ZADE.


    Confusion ripples through me as I look at the older man before me.


    Why is he here?


    Do I turn and walk away?


    There are kids present and Valerie was shouting, but she seems fine. But I still turn to her just


    as she walks over to me. "Zade..."


    "Why were you shouting?" I ask quietly as she ces one hand on my chest, holding a mug of


    tea in the other, concern clear on her face.


    "Are you..." she trails off. "The triquetra healed Sia. Medication might not help Shelby and Ada,


    but I think if we can channel what healed Sia, maybe we can heal her..." she trails off when she''s


    met with silence.


    "Zaia has tried to replicate that a few times, but there''s no harm in us tryingbined,"


    Sebastian says,ing up the stairs, the Menace right behind him, his piercing eyes fixed on


    me again.


    "It''s the one-eyed cyclops!" The Menace says pointing at me and earning a frown from


    Sebastian.


    "Xander," he warns.


    "I do agree that we can try. We should exhaust all avenues," Atticus says. Hugh nods, patting


    Atticus''s shoulder.


    I don''t look directly at Hugh, but I see him close the door to the bedroom. "On that note, there is


    something I want to discuss with all of you," he says.


    "Then let''s go downstairs. Mom''s just fallen asleep," Atticus suggests.


    "I wanted to do some bloods," Valerie says, her hand still on my chest.


    "I thought you were nning on believing in the power of the triquetra?" Atticus asks.


    "Well, I still want to monitor improvements," Valerie answers sheepishly.


    "That''s fair. Well, let''s go downstairs, and Valerie and Zade can join us when she''s done." Zaia offers.


    I nce at her, and she smiles at me.


    ''You don''t have to. Dad was trying to remain out of sight so it''s easier for you. I''m sorry that you two


    came face to face like this. We didn''t n it, I want you to know that,'' Zaia says through the mind-link.


    I choose not to reply as everyone troops downstairs as Valerie finishes her tea and looks at the girl who


    hasn''t moved, curiosity in her eyes as she watches us.


    "Sia makes the best tea," Valerie says, looking up at me and then at the girl. "Sia, this is Uncle Zade."


    "Hello, Uncle," Sia says, holding her hand out.


    "Hey, kid," I reply, taking her small hand in mine. She smiles as I nce at Valerie, not knowing what


    else to say.


    "Well, I''m just going to go do that blood test, you two chat," Valerie says.


    ''Really? You''re just going to leave me with her?'' I ask her.


    ''You''re lucky it''s not Xander,'' she counters.


    ''Don''t think I can handle him?''


    ''Nope, I fear I might never see you again,'' she teases.


    I can hear that oneining from all the way downstairs about how he wants to see the one-eyed


    man.


    "What is your pack''s name?" Sia asks.


    "The Shadow Moon."


    "I like it. Congrattions on forming a pack."


    "And who told you about it?" I ask her.


    "Mommy told us." She smiles brightly at me. "Wee to the family, Uncle."


    "Thanks..." I reply, not knowing what to say to a kid.


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    She smiles at me, and I wonder if she''s expecting me to make conversation with her.


    "How old are you?" I ask.


    "Ten and a half," she answers brightly.


    "Great."


    Time really has gone by...


    "All done," Valerie says, stepping out of the bedroom, and I''m certain she left us out here so we were


    forced to talk.


    ''Smart, but it was pretty obvious what you were trying to do,'' I remark.


    She blushes. ''I''ll make it up to youter. I''m sorry," she apologises, kissing my lips so softly.


    Sia squeaks, looking away with a small, embarrassed smile.


    Did her parents never kiss in front of her?


    "Shall we head downstairs?" Valerie asks with a smallugh as she pats Sia''s cheek gently.


    I nod as she reaches for the door, and I stop her for a second, looking at the woman sleeping on


    the bed. "What happened to her?"


    "Her health''s been getting worse for a while, buttely it deteriorated fast. Her cells have started


    attacking her organs," she replies quietly. Sia looks in the room and I can tell from her


    expression she knows. ''You got her bloods, cross-examine them to those humans with the new


    disease once we return home," I suggest on the way down.


    ''I thought to do the same. If it''s the same thing, it might just be taking different to humans and


    werewolves.


    We reach the bottom and Sia leads the way into the lounge, where it seems all of them are


    gathered. I hesitate a few feet away from the door and realise I''m not ready.


    "I''ll sit this one out," I say quietly.


    She doesn''t push me and nods in understanding. "Are you going to be ok?"


    "Yeah, I''m gonna step out for a smoke," I reply as I take out a pack holding it up for her to see.


    She nods.


    "Ok, I love you."


    ''Love you, too.'' I reply as I watch her until she disappears inside. I head out the front door,


    ignoring the asshole guards who are clearly more wary of me now than ever. Lighting a


    cigarette, I lean against the wall.


    At times I feel like I''m just blending in with them, like they''ve simply epted me into their


    midst, but at other times reality hits and it all feels weird.