I Am The Luna by Moonlight Muse Chapter 52


    A Jealous Sister


    ZAIA. The glimmering fairy lights and thenterns twinkle in the night. The music is soft and soothing,


    the opposite of the storm that rages inside of me. I 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 Ate. and with


    what happened, she couldn’t do it and I can’t me her. 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 tells me he’s stressed.


    Right now, I could use Sebastian’s arms around me…


    Wait, stop. Did I just say that? My cheeks burn as I step out into the open. A silence falls as all eyes


    turn to me and hopefully, the cameras catch everyone’s expressions…


    My eyes find Atticus and he’s staring at me with an expression I can’t make out. Interesting… is it me


    or the symbol?


    “Ms Zaia Toussaint.” Someone announces me and I gracefully walk down the steps. Atticus nces


    around before he swiftly crosses the garden and holds out a hand to me.


    “Hey…” He says. I take his hand hesitantly, but instead of his normally charming smile, he’s looking me


    over with a tiny frown. “Hello, Atticus,” I say. “Are you alright? You look a little… shocked.”


    He tenses before he shakes his head. “No, not at all. So shall we?” He offers me his arm and although


    I’m tempted to refuse, his reaction has intrigued me, although after Mom’s, nothing feels like a surprise


    anymore.


    “Congrattions Ms Toussaint, it is a pleasant surprise to learn that you will head this pack. I hope our


    alliance will continue.” An older Alpha from an allied pack says.


    “Thank you, Alpha Bruce,” I 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 I simply smile politely, not wanting to cause a


    scene. “Excuse us,” I say politely before I lead us away, taking a ss of wine from a passing waiter.


    Atticus does the same.


    “You’re annoyed.” He states as he guides me towards one of therger oaks at the further end of the


    grounds.


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


    quietly.


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


    extremely cold.


    “Really… after everything he has done?” he asks, clenching his jaw. “I’m sorry, but I have never led you


    on, Atticus, what I do is up to me.”


    “Don’t make a mistake, Zaia. He can’t protect you.” He says, ncing around before he looks down.


    “We’ll talkter.”


    What is there to talk about? I frown but I don’t argue as someone else approaches us and pasting a


    smile on my face, í step forward to greet them.


    The night has passed by with ease and with the full moon at its fullest I feel even more confident that


    it’ll help Valerie. Dinner is almost over, and I’m almost done with having to sit through Ate’s


    displeasure.


    She’s got her lips pursed in a pinched line, irritation clear on her face as she stares at me haughtily,


    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.” Ate murmurs the moment Dad is distracted


    by another Alpha.


    I look at the woman seated beside me and wish I wasn’t sitting right beside her but when Dad had


    made to sit between us; she had pushed herself in between. I now raise an eyebrow.


    “You need not worry, Luna. Dad knows I am capable.” I reply, taking a spoonful of my chocte 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,” I reply simply. “Trying to look like a fool.” She mumbles her breath, but I hear


    under. She looks me over, her eyes lingering on the henna before she shakes her head and looks


    away.


    “Zaia. Ready?” Dad says quietly and I pick up my napkin, patting my mouth and nod. “Whenever you


    are,” I respond with a smile.


    He gives me a nod before he stands up and clinks his ss 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 I 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 I have made my daughter the head of my


    company and named her my heir. Today, I wish to announce that I 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 time and time again that she is suitable for this position…” Dad says quietly.


    He’s not himself… I 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 make me his heir, and I don’t


    mind. But right now, he needs me, I stand up and move past Ate, cing a hand on my father’s


    arm. He observes me for a moment before looking ahead.


    “I do apologise… it’s just… a moving moment.” He says quietly, he ces his arm around me and


    gives me a small smile. “I present to you, the future Alpha of the Crystal Shadow Pack, Zaia Toussaint!”


    Everyone stands and begins pping, and I look up at Dad. “You didn’t have to,” I whisper. He shakes


    his head. “I wanted to.” He replies quietly before he pulls me into a tight embrace. “Thank you.”


    I’m not sure what he is thanking me for, but I hug him back. I know it’s a devastating hit, but I do hope


    he cane to terms with everything that has happened and doesn’t me himself for the loss of his


    son.


    Why mom? “Well well well… look at this. I am hurt father, you are giving Zaia everything, but what


    about me? Am I not your daughter?”


    A voice I have not heard for years but is familiar as the morning sun, reaches my ears. I turn slowly, as


    Dad lets go of me and we both look at thetest arrival.


    Annalise stands there. She looks almost the same as 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 meddlingtely.


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


    “Father.” She responds. Ate 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 I was forbidden to return.” She says, now looking at Dad usingly. “Dad said I


    am not allowed to set foot in this pack after what I did. I think he forgets that she is the one who stole


    my boyfriend! I was with Sebastian King before she came along!”


    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 thetter part of her statement. “What?” Ate asks,


    shocked. “You refused to let me see her! You said that she’s the one who shoulde to 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 shing. I 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 I wish I did go into depth about with Sebastian, but it was hard for me, and I 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 I look at her, but it’s only for a moment before I internally roll my


    eyes.


    “Yes, we’ve heard the fake pregnancy news before Annalise. I know how maniptive you can be and


    the web of lies that you weave. So, now that we are on the topic; I want to know something and I have


    asked you this before, but this time I want an answer.”


    I step around the table as I stride towards her as she res at me, looking unnerved, clearly not


    expecting me to speak.


    “Tell me, who are you working with? Who helped you frame me when you pretended to be kidnapped?”


    I 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 ne.


    “I… don’t need to answer anything when ites to my personal business!” She snaps. “Yet you are


    out here airing your own dirtyundry and making false ims when ites to my mate?”


    “Your mate?! He rejected you!”


    “Oh, do forgive me. Have I not mentioned the news? My mistake, I would like to share that Alpha


    Sebastian and I, have rekindled our indle rtionship and we are together again.” I 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 let me live this down.


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    “Leave Annalise. I will deal with youter.” Dad says coldly. “But she’s only speaking because she’s


    upset, Hugh! Besides, she’s pregnant, show somepassion-”


    “Compassion?! Where was yourpassion when Zaia was pregnant, and I told you to talk to your


    daughter!” Dad snarls, mming his hand violently onto the table, making several of the sses tip


    over.


    “Hugh… how…”


    “Get out, the both of you! I will discuss thister, but I am not in the mood for any of this tonight.” Dad


    warns Ate. He’s at his limit for the day and for her own good; I hope she listens.


    There’s a look in his eyes that I can’t understand, but there’s something between them… Something


    only they understand.


    And the way Ate’s heart is thumping with that challenging look in her eyes tells me she isn’t going


    to be backing down without a fight. “Not a wise move, Hugh.” She murmurs. I have no idea what she


    has on Dad… but there certainly is something… 2


    Ate takes Annalise’s arm before she guides her away and I look around as Dad slowly takes his


    seat and Atticus pats his shoulder, murmuring something to him before he stands “Well,dies and


    gentlemen, let’s not allow anything to ruin this special night for the future Alpha, Zaia Toussaint.


    Congrattions once more on everything you have achieved.” He begins pping, and the mood lifts a


    little, and despite everything, I am grateful that he spoke


    He motions for the musicians to begin ying the music I didn’t even realise hade to a stop before


    he looks at me and I give him a small appreciative smile. This night has not gone the way I nned at


    all.