Chapter 40

(Julia’s POV)

After I mailed the letter to Ronan and hurried back inside, I cried for a bit. I was over the moon that I had finally given birth to my beautiful baby girl, but the knowledge that I could never see Ronan again, that our daughter would never know her amazing father, was hard to take.

I couldn't even choose a name for her. It just didn’t feel right to do it without Ronan, even though I knew it was silly. I needed to keep her safe, and that meant leaving Ronan and the pack — forever.

Cordelia came back a few hours later and luckily, I had cried out all my tears and was feeding the baby, who was gurgling happily. So far, she had been perfect, with no tears or screaming. She seemed happy just to be in my arms.

“I hope you got some rest,” my aunt — it was still strange thinking of her like that — said, setting bulging bags on the counter in the kitchen. “We’ve got a lot to do before we head out. I got enough food to see us to our next destination, as well as some baby supplies for the little one.”

I smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Cordelia. I really don’t know what I would’ve done without you.” She waved me off. “You’re family, Julia. It’s what you do for family. And besides, I know your mother would’ve done the same for any child of mine, if they needed it.”

I hesitated, but decided I had to ask about my parents. “Can you tell me about her? And my father? I just have so many questions about them.” Cordelia stopped unpacking the groceries and took a deep breath.

“I knew you would ask about them, but I have to tell you, I still find it difficult to talk about them, even after all these years.” She turned to face me and smiled sadly. “But I’ll try, for you. You deserve to know them.”

“Your mother was named Leah,” she said. “And like I told you, she was a very powerful witch. She was on track to be the leader of our coven, and at such a young age. She was able to do things that I never was, but I wasn’t jealous. Leah was too kind and purehearted for me to begrudge her her abilities.”

Cordelia continued, “Everyone expected her to marry one of the leading warlocks in another coven, which would solidify our alliance. It’s a bit like your werewolf pack system. But Leah was never one to do what was expected of her.”

“She met your father, Jason, at a bar. She didn’t realize he was a wolf and he didn’t realize she was a witch until it was too late,” she said. “They were already in love, and they couldn’t give each other up. And then, of course, they found out Leah was pregnant.”

“Were they —” I coughed, trying to keep the emotion out of my voice. “Were they happy about it? About me? Or were they worried it would just make things harder?” I was a little afraid to hear her answer.

Cordelia crossed the room to sit next to me on the couch and put her hand on my arm. “Julia, listen to me. Your parents were overjoyed about the pregnancy. They wanted to stay together forever, and learning that they were going to add to their family just made them happier.”

“Leah kept the pregnancy a secret for as long as she could,” Cordelia shared. “She had tried to keep her relationship with Jason secret, too, but that eventually got out, and no one was happy about it.”

She continued, “Your mother knew that the knowledge that a hybrid baby was on the way would just make things worse for them. But people started to figure it out, and your parents were afraid something might happen to them, or to you.”

“Leah gave birth in secret, much like you,” Cordelia smiled. “I helped her through it, just as I helped you. And she was the happiest woman in the world when I handed her daughter to her, just as you were.”

I couldn’t keep my tears from falling. Even though I had only known about my birth mother for a few hours now, these few bits of information Cordelia was sharing with me made me feel like I knew her, at least a little bit.

“But she and Jason knew that the trouble was just beginning for them.” My aunt looked sad now, and I knew we were coming to the unhappy ending to this fairy tale. “They made a plan to leave town and start a new life with you.”

Cordelia shared, “They brought you to my house and asked me to look after you for a few hours while they prepared to run away. I waited and waited, but they never came. It wasn’t until the police showed up at my door that I knew something was wrong.”

“They told me it was an accident.” Her voice was thick with tears now. “It was raining really hard that night, and the police said your father lost control of the car. It skidded in the puddles of water and ran off a bridge. All just an accident.”

Cordelia cleared her throat, then said, “But I knew. I knew it was no accident. People in town had been talking about getting rid of your parents and the problems they were causing, and you being a hybrid just made everything worse.”

“I think someone ran your parents off the road on purpose and didn’t call for an ambulance until they knew it was too late.” Cordelia shook her head at the memory. “That’s when I knew I had to hide you, protect you.”

She took my hand and squeezed it. “That’s why it’s so important to me that I help you and your baby girl. Your parents wanted you to have an amazing life. I know they wouldn’t have wanted you to have to go on the run like they were planning to, but the alternative is far worse. Do you understand?”

I nodded and looked over at my baby, sleeping soundly in a laundry basket. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for her, and now I knew my birth parents had felt the same. My aunt, too. I had to keep her safe.

As much as it hurt, I now understood how important it was for me to stay away from Ronan — for good. If his presence in my life meant even the smallest bit of danger to our daughter, it wasn’t a risk I was willing to take.

I hugged Cordelia, hoping she could feel everything in it that I couldn't put into words. I knew what she had sacrificed to keep me safe and give me a chance at a normal life, and I knew what she was sacrificing now to help my daughter.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “For everything. I don’t know what I would do without you, and I don’t think I want to find out.” Cordelia laughed and patted my back. “Let’s get going, then. We’ve got a lot to take care of before we head out.”