Within seconds, the voices of his loved ones faded, as he put distance between himself and them. Now, all he could hear was his massive paws, crushing twigs and brush alike, as he galloped across Lockhart forest. Lockhart… Helena’s last name and the name that was guaranteed to haunt his mind from that day henceforth. The trees became a blur, a nuisance, obstacles he had to avoid, in order to reach his destination. The wolf loped past balsam fir and cedar, unable to cease recalling his benefactor’s speech. And how could he not do so? Sooner or later, that feathery voice would become a thing of the past, a mere memory of a loved one. Helena’s curvaceous form would linger in his mind, vividly reminding him how wrong his grandfather had been to break up with her. She was a gem, a raw, uncut diamond that was thrown in his way, shielding him from harm.

  The ground beneath his paws hardened as he sped out of the edge of the forest. Raul’s gray wolf didn’t need to shift his gaze from the hillside that towered over him to know that he was running on bare rocks. The sharp edges that scratched the hard skin on his paws were more than enough evidence. A starry, yet moonless sky filled his eyes, as he looked up. Spurred on by the sea of sadness that had been coursing through his veins, the lupine barked out, settling his gaze on the gate of his grandfather’s sanctuary. He jumped over one small bush after another, shortening his strides, as Helena’s red eyes flashed through his mind: the eyes of an angel that would no longer protect him or his town.

  The gray wolf padded up and onto the ledge, as the sound of his racing heartbeat filled his ears. He turned around, and glanced down at his birthplace. The lights in his siblings’ cabins and his were out, unlike most of the lights in Paxton. A few of them flickered before his eyes, and had he been in human form, a tear would have rolled down his cheek. The beast lazily shut them both, wishing that this fate had not befallen him. He had to be strong, much stronger than he had been so far. But now, he couldn’t keep the pain that had been gnawing away at him inside. The agony that scorched his insides, upon Kate’s revelations could not be kept at bay. His howl of sorrow rose tremendously, reverberating through the night, as he threw his head back. Though a part of him wished for tears to spill from his eyes, all that remained was his own howl fading into nothingness. So, having no tears, he let loose, once more, the most pain ridden, and grief-stricken howl.

  “So long, Helena; may we meet again.”

  Chapter Three

  Life was good and peaceful in Paxton, for the Bradford’s and their mates alike. The only one who seemed to have difficulty coping with the change of his surroundings and his work environment was Joe. No surprises there; a city-raised lawyer who could no longer practice law inevitably found himself facing problems. One doesn’t simply turn from a middle-upper class professional to a lumberjack in a day. His previous job required him to use his brains, not his muscles. Although his arguments with Melissa were rather frequent, their love for one another kept them together, much to Raul’s relief. He was already missing Helena too much to worry about his sister’s potential breakup.

  The Alpha and his brothers spent the entire autumn focusing on their work. In a way, they had to. Only weeks after they had rebuilt their workshop, new motorcycle orders began to pour in, and not just from their hometown. The news of the destruction seemed to act as a motive for Raul’s fellow citizens. Thankfully, many of them desired to assist the Bradford’s in their new endeavor. The Alpha might not have much time for his mate, but he welcomed the change. Working late almost every day distracted him from Helena’s absence. Indeed, there were days that the witch did not even cross his mind. More than that, he was able to save some money for the birth of his daughter.

  Sadly, however, the arrival of winter signaled the end of the excessive workload. The number of new orders dropped, and the brothers were limited to repairing motorcycles, the normal occurrence of workflow that happened in the colder months of the year. This natural development had never bothered Raul in the past. Riding in the freezing cold did not appeal to many people, and he knew that. Still, the effect it had on him this winter was profound. He wasn’t worried about money; after all, the brothers had made enough to last them until early spring, and the occasional repairs were still a good source of income. Unfortunately, Raul had plenty of time in his hands, time that was often dominated by thoughts of the loss of his beloved witch. Reminiscing about the hardships she had helped him and his family through, he would shed a few tears, at the same time wondering about her whereabouts. This last issue was the hardest, and the one that made the pain cut him even deeper. Helena could be virtually anywhere. He had no way of tracking her down. Furthermore, she had not provided any hints as to where she could be, adding to his overwhelming sense of helplessness. Whenever he knew that he couldn’t handle the agony, the Alpha would storm out of his cabin, shift, and run up the hill, seeking her scent in the air, or Helena’s footsteps in the snow. However, her scent had already started fading in the autumn. Now, it had been completely wiped out, covered by the fragrances that the snow had brought along: fresh snow and moist soil. It seemed like Helena had never even been in the forest, or in Paxton.

  Sometimes, Raul would wonder what he missed more about her. Was it her powers, those incredible abilities she had acquired over time that could bring down some of the most formidable enemies on this earth? Was it her strong persona, the fearless witch who laughed in the face of death? Yes, he did miss these two qualities, but what he needed most was not at all supernatural. On the contrary, it was one of the most natural things in this world: the loving look in her eyes, whenever she addressed him or his siblings; the feeling of security he would get, upon discussing anything urgent with her. Her voice always held confidence, not malice, and always a silent promise that she would be there for him. In Raul’s heart and mind, this kind of support was more precious than all of her powers combined. Her maternal attitude would set his fears at ease. Helena’s cold approach, something he had frowned upon more than once, would often compensate for his hot temper, and indicate more suitable ways of dealing with problems. Without a shadow of a doubt, Raul missed her friendship and counsel, much more than he missed the witch.

  Nevertheless, as Monica’s belly grew larger, so did his anticipation of being a father. Much to everybody else’s pleasure, his outbursts lessened, as well as his complaints about Helena’s abandonment. With each passing day, the dream of parenthood was drawing nearer, filling Raul with excitement. Raul caught himself wondering if his daughter would take after him or her mother, and often discussed this with Monica. Luckily for him, she had been patient with him the entire time. She hardly talked about Helena. Whenever he ditched her and went looking for the witch in the forest, she didn’t even complain to him. His mate understood his pain, not only because she loved him, but also, because it was a feeling the two of them shared. Helena had helped her adjust to her new life in Paxton, and often advised her on how to handle Raul. She might not have been as close with her as her mate, but she did consider her a friend.

  On a cold, mid-February night, Monica and her mate were waiting for the pizza in her oven to be done, as she looked out her kitchen window. The hard rain was lashing against the glass, as Raul sauntered towards her from behind. Circling his arms around her waist, he bent his head down, and kissed her on the cheek, as she tipped her head back to rest her head on his chest.

  “This reminds me of the night we met,” he whispered, caressing her belly over her sweater.

  “It sure does,” she purred, closing her eyes, as she reached back to cup his cheek. “I prefer thinking about what followed, though. It was nowhere near as scary.”

  “Doc…” Raul gave a short laugh. “I’ve apologized for that glare a million times already.”

  “Once was enough,” Monica murmured, as she turned around to face him. “Should I describe to you what followed, or would I…” she paused, her lips curving into a sexy smile, as she leaned in towards him. “Tempt you too much?”

  Under any other circumstances, Raul would have appreciated her teasing. Still, they had not had sex in months, and getting an arousal was the last thing he wanted. Besides, everything was still very clear in his mind. He had absolutely no need for a reminder.

  “You don’t have to,” he uttered, his voice low and deep, as he gazed deep into her eyes. Monica’s smile widened, as he tilted his head down. But, before he could taste her lips, his mate’s eyes snapped open.

  “Raul…” She whispered as her eyes filled with unmasked excitement. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to skip dinner tonight.”

  “Skip dinner?” He raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

  “Um…” Monica faltered, dropping her eyes from his stare. Raul followed her gaze, only to discover that there was a large stain on the crotch of her pants. His heart fluttered, as a gasp of shock left his lips. At last, the moment he had been so eagerly waiting for was there. In a split second, every other thought was pushed out of his mind. This was the realization of a dream. Everything else felt like a triviality.

  “Ok, wait here.” Raul spoke too fast while his heart thumped against his chest and as a blissful smile spread across his face. “I’ll go get our coats.”

  Chapter Four

  Raul made sure to call each and every one of his siblings, before he and Monica left his cabin. He meant to share this with every person that mattered in his life. Tension stormed into his senses, as he made his way towards his truck. His mate’s gynecologist had assured both of them that things were going to be just fine; nothing whatsoever had gone wrong with Monica’s pregnancy. Still, his concern about the lives of his Monica and his daughter, along with his inexperience on the matter didn’t allow him to relax at all.

  Despite overflowing with stress, however, Raul did not show his emotions to his mate. Very unlike himself, he kept his mouth shut, and his feelings to himself. Monica was just minutes away from giving birth. Burdening her with more anxiety and insecurity would not avail her. More than likely, stressing her out would have dire consequences to her and her baby. So, Raul chose silence over addressing her, and preferred to hold her hand as the two of them headed towards the glass entrance of the hospital.

  As soon as they walked into the building, he began to stride towards the reception, firming his grip around her hand. The smiling, elderly clerk was on the phone. Before he could even reach her, she set a form down on the counter, maintaining eye contact with him.

  “Good evening, Mr. Bradford,” she said with a smile. “I just called Dr. Mills’ gynecologist. She’s on her way. Please, fill out the form.”

  “Hey, Patricia,” Monica returned the smile, as she halted beside Raul. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” Patricia said, moving around the counter. “Would you like me to get you a wheelchair?”

  “That would be nice, thanks,” Monica replied, just before the clerk started down the corridor to the left.

  “Nice,” Raul muttered under his breath, nodding at the same time, as he picked up the pen put before him. “I guess being a doctor here has its perks.”

  “They have all helped me adjust here,” Monica maintained, as Dean, Ray, Kate, Julia and Melissa strode through the entrance. “Patricia’s been most kind to me.”

  “We’re not too late, are we?” Ray wondered, his voice echoing back at the walls of the hallway, as he jogged ahead of his brother.

  “Actually, you are.” Raul declared, tossing a sarcastic glance over his shoulder. “In three minutes, Monica gave birth and then ate the baby.”

  “Ray, what’s the matter with you, man?” Dean asked, raising his tone as Patricia rolled a wheelchair towards Monica, accompanied by a young nurse. “Can’t you see they’re still here?”

  “Have a seat, Dr. Mills,” she requested, her hands on either side of the wheelchair. “Mr. Bradford, we’ll call you when she’s all prepped up.”

  It was at that point that Raul expected to hear her heartbeat escalating, or at least some kind of response. However, his mate remained calm, and her smile stayed on, as he turned to her.

  “You look like you’re going for a walk in the park,” he remarked, as a smile of embarrassment burst upon his lips. “How can you be so calm?”

  Monica didn’t speak. Instead, she curled her index finger. Intrigued, Raul leaned in closer to her.

  “I’ve never been more anxious,” she confessed with a whisper. “But, everything seems fine; plus, I’m in good hands.”

  Raul lifted his hands to her face, feeling somewhat appeased. Cupping her cheeks, he tilted his head down, as Monica curled her left arm around his neck. Once again, her rosy scent flowed through him, as he tasted her kiss. He knew that it would have to be cut short, but it was his way of showing that he would be there for her. Trailing his fingers along her jawline, he pulled her gently closer, as she caressed the back of his head. Raul moved his lips up to kiss the tip of her nose, as he slowly rolled his eyelids up.

  “I love you. Go,” he whispered, running his thumbs across her cheekbones, as he pressed his forehead against hers. “I’ll be right with you.”

  “I love you, too,” she breathed, dropping her arm, as her cheeks flushed. Monica took two, short steps back, her eyes on him, as Raul gazed upon her. He sensed a heavy hand on his shoulder, as the nurse rolled the wheelchair around. It was Dean.

  “A penny for your thoughts, big brother,” he said, his voice riddled with curiosity.

  “Too many to count,” Raul retorted with a sigh. “I hope it’s all going to be fine, and I do think it is, but…” he paused, and turned around to face him. “It’s going to be hard calling my baby girl ‘Helena.’ It’d be a lot easier if she was still around.”

  “Look, I don’t agree with what she did, either,” Dean claimed, lightly shaking his head sideways. “The way I see it, she had to at least let us say ‘goodbye.’ She owed us that much. But, you made a promise.”

  “I never said I wouldn’t do it.” Raul put a little force in his voice. “It’s just that saying her name every day won’t help me…”

  “Forget?” Dean finished his sentence. “You couldn’t, anyway. I don’t think any of us can. I mean, how can we?”

  “Good point,” Raul agreed with a nod. Dean had managed to shred his doubts with just a few words. The very mention of Helena’s name was not the only thing that would prevent him from forgetting her. It was her actions; her multiple actions, to be exact. Her legend would live on, whether he kept his promise to her or not. Even if he didn’t name his daughter after her, Raul would always remember this debate. Moreover, he was a man of his word. He would not break a promise, just because Helena no longer lived near them.

  “Mr. Bradford, follow me, please.” The nurse’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Raul cast one last glance down at his family, and then silently obliged. Walking alongside her, he pictured the moment when he would finally hold his daughter in his arms. In a few minutes, he would see for himself if his father was right to maintain that “there is no greater joy than the one of becoming a parent.” The young nurse opened the door to Monica’s room. As soon as she did, the smell of alcohol overwhelmed Raul’s nostrils. His mate was lying in bed, cringing in discomfort. A middle-aged doctor was standing across from her, with a notepad in her hands.

  “Hello, Mr. Bradford. I’m Dr. Tania Matthews, your wife’s gynecologist.” She introduced herself with a polite smile, offering her hand, as he paced towards her.

  “It’s a pleasure,” Raul said, shaking it in his palm. “How is she?”

  “She’s doing very well, actually. According to her sonogram, the baby is in the right position. She is dilating rather quickly; we won’t be long. Please, be seated,” Tania requested, adding to Raul’s already massive anticipation. Moving around Monica’s bed, he settled his gaze on her face. Tiny drops of sweat were already forming on her forehead, just below her hairline. Her breath was still normal; yet, her heart was quick, much quicker than it was just a few minutes ago. Raul did as told, seating himself on her left. Reaching down, he picked up her right hand, and brought it up to his mouth.

  “How are you feeling?” He asked, his lips tentatively brushing her skin, as she shifted her gaze to him.

  “Contractions are still few and far in between,” Monica responded, her voice wobbly, as he leaned over her. “I get one every two minutes or so.”

  “Hang in there, doc,” Raul responded in a sweet voice, studying every line on her face, precisely as he had done on the night he had met her. His mate had gained at least twenty pounds, but to him, it didn’t matter. His Monica could have put on five times that weight, and he would still love her. “What’s a half hour of pain, compared to a lifetime of bliss?”

  “Please, keep talking,” she requested, her nostrils flaring, as she squeezed her eyes shut. “This one’s going to be big.”

  “Our little Helena is going to have her mother’s eyes,” he stated, tension creeping up in his voice, as Monica’s painful groan filled the room. “She’ll be just as smart as her mommy.”

  “Her father’s heart,” Monica let out a choked whisper, clutching Raul’s hand in her hand. Her grip had never felt this tight. Still, he would not give voice to his own discomfort. “I’d like her to have her father’s heart.”

  “Ten centimeters, Monica,” Dr. Matthews interjected, raising her voice over theirs. “I want you to push, ok?”

 

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