Fallen Love
Chapter 25

Esra.

I’m hesitating because it would be nice not to teleport and rest, but being near Chris is always tricky. Knowing that Mum’s in my front room, where do I sleep?

– I’m sleeping with Emmett, so you can have my bed,” says Lisa.

Relieved, I nod and run my hands through my hair. Feeling someone look at me, I see Chris smile.

– You can see I’ve been careful, I’m joking.

– It always surprises me to see you in action.

– I’m going to have to get the house done in a hurry, as I wanted to work by hand.

– You can stay here as long as you like.

– Thanks, but she’ll be less reluctant if it’s just you and me.

I’ll have to see how the witch feels when she wakes up, because if I have to look after her and her baby, it’s going to be difficult. Chris’s mum comes back with the baby, who’s been washed, dressed all in pink, a bottle in her hand, and she sits down on the armchair to feed her. OK, it’s a girl. No doubt about it.

– How is she doing?

– She’s fine, she’s only two weeks old, the mum was able to breastfeed her.

– Where did you find her baby things? Nick asked surprised.

– Your parents kept a lot of your things when you were babies. We’ll have to go and get powdered milk adapted to her growth as well as nappies.

– I’ll make a list,” said Lisa.

There are some things I don’t know about, but I’m willing to believe that a baby needs a lot of things, even if she’s very small. The baby finishes her bottle and Chris’s mum looks at us.

– Well, Chris and Nick, you go and get the furniture and then the couple will take care of the food, the nappies … whatever you need.

– Yes, ma’am,” replied the troops.

– And what about me? I point to myself.

They smile at my intervention and then the Alpha mum tells me what my mission is.

– You, my little one, stay with me and the baby until the mother wakes up, because I don’t know how she’ll react when she finds out where she is.

She’s not wrong, being of the same species, it’s safer to stay within her perimeter. Without waiting any longer everyone goes off to do their jobs and I suddenly feel alone. With just her mother and the baby.

– Alone at last,” she exclaimed.

Oh, I’m scared. Please help me.

– I’m not going to eat you, come on, just take the baby so she can get used to your touch.

– What should I do?

She gently placed the baby in my arms, its head resting on my arm and I held its bottom and back with my other arm. Doing as she does, I rock the little one gently as she has just eaten. On one side I have a little escape route to walk from left to right. Chris’s mum makes us coffees and sits down on the sofa.

– Well, now we’re going to have a serious talk.

– And about what? I dare to ask.

– Your parents.

Ah! I wonder what she’s talking about, because even if they knew each other, I’ve got nothing to do with them. I don’t answer anything and wait for her to start.

– When we heard your parents had died, we immediately thought of you, but we thought you were a boy.

I couldn’t help laughing. How come they were friends?

– In my opinion, your mother must have cast a spell to mislead us.

– Was she a prankster?

– Oh yes, I can’t tell you how many times, she sent frogs on our bed, an army of rabbits who had fun running over the territory, she laughed wistfully. You don’t remember what she was like?

– It’s all a blur.

I confide in her that after my parents died, I was taken to a dungeon until I was sixteen, and that it was thanks to my python that I survived. Finally, she bombards me with questions about what happened next, my studies, my relationships. As much as she was proud of my success at school, which was complicated, she is saddened by my choice to stay away from the world, but she understands that given my past. I talk about Melinda a lot, I owe her everything and even though she’s no longer here, I want people to know that I’ve managed thanks to her. Honestly, after talking to her, it feels good to be free without hiding anything. Rita’s a good listener and she’s really interested in what I have to say. The little girl has fallen asleep in my arms, so I go and sit down next to Rita, who asked me to do so. I take the opportunity to drink my coffee.

– Let’s talk more seriously … Chris, where are you with him?

– What do you mean, where am I at? I’ve broken the link.

– Esra, between us, you’re still attracted to him.

Looking away, I feel my cheeks redden. I’d be lying if I said no, but that doesn’t mean I want to say yes. She clears her throat to make me react, so I breathe to give myself courage.

– In fact, it worked on him but not on me.

– Did it really? Because the spell didn’t work on my son either.

Wide-eyed, I can hardly believe it. Basically I’ve done all this for nothing. Despair falls on my shoulders. I’m hopeless, hopeless, hopeless. You’d think my arse was full of noodles when I killed the master.

– He doesn’t want me, Rita, bond or no bond, that’s never gonna change.

– Oh, you think so? You didn’t see him after you left when you killed the master. He often asked Lisa how you were, if you were in any danger.

– He never said anything to me.

– Because he doesn’t dare. You don’t feel anything to him, so he keeps quiet and thinks he’s got it coming, which in a way is the truth.

Chris has never shown me anything other than friendship. How am I going to deal with him now? As luck would have it, I hear the sound of an engine and I pray that it’s Lisa and Emmett. Unsettled, I stand up, shifting from one foot to the other to cradle the baby. I’m holding my breath when the door opens and Nick’s voice comes in. Crap.

– Jesus, does something that small need so much? Says the wolf at the end of his life.

– Always grumbling,” Chris complains under his breath.

Rita’s laughing so I turn to see what’s going on and I nearly laugh when I see Nick carrying several boxes, he’s all red and his hair is a mess. I bite my cheek so as not to wake the baby, freeing a finger I slide it through the air and the boxes fly out of the werewolf’s arms and land gently on the floor. Immediately he drops to his knees in front of me like a slave.

– Thanks Esra, at least you’re on my side.

– I didn’t want to laugh, I didn’t care.

Rita bursts out laughing when she sees the Beta’s discomfited face. I turn my head to Chris, who’s staring at me strangely, his mother’s words coming to mind but I doubt they’re true all the same.

– Do you want to wear it? I offer.

– Oh no, I’m too scared of hurting her.

– Of course not, and you’ve already held her.

– Because I had to.

I didn’t listen, so I went over and handed him the baby. He grabbed her gently and held her really well the first time, unlike me, who had to explain everything to me. But the hand I had on the baby’s back wasn’t removed when he put his. I looked up at him and saw his blue eyes looking at me tenderly, without malice or mistrust. I’ve never missed that. I quickly shifted when he realised my condition and decided to go up and see Mum. I don’t know if she’s asleep but never mind. I knock three times and enter, closing the door gently behind me. I’m barely able to stop myself from screaming when I see her standing there brandishing a lamp in my direction, but fortunately she recognises me and stops. We stare at each other for a few moments without saying a word, looking at each other from every angle to see if there’s anything we should be wary of. But no, she’s clean, she must think the same of me because I think I see a semblance of a smile.

– I’m sorry,” she whispers in an angry voice.

– Don’t worry, it’s normal to be scared.

She goes to sit down, then looks at me again, and she must have realised because she stands up, panicked.

– My baby.

– She’s fine, she’s asleep now, you’re safe here, you have my word.

– This is a werewolf house, how can you say that?

– I… I… it’s complicated.

I hold out my hand to her, which she looks at uncertainly.

– I’m Esra Co’Wayne and you are?

– Oh, I’m silly, Rose Akerman, nice to meet you.

We shake hands and I feel a weight lifted from her shoulders. But I catch a flange of memory, her, abducted pregnant and the death of her loved ones. I doubt she has any family left alive or even a roof over her head. I’ll take care of her and her daughter. The next step is to get her down to the living room, even if it’s going to be destabilising for her, she needs to summon up her courage. And I know how to persuade her.

– Do you remember the wolf that was with me?

– Yes, it’s your bond?

I look at her with wide eyes, how does she know that? A slightly mocking smile spreads across her lips.

– I’m clairvoyant, well part of me, I can see things from the past as well as the future.

– Interesting gift. Anyway, it’s thanks to this wolf that we found you, he heard your baby crying, I couldn’t hear your auras.

– It’s normal, this cell was protected against all magic, werewolf hearing didn’t come into play as no wolf could enter without the help of a witch.

Now I understand. Only a werewolf could free them and as the master must have been sure of his long life, he would never suspect what would happen next. Then, while I’m still thinking, a she-wolf appears in front of me. She bows to me and as Rose takes her in her arms I relax. It’s her bond.

– She thanks you,” says Rose.

– You’re welcome, I can see why you weren’t so worried about being here.

After ten minutes or so of chatting, I persuaded her to go and join her little girl and, of course, her relative. No sooner had we taken the first step than the chatter stopped. Rose holds my hand and pulls her dressing gown close to her. In the living room they are waiting for us and the first thing they look at is Rose’s tie.

– Is that our guest’s animal totem? Nick asks hopefully.

Rose simply nods and Nick lets loose, jumping up and down and screaming like a kid in front of Christmas presents. I’m almost offended, he doesn’t like my snake or something. He sees my face and calms down.

– Am I to understand that you prefer a four-legged animal?

– Of course it’s a wolf, but I like Em, don’t you?

Speaking of the wolf, well the snake, mine appears between us calmly, making them all back off except me and Rose’s bond.

– Er, Esra,” Rose calls out to me. Do you have a snake as a totem animal?

– Well, yes.

She’s seen it before, but apparently the news hadn’t got through yet. Em climbs on top of me and hugs my neck. Chris comes forward, pointing to the baby, which Rose hastens to pick up and k**s.

– You’ve changed her and fed her, thank you very much,” she says.

– You’re welcome, my child, she’s so cute. I’m not about to be a grandmother anyway,” says Rita.

– Mum,” growls Chris.

I feel uncomfortably warm because I’m being completely targeted and I think Em is reacting for me and activating the shield that’s forcing Chris backwards. Not wanting it to come to that, I put my hand over my mouth before speaking.

– I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.

– It’s all right, Esra.

– I’m really sorry.

I step back as he calls my name, but I get out quickly and go and hide behind the house so that no werewolves see me.