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FINALLY!
The little boy made his grand entrance and Paden cried as he was placed on her chest. Alia’s heart squeezed with a bit of envy, she had always wanted to be a mother. She bit her lip as the image of her own mother leaving when Alia was at a small age filled her mind. Celina, her mom, had said she would come back for her but to stay with Aunt Jina until then.
“Let me check his vitals and clean him a little more, then he’s all yours,” Alia said and Paden nodded. Olsen followed her over to the small bed, watching her. She made sure the baby had all his tiny fingers and toes as she cleaned up his sensitive skin.
“We need to talk,” Olsen whispered. Panic filled her body as she paused mid-swipe on the baby’s leg.
“No, we don’t. I don’t even know you. Here take your...” Her voice faltered, she didn’t know what to say as she hadn’t been listening to what he’d called Paden the entire time.
“My nephew. His dad died three months ago,” Olsen said as he looked down at the little boy.
“Sorry for your loss.” She placed the baby in his arms, making sure Olsen supported the baby’s head. Her hand brushed against his muscular arms, sending a wave of heat to her core. Alia clenched her thighs together as she slowly moved out of the room. Her feet carrying her without her consciously choosing a direction. She turned around the corner, and pressed her head on a wall. I fucked up and bad! Cursing herself for having such a weakness for people in need. Only twice before Olsen had she saved people with magic, her aunt and her best friend. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down, but nothing was working. Her body wanted him and she couldn’t turn it off. The moment he came barreling into the room, her body had warmed up like it had been waiting to see him.
Footsteps down the hall caught her attention. Her eyes moved up and Olsen’s large form turn the corner, almost running into her. Without hesitation, he caged her against the wall with his body. His lips met hers, and her core lit up like a wildfire. Her hands instantly moved to his hair, letting the soft red curls cover her fingers. His tongue entered her mouth, and her tongue danced with his. He pulled back, and it took everything she had to keep herself from attacking him.
“What happened last night?” His hot breath tickled her skin.
“What do you remember?”
“Only that I imprinted and your scent was all over the alley.”
Her breath caught in her throat. You damn fool. Aunt’s number one rule, never touch a male werewolf.
“No!” She gasped. “This can’t be. A witch and a werewolf can’t happen,” she whispered more to herself than to Olsen.
“Wait. Did you say...”
She placed a hand over his lips and nodded. “Yes, let me move.” She looked around after Olsen released her from the wall, then slipped straight into an On-Call room. Olsen locked the door behind her after he glided in.
“Are you really a werewolf?” she asked as she turned to face him. Her hands shook as she grabbed the bottom of her scrubs to ground herself.
“Are you really a witch?” He looked flustered, to say the least.
“I asked first.” Alia straightened her shoulders. Yep, childish response, but I don’t care. He narrowed his dark blue eyes at her; she could tell he liked to be in charge, but he was in for a rude surprise.
“Yes. Now your turn.” She placed her hands on her hips.
“I healed you last night with magic. Then I took your memory.” She shook her head, staring at the ground. “My best friend is going to kill me when she finds out.” Her friend, Elaina, was the one person she had kept in limited contact with after she ran away from their coven. When you imprint, you get a mate, Alia. As in lovers! Her breathing became erratic. Both excitement and fear filled her body at the idea of having a mate.
“Calm down. It’s not the end of the world.” Olsen grabbed her arm, bringing her closer, and her body seemed to spark up once more.
“What are the options?” Still not meeting his gaze, she played with her hair for a second before shoving it behind her ear.
“We mate or I lose my wolf. I don’t know if anything happens to you.” He shrugged and sat on the bed, and she followed. The small gap between them created tension between her thighs. Gently, he placed his large hand on her knee. Every nerve wanted him to move his hand up to help release some of the tension in her body.
“We don’t have much time to decide. You already took hours away by taking my memory. Which reminds me...why did you feel the need to take away the memory of you saving me? Oh, and thank you for that, by the way.”
“You’re welcome.” She scrunched her free hand into her scrubs. Her whole body filled with fear of how he would react to the true reason she removed his memory.
“Are you going to tell me why you erased my memory?”
“Mainly to keep you safe.” She turned to survey him, concern filled his eyes. She wanted to tell him everything, starting from the awful night she became a fugitive witch.
“I’ll make you a deal. I’ll come back after your shift and we can talk about our options.”
“Do I have a choice?” She met his blue eyes, delight covering his beautiful features. He chuckled and kissed her cheek.
“Nope.” He stood, then left the room, leaving Alia alone, longing to be next to him. Focus Alia. Only a few more hours until you finish your shift.
Ideas of running filled her mind, but one thing stopped her from getting in her car. I’ll lose my wolf. Olsen would lose a part of himself if he didn’t finish the bond. Yet she had a feeling she would lose part of herself if she went through with it.
Alia yanked her ponytail away from her head and pulled her braid out to give her hands a task to do. Maybe I can run after we mate. As Alia redid her braid, she came up with her plan. This has to work, or else Olsen’s life will be in danger.
With the thought firmly in place, she returned to her rounds. She only had a few more hours to be away from Olsen, and yet watching him walk away had made her stomach tighten.