Page 18 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

“I get you’re hurt, Lucy, but I’m not a complete asshole. And I would never think those things, let alone say them.”

Tears were starting to burn the rims of my eyes, but I would not cry in front of him.

“Do you really want to know what I thought as he explained your situation to me?”

I shook my head. I didn’t want to hear it.

“Well, too bad because the only thing I truly cared about in everything he shared with me was she’s not mated. There’s a chance. You know damn well, you’re my true mate. I can see the panic that causes you, smell your…”

“Don’t say it!”

He smirked. “I was going to say anxiety, but that too.”

I groaned.

“Lucy, Vada is a smart, beautiful, thriving toddler. You’re doing great with her.”

The tears broke free. How I had longed to hear someone else acknowledge my maternal skills. Vada was amazing and perfect in every way as far as I was concerned, but to hear a complete stranger agree was overwhelming me.

Micah walked over and wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. I felt safe in his arms, safe for the first time in years.

“If Kyle really told you my story, you wouldn’t be here right now.”

“Give me some credit. I’ve been working with cases just like yours for years now, Lucy. Sadly, this isn’t something new or even shocking to me. I’ve heard these stories before. I won’t say I’m unaffected by them because that would honestly make me a pretty shitty doctor, but I’m not surprised or freaking out to hear it.”

I sobbed harder and when I felt so weak that my legs nearly buckled under me, he held me tighter and lifted me up again.

“I’m so sorry. I will live every day regretting not being there for you.”

I pulled back to look him in the face completely caught off guard. “What?”

“I should have protected you from this.”

“Micah, you didn’t even know I existed.”

“I knew my true mate was out there and I did absolutely nothing to find you. You’re my mate, Lucy, that’s my number one job in this world. It’s what I was created to do.”

I shook my head. “Don’t be ridiculous. Nothing that happened to me was your fault.”

He cradled my face in his hands and forced me to look at him.

“And it wasn’t yours either.”

I knew then that I had just walked right into that.

“No one can know about Vada.”

“If that’s what you want, I’ll honor that.”

“You don’t understand. She terrifies people.”

“She’s just a baby.”

“I know that, but others, they just don’t get it. I mean seriously, have you ever worked with a child that was genetically engineered in a lab?”

It hurt me to even say the words aloud.

“Yes.”

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