M''s


    POV


    "Why are you looking for me, M?"


    I heaved a sigh as I stared into the eyes of the man I grown to like in the past few months.


    Richard is a very gentle person. A very kind man. He treated me like a woman with utmost respect despite my being rude at times.


    "Have I told you about me, Richard?" I asked instead of answering his question.


    A frown marred his handsome face. He looked me like he was trying to contemte the words before he would speak them.


    "Not much. You always give me a cold shoulder whenever I thought I touch a part of you. You pushed me away whenever we started being closer. I thought we''re getting somewhere but you rejected me instead."


    He said it so bluntly that I almost cringe at his words. However, it was the truth. I always pushed people away whenever they started to step closer to my personal space. Only Lauren had the previledge to know me. She was the only person who get through the high wall I surrounded myself with.


    I let go of his wrist. I saw the unsaid words of rejection in his eyes when our skin disconnected.


    Yet, the shadow of surprise reflected on his gorgeous face when the same hand went to the button of his dress shirt. The third button from the top.


    Suffice it to say, it was supposed tond on hispel but I am short enough that it would be a little harder for my equally short arm.


    I yed with the button of his shirt. My eyes focused on it.


    "My mother tried to kill me when I was little." I started.


    If I wanted to make him a part of my life, on my baby''s life, he has to know about me. On what made me behaved this way. In turn, if he wanted to walk away, he will in the beginning not when I am already expecting him to stay.


    I did not raise my eyes. I did not want to be distracted by the pity that I am going to see in his face.


    I continued when he said nothing.


    "You see, my mother is a witch. I got my abilities from her but she saw me as apetition of my father''s affection." I exhaled. "My father is a human. He is a kind man that he helped anyone that needs it. It was the reason why my mother fell in love with him.


    "My mother was a good potion maker. She used it on him. Temporarily, she got my father''s affection that resulted into conceiving me. She used it until I was born. Being the very kind man that he was, he never left my mother despite knowing that he was deceived. He also learned that my mother was a witch. He stayed even after that.


    "My father was a great father to me. He always came home to us every day. His reason was, he has a daughter toe home to. It enraged my mother. She wanted my father to herself alone that she tried to hanged me to death but my father saw it. Back then, I thought it was just a game but my mother was about to kill me.


    "My father became indifferent to her after that. He brought me to work or send me to someone else if he''s not able. In my mother''s mind, I snatched the love of her life away from her. She tried to poison me by cing it on my food. I was hospitalized. That was thest straw for my father. He left my mother for good and he took me with him.


    "Thest I heard, my mother died of depression. I was in middle school that time. My father went to give her hisst respect."


    I lifted my chin and gazed at Richard. His full attention was on me, too. There was no prejudice in his gray orbs.


    "My father did not have any woman after my mother even when she died. I saw him cried at night while looking at our family picture. He fell in love with her, Richard. No potion can do that. He loved her despite her craziness. My mother was the only woman he fell in love with until the day he died."


    "He''s a good man."


    "He was."


    "And I wonder what your story has to do with us."


    My eyes blinked a few times at his statement. It made me pause for a while and tried to think of a rebuttal. Eventually, a smile formed on my lips when I finally understood what he was trying to say.


    I nodded as I chuckled. Finally, I saw a smiled formed on his lips.


    Richard seized the hand that has been messing with the button of his shirt. He enclosed it with his wide palms.


    "I appreciate you telling me about your family. It might be your skeleton in the closet but I fell for the woman who was full of life. The woman who lights up the ce when she entered. You light up my life when you came, M." "Really?"


    He nodded. He brushed away the stray hair that touched my cheek.


    "You are a wonderful woman, M. Behind the fa?ade that you are trying to show us, you are a great friend to the Luna. Knowing Miss Laurel, she was a good judge of character. I knew that you are a great person."


    He said those words with gentleness that pierced through my doubtful heart.


    I sped his hand tighter.


    "I am not as wonderful as you thought me to be. Half of my DNA came from


    woman who tried to kill her own child because of her jealousy."


    "I will not give you a reason to get jealous. I am a very busy man. I don''t have much time on my hand to take on many women. Besides, I want to make a home with you, M. Only if you allow me." "Yes."


    My answer was immediate. I already made up my mind the moment that I went out of the cabin to search for him.


    An ''o'' formed on the beta''s lips after I pronounced that single word. He even blinked his eyes a few times as he stared at me in shock.


    "Hey." I blurted out when he stay silent for half a minute.


    "Did you just-"


    "Yes, Richard. I am giving us a chance."


    He hollered at the confirmation he got from me. He gave me a big hug that lifted me off my feet.


    "Hey!"


    Hisughter resonated in the forest that the birds resting in the trees flew at the disturbance.


    "I am very happy. Thank you, M."


    "You are wee, Beta Richard. Let''s try the home that you are telling me before the little onees."


    I felt him still. Slowly, he put me back on my feet.


    "What did you say?"


    He ced my face between his palms as he looked at my eyes. He clearly heard what I said but he wanted a confirmation. Grinning, I nodded.


    "You''re are going to be a father, Beta."


    His mouth opened but no words came out. He closed it but opened again. He exhaled loudly before a wide smile painted his lips. "I''m going to be father?"


    "Yes."


    His howls made more birds fly in the formerly quiet forest. I giggled at the happiness I saw on his face.


    "I''m better than Alpha Victor." He expressed. "I have an heir. Yes!"


    Iughed even harder at his pronouncement. It halted when I found myself in his warm embrace. I hugged him closer.


    "You are still on probation." I whispered in his ear. "I can be a single mother if you slip."


    "Oh, no, sweetheart."


    I was not able to utter another protest when he kissed me on the lips.


    He was very gentle. He kissed me tenderly like I am fragile. It made my heart flutter.


    "I am going to bring you to the cabin. The cold breeze may affect you both." He spoke when our lips parted. "Are you hurt in any way? I heard you stepped on something a while ago." "I am fine. Peanut and I were good."


    "Peanut?"


    I nodded. "She''s baby Peanut for now."


    He smiled. "I like that. So, baby Peanut is a girl?"


    "I don''t know yet. For now, baby Peanut is a girl."


    "I like to have a daughter. A son mayeter."


    "W-what?"


    He ced his arm on my shoulder and guided in the direction of the cabin. "Let us head back, sweetheart. You need a good night sleep and healthy food. Do you crave for anything?"


    I leaned my head in his chest as we marched back to Grandma Anna''s house. There was no more conversation but I was in a light mood. I finally gave myself a chance to be happy. My baby will have a father.


    To my dismay, Lauren and Alpha Victor were waiting for us by the door. My friend was enclosed in her mate''s arms. It appeared that they were waiting for us toe back.


    Lauren was grinning. I saw it as we drew near. The teasing smile was clear on her lips as she watched us walked closer.


    "You are very prompt, woman. It''s almost midnight." My friendmented.


    I scoffed as I rolled my eyes.


    "I am no Cindere, woman. Besides, I brought the man with me." I said with a wide smile.


    "And you have bunny slippers."


    "That, too."


    The four of usughed.


    Lauren and I shared knowing smile. She gave me a thumb''s up.