55. A Surprise ZAIA. or I Am The Luna Chapter 133 By Moonlight Muse
I press my lips together for a moment before looking towards the front door.
“Your father’s. It’s his birthday today, remember?” I explain, glancing back at him.
He cocks a brow.
“Right… don’t really remember celebrating it…” he remarks as he frowns, as if thinking over what I just said for a second.
I’m relieved when the doorbell rings and I break the extreme tension between us and hurry over to the door.
“Fuck.” I hear Sebastian mutter, about to turn questioningly but decide against it and instead pull open the door.
Mr King is standing there, looking surprisingly casual. He’s traded in his usual suit for pinstripe pants and a white shirt.
“Hello Zaia, good evening.” he holds out some flowers, making my eyes widen in surprise.
“Oh, thank you!” I exclaim, accepting the white roses. He has two other bundles and I smile, knowing instantly that one is for Valerie and the smaller bouquet is for Sia. “This is so sweet.”
He gives me a curt nod in response as I step aside, allowing him in.
“It’s nothing.”
‘He’s here! Stay ready guys.’ I tell Valerie.
‘On it.’ she replies.
I hear a giggle from Sia, and I smile, closing the door and turning around to see Atticus has gone into the lounge too, but Sebastian is still standing there leaning against the wall as he gives his father a nod when he passes him by.
I motion with my head to follow his father, but he doesn’t move until I reach him. He pushes away from the wall, falling in step with me just as the others shout ‘surprise,’ making Aran stop in his tracks.
“A bit much, isn’t it?” Sebastian remarks as the kids begin laughing.
“Grandad! We made a surprise party for you!” Zion exclaims, gesturing to the grey, black and silver balloons.
“I can see that… this was not necessary, but thank you. Thank you, children.” Aran pats their heads and I smile, watching the exchange. There’s a faint smile tugging at the corner of Aran’s lips.
I’m sure they’ll have him smiling soon enough…
I look at the balloons that were put up and smile, glancing at the sexy man beside me. Sebastian did pretty well.
“Didn’t you click that it was your dad’s birthday with the décor?” I ask quietly as Aran greets Dad, Atticus, and Valerie.
“Nowhere did it say happy birthday, and I had a lot on my mind.” He counters arrogantly as he looks down at me.
“Fair enough, I guess,” I say.
“… then Daddy made the knot in the balloons, but he also burst so many.” Zion is explaining to Aran, shaking his head dramatically.
“Even you burst some, Zion.” Sia reminds him, before admiring her small bouquet of roses. “I love these, thank you, grandad.”
Valerie chuckles as she puts on some soft music in the background, making the room feel even more alive.
“Oh, we should dance too!” Zion exclaims.
“These two have a lot of energy.” Aran remarks.
“That they do, but they take after your son, since my daughter is very calm,” Hugh says,
Sebastian scoffs, and I tilt my head as we all turn to him. He stands there, hands in his pockets, cocking a brow.
“What? Do you really think she’s calm?” he remarks.
“Don’t you?” I ask, frowning slightly.
‘Far from it…’ he says through the link, his gaze raking over me and I’m sure he means during s3x…
My cheeks heat up as he runs his fingers through his hair. “No, not really, but I like it.”
Our eyes meet and I give a small smile, looking away.
Why is this so hard?
“Well, that’s just our Zaia, strong, passionate and incredible,” Valerie says with a smile. I walk over to her and take her hands in my own. “And the same can be said for our Valerie,” I say softly.
“Ok, ladies, too many emotions,” Atticus says, making us both chuckle and Valerie pulls away, turning slightly as she brushes a stray tear away.
“Alright, fine! You guys wait here. I’ll help Zaia get those delicious dishes she’s cooked onto the table.” She says briskly.
“Ok! I am starved.” Zion says dramatically.
We leave the room together and head to the kitchen. Most of the things are down already and we only need to take the food to the table.
“Sebastian was really eyeing you up,” Valerie teases. My heart skips a beat as I look down at the roast chicken that I am holding.
“Yeah… I know.” I say quietly, carrying the tray to the table.
“You know the circumstances were against him?” she says softly, placing the stuffed tacos down.
I look up at her, knowing what she’s trying to say.
“I know, but for someone who was hurt in the process, I can’t just forget it all, Valerie.”
“Zaia, I just… I lost Jai… after all these years of holding a grudge against him, hurting myself and him… I regret it. The wasted time, the misunderstandings. I know things aren’t perfect, but if you work on them together, you can heal together,” she tries to reason softly as I turn back to get the veg and potatoes.
“I understand… but call me selfish or unreasonable, but I still feel like I need time. If I try to make this work because I love him or because someone tells me it’s the right thing to do, it will always eat up at me. Just how his and Annalise’s relationship once did.” I answer as I bring the tray to the table.
Valerie sighs softly. “So, you will try again, right?” she asks.
I don’t have an answer to that… deep down, I know I love him, but I also know I need time to understand what I want in life and what I am ready to work on and what I no longer want. He broke me into such a state although he didn’t mean to, but he did.
“I need to assess where I am in life before I even consider the future,” I reply quietly. I look up at her as she opens her mouth and gently shake my head signalling the end of the conversation.
She sighs but nods before she goes to call the others to the table, leaving me there standing alone. I look down at the table, realising I will have to talk to Sebastian and Dad soon.
No matter how hard it will be, it is something that I need to do. I look up as everyone enters and smile, even when it’s hard to do.
‘I want to talk to you after dinner.’ Sebastian’s voice comes into my head, and I wonder if he had heard our conversation.
‘Ok.’ I reply as we all sit down.
“Zaia, you didn’t need to do this. You made a lot,” Aran says as he looks at the table.
“I wanted to,” I reply, observing him. I can tell he looks tired.
Regardless of Agatha’s truth being exposed and his firm stand on doing the right thing, it was still hard for him. After all, he had loved her.
“Well, it’s nice, I won’t complain, and it’s been a while since I have had your cooking and it always reminds me of home,” Aran says, giving me a faint smile as he takes a seat with the children on either side of him.
Dad sits next to Sia, and I take a seat opposite him, with Valerie taking the seat opposite Aran and Sebastian smoothly takes the seat on my left.
He isn’t one to express much emotion, but coming from Aran, that meant a lot. Home… The King mansion is now a ghost house, half of it was brought down by Sebastian to stop the Sable from getting in. But with everything that happened there, I don’t think anyone wants to fix it. For a good while anyway.
We all tuck into the meal as Aran asks Atticus questions on how he runs his pack, giving him advice. Atticus being the smooth talker he is, listens, agreeing, or disagreeing, but also giving his own input.
I find myself pondering over what Valerie said and sigh softly.
Am I wrong?
Is it wrong to put me first?
If someone loves us, is it our duty to simply accept it?
Don’t we have the right to choose if we want it?
Once the meal is over, and everyone compliments the food, I get up to get the cake. Sebastian stands up, picking up a few plates as he follows me to the kitchen.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“Nothing. Why would you even ask that?” I reply as I get the knife to cut the cake. “Oh, since you’re here, I was thinking you should take the title of Alpha soon.”
“Why?” he narrows his piercing blue eyes as he turns and looks at me with a burning gaze.
“Because it’s yours. I have enough to do. I think you’re perfectly capable of running your pack, Sebastian.” I say, turning and picking up the glass cake platter only for Sebastian to step up behind me and place his hands over mine, stopping me from picking the cake up. Sparks tingle through me.
“But what if I don’t want to run it alone?” he whispers into my ears, making my heart skip a beat at the way his body presses up against mine.
“Sebastian, please, I need to get back to the table,” I say, pushing back against him, but his body does not budge.
“And I need you to listen to me,” he growls, his hands tightening around mine.
“Later, Sebastian, please,” I whisper, my heart pounding.
He steps back, forcing my hands off the platter, and spins me around, pushing my hands behind my back as he presses me up against the counter beside the cake.
“Fine, but this time, no excuses. We’re talking Little Fox, even if I have to break into your bedroom and tie you up, I will,” he warns, his eyes flashing silver.
We stare into one another’s eyes before he moves away, letting go of me and walking back to the table, leaving me standing there alone in the quiet kitchen…
