33 A Thought or I Am The Luna Chapter 111 By Moonlight Muse
ATTICUS.
It’s hard to stomach, but I also know that it isn’t a lie…
Over a decade ago I once learned that my blood type didn’t match either Dad or Mom’s but when that niggling thought that perhaps Mom cheated on Dad crept into my mind, I shut the entire situation out not wanting to be the reason for their marriage to break up by questioning them on it.
But this wasn’t something I ever considered.
Valerie is my sister. It’s like I’m seeing her in an entirely new light.
As she bandages Hugh and tends to his injuries, I notice she has the same eye shape and colour, even her hair colour is the same as mine.
We’ve just returned and she’s tending to Hugh in the safe house.
He’s been quiet since he asked Zaia if what she she really is gone. When Zaia nodded, he simply fell silent… but I wonder how he must be feeling inside.
Zaia is now filling the others in.
“And then… I shot him.” Zaia turns away and I hate that the pain in her voice crushes me too.
I’m stunned at her revelation, and so are Valerie and Jai.
Did she shoot Sebastian? How did she manage that? He’s fucking fast and powerful.
Jai looks pale. Obviously, his loyalty is to his alpha and friend. I can’t blame Zaia for losing her patience with him.
Zaia hugs herself and I hate seeing her in pain and no matter what anyone else says, I move towards her, placing my arms around her, ignoring Jai’s frown.
I love her, and nothing can change that.
I give her a gentle squeeze.
“You shot him?” Valerie whispers. Her heart is thundering and there’s fear and horror in her eyes, as if Zaia has made a mistake.
Why?
“You had no choice,” I say quietly. “What’s done is done.”
“Of course you will say that, you hate the guy, anyway,” Jai says coldly, but I choose to ignore him.
No, I don’t hate Sebastian. I saw him as a rival, but hate is not the right word. But I’m fucking angry at him for hurting her all over again.
I know that father always said to keep an eye on her and keep her safe, but then I genuinely fell hard… back when I would sneak into her pack. I wish they told me more, and I wonder if Mom knew my connection to the Blood Born and all of this.
After all, I have told them about the Sable and Sublime, but not once have I got the impression that she’s known something.
“Enough Jai,” Zaia says quietly as she steps away and brushes her father’s hair back,
sadness in her eyes. “I don’t know what to think
343
when it comes to Sebastian. As for Gerard, he isn’t even the true mastermind. I can’t believe we never knew that.”
“Then who?” Valerie asks.
“My grandfather, Lawrence Walton.” Zaia sighs.
Valerie and Jai look stunned as they exchange looks, and Hugh takes over.
He covered everything that happened, leaving out the part about me and Valerie, but he now looks at me as Zaia helps him put a clean shirt
“And I think Atticus can share the final part that we learned on his own terms.” He says with a nod, and I notice that dullness in his eyes remains.
“Come, I’ll show you to a room,” Zaia says.
“I want to see your mother’s body first… if possible. I need to…” He says quietly.
“Tomorrow?” She whispers gently.
He seems to debate it before he nods, and she hugs him gently. There’s a pain in his eyes as he
hugs her back, and his eyes are empty as he gazes into the distance.
To lose a mate…
“And what is it that you need to tell us that you need it on your own terms?” Jai asks the moment Zaia and her father disappear.
I cock a brow. “Not that I feel the need to tell you, actually it has nothing to do with you, so maybe take a hike,” I say, trying to control my
annoyance.
“Say that again, I’m fucking-”
“Jai, come on, please quit this. We are one team guys.” Valerie says, but she still seems pale ever since she learned Sebastian was shot, which makes me wonder why has it affected her so much. She isn’t a traitor, is she?
No, fuck why am I thinking that, unless we aren’t related, and this is a game that Lawrence is playing to split us apart?
“I’m not leaving you with him, Babe.” He
mutters.
Babe. I almost forgot that they’re fucking
dating or something.
“I know, you never listen, but I agree, you do
need to know what’s going on.” She says, smiling up at him.
Do I need to? Now that it’s before us, I don’t
know how to go about it. I run my fingers through my hair.
“Lawrence Walton mentioned that Blood Borns
are born into three families. As in how each
triquetra has three points and there are two triquetras. Zaia and her brother Zade.” I begin.
“Sebastian and his brother Gaultier and I don’t
know if your family ever told you because mine never told me, but I was adopted and
apparently, we are siblings.” I finish. 21
I just say it all, not knowing how else to do it or what else to say.
She’s staring at me, but I know it’s clicked. She just doesn’t know how to react.
“Damn… That’s…” I’m expecting him to scoff about it, but Jai seems to believe what I just said. “No, I don’t think Val…”
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Valerie looks down. “I know… I knew… I was told when I was little before my momma passed away, but it didn’t matter.” She whispers,
looking up at me.
Her eyes are
glistening with unshed tears before
she turns and almost hesitates, as if not
knowing whether she should run or not.
“No, it doesn’t matter. We were lucky to have good parents.” I say quietly.
There’s a sudden tension in the room as Jai remains silent, and no one speaks. “Well, I’m going to head home. It’s been a long night. The remainder of assigning everyone their roles. should be done tomorrow.” I say, thinking I
need to talk to Mom too. Why was I never told I was adopted?
“It’s late, and risky to be out there alone. You should stay until morning, even if you do have guards.” Valerie says, suddenly stepping forward.
Jai cocks a brow as Valerie looks between us before she walks over to me.
7/13
“Should I?” I ask, smiling slightly at Jai’s
annoyance.
She looks up at me and gives me a small smile. I’ve always known she’s been a no-nonsense person, but she’s trying.
“I think I wouldn’t mind, actually.”
“Well, great… you can share a room with Jai.” She says. 1
“No. I’m coming to yours then.” Jai retorts.
Of course, that’s what he wants.
She simply smiles and shrugs. She might not be showing how she’s truly feeling, but I’m sure she could use someone’s comfort tonight…
do need to speak to Mom, but I need to do it with a clear mind. Maybe staying and clearing
my head will help.
I feel like I’ve lived a lie my entire life…
It’s late, and I can’t sleep. I glance over at the digital alarm clock; 2:47 a.m….
I sigh heavily as I sit up and stare at the far wall, a thought had crept into my mind not long ago but now that it’s in my mind it’s not leaving.
Is Zaia awake?
I pick up my phone and text her.
ATTICUS: Hey, you awake?
I stare at my phone and I’m about to give up when the screen lights up.
RED: Yeah, can’t sleep. Why are you awake?
ATTICUS: I’d say thinking about you but not exactly. Mind if I come over? There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.
There’s a pause.
RED: Sure.
Getting up, I don’t bother grabbing a shirt and leaving my room, I shut the door quietly behind me before that asshole kicks up a fucking storm about me going to her room like we aren’t fucking adults.
Before I knock on her door, it’s pulled open and
9/13
I’m not expecting her to look so… fucking hot.
Her hair is wet, and her makeup free face, with her pouty pink lips and that glowing skin makes me want to run my fingers through her hair and kiss her…
She’s wearing a satin cami without a bra with matching satin pyjama bottoms and it’s taking a lot not to stare at her breasts.
Bad idea to come to her room.
Fuck.
“I didn’t want anyone to know you’re here,” she says, closing the door.
“Yeah, or Jai will throw a fit. It’s’ pretty much all he’s good at.” I reply mockingly.
She tilts her head, and that’s when I realise her
eyes are bloodshot red. She’s been crying…
“He’s just… protective of his friend.” She says, now looking down as she plays with the string tie of her pants.
“Yeah…” I say as I scan the room. “Something crossed my mind, Red, and I really wish I was
not the one saying this but…”
I turn towards her, crossing my arms as she looks at me, concerned.
“What is it?” she asks, almost as if she’s ready to hear something rough again.
I close the gap between us and cup her face, not caring if I’m overstepping.
“It might be a little rough, but hear me out,” I say, softly caressing her cheeks.
She nods, but she doesn’t push me away.
“Since everything that’s happened with Sebastian, I don’t know. Something has felt off.” I hate that I’m the one who’s going to fucking maybe back him, but if there’s some truth in what I’m about to say, then I’m all for it
Her eyes flash with hurt and I continue knowing I have to finish what I want to say, even if it isn’t easy.
“After tonight, I really felt like I might be right. Don’t get me wrong, you are incredibly strong Zaia, but Sebastian is a skilled fighter, there is
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A Thought
no way you would have won in a match with him unless- unless he let you.”
There I said it.
Her face drops, and she pulls away. “What are you trying to say?” she asks, almost accusingly.
She’s fucking hurting and I hate that bastard for not being here for her. She’s always fucking left alone.
I rake my hand through my hair.
“I don’t really know, fuck I don’t know. I just… maybe there’s a reason that he joined them, or that he’s there. He warned us about not going anywhere with the rogues… and the fact he didn’t come with us. I feel there might be more. I mean, maybe there’s an incentive, something he’ll get out of going to their side. I don’t know
“The antidote.” She murmurs.
“What?” I say as she now looks around the room unseeing, her breasts heaving as if something has just hit her.
“The antidote, for Sia. I think he went for Sia.”
Her voice is shaking as she clamps a hand over her mouth before she turns and rushes to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
“Zaia…” I say as I approach the door, but all I hear is the stifled sobs of a broken-hearted woman…
