I Am The Luna by Moonlight Muse Chapter 118
A Secret
ZAIA.
I’m pregnant.
I stare across at Valerie, trying to digest something I thought could never happen again as Jai Whistles in surprise.
“You said I can never get pregnant. My body can’t handle it.” I say, my mind screaming that once again, I’m alone. Once again, I learn I’m pregnant, but he isn’t here by my side.
“I did think that, but clearly your body has strengthened since you have no longer been consuming poison and I think with you coming into power and shifting, it has also helped… maybe.” She says with a small smile, although I can see the emotional conflict in her eyes. “It’s a miracle, but a good one…” 2
I nod as I slowly place my hand on my stomach, very aware of Atticus’s hand on my hair. I don’t deserve his concern…
There’s a life inside of me, meaning I need to be careful. When there’s a war before us, how do I do that?
This just makes me even more vulnerable.
“No one must know,” I murmur.
They nod in unison, and I stare vacantly at the wall.
I’m pregnant…
“Zaia, are you alright?” Atticus’s voice is full of concern as I look over at him and try to sit up.
His hand instantly slips under my head as he grips my shoulders and slips his other hand under my thighs lifting me and placing me in an upright position against the headboard.
“Thanks. Yeah, I’m ok” I reply.
“Any time.” He responds with a small smile. 1
It shouldn’t be any time… you have a life…
“I wish there was a way to tell Seb.” Jai sighs.
“Jai,” Valerie warns quietly.
“He needs to know,” Jai says quietly.
“Now is not the time,” Atticus warns him.
He lowers his hand and sighs heavily. “Believe what you want, but he wouldn’t do this- betray us. He loves you, Zaia, and he loves his kids.” He stands up, and walking to the door, pulls it open.
“Jai, come on.” Valerie tries.
“Jai,” I say, making him stop in his tracks.
“Yeah?” he says and when he looks at me, I see the pain in his eyes.
“Sit down, let’s talk.”
“I’m beginning to fear those words,” Atticus says lightly as Valerie smiles and walks over to Jai.
“Come on…” she murmurs. He sighs again, brushing her hair back, and when she hugs him, he hugs her back tightly.
“Alright, I’m cool. What is it?” he asks when they part, and he kisses her cheek before dropping into the chair he was previously sitting in.
I sigh heavily and look at Atticus. He needs to know so he can at least stop defending Sebastian.
“We found the location of the cameras in the pack because of him… and we’re pretty certain that he joined them, for the antidote for Sia,” I say.
Although it feels right telling him, my heart squeezes with an unspoken panic, realising that as I spoke those words, fear crept into my mind.
I’m scared… Scared that one of them is a traitor and this gets back to the Sable…
I hug myself, pushing the thought away.
I’m becoming too paranoid.
Jai looks up sharply, his heart racing before he exhales, a huge grin breaking out on his face as he jumps up and rushes over to me. “See, I knew it! He wouldn’t betray you!” he says, taking my hand. He gives it a gentle squeeze. “He loves you, Zaia!”
He still didn’t tell me the truth…
He still broke my trust…
He still left me….
“He is on our side and when the time to end this comes… I know he’ll be the wildcard we need to win this war.” Valerie says, looking relieved.
Atticus nods. “But it’s something we can’t tell anyone, just in case. Anyway, the cameras have been taken care of, but they’ve tried to break into my pack twice, but they failed. Unlike this pack, we weren’t at as much of a risk, but we are still trying to weed out the doctor or nurse or multiple persons who administered the poison to you. Everyone who took care of you in your. pregnancy is being held in isolation just to be sure…”
“That’s…” I begin, a frown furrowing my brows. “Isn’t it extreme?”
“It’s fair,” Valerie says. “Until the answers are found.”
“And they are being held in good conditions,” Atticus reassures me.
“I understand… and no one has yet to say anything?” I ask. 1
“No. I need to return and question them under the Alpha command, but I think right now, with everything going on, that I need to stay here.” He says, our eyes meet, and I know it’s because of me more than anything else.
“I see… And was anything else found in Agatha’s room, Jai?” I ask, turning to him.
“No, but the wall at the back felt hollow when I banged on it. I’m having Justin pull the shelves out as we speak. Looking at the house design, there are chances there’s more behind that wall. Maybe a vault or some kind of hidden nook.” He says.
I nod. “Excellent. And did he question Agatha?”
“He did…” Jai trails off, glancing up at Valerie, who places a hand on his shoulder.
“What is it?” I ask.
“There wasn’t too much more. You can listen to it when you have a moment. Nothing more on Zion, but she did say something to me when I went to talk to Justin…”
“What?” I ask.
Whatever it is, Valerie knows, and she looks upset. She squeezes his shoulder before she looks directly at me.
“Back then, when Jai… cheated on me… it was because Agatha had put something in his drink. She was trying to cause a rift between you and Sebastian by breaking up your friends, knowing you would take my side and Sebastian would take Jai’s.” She says as Jai looks down, clearly ashamed.
Because of us?
I hate that we were the reason for them being torn apart…
I can’t believe it, how Agatha had dropped so low makes me sick, and the fact she’s been at this for so long!
“I’m sorry…”
“Zaia! It wasn’t your fault.” Valerie scolds. firmly.
“Exactly.” Atticus frowns.
“So… it was all planned,” I say.
Valerie nods, her eyes glittering with tears.
“Meaning, he didn’t cheat on me, he was set up.” She says, and although they are together again, I can tell just how much relief this has brought her. To know that her man didn’t cheat on her. She may have forgiven him, but it was not something she could forget.
She sits on the armrest and Jai pulls her into his.
arms, and she hugs him tightly.
“And a woman just happened to be there to seduce him? Who was the woman?” Atticus asks, and I look at him sharply.
“They might be working with Agatha,” I say, understanding what he is insinuating.
“Cara,” Valerie says, looking at me.
I stare at her in disbelief, remembering her with Sebastian at the hotel back at that time…
I scoff. Someone we once considered a friend.
“Has she been apprehended?”
“No,” Jai says.
“Then get to it. I don’t care if she’s innocent or not,” I say, frowning deeply. “Just put her on house arrest but remove all technology devices.
I trust no one.”
“You trust us, right?” Valerie asks softly.
“Of course…” I reply.
She smiles and glances at the boys. “Alright, out. I want to talk to Zaia about her pregnancy, and we don’t need you two here.”
“Why not?” Jai says as Atticus stands up with a smirk.
“Well, make sure you let her rest, too. You need to be careful, Red.” He says as he caresses my cheek, and leaning down he kisses my cheek.
Jai rolls his eyes, but I force a small smile. He knows my stance on his affection and that won’t change, but I really wish he stopped loving me…
“I will,” Valerie promises.
“Would you like anything to eat or drink, Zaia? You have been unconscious for a few hours and did lose a lot of blood. You need to keep your energy up for the both of you,” Atticus asks, pausing at the door.
“That’s not a question. She obviously needs food. Let’s go find some…” Jai grumbles as he yanks the door shut before I can even reply.
I chuckle lightly as I glance over at Valerie, who is no longer smiling.
“Zaia…”
“Mhmm?” I murmur, touching my waist as I sit up straight. The dull pain is there, but it’s not so bad…
“There’s something I have to tell you,” she whispers.
My heart sinks. I can sense the guilt radiating off her, and I’m already dreading what she’s about to say.
“What is it?” I ask.
She looks down before taking my hand, which is hooked up to an IV drip, and takes a deep breath. “Before he left, he- Sebastian, told me he’ll get the antidote for Sia. I begged him to think of you, but he said he had no other choice and to not mention it to anyone.”
A pang of pain hits me deep in my chest as I realise once more, that one of my closest had kept something so important from me.
“He used his Alpha command-”
“Val… you’re a member of the Sublime. You are not so weak that you couldn’t defy him. If you really wanted to tell me, you could have.” I whisper. The hurt I’m feeling is intense and I know it is showing through the crack of my armour.
“I know, I tried, but the pressure was intense, and I understood his reasoning-”
“Yeah… I might just have suffered a little less if I knew… you once said to me it was sisters before misters…You should have told me Val…”
I say quietly.
“I know… and I’m sorry. I didn’t even tell Jai, I promise… I am truly so sorry.”
Everyone always is…
But I still nod, signalling that it’s fine… even though it’s not. 1
She’s saying something but I can’t focus anymore, all I can think of is the fact that she hid it from me.
Just another betrayal added to the ever- growing mountain…
When will it stop?
And then there’s the fear that claws at my insides.
Who will betray me next?
“Thank you, Valerie, for telling me. I’m a little tired. Can you leave?” I ask.
“I am sorry, Zaia. He didn’t want to risk it.” She tries again.
I nod slightly, the ghost of a smile crossing my face. It feels foreign, but it’ll do…
“Yeah. Good night, Valerie.”\
She nods. “Umm, I’ll make sure Atticus brings
some food, and then get some rest.
“No need, I’m not hungry,” I reply.
“Zaia…”
“I’m fine, really. Just go.” I end the conversation and even she knows this is it.
She stands, switching off the light before leaving the room, and I am left alone with my thoughts. I look down at my stomach and place a hand on it.
I will protect you, little one…
I stare out through the crack in the curtains and stare at the moon.
The time is nearing…
