Millie’s POV
“He placed her carefully on the table. She needed help, he told me. But he didn’t need to tell me. I could see she needed help. She was bleeding so badly.
He dashed back to the front door. Shouting that he had to hide her sent from the rogues. He kissed me before he ran off. I panicked for our safety when he said rogues were chasing her. But I also panicked for his safety as he planned on luring them away. It was when Veronica rolled onto her back to reveal her huge pregnant stomach. Seeing how pregnant she was made me forget about the rogues.
I set to work on the wounds I thought I could heal, but it had been years since I had to heal anyone. Aidan never needed this skill of mine, as his wolf healed any injuries he had. Her wounds were so deep and there were so many. She told me one of the rogues was in his human form and he used a silver dagger to cut her. He also dipped it in silver shards to make sure her wolf couldn’t heal her.
She was struggling to breathe and could only speak to me in short sentences. She told me I was to save her baby. My heart broke at that instant. She knew she was dying and wanted me to save her unborn child. I told her, if it came to that, I promised her I would do whatever was necessary to save her baby.
I tried, I really did, Lottie, but I couldn’t heal her wounds.” Tears were streaming down my face. “I eventually relented and told her I couldn’t heal her and that she was going to die.
She was becoming more breathless, but she screamed at me to deliver the baby. That the baby had a chance even if she didn’t. I can hold it before I say goodbye, she said.
I gave her every painkiller I could find that wouldn’t hurt the baby. But it must have still been painful as I delivered her a healthy, screaming baby girl.” I looked at Lottie, cupping her face. “I placed you in her arms, alive and well. ‘Hello Charlotte, welcome to the world.’ your mom said to you.
She made me promise to take care of you until your 18th birthday. This was my way of returning her favor all of those years ago. She said you were a gift to the world and would be in danger until you got your powers.
How could I refuse this amazingly brave woman who knew she was dying, and her only wish was to gaze upon her baby? I supported her as she held you.” My face was drenched with tears. I reached out for the towel again. “It wasn’t long before she stopped breathing.
I took care of you while I was waiting for Aidan to come back. I waited for what felt like forever, but he never returned.” I was an emotional mess as I remembered the most awful day of my life. “He was supposed to be mine forever and he never came home to us.” I cried again, looking at Caren.
“I buried Veronica in the garden and planted a rose bush above her. You know this.” I took a deep breath. “She deserved better, but it’s all I could do. I had just given birth, gained an extra baby and my soul mate was missing. I cried so much for weeks. But I vowed to keep my promise to Veronica as best I could. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, as I knew very little about wolves. Only what Aidan taught me, but he left that life behind. But I was going to try my best.
I was worried about you both when I had to enroll you in the human school. But you both needed an education and to learn how to socialize. As Caren was only a day older, it was easy enough to pass you both as twins. The only resemblance between the two of you was your eye color was the same. But no one ever questioned me because of the one similarity.”
I opened the box in front of me, pulled out a few pictures belonging to me and Aidan. “I kept these tucked away, as I didn’t want them to get damaged. Once he was gone, it was tough for me to look at them. But I am ready to show them to you both now.”
I pulled out about 20 pictures and placed them on the table for the girls to see. The towel I was using to wipe my eyes on was drenched. I knew it was only going to get wetter. It was so hard seeing the picture of my soul mate. Happy, laughing, full of life. He should have been here these years, watching our daughter grow up. The thing that kept me going was that I had a small piece of him to care for. She looked so much like him, especially his eye color.
The last 2 pictures in the box were from Aidan’s youth. He told me they were his best friends. No matter what, they had each other’s backs. “There was Aidan, Riley, Amy and Veronica, your biological mom.” I handed her the pictures.
I looked at Caren, “Caren Amy, after my mom Caren. Who I left back home. Amy, after one of Aidan’s best friends.” I looked at Lottie. “I named you Charlotte. At your mom’s request. Lottie for short. I added Veronica after her. She was the bravest woman I ever met. I hope I stayed true to the promise I made to her.” I was an emotional wreck by that point. They gazed at the pictures before approaching me and giving me a hug. I am not sure how long we stayed there for. But Lottie pulled away before Caren. They were both crying.
Lottie placed the pictures on the fireplace and asked if she could go for a run. Telling me I had given her a lot to think about. How could I say no? I have just told her the most painful thing I have ever experienced in my life and I only played a part in it. “Sure, sweetheart.” I told her.