Chapter 430
“But you’re his mate”. I frowned.
“I am”. She smiled her hand reaching for his. “But things were very different back then and we simply couldn’t be together because there were rules p>
“But you had mom”. I spoke.
“We met in secret”. She grinned as if remembering the time, they spent together. “It was very difficult for us to stay apart so we had secret meetings, secret hideouts. We made it work for a period of time p>
I swallowed the lump that appeared in the back of my throat. I couldn’t imagine what they both had to go through.
“What happened after that p>
“His parent’s found out and I never saw him again until I was walking in the park with your mom
in the push chair and your grampa. I was pregnant with your aunt Claire at the time p>
“So, he never knew you were pregnant?”. I asked.
She shook her head. “I didn’t find out until a few weeks after he left. I had no way to contact him,
I didn’t know where they were. It was a very tough time for me p>
“What happened when you saw him?”. I asked.
“Nothing”. She gave me a small smile, a sad smile. “It had been years; we both had moved on,
and he was only in town for an engagement p>
Moved on? How can you move on from your mate?
“So, you never knew about my mom?”. I asked.
George shook his head. “Your gran had settled down, married someone else, she had a family. I would not take that away from her p>
“But she was your daughter”. I frowned.
“I know”. He nodded. “And I’d wished I had done things differently, but I have to live with the choices I made, we made. I didn’t know about your mom because I assumed she wasn’t mine”. “So, you just never saw each other again?”. I asked.
“Not until one day I received a private message on Facebook. We reconnected and the rest is history p>
My gran has Facebook?
“Is that where you were sneaking off to when you had book club?”. I frowned.
“Or to the garden centre”. She smiled. “We talked back and forth for months and finally decided to meet for coffee p>
It was all starting to make sense.
The whole time my dad and aunt Claire sat quiet. Both engaged in their story just like I was. But
it was far from over. How could my gran not find him, reach out to him. There had to have been a way. He never met his daughter, and she died.
It was sad and I had no idea how he coped with it. The guilt he must feel, the guilt he has been living with and still has probably to this day because he was none the wiser to anything.
How did he take the news on finding out he had a child, and that child died? I couldn’t blame my gran, and I never would. She still grieved my mom to this day.
“Why did you come back here?”. I asked.
“This was my home, and I never wanted to leave all those years ago but as I explained it was a challenging time, and I couldn’t disobey my parent’s. I came back here because I had nothing else p>
“You could have searched for her, fought for her. You could have if you wanted to p>
“Leah”. My gran frowned. “None of this is George’s fault and if you want to blame anyone then you blame me. I was the one that kept your mom from him. I could have told him the truth; I could have tried harder to find him but She paused as she glanced at George. “I was happy, I had a family, and I was doing okay p>
“How could you live all those years without your mate?”. That’s what I couldn’t wrap my head around. It brought me back to Rylee’s story, but they at least had contact, seen each other. My gran and George moved on and that was the end of it.
“She’s human”. My dad spoke. “The bond wouldn’t have been as strong for your gran because they never mated. I’m not saying it would have been easy, but it would have been easier to deal with and manage p>
“George was the love of my life. Yes, I loved your gramps, but it was a different kind of love. We we’re torn apart therefore we never got the chance to form our bond p>
“How did you find out about werewolves p>
“He told me”. She smiled.
“You didn’t freak out?”. I frowned.
She shook her head. “There’s always been rumours and old wife’s tales about werewolves being real and sighted here in town. The first thing I asked him to do was show me and he did p>
If only I had been that cool about it all when I found out.
A yawn fell from my lips, I was getting tired, but I didn’t want them to stop. There was still more to be told, and I was here for it.
“Why Florida?”. I asked.
“Why don’t we pick this up tomorrow over coffee?”. My gran suggested. “You look tired sweetheart p>
“No”. I shook my head. “I’m okay I want to continue p>
“Well, I’m heading to bed”. My aunt Claire spoke as she got to her feet. “I’ll catch you all tomorrow. Good night p>
Didn’t she want to hear more?
“I think we should call it a night Leah”. My dad added. “Like your gran said we can continue tomorrow p>
My shoulders sagged as I stifled a yawn. It had been a long night, but I was desperate for them to continue with their story. But I was also struggling to keep my eyes open.
“Okay”. I sighed. “But can I sleep here?”. I hadn’t slept in my old room in forever and I don’t know why but I didn’t want to leave just yet. Besides, I didn’t want to go home alone either. I knew my dad would head out to patrol with Jake as soon as we reached the house.
“Of course,”. She smiled. “Jack, do you need me to sort a room p>
“No”. He smiled. “I’m going to head out and look for Jake, see if he needs a hand p>
Called it.
They continued to talk as George caught my attention. “Would you like anything else to eat maybe some leftovers?”. He asked.
“Yeah”. I smiled. “But can I eat them in my room?”. This wasn’t my house anymore well it was, but
it was always polite to ask.
“It’s your house”. He chuckled. “I’ll have your gran bring it up when it’s hot enough p>
“Okay”. I nodded. “And thank you p>
I didn’t see the leftover because as soon as I lay down on the bed, I was out cold.