Chapter 19

ALEC

Vanessa had finished laying down Drew. I heard her singing a song to him. She made sure there was a room that's connected to hers. With shapeshifters being a problem, she couldn't take any chances. But this time, she made a bed for him on the floor of my room since we were in my room. When she came back to life, she was always this stuck up person, conservative, just too herself. So, when she crawled into my bed, and curled up in my body. It was everything to me. She closed her eyes, as I focused on her breathing. I wrapped my arm around hers, and just lived in the moment.

"These past few months were the hardest ones for me. I've been killed, yet it wasn't as bad. But sadly, the job of a queen never ends" I looked down at her, still with her eyes closed.

"I know, I understand. Even though Alias isn't here, you have me for eternity." I kissed her forehead, but honestly it was for my own benefit.

"I need a King Alec." Well that was blunt. Is this her proposing to me? Or just business needs.

"You don't need one, if you don't want too Vanessa" She began to wiggle out of my arms and moved up to lay her head on her hand. Those red eyes were looking at me.

"I have until my mark officially falls off, or I will lose my position. This isn't how I wanted to do things. I wanted to wait things out, so I am asking you if you will be my king." This is a lot. She's not asking, because that's what she wants. She is asking because it's a business need.

"If I say no, would you ask someone else" Her eyes drifted down to the sheet.

"I want it to be you, if not you. Someone else has to fill it. I am asking you too not just to be my king but my mate. Officially mated. I know it's not anything romantic, but we will get to be together. " Why is she asking like she is being forced to be with me. All she had to do was ask, not add in all that other stuff. Was this an arrangement to her, that her feelings didn't seem sincere. I know back then, most of the time you never got the chance to decide your fate. But she's in 2019, you have a choice and rights. Why can't she see me as more than an equal, or someone who makes sure she has power.

I know she doesn't mean it, as that's all she really knows. Who could blame her though, change isn't always great? Especially with her, with the slightest change she goes into full panic mode. She feels that everything else needs to shift. What happened when Drew shifted, she had meetings everywhere, changed up training everything.

"Alec?" Her voice brought me out of deep thought. Her eyes stared at me, with such curiosity.

"Let me take you on a date." Now she tilted her head in confusion. Right, not from this time.

"Mate, I don't want you to make this a business transaction. I want you to want to be with me. I do want to be your king. But I want to make sure you're genuine about being with me. I am a sensitive guy" I could feel her eyes rolling from a mile away.

"Sensitivity is for the weak. You either want me or not want me." She scowled at me. Those words coming out like venom. She was a true warrior, but I wasn't looking for a warrior, I was looking for love. Maybe we weren't on the same page, granted I don't think we ever will be. I took a hard sigh, before I said something that I may regret.

"I think you should leave." She gasped at me, surprised. But she didn't fight back, and I know that she does what she knows best. Puts a wall up. She stood up from my bed.

"As she wishes Alpha." I saw the glossiness in her eyes. She scooped up Drew.

"You can leave him here; I'll take him in the morning" She held him in her hands and draped a blanket over his body.

"You aren't his father; it is not your responsibility Alpha. Continue on your duties, as you are dismissed. Thank you." Great, we are back to square one. She flashed me one last hurt look and walked out. When she meant that I was dismissed she meant it. I don't think I really ever saw him unless she passed by with him.

VANESSA

"I think you should leave" When those words left his mouth, I felt a blow to the heart. I am a strong woman; he won't get the satisfaction of seeing me hurt. I tried to reason with him, but him and I will never see eye to eye. I am in a different time, and honestly, I don't think I want to change anything. But the importance of the kingdom, trumps my heart. I scooped my son up, because I can't think of him as his father if that's not what he's going to be. No family separates. I know it hurt him just as well.

I took Drew out of the room and walked out to go back to my room. As I exited the pack house, the tears just wouldn't stop. My wolf had whined at me. Drew had slowly woken up, as I stared at the house.

"Mommy, where are we going?" I looked down at his grey eyes, full of such innocence.

"Nothing baby, we are going to our room" He wrestled himself out of my arms. I saw his body stretch. Great, he is fully awake.

"Mommy, you look sad. Why are you saying that?" He wrapped his arms around my waist. I can't believe this little dude is mine. I started out at the moon, as I thought of Alias. He would be proud of his son, as he has always been hands on.

"You know your dad; he would have loved to meet you. You look just like him that's all" He looked at me, and it was that look I'd given as a kid.

"I did meet my dad though mommy" I held onto him tighter.

"No baby, your real father. He passed away, protecting us. But just know when you see the full moon, he will always be looking down at you." Sadness hit him.

"What was he like?" I looked down at him and smiled.

"How about we go for a run, and I can tell you all about him" He didn't even bother getting undressed. He shifted so quick, and his black and white fur. Was white this time, stands for purity. He is happy. I took my clothes off and shifted into my hybrid. We darted off into the forest, until we came upon a hill that was near water. I shifted back to my human form, and so did Drew.

"This was the last place we laid, before he left with the gods." I said. I looked out into the water.

"Am I like him?" I let my feet dangle off the hill.

"He was determined, and curious. He had this power that radiated off of him. All he ever wanted to do was protect his own. So yes, you are like him. I was the fighter though." He leaned his head against mine. This is my son, my beautiful son.

"Mommy, I don't want to be a fighter. I want to take care of everyone" God his innocence was too much.

"You know Drew, sometimes fighting is helping. We come from a world where humans want us gone. And other creatures want to be above. I am Queen, which means one day. This will all be yours. Fighting isn't always bad if it's protecting what you love"

Our mother, son's moment came to an end when I heard the bushes rustle. I stood up and held Drew behind me. A man came out of the woods.

"I am here in peace; I was walking the borders." The man who was trapped in the infant child stepped forward. I recognize his smell, as I left before I saw him. I relaxed myself.

"You shouldn't be out here so late my queen, there were lurkers." He stepped forward and bowed.

"I am fine, I can protect my own. We needed some fresh air." I responded. But the strange things are I never really looked at Blake. He was white skinned, green eyes, he had a defined face, with a nice beard. I think it's more the rejection I felt drawing me to him.

"I understand my queen, please allow me to walk you back to your quarters." He had a thick accent that would make anyone melt.

"Warrior, from what time are you from?" He smiled, and I noticed that his fangs hung low.

"I am from the 1400's my queen. I was born to the Lord Killian and Princess Michelle."

"A lord, I've not seen one of those inn centuries. How is it that you and my father came about to the curse?" I never really got to get the answers that I wished for.

"The warlock had killed my parents, and casted me away to a different life. I was sent into the future. Surely enough I got my memories to stay in each life and stumbled upon your father and mother as they beamed into a new life with me. We eventually just found each other each time. You broke the curse, and I am forever in your debt." I looked at him, and sadness washed over me again. I sat back down with Drew, as he fell asleep on my shoulder.

"Come sit Lord, let’s have a chat. We are merely family as you protected my parents." He hesitated for a bit, but he then sat alongside me, staring at the water.

"Lord, can I ask you inappropriate questions?" He looked over, as his eyes burned into my cheek.

"You may my queen" He looked back out to the waters.

"Do you think the way we lived in our time was horrible? Unkindly?"

"We were born that way; we don't know any better. However, some of the things just didn't seem right. Arrangement marriages, slaves, different laws. I don't think there was anything wrong with it, just that we forgot about people’s humanity."

"Do you know anything about dating?" He looked over and laughed.

"It's honestly just two people going, and spending time together. Getting to know one another before there’s a commitment. I don't think it's needed, because if you know you know." I pulled Drew on my lap holding him and looked over to Blake.

"I want you to tell me what you think of me"

"Is that a command?" Well okay I guess that came off as one. That's not what I was trying to do.

"I am sorry my lord, can you please give me your honest opinion of myself?"

"Why is it you want to know?" He questioned.

"I think that I think too highly of myself, that I need to know from someone’s point of view."

"Well my queen, in our times you'd be perfect. Strong, independent. However, at this time, they'd call you a hot mess?"

"What in the devils is a hot mess?" He laughed at my confusion.

"It's a say for those who just can't get a handle of things. Goes about certain things the wrong way. You're too stuck in your time, that you will never see eye to eye with this new age." I let my head slump down onto Drew's. Great, I am a hot mess now.

"But in my opinion, I think you're amazing." My head lifted up, as my eyes met his.

"What did you say?" He reached out my hand and held it.

"You're beautiful, and strong willed, dedicated, selfless, Vanessa just because you're a hot mess. Doesn't make you awful. " He smirked at me.

"Someone who loves you will accept you as the hot mess self you are. Don't think you have to change in order to please. Just like you wouldn't expect others to do that for you. Don't you ever settle for less because someone of your greatness deserves so much more. You've loved, and lost so much that you deserve happiness"

My heart just melted into those words, and I don't think I ever felt so secure in my life.