40 Meeting Miranda
Xavier POV
F**k, that conversation did not go as I had planned. I need her to understand how important she is to the future of our kind. I have nothing against Ace. Hell, I’m the one that allowed his mother to become part of the pack. I’m the one that allowed him to stay even after his parents died. His mother was human and had discovered she had cancer when he was a teenager. After she died, Ace’s adoptive father, one of my warriors,
couldn’t survive the loss of the bond.
Watching his mother waste’away was part of the reason he was so dedicated to becoming a doctor. He has been an asset to the pack despite being human. My only concern right now is protecting my pup. If the council find out about her, they will make sure she never becomes the ruler of our kind. From what my father
said before he passed me the title, they started out as advisors to the king.
When he died, which was under suspicious circumstances, they stepped in to govern over our kind until a wolf of royal blood line or a midnight wolf was born. They have enjoyed thirty years of power and, based on
Miranda’s visions, they are not about to give it up. That is the only reason I even suggested breaking her bond
with Ace. I know how much pain Olivia has had, but she isn’t the only one that has suffered.
The door to the library opens and Miranda steps inside. I stand to my feet, almost forgetting myself. If Evie ever smelt her on me, I’d be in the doghouse more than I already am. I love Evie with every fiber of my being.
She is my fated mate, but there was a time when I loved this woman standing before me. All those feelings
died the minute I had Evie in my arms. I fought against the bond, wanting to stay with Miranda, but I couldn’t
be selfish after everything she had seen.
“It’s good to see you, Miranda.” “I wish I could say the same, Xavier. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Olivia*
she says. “I understand, but you know I never meant to cause you pain Miranda.” “I know that Xavier and I
don’t hate you, but I’m here to talk to Olivia. I’m here to help her protect the midnight wolf. Our past needs to
stay in the past,” she says.
“So you don’t plan to tell her about us,” I ask, knowing I’m being a coward. “No, you should have told Evelyn,
Xavier. She had the right to know. Everything in the dark comes out in the light. She was married for
goddess’s sake. You should have just told her.” “Everything was already so complicated. I couldn’t lose her if
she decided she couldn’t get past it Miranda.” “Enough Xavier, just take me to meet Olivia,” she says.
Olivia POV
“Miranda, this is Olivia. Olivia, this is my friend Miranda,” Xavier says, motioning between us. A low growl has us looking toward my mother. I turn back and reach out my hand, but instead of taking it, she stares like it might burn her. “Miranda,” Xavier says like a warning. “My apologies. I’m just so shocked to finally meet you. I’ve had visions of you for so long, it’s surreal to have you standing in front of me,” she says.
“Now, if you can all excuse us, Miranda needs to speak with Olivia in private. There are things that can’t be discussed with others present,” Xavier says. “That’s not happening. I told you I’m not leaving my daughter alone with a witch we know nothing about,” Evelyn says. “Evie enough. This isn’t about you and your opinions. Miranda would never hurt Olivia,” Xavier says. “He’s being truthful Olivia but something still feels off,” Danica
says.
“Agree to speak with her but only after he leaves. I don’t believe the witch is a threat to us. He is trying to keep
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<40 Meeting Miranda
something secret,” she says. “Evelyn it’s fine. I’ll speak to Miranda alone,” I say, emphasizing the word alone to Xavier. “Olivia, are you sure,” Ace asks and I smile. I stand at the same time he does. I push up on my toes and press a kiss on his lips. “I’m sure. Why don’t you go check on Della while I speak with Miranda,” I say through our link, so only he can hear me.
He smiles and kisses my forehead before he heads for the door. I can see Connor wants to argue but he and Becca leave next. Evelyn is glaring at Xavier. She stands, and I expect her to walk to the door, but instead she comes to stand in front of me, facing Miranda. “If you hurt my daughter there won’t be enough magic to save you from me,” she says. “Evie” Xavier says. “Don’t call me Evie. I know what you said to my daughter downstairs” she says.
“Evie, you have to let me explain. I’m only thinking about our pup,” he says. She takes a step closer to him. “I’m thinking about my pups. Even if Olivia never considers me her mother again, she is my pup. You will not interfere in her relationship with Ace or suggest she sacrifice her own happiness again, or I will leave and never come back,” she says. “Evie, I’m sorry,” he says, and despite how I feel about him, his words feel genuine. I couldn’t detect any deceit.
She turned without acknowledging his apology and he followed quickly after her. When the door is finally closed, I look at Miranda. “Let’s have a seat. I’m sure we have a lot to talk about.” She smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes. We take a seat on opposite ends of the couch that sits under the bay window. “So you had visions about me. What exactly did these visions tell you?”
“In the beginning, the visions were of your mother. Xavier had pretty much given up on finding her, but the day I had my first vision it was of them together,” she says. “So you’re the one that sent him to destroy my family.” Sadness and pain swirl in her eyes as she looks at me. I know I’m being a b**ch, but I feel like she is telling
me half-truths.
“Your life wasn’t the only one that has been destroyed by all of this Olivia. We have all made sacrifices for the greater good,” she says. “The greater good. My father died because of Xavier and Evelyn. Whatever happened to my life I’ve long since gotten over, but I will never let go of the pain of losing him because of everyone’s selfish choices. So don’t give me that bulls*t about people’s lives being destroyed, because from where I’m sitting my father is the only one dead.”
She looks toward the heavens before she looks back at me. “You’re right, Olivia. I’m sorry. I came here to discuss your role as the guardian and try to help you understand your own powers. I understand that you
have found your mate, and he is human” she says. “Yes, and before you make any comments about needing a
stronger mate who is a wolf, don’t. Ace is mine and I refuse to give him.up.”
“I would never suggest such a thing. Mates are a gift from the goddess. Why would you ever think I would
suggest such a thing? Is that what Xavier and Evelyn were arguing about?” “That and the fact that Evelyn
doesn’t trust you alone with me. Despite my distance from her, she still tries to act as my mother when the
opportunity arises.” “You haven’t forgiven her,” she says.
“I have for my own sanity. I didn’t like myself when I let my anger for her and Xavier rule my actions. Having said that, I don’t think our relationship will ever be what it was before I lost my father. There was just too much pain between us.” Why the hell am I telling her all of this? She is a complete stranger. “I think we share
similar pain. That’s what we felt when she first walked in, but I’m not sure why,” Danica says.
“So back to the visions. When I realized I was seeing Xavier’s mate, he was ecstatic until I told him a few days later that your mother was married. I think he truly never planned to seek her out until I told him about you.
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<40 Meeting Miranda
Please don’t misunderstand he wanted your mother the minute I told him she was his mate, but he didn’t want to cause her pain when I told him how happy she was with your father,” she says.
“Then why not stay away and let her live her life with my dad? I would have become a guardian wolf either way.” Xavier’s words from earlier come rushing back. He believes his pup is the midnight wolf. If he never mated with my mother, then the midnight wolf wouldn’t exist in his mind. Me being a guardian wolf is what convinced him he needed to find my mom. All of this happened because of me.
“There is no way you can make that jump. You were always meant to find Ace. Whether he found her now because of this vision or in a few years when you were led by the goddess to Ace, they would have found each other, Oli. I refuse to allow you to blame yourself for the things that happened. Ace was right, this is about everyone else’s choices. You didn’t ask to be a guardian wolf,” Danica says.
I focus my attention back on Miranda. “I hope your wolf was helpful. I can’t imagine how hard all of this has been on you. I was an adult when my world was turned upside down, and I didn’t handle it well.” “I don’t mean any disrespect, but I don’t understand how any of this affected you.” “Unfortunately, that part of the past is not mine to tell. I’m sure Xavier will share that with you and your mom when he is ready. I’m not here to cause problems. I only want to help. Besides, everything worked out the way the goddess intended,” she says. Despite her words, I can still feel her pain. Now I know for sure that Xavier is keeping things from all of us. “Miranda, Xavier seems to believe that his and Evelyn’s pup will be the midnight wolf.” “I’m sure he does. It makes sense because I can never see the child’s face in my visions. I know she is a girl, but that’s all I can tell. I guess the goddess isn’t ready for her to be revealed or its because she hasn’t been born yet. The midnight wolf is always born of a strong wolf, usually either an alpha or royalty,” she says.
“Royalty” I say like a question. “Yes, but unfortunately, there hasn’t been a king for the last thirty years. When he died he had no heir. That’s when the council took over. The midnight wolf would be a threat to them. That is why Xavier was adamant about keeping them away from the pack,” she says. I growl as I feel the honesty in her words. The council is a threat to Della. Not as long as there is air in my lungs.
