75. A Reunion
ZAIA. My heart thuds as the King’s turn to the man, and the first thing I notice is the change in Aran’s attitude. He swallows, glancing at Sebastian, then at Agatha, almost uneasily.
The anger that was displayed on his face seconds ago is gone. “Gerard… you’re here…” Agatha looks stunned as she glances at Aran, who is emotionless and then back at the man. Gerard smirks slightly as he looks between the two.
“I thought I was welcome at any time, but perhaps now is not the right time?” he asks lightly, shoving his hand into his pocket as his sharp eyes flit between Aran and Sebastian and then snap to me. My heart skips a beat and I feel uneasy.
This man looks to be in his forties, which means he’s possibly in his late fifties. But what gets to me the most is that he eerily reminds me of Sebastian in more ways than just those eyes.
Instinctively, I grip onto Sebastian’s jacket, not knowing who he is. He is obviously familiar with the family if he was let in just like that… but in the years I was married to Sebastian, not once have I seen him. Who is he?
“Not at all! You are always welcome, but you could have told us so we could have come to collect you from the airport and had a feast prepared! First them, now you! I need to go tell the cooks to prepare a feast!” Agatha says, going over to him and hugging him tightly.
The man smirks, hugging her back.” No need. I had business to tend to first, anyway.” Aran and the man shake hands before he turns to Sebastian, who doesn’t move from where he’s sitting. “And you are?” Sebastian asks, cocking a brow. The man mirrors his move, cocking his own brow.
“Gerard King?” “Is that supposed to mean something to me?” Sebastian asks arrogantly. The man looks at Aran, curiosity in his eyes. “Aran’s cousin, a shame you haven’t even told your son about me,” he says with mock disappointment before he chuckles.
“Well, you aren’t one to take pictures, but Sebastian does know of you,” Aran says, surprisingly far calmer than before.
“Oh, does he?” Gerard says as he saunters into the room and takes a seat on one of the armchairs, his piercing eyes on Sebastian.
“Do I?” Sebastian asks his father. “I mentioned to you about your grandfather’s brother’s family?” Aran says, clearly irritated.
“Hmm… it kind of rings a bell, but it was a passing comment. You have your own pack in France. Correct?” Sebastian asks. “That is correct, that is correct,” Gerard says, nodding slowly. He reminds me of Sebastian. His mannerisms, his way of talking, his voice…
Am I being paranoid? His hair is dark, almost as dark as Sebastian’s, but he has a dusting of grey could he be the man both Valerie and I saw?
“And who is this beauty?” He asks suddenly, now turning to me. Sebastian growls lowly. The man chuckles. “Oh, don’t worry, you are like a son to me, so that makes this woman my daughter-in-law? Correct?” he remarks, glancing at Sebastian’s parents.
“Of course it does!” Agatha responds, smiling politely as she glances at Aran, who says nothing. “So, you know who she is,” Sebastian asks coldly.
“From your body language and possessiveness, I understood that much. After all, us Kings are possessive, but I don’t know her beautiful name.” Gerard smirks. “Zaia, Zaia Toussaint.” I say.
“King.” Aran answers disapprovingly. “We are not married, Mr King.” I remind him politely, making him clench his jaw. Gerard is watching us casually, but something tells me he’s assessing this conversation extremely intently.
“Well… lovely to meet you, Zaia… Toussaint. The names sound familiar… Ah yes, the Toussaint empire, now I know where I have seen you before. For a moment I thought we have already met, but I think I saw you on the news. You are the new CEO of the Toussaint Empire, correct?”
“Yes, I am, but I am not so easy to forget if we met. In fact, I’m surprised that’s where you remember me from. I was involved in a mass shooting that happened outside a hotel a short while back. I was almost killed. Everyone remembers me from there. Especially when I took on that pathetic excuse of a being who was killing mercilessly.” I say, looking him dead in the eye. He doesn’t react, simply holding my gaze.
“Oh? That sounds devastating… I’m sorry, but I don’t really watch the news, especially when it’s always so dark. The world really needs to be cleansed of all the scum ruining it…” he says, almost as if he means something else.
“I couldn’t agree more,” I say. Didn’t he say he doesn’t watch the news? Everything else seems to fade and if I had any doubt before, it’s now gone.
Deep down, I feel he is the shooter… It has to be him… and if so, does he know that I recognise him? Sebastian places his hand on my thigh and I’m pulled from my thoughts. I scan the room to see Agatha has left. Aran is still standing there, silently.
I wanted answers from him, but I am also glad the argument that was about to go down was diffused for now. “Father, can I speak to you privately?” Sebastian asks coldly.
Perhaps I spoke too soon! “We have guests, Sebastian,” Aran replies, clenching his jaw. “Oh, don’t stop on my behalf, and I wouldn’t consider myself a guest… but as you wish,” Gerard says. “Or… perhaps while you both have your… conversation, maybe Zaia could keep me company?”
Sebastian frowns, ready to reply, when I place my hand on his arm. “I think that would be great.” I look at Sebastian, who is frowning sharply, and I reach up and peck his lips softly. Our eyes meet and I hope this time he can read me. I will be ok.
“Go,” I say quietly. Sebastian nods, glancing at Gerard before looking at his father and jerking his head towards the door. “Come, father.”
Aran frowns, glancing at me before he follows Sebastian to the door. Sebastian glances back at me, before frowning at the man opposite me and leaves the room. Aran shuts the door after himself, leaving me alone with Gerard…
SEBASTIAN.
“This could wait,” Dad sneers, the coldness back in his voice the moment. the door of his office shut. “No, it can’t. What is your issue with the Toussaint’s?”
“That is none of your business! Sebastian, enough!” Dad threatens. “No. I want to know because whatever it is, is what has caused issues, preventing the Toussaint’s from accepting me!” I growl.
As the words leave my lips, I realise it is my greatest issue… more than wanting to know what the reason is, it’s wanting to know why… why was I never accepted. Where did I lack as a mate and husband towards Zaia?
Before I fucked things up, of course. “Since when does another’s opinion matter?” Dad spits. “It does when it’s the parents of my woman. Their behaviour towards me has always caused tension. I want to know why that is. Tell me now.” I snarl.
He shakes his head as he stands there behind his desk, staring at me. “We accepted Zaia, did we not? Why do you need their approval? You are here, in this pack! This is where you belong. Their opinions don’t matter.”
“It does when I know I’m constantly being lied to! There are things I should know, but I am never told! Like the Blood Borns, you know about them, right? The Triquetras?!”
His silence answers that question, but it only grates on my fucking nerves. I feel a rage inside of me, one that’s slipping from my grasp and the only thing keeping me sane is Zaia.
“Tell me why the fuck the Toussaint’s dislike me.” I snarl. “Are you certain that you can handle the truth, Sebastian?” He hisses. “If I can handle your hatred, I can handle anything.” I counter coldly.
He looks down before he smiles humourlessly. “Well… I did everything to keep the truth hidden, for your sake, but I don’t think I care anymore. You are nothing more than trouble. Riled with arrogance and pride. Perhaps the truth will remind you of your place!” He says contemptuously.
The door opens and we both turn as Mom enters, shaking her head at Dad, her face pale. “What are you doing?” she asks. “Your son wants to know why the Toussaints don’t like him. I think it’s high time I tell him.
“Please… Aran, don’t,” she whispers. “No. He should know the truth,” Dad answers with a sneer. “Just spit it out,” I say, running my fingers through my hair agitatedly.
“See, I should have followed my judgment and gotten rid of him that very first day! Look at his arrogance! I knew I never should have listened to you!” He snaps at Mom, who flinches.
My eyes flash. “Don’t you dare speak to her like that!” I snarl, slamming my hand on the table as my aura swirls around me. I see the glimmer of fear in his eyes, it’s gone so fast I wonder if I scared him? but….
“I can speak to her however I wish! Do you want to know the truth? Then here it is!” he says, flinging his hands wide before pointing at me with a trembling hand.
“You. Are. Not. My. Son!” Those words shoot through me, echoing in my mind as I stare at him, shocked. I’m unable to process it….
I think I hear Mom break into sobs, but I’m unable to focus on her as I stare at Dad’s cold, satisfied smirk of victory… Almost as if he wanted to those words to hurt me. As if this was a burden he wanted off his chest.
“See? You are no Alpha of this pack. I gave it to you as charity! I raised you although I didn’t need to! That’s why the Toussaint’s don’t like you, knowing their daughter is mated to a false Alpha!”
