Page 22 of Alpha Leo and the Heart of Fire
“We haven’t said anything yet,” Mama added, looking amused.
“I know, but it might be a trick, so whatever you think I’ve done, I haven’t done what you think I’ve done.”
“You usually have done what we think you have done, but it’s nothing of the sort. There’s something we want to tell you,” Mama replied, wrapping her arms around me tightly as she smiled. I snuggled into her, letting out a breath of relief, wondering what it was. “You know Mama Indy, right?”
“Yes, Mama. You always go on about her because I look like her, right? Are you missing her tonight?” I asked softly, looking up at her. Her eyes filled with sadness, and she kissed myforehead.
“We always are,” she responded softly, looking at Dad, who put his arms around us.
“Yeah…” Dad agreed.
Dad always got sad when he looked at her picture, too. I knew Mama and Dad’s parents were married, although Mama and Dad had never really mentioned it directly. I had heard things. They turned out to be mates, too, so everyone had to accept that their love was meant to be, even if it was very shocking to imagine it… naughty Dad and Mama having a secret love affair.
“What we are going to tell you, Angel, is only because you deserve to know the truth. It doesn’t change anything,” Dad said, kissing my head.
I frowned but nodded. This is weird…
“When the battle that took Indigo’s life occurred, she was pregnant, but she wanted to help us against the evil. It cost her her life.”
I frowned. “Wow, but what about her baby then? Didn’t she care about it?” Mama tensed, and then I saw her and Dad exchange looks. Dad gave her hand a squeeze.
“She did, but she had been through a lot in life, and she wanted to do something to protect everyone because, without us winning, things would have been terrible for us. When she was killed… Marcel and your mother took her to Grandma Amelia. You know her, right?”
“Yes, I do. Grandma Amy, how can I not? You all make sure I remember her all the time,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “I think I would have loved her. So then, what happened?”
“Well, Grandma Amy had some magic that we never knew she possessed, and, using it, she placed the baby that was still fighting for life into me instead,” Mama explained. I furrowed my brows, staring at Mama’s tummy.
“Then the baby lived?”
“She did, and she became a beautiful little soul with lots of spark,” Mama added, her eyes glistening with tears. Mama’s tummy…
“Then, where is she now…” I asked. That battle happened before I was born.
Wait… did they mean…
“Right here,” Dad said softly, hugging me tightly.
My heart thudded loudly in my chest as I realised what they meant. I was Mama Indy’s baby…
My mind felt funny. It felt like it was being squeezed.
No, I can’t be… but I don’t look like Mama and Dad…
I knew it was the truth…
She didn’t care enough about me. She didn’t care if she died. What if I had died? I don’t care if she’s my mama! I don’t want her to be!
“Baby…” my mama calls, but I didn’t know what to say.
“I’m still your favourite, right?” I asked, looking at them intently.
“Always,” they said in unison.
“Then, I don’t understand why you had to tell me. You two are my parents, the ones who take care of me and raise me. I don’t care if… she was meant to be my mama because she didn’t care if I died anyway.” I shrugged lightly. I didn’t want to know anymore. I saw the flicker of hurt in Mama’s expression, but I didn’t care… I was only their daughter.
“We always have and always will love you, but you have the right to know about Indy, too.”
“Okay.” I shrug.
