I Am The Luna

| Am The Luna by Moonlight Muse Chapter 34 A Couple of Plans ZAIA. “Zaia, is everything ok?” | look up at Mom from where I'm slicing the potatoes for the evening meal.

“Of course, why do you ask?” | smile. Mom looks concerned from where she’s braiding Sia’s hair at the kitchen table.

“You don’t cook unless you have a lot on your mind.” She says with a knowing look of understanding in her eyes.

| returned yesterday morning and although | filled her in on everything with Valerie; | refrained from telling her what went down between Sebastian and me.

| don’t know why, but | know how she would have disapproved ofspending the night with him, and that would only makefeel worse...

My heart clenches as | remember that morning....

(FLASHBACK) My eyes flutter open and | find myself cocooned in warmth. | snuggle back against the hard wall of muscle behindwhen I tense. Wall of muscle? Sebastian! I'm about to pull away when | realise that my head is on his arm, his hand clamped around my breast, his other arm firmly around my hips, holdingtightly against him...

He's asleep, | can tell from his steady heartbeat...

“Sleep Foxie...” He murmurs, burying his face into my neck. “You smell good...” He used to always holdlike this... a | don’t want to get up. For a fleeting moment, | want to enjoy the warmth and comfort that his embrace offers me...

Irritation at my weak resolve makesglare at the wall, and | slowly free myself from his hold. | have to make sure | never get into this predicament ever again! | need to leave...

(END OF FLASHBACK) “Zaia darling, please answer me,” Mom says, makinglook over my shoulder at her.

“Valerie.” | lie, well it isn’t a complete lie. Valerie has been on my mind, and | have been doing sresearch.

“Oh, you are thinking about the therapy, correct?” | smile. “Yes, you can call it that. | know in this day and age the practices of our ancestors aren't implemented at all, but I truly feel I'm onto something.” “Oh, I have no doubt. So is Jai going to ask Sebastian to allow Valerie to be brought here? You know how he is so stubborn!” Mom says with distaste. “I know, but hopefully for Jai, he listens,” | say shortly. | have made it clear we will not discuss Sebastian in front of the kids, especially not in a negative light.

| close my eyes, hoping she didn’t catch my tone, and if she did, that she plays it off to my irritation with Sebastian.

I look at my reflection in the kitchen window, wondering who would want us apart? Who is so hellbent on hurting us? “Don’t let it get to you Zaia, it isn’t your fault you didn’t know about Valerie,” Mom says as Sia slides off the stool and walks over to me.

“Look Mama, | made the moon.” She says, givingan adorable smile as she holds her paper up to me. | crouch down and take it from her. “Oh, it’s beautiful! Should we hang this somewhere?” | ask. She tilts her head, thinking deeply. “We hang it near Aunty Valerie, then the moon will heal her.” She says in her adorable little voice. | look at her sharply, my heart skipping a beat. The theory I've been discussing with Mom...

| wrap my arms around my little princess and hug her tightly. “That is the perfect plan,” | say, stroking her hair.

“Well, since Sia agrees, we have to!” Mom says. | nod as | stand up, carrying Sia. “Yes, deep down, | feel that this will help. We are werewolves, Mom. When | was there, there was brain movement. She’s in there.” “And we will save her, right Mommy?” Sia asks. | nod. | told them a little about Valerie when they asked where | went, and both had been very curious.

When | explained to them, they had been understanding, and of course, asked many questions. They may be three years old, but they are bright. I'm just waiting for the day that they ask about their father...

“What is the meaning of this, Zaia?” Dad asks. We're in my new office, one floor up, at the Toussaint Headquarters, and he has just placed a file down in front of me. | glance up at him curiously before looking down at the first printed page in the file.

“New CEO Zaia Toussaint of Toussaint Empires turns down Business Tycoon Atticus Payne's proposal.” | read aloud before | cock my brow. “I don’t want to lose focus on what | am doing, Father. | have cso far, and | plan to focus everything | have on my career, not on me.” | push aside the file and cross my legs as | look across at him. He's agitated, almost as if he just wants to blow.

“Is something else the matter, Father?” | ask, frowning slightly. “No, aside from someone else stepping in on the Zero project, there's a high chance we might lose that deal.” He grunts. “If we had Atticus’s backup, | think we could have secured the position and proved we have the capacity to handle the project.” Marry him for a business deal? “The one by the mountains... look, Dad, don’t worry, I'm flying out there for the meeting and I'm extremely confident I'll get the deal. What company has joined the race?” | ask, tapping my pen on the file.

“Sebastian King’s.” Dad almost snarls. My heart skips a beat at the mention of Sebastian. Why would he do that? Everyone knows that our company is interested in that project. Why now? You're messing with my mind again, Sebastian...

“And it’s why | don’t think you should go. I'll go.” “No,” | say, standing up. “I worked on this project for so long, I will not let anyone take it from me, not you Dad, or Sebastian. If he wants to compete for it, then I'm up for the competition, but | am not taking a back seat!” | say, my eyes flashing.

Dad's hatred for Sebastian has only grown over the past years. Whilst he cto accept. and approve of Atticus, his resentment for Sebastian and his company only increased tenfold.

“He might pull something. | don’t want you going alone. | will cwith you.” Dad says firmly, knowing | won't back down.’ | shake my head. “No. You need to be here with the children.” “Then we take the children with us. Your... your Mother can calong too and mind them. | think the trip will do them good too and Sia can enjoy the fresh air.” Dad suggests, sounding uncomfortable at the mention of Mom.

| tilt my head, trying to think | dislike long trips and knowing that my babies are near would be good. “And will your wife be alright with that?” | ask weed to know,” Dad says curtly.

“She doesn’t “Security-" “The very best for my grandchildren. No one and | mean no one will touch those children, here or abroad.” He says firmly. “No one, not even Sebastian King, will know they're there.” | sit back and nod appreciatively. The protection that Dad provides foris the one thing that | appreciate the most and | won't ever forget it, no matter what the future holds. “Thank you. I think we can do that.” | say, agreeing.

“Or perhaps Atticus-" “No, | think I'd prefer you over Atticus if it has to be someone. Besides, | don’t think it's smart forto go with him when the rumours are already spread all over the media.” | say, picking up the file and flipping through the different printouts of different news outlets.

There are a few photographs.and Atticus. at the party, a blurred image at the fountain,and him out for coffee. Atticus knew about Valerie...

“He is still a good prospective partner, Zaia. | mean, he’s good with the kids and from what | can see, you two get on well.” “Hmm... like | said, I'm not interested,” | say quietly, staring at Atticus’s picture.

Remembering the way he had made out that we were together back then. The way he had said the kids were his... those red flags | had forgotten about now itch at my mind. He did things when I didn’t ask him to...

“Father.” | suddenly look up.

“Yes?” “I heard from someone that Valerie, my old friend, is in a coma, and I diligently got into contact with her family and support system. Don’t worry, they aren't in Sebastian’s pack.” | reassure Father. “Oh, | see... so she’s in a coma? Was she hurt?” he asks, lightly concerned.

“Yes, and | have requested her to be brought here. Her family is planning to pull the plug, but before they do that, | want to try some. natural healing from the old books. | know they aren’t very trustworthy but it's worth a try.” | say, masking my emotions as | tell him this.

He frowns deeply and looks atkeenly. ” She is still part of Sebastian’s pack despite not being at his pack?” “Correct, but Jai has agreed to talk to Sebastian. It has nothing to do with me.” | say. Oh, what father would think if he knew that we had spent the night together? “Well, as long as you have nothing to do with him, | am fine with it.” He says curtly. | nod.

“Absolutely.” “Very well then. I think | can’t stop you. That woman helped you and it’s only right that we return the favour. She will be given every possible care she needs here at our pack. Rest assured.” “Thank you, Father,” | say, truly grateful. He slaps his knees. “Well, | better get back to work. | might not be at the office for the next few days. | need to handle pack matters. There's been an increase of robberies around the borders.” I nod in understanding. “Of course... one more thing...” | hesitate as he stands up and pauses, waiting patiently.

“Since she left this pack, and went to Sebastian, have you heard from Annalise?” I've never asked. | pretend she doesn’t exist. | focus on myself... but now, now the burning question | should have asked Sebastian has been playing on my mind since | returned. His mood instantly darkens.

“Occasionally. What makes you ask about her today, Zaia?” He asks sharply, as he looksdead in the eye. | shake my head. “Remembering Valerie...

madethink of the others in that pack. Annalise should have been Luna by now. They may even have pups, but we hear nothing.” Dad doesn’t reply, frowning deeply. “No, their relationship didn’t last, and | heard that Sebastian King may be getting engaged to Cara Montero.” My heart thuds when | hear that, and it takes everything to remain impassive.

“I see,” | say. He nods and takes his leave, and for a moment | look down, remembering when they were together when | saw him that night of the dinner. Did he lie? Is he trying to hide the truth? | place my head in my hands. It doesn’t matter, it's not like we are anything. Then why does it hurt inside? I sit back and pick up my phone, seeing the two messages from Atticus.

Unlocking it, | stare down at them. ATTICUS: Good Morning, Red. ATTICUS: So how about a catch-up tonight, dinner and drinks? I tilt my head. Well, why not and | can take the chance to ask him why he never toldabout Valerie.

ZAIA: Perfect, pickup at 9pm tonight.

ATTICUS: No Good Morning back? | forgive you since you accepted. Can’t wait until tonight. I’m sure if you knew what's coming you wouldn't be so excited...

| need those answers, and | plan to get them. Now, to message Jai about having Valerie brought here...