****
I feel Johnny’s presence as soon as he enters the bedroom. I look up to see his frown. He looks down at the photo then back at me.
“I need to tell you something,” I say, looking up at him. I shouldn’t be scared of my mate, but right in this moment I am.
He sits on the bed next to me, taking my hand in his. Concern is etched all over his face. God, I love this man so much. I feel the concern he has for me through both our mate and the pack bond.
“What’s wrong, baby? Angel will come back to us and I’ll apologise. I don’t know what I was thinking talking to her like that. She’s my baby girl, I would never hand her off to someone she doesn’t love. I don’t even know why I said what I said. I was so angry at her for defying me and going to see those witches.” I place my finger over his lips when he spits the last word out.
“Stop, honey. I know you didn’t mean what you said. I wouldn’t have allowed the marriage to Caspian either way. she loves the twins and even if she doesn’t want to admit it yet, I know it’s true.” I shake my head and drop my hand which he picks up entwining our fingers.
“There’s something else I need to tell you,” I say softly.
He sits silently looking at me with loving eyes.
“I should have told you a long time ago, but I was so scared to tell you-” He interrupts me.
“You don’t ever have to be afraid of me, baby. You know that?”
“Shh… Please let me finish before I lose the nerve.” He nods.
“My mother was a… Witch.” I spit it out, and once I start I can’t stop the words that flow. “I was going to be one too when I turned eighteen, I was meant to be one. I grew up with Noelle in the witches compound, she was like my sister, we were always together.” I feel his hands turn stiff into my own, but I squeeze them tighter and continue to talk.
“My father was human but my mother was a witch, so was my grandmother and hers before her. Not all siblings carry the ability to perform magic, James didn’t have the ability, but I did. The Wicca don’t follow rules or leaders, we tend to keep to ourselves, but there is one rule that we’re all meant to follow. Only once a witch turns eighteen are they be able to use the magic they have within them should they be lucky enough to carry the ability. At eighteen years, the ancestors believed that a witch should be wise enough and mature enough to make the right decisions when it comes to learning the way of the Wicca. My mother started teaching me when I was seven. I knew I had power within me, and even though it wasn’t as strong as what it would’ve been when I turned eighteen, I still felt it and learnt a few tricks.” Johnny pulls his hands from mine and stands up abruptly.
Only now looking up at him do I see how livid he is. He’s absolutely fuming, his eyes pulse black and blue and his face is red as the veins stick out off his forehead.
“You’re a fucking witch?” He roars.
I stand up quickly and rush up to him, but he puts his hand out. “Don’t you dare put your hands on me, Alexandria.” I back away suddenly, my wolf crying inside of me.
“I’m not a witch, honey.” I shake my head as I use my calmest voice.
“You just said-”
I shake my head. “I should have been one, but I met you instead. When I turned eighteen I turned into a wolf, remember? I tried using any abilities, tried some of the spells my mother had taught me, but it was gone; the magic I had before was gone.”
“You lied to me! I’m your mate and you fucking lied to me!” He uses his hand and pushes the set of drawers beside us to the floor. I wince and step away from him.
“I know, Johnny. I know I lied and I’m so sorry I kept that from you.” I try to control my tears, but I just can’t anymore.
“What the hell, Alex? Is that why Angel survived the pregnancy ? Because she has magic flowing through her?”
“I honestly don’t know, Johnny. Maybe that could have aided her. I don’t know.” I look down at the broken set of drawers scattered on the floor.
“Jesus, you’ve kept this secret for nineteen fucking years! Why are you telling me now?”
“Because Angel knows. Noelle told her.”
“When Angel was hurt, you told me you needed Noelle. Is that why you called her? You knew Noelle would be able to heal her.” It’s not a question, but I still nod my head.
“Fuck it, Alex. When you saw Angel’s ability to heal, did you know then that it was because she was a witch?”
I can’t answer him. I knew it, deep down I knew it, but I still kept it from both of them.