Page 13 of His Sunshine Baby (The Silver City #2)

That can’t be true. On Levi’s recording, Reagan clearly mentioned my mother, and how she was alive when she took me! So why is she lying, saying my parents had already died? I stare at her for a while, wondering how to go about this. I can’t let her know that we heard her conversation with Clark.

“Both my parents were dead? Are you sure?” I ask again.

“I just told you so,” groans Reagan, impatient. “You were the only living being I could find, so I took you with me and fled the place.”

“Wait… Didn’t you try to figure out what had happened? Who had done this to our clan?”

But Reagan shakes her head.

“I couldn’t, Elena. I had a two-year-old brat in my paws, and something bad was there.”

“What do you mean, something bad?”

She sniffles, a disgusted expression on her face like she saw something repulsive.

“I don’t know. My inner wolf couldn’t calm down, my spine was constantly tingling. I could tell something filthy was there, something dangerous. Whatever had attacked was still there, and lurking, waiting around for more. I ran away with you and headed south.”

“All the way to the White Moon territory,” I say, putting the pieces together.

“That’s right. That was as far as I could go with a two-year-old. Since I was a renegade from another pack, they had no obligation to accept me. But you were there. No werewolf can ignore a defenseless pup, let alone a little orphan alpha, like you.”

She’s right. Our wolf instincts are always pushing us to protect the younger ones of our kind, even if they don’t belong to our pack. Any cub is a werewolf’s responsibility, that’s something we cannot ignore. No wonder the White Moon didn’t reject her when she brought me with her.

“You still haven’t told me why I’m different.”

She sighs.

“Our whole pack was different, Elena. Our Luna made it so. I told you, she was very powerful and blessed by the Moon Goddess. Everyone in our pack was stronger than common werewolves.”

I’m not sure I believe that. Once again, Reagan is not looking at me while speaking, and I feel like there is still a lot she isn’t telling me. I’m a bit disappointed. I was hoping she would tell me more about my parents.

“I tried to go back several times after that,” sighs Reagan.

“That’s why you left for so long each time?”

She nods.

“It takes a while to go so far to the north, but I could never reach our homeland anyway.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, perplexed.

“I don’t know. Something is blocking me. Every time I should reach the destination, I get lost, as if I couldn’t find my way, like a maze. I should know the place by heart, but something very, very odd happens. I’m not that old that I would forget the way back! Moreover, it’s coming closer. Whatever it is, it’s headed south, our way.”

“… So this is why you don’t want me going north?”

She turns to me, looking very serious. She puts a hand on my knee, whispering.

“Elena, whatever attacked our pack is coming to us. It’s slow, but it is.”

I sigh. Listening to Reagan, even despite her serious tone, I can’t tell how serious she is. An invisible threat, coming after us? And after killing our entire pack too? Is she just trying to keep me distracted with more lies?

“Reagan, are you lying to me again?”

“Elena, I’m serious!”

“But none of this makes sense! Seriously, all I hear are excuses for me not to leave the White Moon! Why do you always lie to me? How old do you think I am to believe in an invisible threat who decimated a full, super-strong pack?”

She growls, seriously angry.

“You think I’m joking?”

“I think you’re lying to me, again!” I yell back. “You never, ever tell me the truth!”

“That was the truth, you brat!”

“How am I supposed to believe this? None of it makes any sense, and it doesn’t answer my questions either! You never tell me what I really want to know, about my parents, where I come from!”

Reagan stands up, grabbing her backpack and leaving money on the counter.

“Enough with your whims, Elena. If you don’t want to listen--”

“I am listening, but you’re just spitting nonsense, Reagan! I don’t know if that pack really existed! If it did, and we were both born there, how could you not even know about my parents?”

She’s glaring at me, but I won’t back down. We are both angry and frustrated. Around us, all our yelling has silenced the rest of the people present, who are watching the scene with curiosity. I couldn’t care less.

Reagan pushes her gray hair away from her face and turns around.

“I am not talking about your parents. This is about our pack, Elena, that’s all you need to know!”

Of course. Once again, she gets to decide what I get to know or not! I can’t believe that old hag! She leaves while we’re still angrily growling at each other. I’m left watching her back as my mentor exits the place, leaving me speechless.

“Elena…?”

Bianca approaches me with a sorry look, but I can’t handle the pity on her face right now. I shake my head, meaning I don’t want to talk, and leave the bar.

Damn, I forgot about the rain. It’s pouring. Reagan is already nowhere to be found, of course. She disappears so easily. She came, said what she had to, and left. That old hag… Was the story made up just because she doesn’t want me to leave the territory? I don’t even know what to believe in that incredible story she told.

Some parts do match with what I thought, but she also lied about my parents, and that so-called attacker or whatever. I don’t know what to believe.

I’m feeling so lonely right now.

Maybe it’s this rain, or because I’m tired, but I feel like crying again.

“ Danny. ”

“ Babe, what’s wrong? ”

I reached out to him by reflex, but my thoughts aren’t even clear enough to explain them to him. I can’t think of words to express this feeling of uneasiness I feel piling up inside.

“ Bad day? ”

“ Yeah. ”

“ Wanna come home? ”

“ No. ”

I don’t want to go home right now. If I go home, I’m just going to get even gloomier, and I don’t want to hinder Danny’s time with Bobo like that. He probably needs to catch up on the work he missed for me too. I hear his wolf sigh.

“ Okay, babe, what do you want to do then? ”

What do I want?

A face pops up in my mind immediately. I know exactly what I really want right now.

“ Babe, go see him. I know you want to. ”

I sigh. I love Danny, but sometimes he reads my mind way too easily and it’s scary. And I know I shouldn’t listen. I still can’t come to a proper decision, about Nate or Diego.

“ Elena, you need this. So go for it. Plus, you owe him an explanation, remember? ”

Damn, he’s so right.

He makes me promise to call him later, and I start walking again, heading south.

I don’t know why, but I can’t summon the courage to call Nate first. Playing with my phone in my pocket, I try to think of something to say while walking, but nothing sounds right, not after what happened last time. Nathaniel was adorable with me when I was unwell, but I had to leave so abruptly, and I didn’t explain anything. How could I? I don’t want him to know anything about my past or Diego.

While walking, I suddenly get a chill. I stop, warned by my inner wolf’s instincts. Something’s wrong. No, more like a threat, something’s behind me. Someone is watching me.

I turn around, trying to use my wolf’s vision despite the downpour. But no one seems to be there. I wish I could smell something, but it’s impossible with this rain. Why would someone follow me? Diego can’t possibly be here already. So, who?

I start running. Will they follow me to the border? I can feel someone following me again, but they’re staying far enough away to not be spotted. It’s all about instinct, and I can tell my wolf’s annoyed by this little game. Whoever it is, they won’t show themselves.

I finally reach the Blood Moon territory’s border. Seems like whoever it is didn’t dare to follow me. I adjust my hoodie on my head and keep walking. I decide to head straight for Nate’s hotel where we meet the most, but I really hope there won’t be any trouble. I usually let him know before coming, but right now I’m behaving like an intruder.

I decide to go the long way around so as to not attract too much attention. Some streets in the east are not the most welcoming, but there aren’t many people who go there. We call it the slums for a reason. It’s the riskiest place for humans and werewolves alike, full of deserted, filthy streets and blind alleys. I’m confident in my strength, though. Even if I meet a few rogues, I should be strong enough to get out of there unscratched.

I suddenly stop. My wolf is on all fours, growling, ready to defend herself.

I can feel that alpha aura all the way from here. Shit, I didn’t expect to meet such a strong wolf here. A shadow dressed all in black is slowly walking my way. I can’t see his face; he’s wearing a hoodie too.

Involuntarily, I take a step back. Damn, am I really that scared? I can feel his aura, like an icy wind crawling all around him. It’s almost as if I could see the beast before the man. My legs want to run away. I’m shivering, not because of the cold. Whoever it is, he’s very, very angry and restless. Someone looking for a fight. For blood.

His pace is strangely slow for someone whose aura is going so wild, like a hurricane behind the surface. My breathing quickens as he comes closer. I should run. Whoever it is, I might not be able to fight him. Who the hell would be that strong?

I’m frozen right where I am, but before I can make a decision, he’s already too close. Dangerously close, maybe a few steps away. I look up, and suddenly I think I recognize the lower part of his face.

“Nate…?”

Something feels wrong, though.

When he raises his head to look at me, I gasp. He does look a lot like Nate.

But his eyes are silver, and his hair is pitch black.

Moon Goddess. It’s not Nate. It’s his brother, the King. Why in the world would he be here, in the slums, alone? This is my first time meeting him, but there is no doubt. That man is way too scary and looks too much like Nate to be mistaken for anyone else. I try to remember his name. Damian, Damian Black. The eldest brother, Alpha of the Blood Moon, and alleged werewolf King of Silver City. No wonder everyone fears him, I can barely breathe in his presence!

In my pack, I am among the strongest, but I feel like a defenseless pup in front of this guy! How come I never felt that in front of Nate? Is it because this guy is currently furious and displaying his Alpha Aura carelessly? Is Nathaniel usually holding back? I have a hundred questions, but I have no idea what to do or how to react.

His silver eyes are piercing me like daggers, cutting me open, gauging me. I feel vulnerable. My inner wolf is torn between running away and fighting. Her instincts are messed up in front of a stronger alpha. This is not our territory, and we have no advantage here.

He comes closer, his eyes not leaving me at all. For a second there, I have one thought.

This guy is going to kill me.

But right when he’s almost at my position, a shadow jumps in between us. Someone grabs my arms, and I’m pushed back.

“Damian, she’s with me.”

Nate. Nate just arrived, standing between me and his brother. He’s holding me close, but his eyes are fixed on Damian. He doesn’t seem scared though. More like wary, and he’s making sure to hide me as much as he can from his brother's sight.

“Is this her?” whispers his brother.

His older brother has a gentler voice than I thought. I sense his murderous aura somewhat calm down, and it gets a bit easier to breathe. But why is he asking this? What does that mean? They both stay silent for a few seconds, but I guess they are mind-linking. I wish I knew what the brothers were saying. A few seconds later, Nathaniel turns to me, and immediately puts his hands on my cheeks, looking worried.

“Elena, what the hell are you doing here? Are you alright?”

Behind him, the King is already gone. I didn’t hear him move at all, but we are definitely alone in this alley. Nate pushes back my wet hair on my shoulder, and his touch makes me shiver. Damn, it’s only been a day, but I missed him.

“Sorry, I wanted to come to see you, but someone was following me, and...”

“What? Who was?” he asks, looking behind my shoulder like he was looking for someone.

I shake my head. I have no idea, but right now, I don’t care. Unable to hold myself back, I step forward into his embrace, grabbing his shirt in my trembling fingers. I bury my face in his shoulder, and my tears start flowing as if something had just broken inside to let them out.

“Elena…”

Nathaniel immediately hugs me back, and I feel his hand on my drenched hair. I just keep crying like a child, unable to hold back. I just needed this. Nate’s arms, around me, shielding me from anything that’s been making me crazy these days.

We stay like this for a long time, in the rain, and he doesn’t even ask. He just holds me, for as long as I need.

When my tears finally seem to stop a little, Nate takes my hand and guides me out of the slums. We walk in silence for a bit, still in the downpour. We are literally soaked when we finally reach a building that I don’t recognize; I assume it’s another one of his hotels. We stay against each other until we finally reach the entrance. When Nate opens the door with regular keys, I suddenly realize.

“This place…”

“It’s my apartment. Come.”

Surprised, I follow him inside. Actually, except for a few details, it feels like we could be in a hotel suite. The place is very clean, everything is in perfect order, and decorated with a modern taste. But there are shoes at the entrance, a few financial magazines on the table, and some personal items here and there.

“Elena, here.”

He guides me to the bathroom, where he fills the bathtub with hot water before undressing himself. I won’t refuse a good bath, I’m chilled to the bones. And that bathtub is big enough for two or even three people.

Nate gets naked in no time and gets in with a deep sigh of satisfaction. I abandon my clothes on the floor, perfectly aware that he is watching. Once I’m naked, I step in, and Nate guides me to sit in front of him, between his legs. I can finally relax, sitting with my back against his chest, his arms around me.

This is what I’ve needed all along… His warmth. I close my eyes, indulging myself in this bliss. I feel Nate pouring some hot water on my shoulders, helping me warm up. His lips, too, fleeting on my neck. But his hands are the best. Caressing me gently, spreading his warmth on my skin. He kisses my temple gently, and I feel his breath next to my ear.

“Better?” he asks softly.

“Much better.”

He kisses my shoulder again and locks his arms around my waist, while we stay like this in a long silence. I can finally let go of all those dark thoughts that have been clouding my mind these last couple of days. I don’t want to think of anything, just savor this little taste of happiness for a while.

His fingers gently brush my stomach, and I hear him breathing deeply like he’s lost in his thoughts. I reach out for his hand, intertwining his fingers with mine. He hugs me a bit tighter.

“What were you doing there? You could have gotten killed.”

“I told you, I just came to see you. I didn’t expect to have to make such a detour. What about you? I didn’t expect to meet your… the King, this way.”

“I was just accompanying him. Someone had spotted a strange she-wolf in the slums. He checks every time.”

“In case it’s his mate,” I guess in a whisper.

Nathaniel nods. I can barely imagine such devotion. It seems that no matter how scary the King is, nothing really matters to him but the mate he lost. I wonder what his mate must be like, to be a match for him, who’s so strong and scary... Would she be scary as well? What kind of she-wolf is a good mate, a good Luna?

If only I had been Nate’s fated mate... I’ve had this thought so often these days, it even scares me sometimes.

“Nate, I wanted to talk to you.”

“About what?”

His voice indicates he suspected something. After all, I came all this way, in this shitty weather, totally unannounced, and bawled to him without warning. He took care of the emotional mess I am without question, but I should explain.

“My ex is coming back.”

I feel him freeze. His whole body is tensed up, and I give him a few seconds.

“Okay… and?” he asks.

“And… I’m a fucking mess because of that.”

“How so?”

I search for words, trying to think of a way to explain things to him without getting too deep into it. Nathaniel really doesn’t need to know about all my shit, and Moon Goddess, I hope he never does.

“Is it the one you mentioned?”

I know he remembers our conversation, the one where I explained why I would never fall in love again. I slowly nod. I don’t want to move, but I would be curious to see Nate’s expression right now if he wasn’t holding me tightly.

“Why is he coming back?”

“My Alpha had banned him for 5 years. I didn’t think he would really come back. No one did. But he was spotted in the west, so there is no mistake.”

I shiver just thinking about it. The idea of confronting Diego again, whatever he’s become, is making me crazy.

“Elena, what did he do to you?”

I shake my head. I don’t want to talk about it, and he knows that. I can feel his frustration, but there is no way I’m telling Nate. Moreover, I don’t know what he would do if he did know, and that isn’t good either. I don’t want to implicate him any more than that in our pack’s problems, and mine.

But to my surprise, he doesn’t ask again. Instead, he suddenly holds me tighter and kisses my nape. It’s not just sweet this time, it’s more… sensual. I breathe in, Nate sucks and bites my skin gently, playing with it.

“I won’t let him touch you,” he suddenly whispers.

“W…What?”

“I’m serious, Elena.”

If only he wasn’t holding me so tight against him, I could see his expression, and have an idea of what he was thinking! But I can only feel his mouth, attacking my skin restlessly, his hands caressing me and holding me close against him.

“I could have him banished forever. Or kill him.”

“No!”

I suddenly free myself from his grip and struggle to turn around and face him. I grab his face, as worried as I am serious. I look straight into his blue eyes.

“Nathaniel, no. Please. Don’t you ever, ever get close to Diego.”

“So, he’s named Diego.”

I growl, annoyed. That is so not the point! I can see the anger in his eyes, burning like fire under the ice. Thank Moon Goddess I haven’t told him anything.

“Nate, I’m very serious. I don’t want you to get involved with him, okay? Please. Let me handle him.”

But Nate growls, not annoyed at me but the situation.

“To handle him? How? Elena, he’s not even here and you’re already freaking out. Whatever he did to you, it had to be big for him to get banned from his pack for five years!”

In my opinion, that sentence was too light. But that’s not the point. I caress Nate’s cheeks with my thumbs, hoping to keep him focused on me instead of Diego.

“Nate, no. This is my pack’s issue, not yours. Don’t worry about me, I’m strong enough, okay? Please, promise me you won’t get involved.”

Nathaniel is still obviously angry, and very unwilling to answer. I can almost see his inner turmoil, but I wait, hoping he will listen. He cannot act rashly. He’s the King’s brother, for Moon Goddess’ sake!

“Nate…”

“Promise me you won’t get involved with him either.”

“What?”

“Elena, I’m not stupid. He did something big to you and traumatized you somehow.”

“I’m not--!” I want to protest, but Nate interrupts me.

“Yes, he did. Don’t lie, not to me. I know enough already, Elena. And I swear to Moon Goddess, if that guy takes one step into the Velvet Moon territory, I’ll kill him.”

There are a lot of words stuck in my throat right now, but none can come out when Nate is angry and determined like this. So, instead, I lean forward and kiss him.

He doesn’t answer at first, but he doesn’t push me away either. I knew he wouldn’t. I insist a bit, playing with my lips on his, biting a bit, and insisting until he finally responds. Of course, our kisses are way too familiar now. We fight a bit, his mouth eager for more and mine trying to tame his. Our tongues collide for something deeper. Moon Goddess, I know I’m cheating, but I want him and not a fight about my ex. I can handle Diego. But not without Nate. I need him to be there, somewhere I know I can run to like I did tonight. My refuge, my warm place to be on rainy days like this.

Our kiss gets more intense, and so does my excitement. I want more, and I can feel his arousal as well. I straddle him, his hands running on my back, while my fingers play in his hair. The heat goes up, my body goes down. My heart is beating in my ears like the rain against the window. I want more, always more.