The Hybrid's Second Chance

Chapter 6

Cornelia's POV

I was watching Julianna and her adoptive mother walk back to their house arm in arm discussing their plans for her birthday tomorrow. In my astral projection form, I was like a ghost to them; I could see them but they couldn't see me. It was one of the skills I accomplished early in my training. I smiled when she looked directly at me, her amber eyes the exact color as her father's, and she had the same dark brown wavy hair cascading down her back that I did, stopping about her mid back. I continued to watch as they walked right past me and out of my sight in the direction of their house.

I would have liked to follow them, but I knew that would make it harder to leave. The trips I took to visit her had to be quick so no one would walk in on my lifeless body sitting wherever I had left. A tear slid down my cheek knowing I wasn't going to be able to be with my baby girl on such a big birthday. When I was younger, this wasn't how I pictured watching my daughter grow up. I closed my eyes, and pulled myself back to my body, which was sitting on a chair in my bedroom. I let the tears flow freely now that I was alone.

For fifteen years, I have been watching her grow into a beautiful young woman from the sideline. I had also watched her struggle and be bullied by the Alpha of that pack, Gregory and his wretched son Logan, and there was nothing I could do about it. I was the most powerful witch in this coven, and I was powerless to help Julia.

Had I known how they would treat her, I would have left her along a different pack's border. I hated having to leave my baby all alone at such a young age. I had stayed nearby though, guiding the kind Beta to her so she wouldn't be out there for longer than needed. At such a young age, I knew she wouldn't remember me, and if she did, it would probably seem like a distant dream.

The rules of this coven needed to change. That was the reason I had to give up my Julia fifteen years ago. As the High Priestess of the coven, I wasn't supposed to mate with a wolf. None of the people in our coven were, it was forbidden and carried a high price for doing so. It all came from a tragedy decades ago. The High Priestess, at the time, found out her mate was a powerful Alpha of a nearby pack. They mated each other almost immediately, unable to resist the mate bond.

Soon after, he betrayed her. The power she possessed went to his head because his Beta got in his ear. Stirring fear into his heart that she would one day take over the pack. The Beta ended up killing the High Priestess on the Alpha's orders, because of his paranoia. It nearly destroyed our coven because they didn't just want to stop at her. They wanted to wipe out everyone who followed her. After that day, the elders of the coven outlawed any mating with wolves. We moved out of the area to avoid any contact with werewolves.

When I found out my mate was indeed an Alpha wolf, I tried to resist the bond. Knowing what it would mean for myself if I gave in. It was too strong for both of us, and we ended up mating with each other. I fell pregnant with Julia not long after we met. I knew my coven could never find out because they would banish me and probably kill the child. Or worse, kill both of us for breaking the law. I managed to hide the pregnancy with the help of my sister Dianna.

My mate Joshua and I talked about what we should do. I wanted to keep my child more than anything, and we were able to hide her for three years. I realized that I wouldn't be able to do it for much longer as she got older and stronger. I thought about transforming her into someone else, but each scenario scared me with the idea the elders might one day find out.

Joshua and I agreed to leave her somewhere another pack would find her. He didn't want to bring her into his pack in case word got back to our coven about who she was. I wouldn't take any risks when it came to Julia. It was the hardest thing we ever had to do. We then decided it would be best to reject each other, and he took a chosen mate. I still see him from time to time, teleporting to him when I know he's alone. I liked keeping him updated on Julia and how she was doing, he would have been an amazing father. He had two children with his chosen mate, and I had stayed without a mate, not wanting to endure the heartbreak again. Once my tears finally stopped falling, I wiped my face, but then heard a knock on the door.

"Come in," I said, trying to clear my voice of any sorrow, while getting to my feet.

"Lia?" I knew that meant it was my sister Dianna, she was the only one that called me that. I felt relieved, knowing I didn't have to hide my emotions from her. She was the only one who knew about Julia. When the door opened and she locked eyes with me, I knew she could see how red they were from my crying, and I'm sure she knew exactly why that was. "Oh sweetheart," she said, rushing in to give me a hug. "What's wrong? Is it Julia?"

"Yes," I replied, hugging her back.

"What happened? Is she okay?" She pulled back from the hug to survey my face.

"She's fine. I just went to check on her. It's her 18th birthday tomorrow and I'm just sad I won't be able to celebrate with her." She gave me a look of sympathy. A practicing witch usually came into her full power on her 18th birthday, but since Julia wasn't practicing, she wouldn't be able to do that. If I was able to train her, it would happen eventually.

"I know, but maybe one day you'll be able to bring her home where she belongs." I shook my head. My sister was too young and naive to think things were going to change anytime soon.

"You and I both know that's not true. The elders will never change the law so long as they fear wolves." I turned and went to sit back in my chair. Dianna followed, taking a seat on my bed. She looked down at her hands before she spoke again.

"How is she?" I knew how much she cared for Julia; she had helped me raise her for three years.

"She's good," I said, smiling. "She's beautiful. For what she's gone through in the pack she's such a kind and caring person."

"I think she gets a lot of that from you."

"Maybe, but I think Sandra has had a lot to do with it. Bless that woman for being there. She has been wonderful to her for so many years."

"The Beta seems to keep an eye out for her too."

"He does. I think she's avoided a lot of that brat Logan's abuse because of him."

"Hopefully, she'll find a mate soon and be able to leave the pack. I don't see any other way out for her, unless she wants to leave on her own." We had both been hoping, with a little luck, once she was eighteen, she would find some way to leave.

"Did you need me for something?" I asked, realizing she probably didn't come here to talk about this.

"I did. We've had a little trouble with one of the young witches, Violet. She accidentally blew a hole in the ceiling of the classroom. I think it was a potion gone wrong. They asked me if you would be able to come and fix it?"

"Oh goodness. I thought I told them never to give her any potions to mix that have the possibility to explode?"

"I think they thought she was finally improving."

"Alright, tell them I'll be right there."

It took longer than anticipated to fix the classroom ceiling, but after dealing with the mess Violet had made, I went back to my room. It was after midnight, which meant it was officially Julia's birthday. I sat down in my chair, lowering my head and projecting myself into her bedroom. I saw her sound asleep, tucked under her white duvet. I knew she couldn't see or hear me, but that didn't matter. I walked over to her, bent down, pressing my lips to her cheek.

"Happy birthday my love." I stood up and pulled myself back into my own room.