Chapter 56


    56 Beloved


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    Maureen POV


    rice begged me to go on a run. I had spoken to the Alpha and Luna to make sure it would be alright


    given we aren’t technically part of the pack. They have both been so kind and told me that my mother


    and I may both shift freely. I know my mother is still nervous about being here and about Damien, but I


    really believe we belong here. I hope this pack will be a safe ce for Penny to grow up. We are


    coming back through the woods toward the path that leads to the beautiful cottage they have let us so


    graciously use. As we approach the path, rice growls low. We notice a man walking and I expect her


    to keep moving toward the cottage but she shocks me and stops in front of him. “rice” is all I


    manage to get out before she scents the air. The smell of lcs fills our nose.” “Mate” she says, and I’m


    ready to freak out. “rice no, we have to think about Penny. She lost her father. We already lost our


    mate and I won’t live through it again. You know Damien is still out there and he won’t stop trying to get


    us.” “Maureen, he’s a warlock, he’s strong” rice pleads with me. “Do you think he is really going to


    want a rogue with a child?” She whimpers and takes off toward the cottage. I can feel her heart


    breaking just as much as mine is.


    I shift intending to rush into the cottage and away from him. He doesn’t realize who I am because he


    never looked into our eyes. I hear the door open and my sweet girl runs out onto the porch. “Mama, I


    want to ride rice, please”, Penny says in her sweet voice. My motheres out behind her and I


    see her staring at the man. I’m sure she can feel something is off with me. I don’t give her a chance to


    ask any questions and shift. She helps Penny get on rice’s back and we take off. Sheys her body


    down snuggling into rice’s fur. Being with our pup helps the heartache we are both feeling right now.


    We run for a long time. “rice, I think it’s time to take Penny back and get her ready for bed.” “Alright”


    she says, which isn’t like her. She would normally give me some witty response or at least talk to me. I


    hate that we can’t just be with our fated mate. The goddess gave us a mate and he was taken away.


    It’s better to hurt now and move forward than to be rejected or lose him. rice’s low growl brings me


    back to the moment. That’s when I realize that warlocks havee into the territory. “rice, Penny is


    with us.” She starts to back up but we can still see when the Alpha and Luna arrive. We shift and I turn


    to Penny. “Sweetie, I need you to be very quiet right now.” “Ok mama, I will.” I position us behind a tree


    and that’s when the scent hits me, lc.


    I scan the clearing but I don’t see him. I wish Penny wasn’t here with me because I would be out there


    helping the pack. I watch him step out from the trees in front of us. Everything in me wants to protect


    him, but I can’t leave Penny. A million scenarios run through my mind, but before I can act, he rushes


    out into the clearing. I watch him protect a group of wolves and pride blooms in my chest even though


    he isn’t mine. He is a good man. In the blink of an eye, the feeling of pride is reced by fear as I


    watch him fly through the air hitting a tree. The sound of his body striking the tree makes me sick to my


    stomach. “Mama, he’s hurt” my sweet girl whispers. I turn back and bend down so we are eye to eye.


    “Yes, he is sweetie and mama needs to help him, but I need you to be a good girl and stay right here.”


    “Do you promise mama?” “Yes, I promise” she says and I kiss her forehead. I start toward my mate,


    looking back to check on Penny as I move forward. His body is lifeless and I say a prayer to the


    goddess that he is still alive. I grab under his arms to pull him back into the trees.


    I look up to see Lily and Pheobe dealing with the attacking warlock. I’m in awe of their strength. I know


    they don’t need any help from me and I focus on helping my mate. The feeling of tingles on my hands


    where I’m touching his skin is hard to ignore. “Don’t ignore it, im him” rice says. “Stop, I told you


    we can’t do that. Focus on helping him, rice.” Once we are far enough, in the trees, I call Penny


    over so she is near me. “Is he alright mama?” “Not yet baby but mama is going to help him.” She


    smiles and I turn back to the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. I shake away those thoughts and


    concentrate on healing him. Iy my hands on chest. I can feel the glow start in my fingertips and into


    his body. After a few minutes, the glow dies down and I can hear his heart rate slow. I rub my hand


    down his face, feeling his warm skin. “Is he better mama?” “Yes, sweet girl, he is.” I look up when I hear


    Lily’s voice calling out to him. “John, where are you” she says. I look down and his eyes are open


    looking at me. Sh*t I say when I see the realization on his face. “Beloved” he whispers. I stand and Lily


    rushes over looking at me with concern on her face. I turn and grab Penny’s hand. We run for a minute


    putting some distance between us. I stop “Penny, I need you to climb on irce’ back right now.” She


    nods and I shift. She climbs her snout and onto her back.


    I hear footsteps and look back to see John running toward us. “Go to the cottage rice, now.” She


    whimpers but does as I ask. We run and in a few minutes, we’re at the cottage. I shift and usher Penny


    up the stairs. “Maureen please”, I hear as we reach the porch. I take a breath and before I can turn to


    face John, the door to the cottage opens. My mother has a look of disapproval on her face but,


    thankfully, she hands me a dress to put on. I slip it over my head, grateful to have a way to cover


    myself. “Penny go inside with grandma.” “Maureen”, my mother says my name like amand.


    “Mother, I will be in in a minute.” I know she wants to say more, but thankfully, she goes inside.


    John POV


    I’m consumed by darkness but I can hear distant voices. I feel warmth throughout my body and the


    pain I had when I hit the tree is gone. I hear Lily’s voice and I will my eyes to open. The woman from


    earlier is leaning over me and the little girl is with her. She looks down and our eyes meet. I feel like I


    can’t breathe. “Beloved” I say and she acts, she acts as if I burned her. Before I can say a word, she


    takes off with the little girl. I push to my feet. “John what are you doing, you’re hurt” Lily says as I start


    in the direction she just went. “She is my beloved, I can’t lose her.” “Her name is Maureen” Lily yells to


    me and I can hear the happiness in her voice. I love my cousin and going with her was the best thing I


    ever did. When I finally reach her, she is in wolf form and takes off. She will not get away from me that


    easily. I teleport to the trees near the cottage and wait for her to arrive.


    When I see her wolfe down the path and shift, I take a deep breath. I step out of the trees and say


    her name. She stiffens before the door opens. The woman from earlier is still shooting me a death


    stare. Once we’re alone, she turns back and I can see her beautiful face. Her eyes are the most


    piercing blue. “John, we need talk.” Her words are like a bucket of cold water on my hope. “Before you


    say anything please hear me out.” She nods “you are my beloved and I ept you. I ept everything


    about you. I will never want anyone but you. You were chosen by the goddess for me and I ept the


    gift that you are. Please ept our bond and be mine.” I see a single tear roll down her cheek. I step


    forward but she raises her hand to stop me. I feel like there is a rock in my stomach and I can’t breathe.


    “John, I know you believe what you just said but it’s not that simple.” “Yes, it is” I say before I close the


    distance between us. I’m close enough to touch her but I don’t. Her breath catches before she


    composes herself. “Tell me what you’re thinking right now.” “John, I am a rogue with a child. I have a


    man that is hell bent on iming me no matter who he has to kill.” “The f**k he will”, I say before I can


    stop myself. She smiles but it’s gone as quickly as it came.


    “John” as the words leave her mouth a growles from behind me. I turn and a wolf is stalking


    toward us. Maureen steps in front of me and I’m just about to step around her when she shifts, jumping


    in front of the wolf. No f**king way is anyone going to hurt my beloved. I wave my hand, freezing the


    wolf in ce. I have no idea who this wolf is, but until I do, he won’t be moving. I can see the fear in his


    eyes when he realizes he can’t move. Maureen’s wolf looks back at me and I can see softness in her


    eyes. I hope that means she wants to ept me and will help Maureen see that we are meant to be


    together. I walk until I am standing next to her staring at the wolf. “You thought that because the pack


    was under attack it would be easy to try to take my beloved.” I hear a sound that reminds me of a cat


    purringing from Maureen’s wolf. I smile before I link Lincoln. “You will never have my beloved. The


    Alpha and Luna are on their way.”