My little Judith

Eighteen

Alec POV

Sitting at breakfast all I could do was push around my food with my fork. Don't get me wrong I like Whitney's cooking, she's great at it, but I've barely slept and I can't get it out of my head.

"What are you doing? Eat, Alec." Marco said after swallowing what was in his mouth. Whitney frowning while their son, Grayson, ate his messily. Now three he's very independent, a thing that isn't unusual for a alpha pup, but he's still very much learning hand eye coordination.

"I'm not hungry." I mutter placing my fork down. "I couldn't sleep last night."

"Why? You're not sick are you?" Whitney frowned a little.

"No." I shook my head. "I'm not sick."

"What's going on? Anything you want to talk about with us?" Marco asked.

"Judith's eighteenth is coming up. Three weeks. I don't think I'm going to go."

"Why?" Marco frowned just like his mate.

"It doesn't matter. But you've let me stay and because I'm not going back I think it's time that I find somewhere for myself. I've been saving for a house with Judith but that's not happening now. I will still work for you, but with your second baby on the way I think it's time I get out of your way." I tell them.

"You're welcome to stay as long as you need to, Alec. But do you really want to do that to Judith. I mean, you love her and it shows and I know she loves you just as much. Can you really not go back? You're not only hurting her but yourself and I know the past three years haven't been easy on you. Not since you left her the second time." Whitney stated.

"I'm not needed there. She doesn't love me at all, I'm only her family that's all she sees me as. She's good there and I'm good here. It's better for both of us if I stay out of the way." I said trying my hardest not to lash out. It's not their fault, it's not anyone's. I was just blessed with the best girl to be my mate but she has other plans. She loves someone else and who am I to come between that.

I sighed and closed my eyes before opening them again, not staring at anyone. "I FaceTimed her last night and I saw someone in her bed. She told me that he is her boyfriend and that she loves him. Do you know how much it fucking hurts to hear that from her?" My hand clenched in a fist as I tried to control my anger but just thinking about all of that makes me want to lose that control and lash out.

"I don't want to see the disappointment on her face when she finds out he's not her mate. If I stay away she won't know about it and can be happy until he finds his. And when that happens I'll be there for her, just not in person. She'll find someone to love and will be happy again. I refuse to see the sadness and disappointment on her face."

"Alec, don't do that to yourself." Marco said. "Judith would be happy to have you as her mate. I'm sure it would be a shock but she wouldn't turn you away. She couldn't."

"You didn't see her when she told me she loved him. I saw it, I saw how much she did and she never once held that much love for me and I will not put myself through that shit. If and when she moves on so will I and she will never have to know the connection we share. I will not come in between her happiness even if it's not with me."

I sighed and tapped my fingers on the table. Marco and Whitney stayed silent while Grayson had no clue what was going on and stayed eating not having a care in the world. Just as they were about to say something, I shook my head and stood up.

"I've got to go, I have work." I muttered knowing Marco could hear me anyway and would relay it to his mate.

"Alec." Whitney and Marco called me but I ignored them and grabbed my jacket as I left to do some pack work.

As soon as I got to my work station where I am a black smith, I took off my jacket and sat down. I sat down on the ground with my knees to my chest and I cried.

Judith POV

Why do I feel like I've let him down? Like really let him down. I know I shouldn't have kept it a secret but I feared exactly the reaction Alec had. I saw it all, I saw the disappointment I saw the anger and hurt, I saw it all.

I feel like shit, like I committed the worst crime and now I face the consequences. But why though? I don't know why I feel so much guilt, I don't know why Alec acted like that. Surely he has someone as well, a girlfriend he met while he's been staying with Marco.

"You okay, baby?" My mum sat next to me on my bed rubbing my shoulder.

"I'm really confused, mum." I sniffled. Adam went home this morning so all I've been doing is crying, trying to get all this pent up emotion out. If I hadn't waited until Adam left he wouldn't have left at all and I didn't want to talk to him about this. I've already disappointed one person close to me, I don't want to disappoint anyone else.

"Talk to me. I'm not here to just sit aside and let you take on things by yourself." My mum said.

"Alec found out about Adam. And he got really angry about it and I don't know why. I feel so guilty about it, I know I shouldn't because it's not like either of them are my mates so it doesn't effect them. But he got angry and now I can't stop feeling like I've done something wrong. Was I wrong for being with Adam?" I asked.

"No, darling no." My mum pulled me to her chest where she hugged me tightly. "You're dad had girlfriends before he met me. Not everyone has to wait for their mate, Judith. Especially when it could take centuries for you to find them like it took for your dad and I to find each other. Being with Adam isn't wrong, but you have to understand that you kept this from Alec. He's so protective of you and if I had someone who has been in my life since she was a baby I'd be protective of her as well. He just wants to be sure that you're safe and don't get hurt, just like I know you want the same for him."

"Yeah." I whispered. "Do you think he'll still come see me for my birthday. I want him here, I want him to be the first to meet my mate, just so he knows I'll be in good hands." I looked at her.

"You'll be in good hands, baby I promise you that. Your mate would never hurt you." She muttered and kissed my head. "Come on, your dad made dinner."

I nodded and got up with her to go downstairs. All that was on my mind was how did my mum know I'd be in good hands? No one knows who their mate is, for all I know it could be that creepy kid at school or some thousand year old vampire or wolf. How can she promise me that?

It doesn't matter. I know who it won't be.

Chapter for you guys. It's gonna get juicy from here on out hope your ready for what's to come.