want to worry him. I don’t want him to think I’ve just disappeared.”

Cordelia frowned. “Julia, you can’t tell anyone where you’re going. I know it’s tempting to just tell Ronan a little bit, but even the smallest detail could lead to him discovering your location.” I nodded, and continued to listen to her tell me what I needed to do to properly protect myself and the baby.

Finally, she left to get supplies and I took my chance. I gently set my daughter down on the bed and went through a desk in the corner, grabbing a pen and paper. I knew Cordelia had told me not to send Ronan any sort of message, but I couldn’t stand to leave him without any explanation.

Dear Ronan, I wrote. I’m so sorry to be telling you all of this in a note and not in person, but I have no other choice. I’m safe and the baby is safe. She’s so beautiful, Ronan. I wish you could see her.

We are both in danger, though, and it is better for all of us if we never see each other again. I’m so, so sorry. I have to leave and never come back, for the safety of myself and my daughter, as well as you and the pack.

I hesitated, then added, Please don’t look for me, Ronan. I know you probably already are, but please, just let us go. I love you. Julia. A few tears fell on the page as I folded it and put it in an envelope.

I opened the door and soon laid eyes on what I had been hoping was outside — a mailbox. I hurried down the path that led to the front gate and the mailbox and stuffed the letter inside. Hopefully, it would find its way to Ronan and he would understand the dangers for us both.

I wiped away some tears as I picked up my daughter and held her close. I would miss Ronan for the rest of my life, but this was what was best for us both. We had to stay apart to keep our daughter safe, no matter how badly it hurt us both.