Chapter 42

(Ronan’s POV)

I stared at the witch, speechless with shock and anger. I had been endlessly searching for her for so many years, and now here she stood, right in front of me, and I couldn’t care less. All I cared about were the traces of Julia and what I now knew was our baby’s scent.

“Where is Julia?” I growled, hands curling into fists at my side. The witch crossed her arms and glared at me. “You need to go. Now.” I stepped towards her, but was jolted backwards, like I hit an invisible wall.

Slowly, I put my hand up and touched the invisible barrier. It hummed under my fingertips. I looked up at the witch. “A protection spell, I assume?” She nodded, a self-satisfied look on her face.

“I mean her no harm,” I said, trying to defuse the situation as best I could. I couldn’t resist adding, “You, on the other hand…” She laughed. “Oh, I’d like to see you try, Ronan. I mean, you still haven’t overcome the first curse I cast on you.”

I was filled with rage. “So, it’s true,” I said slowly, trying to stay calm. “I mean, I had a feeling, and I was sure I recognized your scent, but here’s my confirmation. You were the one who cursed me so long ago.”

“I did,” the witch said. “For Julia’s sake.” I was startled at that, looking up at her with wide eyes. “What do you mean?” The witch bit her lip, as if she didn’t want to go on, but to my surprise, she opened her mouth and said, “You two can never be together.”

“That’s ridiculous,” I scoffed, then, as a thought struck me, I frowned at her. “Are you the one who’s been filling her head with all these ideas about danger coming to all of us? And the pack? How could you?”

“Because it’s the truth!” The witch yelled. “I had a premonition of what it would mean if you ever encountered your true mate, and it meant misfortune for you, her, your child, and the pack! You should be thanking me for what I did!”

Her words echoed in my head, and suddenly, everything started to fall into place. “A premonition of what it would mean if you ever encountered your true mate”....and she’s keeping Julia from me…

I stared at her, then said slowly, “Julia is my true mate.” The witch just nodded. I closed my eyes, feeling so many emotions wash over me. All the anger and frustration I felt was still there, but there was happiness there, too.

I had already decided that, no matter who my true mate was, I was going to make Julia my chosen mate. But now, knowing that she had been my true mate all along…it was incredible news to process.

“You have to go,” the witch said again, but quieter this time. Almost as if she sympathized with me. “I’m serious, Ronan. My premonitions have never been wrong before, and I can’t let anything happen to Julia. Or your child.”

“I’m not leaving until I see her,” I said. “If Julia wants me to stay away from her, she needs to tell me that herself.” The witch replied, “Well, she’s not going to! She’s nowhere near here, so you should ju—”

“Cordelia,” a familiar voice said. My heart lept. Could it really be…? Julia came out of the cabin’s front door. She put a reassuring hand on the witch — Cordelia, I now knew — and then looked at me.

She smiled, and I felt like I could breathe again. Julia was alive. She was safe. She was standing here in front of me. We could talk and I could tell her that I loved her, and that none of this danger mattered, that I would keep her safe from everything.

“Julia,” I breathed out. “I — I’m so happy you’re alright. I’ve been searching for you since the minute you disappeared.” I shot Cordelia an angry look. “Kidnapped and held by this witch, I assume.”

She shook her head. “No, it wasn’t Cordelia. She…she saved me, Ronan. Sandy was the one who took me. She pretended she wanted to reconcile with me, but really, she poisoned me. She drove me out into the woods and left me to die.”

My hands shook as she recounted the story. I had promised her I would keep her safe from everything, and look what had happened. Maybe the witch is right. Maybe I really can’t protect her.

“Cordelia found me,” Julia continued. “She brought me to a safe place where I gave birth, and she told me…” Julia took a deep breath before she said, “She’s my aunt. She put me up for adoption after my parents died. She’s been watching over me ever since.”

I frowned. “But she’s a witch. You’re a wolf. How…?” Julia said, “My mother was a witch, too. My father was a werewolf. I’m a hybrid.” I nodded, pieces of the puzzle starting to fall into place. It explained why the witch was so protective; most witches and wolves would not be happy to hear there was a hybrid running around.

But then, something more important occurred to me. “The baby. Please, where is she? I just want to see her.” I didn’t try to disguise the pleading tone in my voice. There was nothing I wanted more in this moment than to hold my daughter — except, maybe, to hold Julia.

She smiled and waved me into the house. “Come in, then.” I shook my head and pointed at her aunt. “She’s put too many protection spells around the place. I can’t get in.” Julia looked pointedly at Cordelia, who sighed, then raised her hands and muttered a few words.

“There,” she said. “Happy?” I put my hands up to test the barrier again, and found that it was gone. I bounded up the stairs and embraced Julia, wrapping my arms around her and breathing in her scent.

“Julia,” I whispered. “I missed you so much.” She hugged me back and said, “Oh, I did, too, Ronan. It killed me to send you that letter, but I thought it was for the best.” I squeezed her one more time, then said, “Please. The child.”

Julia led me inside and over to a wooden crib, where a beautiful baby girl was squirming. She raised her arms at the sight of Julia, who lifted her up and held her out to me. “Here she is.” I took her carefully, awed at the sight of my child.

Julia watched us for a few moments, then said, “Ronan, there’s something I need to tell you. I was too scared to say it before, and I know that was wrong, but I think you deserve to know. Ronan, this is your child. This is our daughter.”

I looked up at Julia, who looked scared of my reaction, then back down at our perfect baby girl. This was everything I had never even known I wanted, and I wasn’t going to do anything to jeopardize it. I smiled at Julia, and said, “I know.”