50. A Terrible Truth VALERIE. or I Am The Luna Chapter 128 By Moonlight Muse
“We need to go to Jai!” I cry hearing the feedback coming through the headpiece as I cough, my lungs filled with smoke. I’m scared Jai is going up against Zade single-handedly when Alpha Hugh is struggling!
He’s too powerful, they’re saying after Sebastian and Zaia he’s the next most powerful.
My entire body is hurting from the blast that just took place.
Zaia and Sebastian have gone after Gerard and Gaultier, but we can’t just stay here, we need to get to Jai and Hugh!
I’m scared, scared for Jai’s safety and fear losing him… Goddess, protect him!
“Let’s go,” Atticus says as he pulls me up from the rubble and we break into a run.
“Stop right there…” someone says, and the sound of a gun being cocked makes me freeze.
I stop in my tracks, coming face to face with none other than Daniel, Sebastian’s ex-assistant, only he is dressed in black, with a protective vest on. But it’s not the suits our men are wearing…
Unease fills me as Atticus pulls me behind himself.
“Can I help you?” he asks.
Daniel sighs. “No, but I’m afraid you two can’t go any further,” he says, signalling with two fingers.
Atticus growls as he jumps back, his aura surging around him as the ground caves underneath us, an explosion going off.
We back up as Daniel stands there calmly.
“Stay back, please. I don’t wish to harm anyone.” Daniel says quietly.
“What is the meaning of this!” Atticus snarls.
“I’m doing what is right, what the goddess has always wanted. I’ve worked hard to serve my masters.” His voice is barely more than a whisper on the wind, but it makes my blood run cold, his words ringing in my head.
Worked hard… he was Sebastian’s shadow for years, always taking care of everything Sebastian needed… like Agatha, he was one of Sebastian’s trusted… and one who was always close
But how?
How did this even slip by us?
For a few seconds, my mind replays a hundred memories on fast in seconds and with damning clarity, I realise he was always there… from the beginning in the shadows of Sebastian… right beside our Alpha for years…
The boy in the woods…
My heart is thumping as I connect the dots.
It all makes sense.
(FLASHBACK – MANY YEARS AGO)
“Sorry, Alpha, can I speak to you alone?” I ask looking at our new Alpha. Alpha Sebastian King is terrifying and the power that he radiates from him fills the room.
“Daniel is my assistant. Whatever you have to say, say it, he can be trusted,” Sebastian says, taking a seat behind his desk.
Nervously, I glance at the man behind him. Daniel gives me a small smile and I recognise him. He is Sebastian’s shadow, and he always has been for a long time. I remember now.
“If you’re done staring, tell me what you need, Doctor Scott. I don’t have all day,” Sebastian says, flipping open a file, clearly a sign that he has a lot to do.
“Ah, of course, well it was regarding an extension of the hospital…” I begin, quickly returning to what I came here for…
I step out of Alpha Sebastian’s office, only for Jai to pull me around the corner and pin me up against the wall.
“There you are, and I was wondering where you went…” he murmurs, leaning closer to me before kissing me passionately. I melt into his touch, kissing him back for a few sizzling seconds, but remembering where we are, I gently push him back.
“Jai, not here!” I hiss.
“Mmm, but you taste so good…” He groans and I feel him throb against me.
I push him back, breathing hard as I poke my eyes out at him. “Jai!”
He chuckles, running his fingers through his sexy brown locks. “Ok ok, I’ll behave for now. So, did you get what you needed?”
“Yes, I did, although I wasn’t expecting his assistant to stand there the entire time,” I say, knowing how passionate I can get about hospital issues, but I also didn’t want to discuss it in the presence of anyone else.
However, he didn’t make me feel uncomfortable, and the Alpha didn’t seem offended that I questioned the matter in front of someone else.
I guess it worked out.
“Oh, Daniel? You don’t need to worry about him. He’s been with us since we were kids, The Luna or now Ex Luna. Mrs King appointed Daniel to be there for Sebastian since he was like thirteen.” Jai explains, shoving his hands into his pockets as he falls into step with me and we both walk down the Pack Hall hallway and towards the entrance.
“Oh, I see… I do think I’ve seen him from the festivals at The Crystal Shadow Pack too, the lurker!” I chuckle. “The boy in the woods!”
Jai snickers. “Yeah, he’s always been Sebastian’s shadow, but he’s just doing his job and Daniel can be trusted. He even manages Sebastian’s business side of work stuff, too. Relax, you can be yourself around Daniel… and get all bothered around me,” he growls as he yanks me into an empty room, making me shriek in alarm.
His lips crash against mine, cutting off my panicked yelp, which becomes a moan of pleasure as he ignites a fire within me…
(END OF FLASHBACK)
The boy in the woods… how did I never realise it!
Melanie was probably unable to say his name… but that was something both Zaia and I had joked about when Sebastian and she had first met… Daniel was always around.
Melanie was giving us a huge hint, but we never realised because we had only ever said it once or twice!
“Stand down, Daniel, or I will not hold back. We don’t have time to waste.” Atticus warns him, readying himself to shift.
“You won’t hold back? Then I have no choice…” Daniel sighs as he signals again, but Atticus doesn’t give him a chance to finish.
I jump back as he launches himself forward at Daniel, shifting mid-jump and knocking Daniel to the ground just as the sound of bullets rains down on us.
“Atticus!” I shout as I shift, and rush towards Atticus, trying to hide from the bullets that are flying from all around.
‘Valerie, get to safety, I’ll handle Daniel!’ Atticus growls.
‘But will you be ok?’
I hesitate but I hear the distant sound of a shout, feeling unease hit me in the guts once more.
‘Yes, go!’ Atticus says. He glances at me, and he lowers his head. He knows I’m worried about Jai.
Jai…
‘Ok! Take care of yourself!’ I shout, my heart pounding as I realise we are both without our earpieces.
We should have stayed together, but we split…
I keep running, willing my aura around me, creating a layer of protection as I dodge the bullets that are firing down relentlessly on me.
‘Jai…’ I try, but there’s no answer. ‘Jai! Can you hear me?’
I didn’t think he could, but with every step, my heart is clamouring in my chest.
I see the blinding auras from far ahead. There are three, one that is dark and powerful, a Sable… it must be Zade!
Then there’s Sebastian’s, but the one that makes my heart leap with hope is Zaia’s. It’s like a phoenix’s fire lighting up the night sky with flames of hope, power, and strength.
I don’t know how I know this, but I know that she’s extremely angry, and she’s out for vengeance and blood.
Did something happen?
Oh no! Her father!
They finally come into view, and I see the Toussaint twins going at it with full vengeance, surprised to see Sebastian isn’t assisting her.
I scan the ground, spotting Sebastian. Is he hurt?! Why isn’t he helping Zaia against Zade?!
Both Sebastian and Hugh are hunched over a body, one that makes me terrified.
Who are they mourning…
My heart is in my mouth, terror rushing through me.
Jai…
There’s no heartbeat…
NO JAI! 10
There’s no heartbeat!
I shift back as I run to their side, freezing when I stare down at Jai’s lifeless body, stumbling over the rubble and both Hugh and Sebastian look up at me almost as if they want to stop me from seeing my love’s dead body.
In that damning moment, under the night sky, my heart shatters like a glass ball thrown mercilessly against a stone floor.
In seconds, my life breaks down around me. Crippling pain rushes through me and I scream, falling to my knees beside his body.
“Jai! No baby, no!” I scream as I cup his face.
My love no!
Please no!
Wake up!
No, no no, goddess no!
“Valerie, listen to me. Val!” I don’t know who’s calling me, or who pulls me into their arms as my aura flares around me like a tornado that is no longer in my control.
My heart, my heart is hurting so badly.
I can’t breathe!
My head is pounding!
I’m choking…
Jai is gone!
Jai is… dead…
I scream in agony, but it does nothing to relieve the anguish in my chest.
“Help! Please help him! He needs to come back!” I scream as the one holding me rocks me gently.
“Be strong, child,” Hugh says, but his voice is broken as he holds onto Jai with trembling hands. Hugh glances at the man Zaia is fighting before he lowers his head.
“It’s my fault. I am sorry,” he whispers.
He died protecting me…
No… it’s not his fault though because my Jai would do anything for others… My hero…
Why did I hold a grudge for so long?
Why did we have such a little time?
Why did he leave me so soon?
He was the light of my life, the beacon that made my day come to life.
“Who did this?!” I scream just as Zaia shouts in rage and her twin is thrown to the ground a few feet from me. He grunts as he rolls over, climbing to his feed.
A cold chuckle escapes him as he rolls his neck. “I fucking did,” he replies darkly.
He did this!
Seeing red, I rip free from the hold Sebastian has on me, my heart thudding and I am ready to shift back into a wolf as I glare at the man before me.
Several deep wounds cover his body and he is breathing hard, but it’s the sudden scent and that powerful pull that makes me freeze as the man who has just murdered my Jai stands before me.
He tilts his head, pausing for a second, before he smirks and gets to his feet as Zaia raises her hands, ready for the kill.
He lets out a dry chuckle, his one good eye burning into me and says the words that make me sick to my stomach.
“Well hello there… mate.”
