Fate Forgotten (8 page)

“Thank you.”

Her gaze shot away from Annie and to him.

“You’re welcome.” She then wrung her hands together.

Looking at Annie again, she’d fallen sleep comfortably against her uncle’s chest. Her cue to go, but before she could say anything, she heard Ashley.

“Oh, I…I’m sorry.”

From her position on the stool near the counter, her back faced the elevator. She turned and spotted Ash and Clyde approaching them.

Ash’s gaze on Jake. “I didn’t think you’d be home so soon.”

“I had the early shift tonight. Everything okay?”

Ashley nodded.

In the brief pause that followed, Valerie took her chance. “I should go.” She stood.

Jake followed suit. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it.

Uncomfortably, she turned to Ashley and Clyde. “Glad everything’s good with Jocelyn. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” She then turned and walked away. Near the elevator, she remembered something else she meant to say. Turning, she muffled a yelp when she nearly collided into Jake and Annie, still draped across his chest. Angling her head up to meet his gaze, she forgot what she’d meant to say.

“You’ll come tomorrow.”

Even though her heart leapt, she hesitated. She couldn’t believe he’d asked her, couldn’t believe he wanted to see her.

“You promised Annie you’d teach her the fishy braid.”

She released a breath. “It’s called a fishtail braid.”

He smiled, the smile transforming his face, making him look so much more good-looking, unbelievably handsome.

“A fishtail,” he repeated.

And she’d get to spend time with him tomorrow, with him and Annie. What would she wear? God, why was she thinking about that? It wasn’t a date. She shook her head. “I’m sorry about earlier.”

His brows drew together. “Earlier?”

“You know, I—”

“Oh, yeah.” He shrugged then, for some reason, grinned. “It’s forgotten.”

She glanced at Annie, sleeping peacefully draped across his chest and smiled, but not confident or sexy like his, a nervous, shy smile.

Reluctant to leave, she willed her body to move away. After several seconds, she managed it.

“Goodbye.” She turned.

“You mean ‘goodnight’ ’cause we’ll see you tomorrow?”

Turning again, she met his gaze and nodded. “Yes, goodnight.”

****

Jacob watched her walk away, craving her so bad it burned, but he had no choice. He had to let her go. She didn’t know she belonged to him. He couldn’t just blurt it out, so he consoled himself knowing she wouldn’t be far away.

Finally discovering the source of the haunting scent, he’d found her—his fated mate. The revelation after more than five hundred years, after all he’d lost, startling. More so, the fact she’d been within his reach, living in the same building and he hadn’t known.

Valerie.

A stunning witch, beautiful beyond words, beyond comprehension was his, a precious gift. The gift, the woman immortal males waited their endless lives for. Among all the heartache he’d endured in his lifetime, she made it worth it.

He should have known. He’d been entranced by the hint of her scent, hadn’t been able to fight it. Unconsciously, he thought about the scent, dreamt about it, and wondered, but never searched.

Once, a long time ago, he had fallen in love, but never believed, fully comprehended the appeal of fated mates, until he saw her. Now, he knew and understood, the pull, the attraction, what it meant. He and she were destined, fated to spend their lives together. It had taken but a glimpse. With a look, she stole his heart. His beautiful witch bewitched him.

His first love had warned him. She tried to make him believe in fated mates, but nothing had until Valerie.

If only he’d ventured outside his apartment and met the rescued witch. He had opportunities. Ashley wanted him to meet her. Had he, he would’ve discovered she was meant for him. He didn’t know much about her, only she’d been rescued. Even so, he didn’t know why, what they’d saved her from or how. In fact, he hadn’t cared, not until he realized she was his. Now, he needed to know everything.

Remorse filled him. He stared down at the ground and shook his head. If only he’d comprehended the magnitude of the pull and believed in it, he would’ve lived differently. He would have mourned the loss of his first love and moved on. He would’ve never allowed the loss to make him the man he was now: angry and bitter, losing out on time with his sister, time he could never get back. Maybe then, his fated wouldn’t fear him.

He sighed heavily. His gaze darted toward Annie’s sleeping face. He kissed the top of her head and smiled. If he could rewrite his life, he’d change his actions and attempt to alter his temperament, but not the surprises life had thrown at him, not Annie. He wished his sister was still alive. He wanted the best for Annie. Only his sister, her mother, would raise her best, but in the end, he wasn’t bitter about the outcome. She needed him, and he needed her. Annie brought out the best in him.

His life had just gotten thrice as complicated, yet he couldn’t find the strength or will to be angry, not any more. He had Annie and couldn’t fathom life without her. Now he’d found his fated—Valerie. Annie came above his needs and desires. She was his life, but for Valerie, there would always be room.

Would she accept him and Annie? His stomach soured.

He should be more concerned with befriending her first since his fated wasn’t fond of him, but not many women would be interested in raising someone else’s child.

Jacob couldn’t worry about that now though. He wouldn’t ruin the moment he found her.

“I hope you don’t mind I left Valerie here with Annie. Joce was having some pain. We thought maybe she’d gone into early labor or—”

He faced Ashley. “It’s fine.”

“Are you sure you aren’t upset? I could understand if you were—”

Clyde wrapped his arm around Ashley. “It’s fine, angel. He’s not angry.”

Jacob’s eyes narrowed. “You aren’t reading me, are you?”

“I don’t need to read you to know she’s yours. You’re smooth.” Clyde smirked. “Congrats.”

Ashley’s eyes went wide. “She is? But I thought you said you met her—”

Ignoring Clyde’s jab, he addressed Ash. “I had, but I…She created an illusion to disguise herself.”

Her jaw dropped. “Why in world would she do that?”

Clyde’s eyes narrowed. “Because when she met Jacob, he’d been stewing in anger, per usual.”

Jacob’s gaze shot to Clyde. He glared. “I’ve been better.”

“When Annie’s around. When she’s not, you’re back to your old ways.”

In his defense, he had a lot to worry about. The angel knew it and purposefully tried to infuriate him, ruin the moment he found his fated. He wouldn’t let him.

Turning to Ashley, instantly, his expression softened. “Why did you apologize to her when you got here? You felt guilty about something.”

“Oh…” She covered her mouth with her hand. After a pause, worry emanating from her, she released a breath. “She’s scared of you.”

“Yeah, she told me.”

“She did?”

“She was sleeping when I got here. When she woke, she shot me with magic, then apologized. She said I was giving her the ‘death stare.’ ”

“Death stare?”

“I guess that’s what she calls it when our eyes glow.”

Ash’s brows quirked. “But your eyes were glowing because you found her, not because you were angry, right?”

“Yeah, I guess to her it didn’t seem that way. She said when we met, she created the illusion because I’m always angry and because I’m…intimidating and…mean.”

“Are you surprised?”

Ashley glared at her mate, and then addressed Jacob. “Oh, Jake, don’t worry. She’ll get to know the real you, and she’ll love you.”

She said it like she believed it with her every breath. He needed that now more than ever. Pure Ashley, so sweet and nice. Of all the immortals living at the compound, she’d befriended him. He still couldn’t fucking believe it. Not for the first time, he thanked God he hadn’t managed to push her away.

“I hope so.” The image of Valerie’s face came to his mind. He grinned. “She’s beautiful…”

Ashley smiled. “Yes, and she’s great with Annie. You don’t have to worry about that, ever.”

He wasn’t much for hoping, had never been, but now, it was all he had.

Chapter 12

Over the sound of the blazing hot water cascading down his back, chest, and head, Jacob heard Annie’s soft cries. He quickly wiped the soap off, wrapped a towel around his waist, and materialized in her room. Her sadness struck him and wedged itself deep in his gut. His heart tightened in his chest.

“Pupa, what’s wrong?”

Tears streaming down her beautiful face, she said, “It’s M-Monday.”

“Y-yeah. It is.”

She cried harder.
God!
What he’d give so she’d never cry again. He picked her up, unconcerned with the water still dripping down his chest, and held her close. “Annie, please tell me what’s wrong. What can I do?”

“Mommy made me…b-braid on…Mondays.”

Mommy
. She missed her mother. He was a warrior, a poor replacement for the family she’d lost. Feeling like an utter failure, he said, “I can get Ash to make you a braid.”

“N-no…” She shook her head. “Ash doesn’t know how to do the fishy braid.”

Valerie
. Gently pressing Annie tighter against his chest, he materialized on the floor below his.

Annie continued to wail. Her small body trembling against him, each cry pierced him with agony.

“Valerie?”

Not a moment later, she darted out of the hallway leading into the bedrooms, her hair in disarray, wearing an oversized shirt.

His gaze trailed down her body taking full view of her long, lean legs. Shutting his eyes, he shook his head, trying to erase the image. Annie needed him. He couldn’t lose focus. He had to concentrate.

“Is she okay?” she asked, bringing his thoughts to the present. The concern expressed on her stunning face and voice palpable.

“The braid…My sister used to make her the fishtail braid on Mondays. Can you…Would you mind?”

She closed the distance between them and took Annie from him. Annie went to her easily, wrapping her legs around Valerie’s waist. “Don’t cry, sweetie,” she soothed, walking toward the couch and setting her on it. She kneeled in front of her. “I’ll braid your hair.”

“B-but…what a-about next time?”

A surge of emotion hit the center of his chest. He felt it more so than his very own. So powerful, it felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. Having felt it not ten hours ago, he knew it belonged to his mate.

Valerie’s eyes watered. “This isn’t just about the braid. This is about missing your mommy and daddy, right?”

Annie nodded.

His heart fell to the pit of his stomach. He watched in horror wondering what he should do, what he should say. He hadn’t spoken to Annie about her parents because he didn’t want to remind her they were gone. Valerie did the opposite.

She grabbed Annie’s hands on her lap and squeezed them. “When you feel sad, think about all the good times you shared with them, think about how much they love you. They miss you just like you miss them, and they’re always with you, Annie. You can’t see them, but you can feel them inside you, in your heart.”

If he hadn’t felt her sadness, he would’ve read it from her tone, laced in it. She spoke with such emotion, he knew she believed what she said. The urge to comfort them both nearly crippled him. Still, he couldn’t move. He waited and watched as Annie’s sobs quieted.

Valerie took the sleeve of her shirt and wiped the child’s face softly, then hugged her. She pulled away and smiled. “I’ll braid your hair anytime you want, and I’ll teach you to make all the braids I know.”

Annie smiled. The sadness streaming from her lessened. Valerie’s did too. Only then did he finally pull in a breath.

A pair of honey-colored eyes met his. His mate flushed, her cheeks turning the prettiest shade of pink. He felt it then. It was brief, but no doubt there, desire. Not wanting to make her feel more uncomfortable, he gazed at Annie and grinned. Valerie sat on the couch, Annie in front of her, and began braiding her hair.

A while later, Valerie finished. “There you go. You look beautiful.”

“I have to use the restroom.”

“You can use the one in the hall.”

Annie strode away.

“Thank you.”

When he spoke, she met his gaze for a split second, then buried her hands in her lap. “You’re welcome.”

Jacob sensed a disturbance, a presence. He turned, spotting Nathan, his subordinate. His mate practically naked and Nathan appeared out of thin air in her living room? Why?

Jealously. So much of it, it morphed to rage. His demon didn’t help, egging him on, waiting, wanting, begging to be unleashed. He had to control it, couldn’t lose it. His mate feared him, the warrior who wore anger like a shield. Seeing him in demon form, no matter the reason, would terrify her.

Fighting the urge to shift, he clamped his jaw tight. Then he did the only thing he could. He materialized in front of Valerie, blocking her from Nathan’s view.

“What the hell are you doing here?” he barked.

Nathan didn’t seem bothered finding him there, didn’t express surprise either. Instead, he replied calmly, “I came to get Val for breakfast.”

He called her Val? Why would he call her Val? Were they…Had they…Jacob shook his head. He wouldn’t think of it. If he thought of it, he’d turn. “Leave.” His voice, menacing. “She’s not dressed.”

“Neither are you.”

Wrong answer, only intensifying his anger.

Glancing down, he realized that was in fact true. Concerned for Annie, he’d materialized in Valerie’s apartment with a towel wrapped around his waist.

“I-it’s okay, Nathan. I’ll meet you there.”

Valerie,
his
beautiful witch, when she spoke, that beautiful voice of hers shook.

Turning, his gaze fell to her. She
cowered
away, wrapping her arms tight around her midsection. Damn it all to hell. He didn’t even need to feel her emotions to know she was terrified. Of
him
…

Dragging a hand over his face, he cursed. He took several deep breaths, trying to control the jealous rage that overwhelmed him. As he did, he felt and heard the air conditioning turn on, a blast of cold air from the vent just over their heads hit them. His gaze unconsciously trailed down her body, stopping at her chest. Her nipples hardened and peaked against the oversized shirt.