I Am The Luna

| Am The Luna by Moonlight Muse Chapter 52 A Jealous Sister ZAIA. The glimmering fairy lights and the lanterns twinkle in the night. The music is soft and soothing, the opposite of the storm that rages inside of me. | am still unable to fully process the information that Mom shared, and neither can Dad...

Mom decided to stay home. She had originally been extremely worried about facing Annette. and with what happened, she couldn't do it and | can’t blher. Since we moved here, both women have avoided one another at all costs.

Dad is greeting everyone, but his constant tugging at his tie and readjusting tellshe’s stressed. Right now, | could use Sebastian’s arms around me...

Wait, stop. Did I just say that? My cheeks burn as | step out into the open. A silence falls as all eyes turn toand hopefully, the cameras catch everyone's expressions...

My eyes find Atticus and he’s staring atwith an expression | can’t make out. Interesting... is itor the symbol? “Ms Zaia Toussaint.” Someone announcesand | gracefully walk down the steps. Atticus glances around before he swiftly crosses the garden and holds out a hand to me.

“Hey...” He says. | take his hand hesitantly, but instead of his normally charming smile, he’s lookingover with a tiny frown. “Hello, Atticus,” | say. “Are you alright? You look a little... shocked.” He tenses before he shakes his head. “No, not at all. So shall we?” He offershis arm and although I'm tempted to refuse, his reaction has intrigued me, although after Mom's, nothing feels like a surprise anymore.

“Congratulations Ms Toussaint, it is a pleasant surprise to learn that you will head this pack. | hope our alliance will continue.” An older Alpha from an allied pack says. [x] “Thank you, Alpha Bruce,” | say politely, giving him and his Luna a grateful smile. “Will we perhaps see another alliance between you and Alpha Payne?” “If I'm lucky,” Atticus says with a charming smile, whilst | simply smile politely, not wanting to cause a scene.

“Excuse us,” | say politely before | lead us away, taking a glass of wine from a passing waiter. Atticus does the same.

“You're annoyed.” He states as he guidestowards one of the larger oaks at the further end of the grounds.

“Well, 1 did tell you no. I've made my decision, Atticus. Sebastian and | have patched things up.” | say quietly.

He stares at me. Any spark he had in his eyes vanishes as he stares atwith eyes that now look extremely cold.

“Really... after everything he has done?” he asks, clenching his jaw. “I'm sorry, but | have never led you on, Atticus, what | do is up to me.” “Don’t make a mistake, Zaia. He can’t protect you.” He says, glancing around before he looks down. “We'll talk later.” What is there to talk about? | frown but | don’t argue as someone else approaches us and pasting a smile on my face, | step forward to greet them.

The night has passed by with ease and with the full moon at its fullest | feel even more confident that it'll help Valerie. Dinner is almost over, and I'm almost done with having to sit through Annette’s displeasure.

She’s got her lips pursed in a pinched line, irritation clear on her face as she stares athaughtily, making snide indirect jabs every chance she gets.

She's a little too touchy-feely with Dad, but he is still distracted, not noticing nor entertaining her. Not that he usually entertained her much.

I know he feels guilty for the fact that he had pushed Mom away so she didn’t think she reach out to him...

Life can be painful sometimes...

Would “I still wonder how you think you will manage, Zaia. Are you prepared for such a position? I'm worried you are biting off far more than you can chew.” Annette murmurs the moment Dad is distracted by another Alpha.

| look at the woman seated besideand wish | wasn't sitting right beside her but when Dad had made to sit between us; she had pushed herself in between. | now raise an eyebrow.

“You need not worry, Luna. Dad knows | am capable.” | reply, taking a spoonful of my chocolate cake. She rolls her eyes, picking up her drink. “Well, as long as you are confident, what's with the getup?” “I was trying something,” | reply simply. “Trying to look like a fool.” She mumbles her breath, but | hear under.

She looksover, her eyes lingering on the henna before she shakes her head and looks away.

“Zaia. Ready?” Dad says quietly and | pick up my napkin, patting my mouth and nod. “Whenever you are,” | respond with a smile.

He givesa nod before he stands up and clinks his glass as he looks out over the garden. We're dining out in the open. The weather is good save for little bursts of wind at times.

“May | have everyone's attention?” Dad says. The chatter dies down as everyone turns to the front, giving Dad their full attention. “As you all know, recently | have made my daughter the head of my company and named her my heir. Today, | wish to announce that | am also naming her the future Alpha of this pack.” A ripple of surprise flits through the room and although it’s not unheard of to have a female alpha, it is rare.

“My daughter has proved tand tagain that she is suitable for this position...” Dad says quietly. He's not himself... | can see it in the way he’s talking. He's distracted and upset. For Dad’s. emotions to show through, it's obvious Mom's secret has impacted him.

He doesn’t need to do this... maybe he’s even rethinking if he wants to makehis heir, and | don’t mind. But right now, he needs me, | stand up and move past Annette, placing a hand on my father’s arm. He observesfor a moment before looking ahead.

“I do apologise... it's just... a moving moment.” He says quietly, he places his arm aroundand givesa small smile. “I present to you, the future Alpha of the Crystal Shadow Pack, Zaia Toussaint!” Everyone stands and begins clapping, and | look up at Dad. “You didn’t have to,” | whisper. He shakes his head.

“I wanted to.” He replies quietly before he pullsinto a tight embrace. “Thank you.” I'm not sure what he is thankingfor, but | hug him back. | know it’s a devastating hit, but | do hope he can cto terms with everything that has happened and doesn’t blhimself for the loss of his son.

Why mom? “Well well well... look at this. | am hurt father, you are giving Zaia everything, but what about me? Am | not your daughter?” A voice | have not heard for years but is familiar as the morning sun, reaches my ears. | turn slowly, as Dad lets go ofand we both look at the latest arrival.

Annalise stands there. She looks almost the sas she once did. Her hair is shorter than it used to be. It's curled and frames her face, but what captures my attention is her swollen belly.

She's pregnant? My heart thumps in surprise. Sebastian never mentioned she had moved on. Maybe that’s why she hasn't been meddling lately.

“Annalise...” Dad says, a frown crossing his forehead.

“Father.” She responds. Annette stands up, knocking her chair back as she runs to her daughter's side and flings her arms around her, breaking into tears.

“Oh goddess, Annalise baby, where have you been... and you're pregnant!” She says, cupping her face.

“I'm sorry, Mother, but | was forbidden to return.” She says, now looking at Dad accusingly. “Dad said | am not allowed to set foot in this pack after what I did. | think he forgets that she is the one who stole my boyfriend! | was with Sebastian King before she calong!” Dad frowns. “If I had given you an order, why did you disobey by returning, if that’s even the case?” he asks coldly, clearly not wanting to address the latter part of her statement. “What?” Annette asks, shocked.

“You refused to letsee her! You said that she’s the one who should cto us and when she tried, you pushed her away?” “Because she destroyed her sister's house!” Dad thunders, making a tense silence fall over the gathering. Of course, people knew and have heard of what happened, but for Dad to address it himself...

“He was mine first!” She retorts, her eyes flashing. | know Sebastian said it was never serious... but she isn’t wrong that he was with her when we found out we were mates.

Something | wish | did go into depth about with Sebastian, but it was hard for me, and | never did. It was his past... right? But when the past keeps meddling, maybe you do have to step up. “We were mates Annalise, you know the meaning of destined mates.” “Of course, let's just put it down to that.” She sneers. “You have clearly moved on. Stop this nonsense, Annalise.” Dad warns her. “Moved on? I'm carrying Sebastian’s child and the heir to the Dark Hollow Falls Pack!” My heart skips a beat as | look at her, but it's only for a moment before | internally roll my eyes.

“Yes, we've heard the fake pregnancy news before Annalise. | know how manipulative you can be and the web of lies that you weave. So, now that we are on the topic; | want to know something and | have asked you this before, but this t| want an answer.” | step around the table as | stride towards her as she glares at me, looking unnerved, clearly not expectingto speak.

“Tell me, who are you working with? Who helped you frme when you pretended to be kidnapped?” | ask, my voice loud and clear.

Her eyes scan over me, but aside from the look of disgust, there's no sense of recognition from her when they skim over my necklace.

“|... don’t need to answer anything when it comes to my personal business!” She snaps. “Yet you are out here airing your own dirty laundry and making false claims when it comes to my mate?” “Your mate?! He rejected you!” “Oh, do forgive me. Have | not mentioned the news? My mistake, | would like to share that Alpha Sebastian and I, have rekindled our indle relationship and we are together again.” | say, knowing that everyone here has now heard those words.

Oh Zaia, you will look like a fool when all of this is over. Sebastian will not letlive this down.

“Leave Annalise. | will deal with you later.” Dad says coldly. “But she’s only speaking because she’s upset, Hugh! Besides, she’s pregnant, show scompassion-" “Compassion?! Where was your compassion when Zaia was pregnant, and | told you to talk to your daughter!” Dad snarls, slamming his hand violently onto the table, making several of the glasses tip over.

“Hugh... how...” “Get out, the both of you! I will discuss this later, but | am not in the mood for any of this tonight.” Dad warns Annette. He's at his limit for the day and for her own good; | hope she listens.

There's a look in his eyes that | can’t understand, but there's something between them... Something only they understand.

And the way Annette’s heart is thumping with that challenging look in her eyes tellsshe isn’t going to be backing down without a fight. “Not a wise move, Hugh.” She murmurs. | have no idea what she has on Dad... but there certainly is something... 2 Annette takes Annalise’s arm before she guides her away and | look around as Dad slowly takes his seat and Atticus pats his shoulder, murmuring something to him before he stands “Well, ladies and gentlemen, let's not allow anything to ruin this special night for the future Alpha, Zaia Toussaint. Congratulations once more on everything you have achieved.” He begins clapping, and the mood lifts a little, and despite everything, | am grateful that he spoke He motions for the musicians to begin playing the music | didn’t even realise had cto a stop before he looks atand | give him a small appreciative smile. This night has not gone the way | planned at all.