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Eric POV I watched the smile take over Julia’s face as Cami threw herself in her arms. I stood behind Julia, bracing her so she would not be toppled over. I knew this would cheer her up before we had to figure out more about her identity. Julia and Cami were both crying tears of happiness, as Julia stepped back, placing her hands on Cami’s cheeks, “How are you here?” Julia asked. “This amazing man brought me here to visit you,” Cami said to Julia. Julia looked behind her, to Jackson, and smiled as she turned her stare back to Cami. “Thank you, Jackson,” Julia offered. She turned to look at me, but I have her a subtle head shake no. She could not speak to Cami about being a wolf. Jackson had not spoken with her about everything, and until then it had to be kept a secret. “How are you?” Julia said as they walked back to the sitting room. They continued to the sitting area, while I stayed back to speak with Jackson. “When wi
Cami POV I took a deep breath, hoping I was showing more confidence than I felt. I knew werewolves did not typically jive with witches, and the thoughts of a rejection from Jackson was weighing on me. I had been reluctant to show my cards so early, but I had no choice. It was time to come clean. As everyone sat around me, I noticed Jackson stood further away from me than he had since we had first met. The moment he touched me in the hospital, I had known he was my fated mate. I felt the sparks between us. Unlike wolves, we do not scent them, but we can tell by touch. It is more intense for us than a wolf will experience. I sat back in my seat, tucking my legs under me. Julia sat beside Eric. I noticed he sat closer to me than her, again wanting to protect her from me. I would never hurt her. I had been sworn to protect her. “Well?” Jackson asked coldly. I felt a twinge in my heart, but I had to get past it. I was a s
Julia POV I sat there in shock. “What just happened?” I asked. Eric stood up while Jackson moved forward trying to grab Cami before she vanished into thin air. “Fuck,” Jackson muttered as he swung his arms through where Cami had been standing. “For one, Jackson is going to have his hands full with his mate,” Eric said with a chuckle. Jackson turned and glared at Eric. “You know we cannot accept one another,” he muttered as Eric stood there in front of his friend. “I know nothing of the sort,” he replied as Jackson looked away. “You know Elizabeth has brought in witches before to help with Pack issues. She trusts them, and she would not condone turning your back on a fated mate who is a witch,” Eric stated to Jackson. Jackson looked back at him, “After everything we have been taught, how do I reconcile what I have learned with what my heart wants?” he asked Eric. Eric put his hand on Jackson’s shoulder. “Just do not give u
Eric POV I reread the passage Julia had found. “This is incredible,” I murmured as Julia sat there waiting expectantly. “We need to meet with Elizabeth and Carter, immediately,” I said to her as she sat in her chair. I stood up, and slowly stepped away from my chair. I cursed the slow healing of my leg but was grateful that Julia had saved me from a most certain death. “I want to know what it means,” Julia said, not moving from her seat. “Can I share it with you when we Elizabeth and Carter get here? They are on their way,” I shared with her. “No; I want to know now,” she replied, crossing her arms across her chest. I stared at her for a moment before sitting back down in the chair beside her. “I am sorry, sweetheart; I should have recognized you would not want to wait,” I said to her. She nodded her head, patiently waiting. “This passage that you found validates that you are in fact, a very rare, Guardian wolf,” I st
Eric POV I see Elizabeth and Carter stand, “I think it is time for us to go. Notify me as soon as you find Cami. We need to know whatever she knows,” Elizabeth says as her and Carter exit the room. Julia is standing beside me. She has not moved since asking me the question, “You did not want to accept me at your mate?”. I looked at her and could see the turmoil she was going through. “It is not quite as simple as that,” I started to say, before she cut me off. “Well break it down for me, Eric,” she said. I smiled at her attitude. My mate has a backbone. “I feared because you were human, that it would not work,” I said to her. She frowned, “So if I had not shifted into a wolf, you would have not wanted me as your mate?” she asked me. “No, I had already accepted you,” I reminded her. “But you did reject me when you first met me,” she reminded me. “I was an idiot,” I said to her. “You certainly sound like
Julia POV It had been a couple hours since I had stormed upstairs leaving Eric to fend for himself. I know I am new to this world, but it seemed that sleeping with someone else when you found your mate was fundamentally wrong. What had possessed him that night? What made sense? And the scariest part … did my night of pain have something to do with it all? I needed to talk to Cami. I grabbed my phone, glad I had it in my pocket when I raced upstairs. I had texted her a couple of times, trying to reach her but had not heard anything back. I hoped that meant she was busy and not that she was in danger. There had been so much I learned in the last couple of days, it was overwhelming. But it also felt like I had found my place. For so long, I had not felt like I belonged anywhere aside from with my mom. When I lost her, that feeling of being alone just got worse. Cami had filled some of that void, but Eric was truly the key
Julia POV Within minutes of receiving Cami’s text, Jackson was pacing in the sitting area, trying to track Cami’s phone. “What is taking so long?” Jackson asked as he stopped his pacing to look at Eric. “They are working as fast as they can,” Eric replied, while Jackson cursed. “What have I done?” he mumbled to himself. I felt sorry for him, recognizing that he was truly worried about Cami. Jackson sits putting his head in his hands. Eric moves over putting his hand on his friend’s shoulder, “We will get her back,” Eric promised. “I should not have let her leave,” Jackson mumbled. “I do not think you had a choice,” Eric replied with a chuckle. “If I had not pissed her off, she would not have left like that,” Jackson said. He had my phone and kept reading Cami’s messages. “Have you ever visited Cami’s home?” Eric asked me. I looked to him, “Yes, a few times. It is a nice place, on the opposite side of town as me,” I shared
Julia POV “Can you at least promise you will stay behind with Eric?” Jackson pleaded with me. I looked out the window as we drove through the darkening streets, “Nope,” I replied. I heard Eric’s growl, but I ignored it. I turned to look at them both, “We know I am a strong wolf. You need me out there,” I said to them both. “We do not know what we are dealing with,” Eric said. “Well, we will figure it out when we arrive,” I suggested, feeling his frustration. “They have been able to capture Cami. We do not know what we are dealing with. As a witch, she has powers that we do not have. And she has not been able to use them to save herself,” Jackson said to me angrily. I knew he was not angry with me. He is angry at the situation. “She will be fine,” I mumbled, needing them to agree with me. “She will be fine. We will get her back, and then we will deal with whoever is after you,” Eric agreed. I looked to him, and nodded, “
Julia POV “Julia, I am sorry,” Laura started to say. I held up my hand, “What are you sorry for? Just say it,” I said, as Eric stood beside me. “Yes, do not delay on our account,” the middle woman stated. Laura growled at her, and I stood in shock. She growled. How was that possible? “What are you?” I asked her, as she looked back at me. “It is difficult to explain,” she said when I cut her off, “Well try,” I said angrily. “I am a hybrid wolf, but my wolf is dormant,” Laura stated. “You just growled, how is it dormant?” I demanded, feeling a sense of betrayal, I did not know was possible. “I was born with the gene of a wolf, but my wolf is too weak to shift, so we never have,” she shared. I simply stared at her trying to process her words. “So, you knew you were a wolf, and that Lincoln was a wolf, but you never thought to mention it to me?” I yelled. “Oh, this is getting good,” the tall witch said. “S
Julia POV “What?” I questioned as I slowly turned my face to look at the woman claiming to be Martha. “She is crazy,” the woman stated but Laura continued to hold onto my arm tightly. “She was the one who just told me to get Lincoln released,” Laura claimed. I removed Laura’s hand from my arm, moving to stand in front of her. Jackson had already moved in front of Cami and Beatrix, while Eric tried to move in front of me. I saw Cami put Beatrix in her bassinet, and then turn to move beside Jackson. He tensed in anger, but did not take his eyes off the woman standing in front of him. “I am Henrietta’s twin. Of course, I look like her,” Martha stated, sounding more bored than anything. “You never said you were twins,” I murmured as I noticed Cami’s fingers moving from the corner of my eye. I said nothing but continued to watch Martha. “It did not matter. I want her captured as much as you do,” she replied, looking at her nai
Julia POV We left Cami and Jackson shortly after Martha went to her room. There was much to be done, and I wanted to check on Laura. We entered our place, when I heard a scream come from Laura’s room. We raced in, just in time to see something disappear in front of Laura. “What was it?” I demanded as I went to her, trying to get her to focus on me. I could see the fear in her eyes. “It was her,” she whispered. “Who?” I asked, getting her attention on me. “That witch. She was here and she threatened me. She promised she would kill me, if I did not help her get Lincoln free,” Laura said in a whisper. I looked to Eric, who nodded and turned away from us. He quickly turned back, “He is secure,” he stated, confirming that Lincoln was still in the dungeons. I nodded, looking back to Laura, “He is not free,” I assured her. “She is going to keep coming to me, until I give her what she wants,” Laura said, fidgeting with her hand
Eric POV We shared everything Lincoln had shared with us, before we put the baby down to sleep in the bassinet and continued to strategize how we were going to counter the attack from Henrietta. “I need to call in some backup,” Cami murmured as she continued to watch the baby. “Do you think they can help counter Henrietta?” Julia asked. Cami looked to her, “This is the most powerful witch, next to Henrietta. If anyone can fight her, and win, it will be this witch,” Cami replied. Nodding to her, “Then call her,” I suggested. Cami stood and made the call. Within minutes of her standing, there was this loud sound that seemed like a freight train was landing in the living room. Jackson immediately swiped the baby up in his arms, as Cami stood back, as if she knew what was happening. I pulled Julia closer to me as we all simply waited. Suddenly there was this flash of smoke, and as the smoke cleared a tall woman,
Julia POV After leaving Lincoln and his haunting words, we went back to see Laura. I was surprised to see her sitting up in her bed, sipping on a glass of water. She had looked afraid, until she saw me and relief lit up her face. I moved closer, holding out a hand towards Laura. She put her hand in mine, and I felt a moment of peace. Like this was the mother I had remembered. She had tears in her eyes, “I know who I am,” she said, as if she had come out of a trance. I smiled, as tears shone in my eyes as well, “I am glad; I am really glad,” I responded before moving towards Laura and hugging her for the first time since she came back. Laura held on tightly, and we just held each other as tears streamed down our faces. “I am sorry I was not stronger,” she offered, but I stood up wiping her tears away, “You have nothing to be sorry for. Lincoln is evil, and he took advantage of you,” I assured her. “I should have known better
Eric POV I watched as Julia showed the warriors various techniques to counter her attacks. They were very cautious with her, which I appreciated. It did not stop me from worrying. I saw her rub her back a few times and asked if she needed a break, but she scowled over at me, rendering me silent.Carter was taking notes and developing plans for the warriors to fight one another in their training. I knew it was helping, I just hated that this was Julia’s destiny. I was incredibly proud, but I wanted her to be safe. Inside the palace with our pups. But I knew she would be on the front line, and I would be beside her when the fight did come. And it would come; it was just a matter of when. Julia provided her last words of training for the day and moved towards me. She was tired, I could easily see it in her face, but she would not give an inch. I wanted to carry her home, and put her in the shower, but she would pretty much destroy me if I even
Julia POV I watched Cami come forward, with the baby wrapped up in a soft blanket. Cami had her cuddled close to her chest. I wanted to move forward to hug her, but Jackson was there first. He wrapped his arms around Cami and the baby girl. He kissed her forehead, before looking at the baby. “She is beautiful,” he commented, as Cami nodded in agreement. “She is special. I can already feel her power,” Cami murmured. We all knew what that meant. Another child that would require our devoted attention to protect her. “Have you thought about a name?” Elizabeth asked. Cami looked to Jackson, “I had thought about Beatrix; it means she is blessed and brings happiness,” she replied, waiting for Jackson’s opinion. He paused for a moment before looking to the baby. “I think Beatrix is a perfect name for this little angel,” he replied as Cami moved closer into his arms. I felt tears fill my eyes at the beautiful nam
Cami POV “One more push, Louise. One more, and your baby will be born,” the doctor said, gently encouraging Louise through another contraction. Louise slumped back, “I can’t,” she said, as tears rolled down her face. I held tightly to her hand, “You can do this, Louise. You are strong,” I said, encouraging her. I could see the pain of the contraction starting once again, Louise sat up and pushed one final time. Within seconds, the doctor cheered, “Good job, mom. Your baby girl is born,” the doctor said, as I wiped the tears streaming down my face. I knew she was talking to Louise, but I could not help the instant love I felt for this baby girl. The doctor lifted the baby for us both to see. Louise held her hands out, wanting the baby in her arms. The doctor started to move forward when Louise slumped backwards. The doctor passed the baby girl to me, as she tried to revive Louise. “What is happening?” the doctor shouted, a
Julia POV We left quickly after that outburst. We needed to consider what we had found out. First and foremost, we needed to get to Cami to discuss what this all meant. Eric had mind-linked Jackson to meet us at the palace. It was time to bring Elizabeth and Carter into the mix to ensure they were updated on what was happening. As we sat down with everyone, Eric brought them up to speed on what had been happening and most importantly the latest information from Lincoln. “What would the benefit be to the witch?” Elizabeth asked Cami. She shook her head, “Nothing; do you think Henrietta is stringing Lincoln along so she can acquire all the babies?” Cami asked. “For what purpose?” I asked, freeling frustrated. We seemed to be taking a step forward and then another backwards. “I do not know. I will put a call into the Council to determine what the linkage is,” she responded, moving away from us. “We need something, anything, t