Page 60 of Unexpected Alpha's Claim

“Of course I did,” she said, shaking her head. “Wouldn’t be much of a witch if I couldn’t foresee that one, now would I? Do I detect a hint of discomfort in your tone?”

“Yeah. You should have told me,” I argued. “Why didn’t you? I don’t remember any rule against it.”

“I beg to differ, first born,” she said, narrowing her eyes, “there may not be a rule against it, but I came into your life to protect you from harm, not to meddle with your relationships.”

The witch’s words, as well as her superior attitude, raised my hackles. I swung off the bike and stalked towards her, anger rising. Monica moved quickly, putting herself between the two of us.

“I’m sorry to intervene, but maybe you did spoil him a little,” Monica said with a smile that melted my anger like ice in a flame. “That’s why he’s complaining.” She gave me a loving look before returning her attention to Helena. “Listen, can I have a word with you?”

My anger flared once again. I had had plans for how the rest of my evening would go and they had absolutely nothing to do with Helena. But then I realized I was at a crossroads. This was a moment that could change everything for me, and which pathI chose and moved forward on would define Monica and I’s relationship.

I’d lost her once. My arrogance and know best attitude had driven her away. It had placed a wedge between us and she’d left. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice.

“If Mr. Touchy is okay with it? Fine,” Helena muttered, her gaze following me.

“I’ll see you later,” I said with a crooked smile.

I wasn’t thrilled about leaving Monica or her being alone with the witch, but apparently, she had her own reasons for being secretive. In the end, I didn’t need to know them. Besides I was too happy to bother with Helena’s methods. Despite her secrecy, I couldn’t deny she had been a tremendous help. There was no denying that without her, the outcome of the battle against Dorian’s clan could have been much,muchdifferent.

I watched the two of them walk away, doing my best to be okay with it. This was going to be my life. Monica was no beta bitch, and I had to accept that if I was going to accept her. She was an Alpha in her own right; a woman in control of her own destiny and all I could expect or ask was that we walk our paths together, but they would still be our own paths.

I turned and went into the cabin. I needed to get that fire I had promised going anyway.

38

MONICA

“Mr. Touchy?” I chuckled.

Raul was giving us the privacy, but I saw the war on his face. The way he was torn between wanting control and letting me go. I was happy that he had chosen to let me go. At least in this case, because it showed he was maturing. Or at least understanding what I would need if we were to be together.

“Isn’t he?” Helena shrugged her shoulders and flashed a broad smile. “He already knows what I can and cannot do. He shouldn’t be offended. It’s not like I hurt him or anything.” We walked in silence until we were weaving our way through the trees. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

“The future,” I said, my smile going away. “Please, don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to know what’s going to happen in a week from now or in a year. But…” I trailed off trying to figure out how to put this in words without sounding like an idiot. “I guess, I’m worried.”

“About what?” Helena asked.

And there it was. Right to the crux of the matter without hesitation or delay. Helena was nothing if not direct. I swallowed, pushing down my pride. As a doctor this should be something that I understood, but nothing in my medical school training prepared me for even the idea that shifters really existed.

“I guess, well, I, uhm, I need to know… can I… can we… uh… can we have a family? Because he’s… you know.”

Helena soft smile was reassuring on its own. She nodded that she understood my meaning and showed not even a hint of judgement or recrimination.

“Yes, you can,” she replied, her tone retaining a note of calmness. “It used to happen often when I was young. That’s until mating with humans was banned around here.”

“What about our children? Will they be human or, uh, you know, shifters like their father?” I questioned, my pulse racing.

“That’s not so clear,” Helena said. “In the time before I saw plenty of couples having a shifter baby first, and then, a human, or vice versa. Nature works in mysterious ways, but listen, don’t let that bother you. If you both want it, I can put the wolf in your child when the time comes.”

“You can do that?” I pitched my voice higher, my brows rising up.

Her face had turned serious, and she stopped walking, turning to face me.

“I can,” she said, pausing and I thought she wasn’t going to say more but then she sighed and shook her head. “It’s one of the most difficult and dangerous things a practitioner can do.”

“Oh,” I said, surprised by the grimness in her tone.

Her face twisted into an expression of sullenness.

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