Page 67 of Fated Alpha Baby

“You should be grateful to your luna for the grace she shows you today. The ones who hurt her will be banished from the pack. And you will be the one who removes them from Iron Breath.”

Grandfather looks up, eyes sparkling with tears, and he says to Hannah, “Thank you, Luna Hannah. I am indebted to you.”

“Do not make the same mistakes twice, Elder Bernard. Your great-granddaughter is rather fond of you. I want you to be a part of her life.”

Grandfather nods and takes his leave, even though I can hardly look him in the eye. As soon as the door closes behind him, I turn to Hannah and hang my head, humbling myself before her.

“If there’s anyone you should forgive, it’s me.”

Hannah cups my face with both hands and lifts my head to meet her eyes. “We were both wrong, Conan. For so long, I thought you’d left that note on my fridge, and I…” she chokes, and that’s when I pull her into my arms.

“Whatever was in that note, it wasn’t true. I meant what I said that night we spent together in your cabin. The only reason I left before you woke up was that a fight broke out in the training arena. And when I came back, I found your note on the table. It broke me to find that; it broke me to think you left because you could never stand by my side.”

Hannah lifts her gaze, her cheeks filled with rolling tears, and she shakes her head.

“I thought you abandoned me, Conan. That’s why I didn’t come to you for help when your grandfather came to see me that morning. I wouldn’t have accepted the claims made against me if I thought there was a chance…” she sniffles. “I spent the last eight years hating you, believing that you rejected me.”

I cradle her delicate face with both hands, wiping her tears with the pads of my thumbs. “I would have never rejected you, Hannah. Those words would have never left my lips. I was ready to make you my luna back then. I meant every word I said that night. You have always been the most important person in my life. And now, you and Clarissa are the most important people in my life.”

Hannah nods gently, and a long moment of silence stretches between us as we stare into each other’s eyes. The years of pain and suffering we both faced dissolve, the mate bond burning through all our inhibitions and making us see that there is a future for us.

“I’m sorry that I ever doubted you,” she whispers, and I shake my head.

“I’m sorry that I didn’t find you sooner.”

Hannah lets out a shaky breath before saying, “I think it’s time we spoke to Clarissa. She must have figured it out just now when your grandfather came in to speak to me, but she deserves to hear it from us.”

“You’re right.” I slide my hand into Hannah’s and lift it to my lips to press a kiss to her knuckles. “It’s time we told her. And it’s time we put the past behind us and looked toward the future. She needs both of us.”

Hannah nods, smiling feebly. “She does. And so do the others. They need the alpha and luna of Iron Breath stronger than ever. Which is why we need to train our combined powers. Prepare for whatever comes our way.”

I smirk proudly. “There’s a reason you are my fated mate, Hannah. I need you by my side.”

“And that’s exactly where I’m gonna be.”

Chapter 20 - Hannah

“But I already knew, Mommy,” Clarissa says matter-of-factly. “I knew before he said anything. I’ve known since our first day in our new house.”

I frown. Conan and I had decided to talk to Clarissa as soon as Elder Bernard left, but we waited until after dinner to tell her the truth—that Conan is her father.

What I wasn’t expecting was how calm she’d be, how nonchalant she’d be about the news. I glance at Conan, and he’s just as confused, wearing a frown.

“Why didn’t you say anything, Bug?”

“Because I trust you, Mommy. You will tell me what I need to know when the time is right.”

“Oh, Bug!” I exclaim, pulling her into my arms and holding her tightly. “I guess I was worried for nothing.”

“You always worry, Mommy,” Clarissa giggles as she pulls away slowly. She glances at Conan and says, “So, I am a witch and a werewolf?”

“Yes, kiddo. You are,” Conan says as he crouches in front of the bed and touches Clarissa’s hair fondly.

Clarissa’s eyes sadden. “Does that mean I’ll be taken? Like Nico was taken?”

“No,” he says instantly, his expression hardening. “That will not happen. Your mother and I will make sure of that. We are going to protect you.”

I nod firmly. “We will never allow anything to happen to you, Bug. In fact, your father and I discovered that we are actually quite powerful when we work together. That’s why we’re going to start training tomorrow.”