I Am The Luna (Moonlight Muse) novel Chapter 13

ZAIA.

“Zaia!” Valerie turns back to me the moment the women leave the bathroom.

“Sorry, I got distracted.” I shake my head, trying to clear it.

“Are you really ok? I know this is a lot to take in, but I really do need you to listen,” Valerie whispers urgently.

“I know Val, I’m sorry.” I reply. “I just… Sebastian clearly moved on and does as he wants. I don’t understand why he isn’t making her his Luna. She’s carrying his child. What more do people want?”

A part of me wants to tell him her truth, tell him that she threatened our children and at least warn him that even if he doesn’t want me, to tread carefully, for the sake of the pack.

“What?” Valerie asks, staring at me, her eyes wide.

I look up at her. “Hmm?”

“You said she’s pregnant… did she say that? Jai’s not mentioned anything… I mean, even if it's early days, Sebastian would tell him.”

My brows furrow; Early days?

“Valerie, she was pregnant four months ago… I know you can’t tell too much in her gown-”

Valerie scoffs. “What? The bitch wears skin-tight clothes every damn day. Trust me, she’s not pregnant. Plus, she was drinking the moment we got here!”

My heart skips a beat as I stare at her in shock.

She lied to me.

“Oh… I’m going to kill that bitch.” Valerie turns, and I grab onto her wrist and shake my head.

“No… leave it. It was probably to hurt me… regardless of if it is… she’s still the one he chose.” I reply, now fearing for my children even more.

I look down at the antidote vials I had hidden behind me when the women entered and slip them into my clutch bag. I need to get stronger. I need to get back to the healthy me so I can protect my babies from anything.

“We need to tell Sebastian, the dumbass - that she’s lying!”

I frown. It makes me wonder… what else has she lied about? The kidnapping? And who knows what else she’s been telling Sebastian?

Someone who can threaten an unborn baby and lie about being pregnant can’t be trusted as a Luna. The pack doesn’t deserve that.

Although I am no longer part of the pack, I’m still worried about them.

We both agree to leave the bathroom at separate times, with me leaving first, and I almost bump into Atticus, who is waiting outside, leaning against the wall.

My heart thumps. I didn’t notice him. He’s standing there, arms crossed, and he gives me a small smile, his eyes raking over me and to the darker patch on my dress, where the drink had spilt.

“I’ve had a dress brought for you, so you can change,” he says, motioning to the right, and I turn to see a woman standing there holding a dress bag.

He won’t let me leave so quickly…

“Thank you,” I reply, knowing I can’t refuse. Things have already become quite suspicious.

I take the peach dress from the woman.

“You are most welcome. Come this way, ma’am.” She motions for me to follow, leading me into one of the side rooms to change.

Once I have changed, I put on the ivory heels and mask before I head back out to where Atticus is still waiting for me.

“Come, let’s return to the party.”

I nod, giving him a small smile, although his comment from earlier still makes me uncomfortable.

“Atticus…” I begin, after we have taken a few steps.

“Yes?”

“Thank you for standing up for me, however… you called me your woman in front of the entire room. We both know that’s not true… I don’t want people to misunderstand,” I say, trying to sound as gentle as possible. The last thing I want is to piss off another Alpha.

He stops in his tracks and looks down at me.

“Zaia…”

I look up at him, and he glances down the hallway as if making sure there’s no one around. I see two people walking in the opposite direction, but otherwise, we are alone.

“I am sorry for that, but I wanted to make it clear to that man that you are not just anyone. You are born to be a Luna.”

My heart thuds at those words. It’s not the first time a man has said that to me…

But I’m never good enough to keep as a mate or wife…

“I will wait for you, Zaia. Take as much time as you need. I’m not going anywhere.”

I open my mouth to tell him I am not looking to move on when he places a finger on my lips and shakes his head.

“Don’t reject me now… I said I’ll wait… because I am ready to, whether that’s weeks… months… or even years. You stepped into my life when I was least expecting someone to, and I want you to stay.”

I remain silent. Fate plays its twisted game… The man I have always loved doesn’t want me, yet the one I am not interested in wants me…

I’m better alone. Don’t cause heartbreak and you will not face heartbreak…

He takes my hand and guides me back inside the ballroom. I spot Sebastian talking to a few men, a wineglass in his hand, and Annalise is by his side.

I frown slightly, staring at her puffy dress. She played it smart. Not only is the dress extremely full of ruffled layers from the waist down, but when she hugged me, she had been by my side, not in front of me.

There was no way for me to have known she was lying if Valerie didn’t tell me.

She’s clever, I’ll give her that, but then, she has always been excellent at manipulating the situation.

Sebastian suddenly looks up and for a second our eyes meet before I quickly look away.

“May I have one dance?”

I look up at Atticus before I nod. One dance, and then perhaps I can get out of here.

—--

Escaping the ball was impossible. Atticus has kept to my side like glue. One dance became two, and then he introduced me to a few people.

For dinner, I am seated beside his mother and sister. His mother, Shelby, is a lovely woman, and you can tell she still has a sore throat, as she keeps thanking me for taking over. On the other hand, his sister, Linette, well she isn’t too keen on me and I can’t blame her.

After all, like she muttered earlier, he could do better. I want him to find a woman to have his children and be a good Luna to the pack.

Sebastian’s eyes have been on me a few times, and if there was any doubt that he didn’t know who I am, I am now certain he knows.

It’s not a coincidence, the way his irritation is rising, every time Atticus is close to me.

Funny… he got the woman he wanted, yet he isn’t even focusing on her, nor has he given her any attention the entire evening.

Pity.

I glance back at Annalise, only to see her glancing around the hall, almost as if looking for something before she mutters something to Sebastian, who gives her a nod without even looking at her before she disappears into the crowds.

“...I’m considering buying the land west of the Plaza… perhaps a ten-storey shopping mall.” Atticus is saying to the two men he’s talking to.