Chapter 383 383
Sabine POV
“Sab!”
The woman shrieked in terror as Maxime nearly slammed her to the ground.
I twisted around Maurice’s body, struggling to see my attacker and then my breath caught as recognition hit me.
“Wait! Maxime, stop!” I cried desperately as his hands tightened on her arms, yanking her back like she was a threat.
Figures rushed toward us from the road Ash Valley warriors sprinting in our direction.
But she was only one woman.
Then I saw why.
She hadn’t come alone.
Men thick-built, bodyguard types were charging toward us to protect her.
“I know her! Stop!” I roared.
Something powerful surged out of me heavy, commanding directed straight at Maxime.
He froze instantly.
“Release her!” I ordered, anger pouring from me so fiercely it felt almost physical.
Whatever it was…
It worked.
Maxime immediately let her go.
The woman staggered back, trembling hands flying to her mouth as she sucked in sharp breaths.
“Auntie Thérèse?” I whispered.
I hadn’t seen her since I was twelve but there was no mistaking her.
My mother’s best friend.
The woman who had been part of every important moment of my childhood.
She had no children of her own, and Mum and her had always leaned on each other.
The day Father took me away was the day I lost more than just Mum.
I lost Auntie Thérèse too.
Noise erupted behind her as warriors and guards clashed into a tense standstill, but I couldn’t tear my eyes from her.
She lifted a hand, signalling the men near her to stop.
Then she turned back to me.
Her gaze travelled slowly over my body.
I wasn’t twelve anymore.
“Sabine…” she breathed softly. “Oh, my darling. Look at you.”
“You’re beautiful.”
“And so strong.”
She stepped closer, her hands resting on my shoulders before sliding down my arms pausing at my firm biceps in clear amazement.
I wasn’t a child now.
I was a woman.
“What are you doing here?” I gasped.
“I prayed every day that you would return,” she said, emotion thick in her voice. “That I might see you again.”
“Return?”
“Your father wouldn’t let me see you,” she said urgently. “I need you to know that, Sabine. Gaston did everything he could to take you from me against your mother’s wishes.”
“My mother’s wishes?”
“She made me your guardian in her will,” Thérèse revealed softly. “But because he was also your father, he fought it.”
“I searched for you endlessly. But you disappeared. It was like you stopped existing.”
“Yes… I know,” I whispered sadly.
Every day I had begged Father.
Cried.
Pleaded to see her.
But he always refused.
Said my old life was over.
That it wasn’t safe.
That my illness made me weak.
“Bee…”
Maurice’s arm wrapped tightly around my waist, pulling me back into his side as his lips brushed my ear.
“Your Luna command is still on Maxime,” he murmured. “Release him.”
“Oh sorry, Maxime,” I said quickly, lifting the command through the mind-link.
“No harm done, Luna,” he replied.
“Are you going to introduce me?” Maurice’s deep voice rumbled beside me.
“Yes… Maurice, this is Auntie Thérèse my mum’s best friend.”
“Auntie Thérèse, this is Maurice, my”
I hesitated.
I couldn’t say mate.
Not in the human world.
That would raise too many questions.
“Boyfriend,” I finished awkwardly.
The word felt wrong.
We were far more than that.
Our souls were bound.
Our bodies claimed.
Boyfriend didn’t even come close.
“Fiancé,” Maurice corrected smoothly, flashing that perfect Hollywood smile as he extended his hand.
Fiancé.
Had he just subtly proposed to me?
“Not mate then?” Auntie Thérèse suddenly asked.
Her eyes dropped to my neck.
I instantly slapped my hand over my mate mark.
“Mate?” I echoed, staring at her then at Maurice.
Had I heard that right?
“It seems your aunt has known what you are all along, Bee,” Maurice said calmly, loud enough for her to hear.
“What?” I gasped.
She’d known?
All these years?
“We can talk,” Thérèse urged quickly, “but not here. It isn’t safe.”
“We were just leaving,” Maurice said.
“I have a safe house about five miles from here,” she pleaded. “Please. I mean no harm. There are things I need to tell you.”
“Five miles?” Maurice glanced between me and Maxime uneasily.
“Yes. Five miles,” she confirmed.
“You mean us no harm?”
“You have my word.”
“Good,” Maurice growled. “Because you may know about shifters, but I doubt you’ve met an Alpha like me.”
“If you’re planning betrayal, I won’t hold back human or not.”
His aura rolled off him, dark and dangerous.
She didn’t flinch.
Didn’t shrink.
Instead, she stepped closer, meeting his stare head-on.
“I was in the room when Sabine was born,” she said firmly. “She may not be my blood but she is my niece.”
“No harm will come to her while I breathe.”
Maurice and I returned to the car while Maxime instructed the warriors to follow us and remain on standby.
My mind spun.
I’d gone to retrieve Mum’s pocketbook quietly.
Without being recognized.
Instead…
I’d been reunited with the woman who’d helped raise me.
Someone who had never stopped searching.
Someone who hadn’t given up on me.