Page 30 of His Sunshine Baby (The Silver City #2)

“Man, you need a break.”

Seven, eight… I keep ignoring Isaac and focus on my exercise, feeling the strain in my arms. He just keeps walking back and forth next to me. Damn, he’s so annoying.

“No, you need a life, actually. Seriously, you’re scaring me.”

Thirteen, fourteen… I make sure to breathe in and out, despite the sweat on my forehead. I glance at the timer. Damn, it’s been an hour already. I feel like I’ve only been here for five minutes. Maybe ten, since Isaac keeps ranting non-stop.

“Are you listening to me, Nate?”

“More like I am hearing you. I’m fine, Isaac. You can tell that to whoever sent you.”

He growls,

“You’re not fine, man. Honestly? I don’t know if I liked it better when you were depressed or drunk every hour of the day. Now you’re sober but you’re a freaking machine.”

“Thanks.”

“No, no, no, man, that’s not a compliment. For real, Nate. You wake up at 5:00 a.m. every morning, workout for two hours, get to work at 8:00 a.m., work until 8:00 p.m. with only a fifteen-minute lunch break, go clubbing, party like an animal, and start all over again. You know who sleeps as little as you? Insomniacs!”

I rarely wake up after 4:00 a.m. He doesn’t need to know, though.

“I am fine. I’m over it, taking my life back, okay?”

“That’s not a life, Nate, it’s a freaking clock. Normal people, even workaholics, sleep late on weekends, watch crappy soap operas in their free time, eat burnt mac and cheese for dinner, and see their family for brunch, not kill themselves on a freaking elliptical!”

“So it was Nora,” I growl.

My sister-in-law was probably worried since I ignored her invitation. Again. Damn it. I put the weights back and stand up to face him.

“Isaac, stop making a fuss. I just missed one brunch with my brother and Nora. It doesn’t mean anything.”

He shakes his head.

“One brunch? Nate, you haven’t seen them in days! The boss is worried, and you’ve turned down all their invitations for two weeks. Do you even remember what your nephew looks like?”

Here he goes with the guilt trip.I didn’t mean to worry Damian or Nora. But somehow, it hurts to see them. Since my sister-in-law awoke from her coma, they have been living the perfect family life. A big house, a son, and now a second kid on the way.

Meanwhile, I’ve been trying to drown myself. First, it was alcohol. When Damian told me about Elena, I couldn’t believe it. It hurt so bad. I kept replaying my fight with her, how I never wanted to see her again. I didn’t think she would really leave! Her words still haunt me, like some dark movie playing over and over in my head. I kept drinking, but it didn’t change a thing. Sober or drunk, it hurt too much to think about her, yet I was unable to forget her. I even tried sleeping with other women, only to realize how useless it was. I couldn’t go back in time to when I didn’t love her.

Damian was angry with me, so was Liam. My brothers couldn’t stand my dangerous behavior anymore. The more I drank, the more reckless I got. I almost died in a car accident last year. I had to promise I wouldn’t drink another drop of alcohol anymore. Nora was worried for me too. She invited me over again and again to make sure I was fine, eating properly, getting decent sleep. After James was born, however, it became harder, because seeing my nephew reminded me of Elena’s child.

We never say her name. They know how painful it is for me. It’s no use, anyway. She’s gone.

“I’ll call Nora after I’m done with my workout, Isaac, okay?”

My Beta and best friend was frowning, doubtful, so I ignored him and moved onto the rower. He follows me, of course.

“It’s not just Nora, Nate. How about you take a few days off work too, huh? I’m the HR Director and I know you haven’t taken a day off in months!”

“Damian took days off to watch Nora and James. I can take over, I’m fine.”

He rolls his eyes at me.

“You stubborn prick! The Black Corporation isn’t going to collapse if you and Damian take a day off! We have Neal, Thaddeus, Victoria; they all work for you, you know!”

“Fine!” I growl, annoyed at him. “I’ll take a day off tomorrow.”

“Oh, so you will finally rest on a Sunday?”

Shit. Is it Saturday already? I lost count. I keep rowing, hoping he’ll finally go away, but he stays there with his arms crossed. Don’t tell me he is really going to wait and watch me call Nora?

“Seriously, Isaac, don’t you have a wife and a kid to--”

“ Daddy… ”

I stop, the handle flying out of my hands. What was that? I swear I…

“Nate? What’s wrong?”

I wait a few seconds, but it’s gone. I look around, but there aren’t any kids in the gym, of course, it’s off-limits to minors. Did it come from outside? Or one of the TV screens?

“… Nothing. I thought I heard something.”

I must be more tired than I thought. I get up, grabbing my towel and heading to the locker room, Isaac right behind me.

“Come have dinner at our place. Leah and Julian would be happy to see you.”

“I’m good, Isaac. Anyway, your–”

Before I can end my sentence, my phone rings. It’s Damian. I sigh and answer my older brother.

“Yes, Damian, I didn’t mean to ignore Nora, I--”

“Nate, it’s Elena. She just mind-linked Nora.”

I stop breathing for a second… Elena? Elena mind-linked Nora? Why? Doesn’t that mean she’s close? Nora always said they couldn’t reach each other because of the distance! I don’t even know what to say.

“She said Elena’s daughter mind-linked her too.”

Elena’s…? My heartbeat’s thumping in my ears. Why would Elena mind-link Nora now? She’s coming back? And why would she…

“ Daddy… ”

A chill goes down my spine. This time, I heard it, I really heard it. My wolf is on all fours, searching around, restless. Where is she? Isaac’s about to say something, but I start running, leaving all of my things behind except for my phone, which is stuck to my ear.

“Nora’s trying to focus on her, but she just lost the mind-link with Elena. Her daughter’s–”

“Damian, I feel her too.”

I almost choke up with those words, but I’m rushing outside, a confused Isaac following right behind me. My wolf’s telling me to head west, and I’m running there. How could Elena’s child mind-link me? She shouldn’t be able to, right?

“Nathaniel?” calls my brother.

“I’m going… I… I’m headed to the west…” I say, trying to save my breath.

“Nate, what’s going on?” asks Isaac, concerned.

“Just come!” I yell to him, annoyed.

I don’t even know myself! Why is Elena’s child able to mind-link me? And why can’t I feel her mother?

“ Nathaniel? ”

“ Nora! Can you feel her? Elena? I can’t feel her! ”

“ I know, I could feel her too until a few minutes ago, but… I don’t know what’s going on… I can still feel Estelle, but it’s very faint… ”

Estelle. Her daughter’s name is Estelle. I nod and keep running, following my instincts exactly where my wolf begs me to go.

“Nate, I don’t want Nora out in her condition. I’m sending Liam with you.”

I nod. Not only is she the Luna and needs to stay in Silver City for her protection, but she’s six months pregnant, so she can’t shape-shift. Damn, he has to send that idiot. Him and his witch girlfriend have been giving me hell since Elena left. Okay, I don’t care for now. I just need to find Elena and her daughter. I don’t want to be too occupied with mind-linking Nora, the connection to… to Estelle is already so faint, I’m worried I’ll lose it.

“ Daddy… Auntie Nora… ”

I can sense her cries, and it drives my wolf crazy. I finally reach our border and run outside, right into the forest. She can’t be that far.

A black wolf joins me, but I don’t glance at my brother, we’re both too focused on running as fast as we can for now. Something’s definitely wrong. I feel a rumbling underground, and realize Sylviana’s probably following us too. Why is the witch coming? Can she help find Elena?

“ Da…Daddy… ”

I turn left, my wolf guiding me by pure instinct. Why is it so easy? It’s like an invisible thread guiding me to her. Within a few minutes, I reach the spot my wolf found, and look around. Where is she? I still can’t feel Elena’s wolf, and it’s driving me crazy. Why can’t I find her daughter either? She…

“Nate!”

Isaac is standing a few steps away, in front of a large tree with something like a large crack in the trunk. I walk up to him, my heart beating like crazy, my hands shaking.

My heart stops. Curled up there, looking at us with her eyes full of tears, a little girl is hidden. Moon Goddess. My wolf is going nuts, and I just lose the ability to think. She’s… she’s so like her mom. Golden blonde hair, slightly gold skin, and a little mouth and nose; her daughter is only a bit chubbier than Elena. But her eyes… She has my mother’s eyes. This vivid shade of sky-blue. The exact same eyes as mine.

She’s undoubtedly my daughter. The truth hits me harder than I ever expected. This little girl is the perfect mix between me and her mother. I recognize so much of myself in her, and my wolf is restless in front of his pup too. I… How…

“… Daddy?”

It’s like an electric shock when she calls to me with her little voice. She knows I’m her father? How would she…? I exchange a glance with Isaac, but I’m the one she’s staring at, with her eyes full of worry and hope.

“Moon Goddess, Nate, she’s really your spitting image…” whispers Isaac.

She looks terrified, waiting for an answer.

I’m overwhelmed with emotions right now, but my instincts take over. I kneel and open my arms to her.

“It… It’s okay. You can…”

Before I finish my sentence, she runs to me, burying her face in my torso and crying loudly.

“I want Mommy… Mommy left… and we left the house… and we ran fast… Daddy… Mommy… I’m really, really scared…”

Hearing her cry like this, I can’t take it anymore. I hug her back and get up, carrying my daughter in my arms. My daughter. Moon Goddess, this is so crazy. I turn to Isaac, restless. I have Estelle now, but what about her mom? How do we find her if we can’t mind-link her?

“Isaac, call…”

“ Nate! We found Elena! ”

I turn around, following my brother’s wolf’s voice. From the panic in his voice, I can tell something’s wrong. I run, holding Estelle tight. What happened to Elena? Why would she leave her daughter alone in such a place? I keep running, she was so far away from Estelle!

When I get there, I spot Sylviana first, making a sour face. She’s leaning over a dead wolf’s body. Moon Goddess, no, no.

“That’s…” starts Isaac, just when I’m too frightened to ask.

“Reagan,” says Sylviana. “She was Elena’s mentor.”

Yeah, I remember that woman. She is the one I had met at the border. Now that I’m thinking it over, this wolf’s fur is silver gray; Elena said hers was cream white. Then, where… I see Liam, back in his human form a few feet behind them, leaning over another wolf. Damn it, that’s Elena!

I rush to his side, making sure Estelle’s face stays against my shoulder so she doesn’t look. There’s so much blood. My heart goes cold. I can tell she’s barely breathing, and her shoulder looks severely injured!

“We need to get her to a hospital, and quick,” says Liam. “Sylviana, can you do something?”

His girlfriend is still by the dead wolf’s side, her eyes red with sadness and anger. It takes her a couple more seconds before she leaves her side and rushes to Elena. She inspects her injury, frowning.

“I’ll do what I can, but we need to hurry.”

Immediately, she grabs some of the soil, pouring it over Elena’s injury. What the heck? Will this do any good? I want to protest, but before I can, something happens. A lot of little red flowers suddenly bloom all over Elena’s injury.

“Mommy? Grandma Reagan?”

“No, no, Estelle, don’t look,” says Isaac, worried.

She’s struggling in my arms, trying to see her mother. Crap, she probably sensed she was close. How can her wolf be awake already? She is, what, four years old now? Isn’t she too young for her wolf to be awake? I didn’t even think about it, but she did mind-link me.

“Isaac, take her.”

I hand my daughter to him, and rush to pick up and carry Elena. Damn it, I haven’t seen her in over four years and now this… She is so light. Did she change much during all this time?

“Nate, let’s go,” says Liam.

He’s carrying her deceased mentor. What happened to them? That was no weak woman, neither is Elena. How could they end up in such a state? Sylviana keeps looking around, visibly restless too.

“Sylviana, what happened to them?”

She shakes her head.

“Let’s take them back. We will talk later.”

I’m already hurrying to get Elena back as fast as possible. I can’t stop glancing at our daughter in Isaac’s arms. Truthfully, I wish I had enough arms to carry both of them. I still can’t believe it.

“Nathaniel! Nathaniel, where is she? Elena is…”

I turn to see Nora, running up to me, with my brother and Boyan. They probably left in a hurry; her bun is messy, and my brother’s shirt is wrinkled too. We’re in the Emergency room waiting area, gathered around like idiots.

The wait is killing me. I’m only holding on because I have Estelle with me, who’s been crying silently against my shoulder. She’s terrified and I have no idea how to comfort her. The only thing I’ve done so far is carry her. She still has that jacket that smells like her mom around her, hopefully comforting her a bit too. Her little hands are holding on tight to my shirt, and she won’t let go.

Isaac walks up to Nora and Damian to explain the situation to them, whispering.

“Elena’s in surgery. Her injuries are bad, but the doctors said she will make it.”

“Moon Goddess, Estelle…”

Nora walks up to me, seeing my daughter in my arms. Estelle looks at her with a little frown, confused.

“Estelle, honey, it’s Auntie Nora. Do you remember me? We talked a lot on the phone.”

“Auntie Nora…?”

“That’s right, honey,” says the Luna with a gentle smile. “You were a brave girl, weren’t you?”

Estelle seems a bit hesitant. She probably hasn’t met Nora in person before. She was already very scared when we reached Silver City, which is not surprising. She just went from the countryside she’s known her whole life to a city full of skyscrapers and noise.

I am still too shocked from discovering I have a daughter, yet she’s been holding on to me this whole time. How come she knows about me? She trusts me as her dad, like she has known me her whole life. I’m still baffled.

“Estelle! Elena!”

This time, it’s Daniel Lewis and his brother who come running in. Shit, I didn’t expect him… or his brother. He walks up to me, immediately going from worried to angry at me.

“How dare you pick her up! Let her go! Estelle, it’s Dada! You know, your Dada?”

“Dada!”

This time, Estelle recognizes him immediately, and when he takes her from me, she doesn’t resist. Shit. I have to control my wolf to not be angry at him. It’s odd, that sensation. I didn’t want to part with Estelle. Even now, she’s only a few steps away, but my wolf wants his pup back.

“Dada… I want to see Mommy…”

Daniel turns to Liam and Sylviana, clearly ignoring me. Behind him, his brother is giving me weird glances too.

“Where is Elena? What happened?”

“Nora and Nate picked up their distress calls,” explains Liam. “We found Estelle alone, but Elena probably acted as a decoy to save her.”

“It was the Dark Witch,” admits Sylviana. “I think she ran when she felt me coming, but…”

“How is she?” asks Daniel’s brother, sending worried glances toward the surgery room.

“She’s going to be fine. I won’t make a full list, but she had a lot of injuries, though the medical staff said she will make it.”

“Thank Moon Goddess,” sighs Daniel.

“Daniel… We… found Reagan too.”

Her sorry expression says it all, but Sylviana’s probably careful with her words because of Estelle. Daniel’s jaw drops.

“She…?”

A long silence follows. He looks terribly affected, shaking his head, holding back his tears. Boyan walks up to him, standing by his boyfriend to try and comfort him. Nora, too, walks up to him and rubs his shoulder.

“Daniel, I’m so sorry.”

“Damn it… She’s going to be so sad when she hears this.”

He has a hard time trying not to cry, I can tell. I guess he was close to that woman too. I see his brother take out his phone from his pocket and leave. They probably need to tell their pack the news. What a mess…

Daniel puts a hand over Estelle’s left ear, holding her with his free arm, and turns to us again.

“Elena, did she… say anything?”

“No, she only called out to me for help, and I lost the mind-link almost immediately,” sighs Nora.

“Fuck! I can’t believe this really happened. And Reagan’s death… Moon Goddess.”

I’m confused. Why the hell is he only blocking one of her ears, what’s the point if she hears it? I understand his other arm is busy, but…

However, to my surprise, Estelle isn’t reacting at all to his words. I stare at my daughter, who seems tired in his arms, but really, it’s like she didn’t hear.

“Estelle?”

She doesn’t react, again. What the…? She really didn’t hear. Daniel sighs and turns to me with an exasperated expression, like I did something wrong.

“What are you doing?”

“Why can’t she hear me?”

He sighs again.

“Her right ear is deaf. She was born like that. She only hears from her left side.”

What? Why? Why was she born with a deaf ear? Nora seems surprised, too, so I guess my sister-in-law wasn’t aware either.

Understanding we’re talking about her, Estelle pushes his hand away and turns to him.

“Dada, can I see Mommy now? I want to see Mommy.”

“Not yet, baby star, Mommy is with the doctors. You will see her soon, I promise.”

“The surgery will probably take a couple more hours, though,” says Liam with a frown.

“Daniel, how about we take her for a little snack?” suggests Nora. “She must be tired from all that’s happened. Estelle, do you want something to drink?”

“A hot chocolate.”

Nora smiles softly, caressing her blonde hair.

“Alright, let’s go get a hot chocolate, alright? Danny, come.”

Like they had discussed this before, Nora gives a little nod to Damian, and she walks away with Daniel, Boyan following behind them.

“Liam, you’re going with them,” suddenly says Damian.

“But…”

Our brother’s eyes won’t take any refusal. Liam hesitates, sends me an annoyed glance, and then follows them.

I’m left with Damian and Sylviana, and my legs officially give up. I fall on my ass off one of the benches. That’s too much emotion for one day.

“I have a child. Moon Goddess, Damian, I have a four-year-old daughter,” I whisper, my head in my hands.

The truth hits me again, like a hammer hitting harder every freaking minute. Though Estelle walked away with her mother’s best friend, my wolf can still feel his pup. I can tell exactly where she is in the building.

Damian sits next to me, putting a hand on my shoulder.

“Elena will be fine.”

“She will kill me when she wakes up. She has every fucking right to. I can’t believe it.”

“Nathaniel, calm down.”

“I can’t calm down! I have a kid! Elena had my child, all by herself, and she raised her alone in the woods for four fucking years after I basically kicked her out!”

“You didn’t kick her out.”

Sylviana’s voice surprises me. I didn’t expect our friendly neighborhood witch to step into this conversation. She looks tired, with her sullied dress and disheveled red hair.

“Elena had many reasons to leave. You were one of them, but it wasn’t only you. It was to protect her baby.”

“Why couldn’t she have protected her within Silver City?” I ask, angry.

“Nathaniel. Nora and Elena are related.”

I turn to my brother, confused.

“What do you mean, related?”

“They are cousins.”

I shake my head, doubtful. What is he saying? Where does this come from? His wife and Elena, related?

“It’s a long story,” adds Sylviana, “but Elena has Royal blood, just like Nora. She left because Estelle was your child. She knew that with your Alpha blood, her daughter would be a Royal too.”

“It doesn’t make any sense. Elena isn’t a Royal! She doesn’t even look like Nora!”

I’m exasperated now. Why are they telling me these crazy truths, after all this time? How does Damian know so much about Elena? He turns to me, using his big brother voice just when I’m getting too confused to think straight.

“Nate, you’ll sort it out with Elena when she wakes up.”

“How do you know these things, Damian? Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“There are many things we concealed to protect Estelle,” says Sylviana. “Other things Elena didn’t want you to know, too.”

“I’ve had my share of secrets,” I growl. “Anything else I need to know?”

“She can’t come back to our pack.”

Surprised, I turn around and realize that Daniel’s redhead brother is back. I had forgotten about that guy. What was his name again? Levi? I can’t believe I suspected he was Estelle’s father. He looks nothing like her. He has darker skin than Elena’s, he’s tall like a giraffe. and though his eyes are blue, it’s a different shape and shade, nothing like mine.

“What? Why?” I ask, confused for the hundredth time today.

“She was banned five years ago.”

“You mean before she left? Why would they ban Elena? Isn’t her godfather your Alpha?”

He hesitates, looking a bit embarrassed. That’s when I realize. I get up and grab his collar, furious.

“Because of Estelle? You bastards kicked her out because she was having my child?!”

“Nathaniel!” growls Damian.

My brother intervenes to get me off Levi, but I’m so angry, I just keep growling at him. He shakes his head.

“First of all, I am not our Alpha or our elders, we didn’t have any say in this. And there were… circumstances, okay?”

“I don’t care about your circumstances! You tell Clark that next time I see him, I’ll–”

“Nathaniel, enough!”

This time, I can’t disobey Damian. His Alpha Aura is suppressing mine. Fuck! I can’t believe the White Moon banished a pregnant woman because of her relationship with me! I know it wasn’t the best for us to be together back then, but still!

Damian insists on having me sit back down, where Levi is out of reach.

“Enough. First, let’s focus on Elena and Estelle; we’ll deal with Clark later. They will stay with our pack for now.”

This time, Damian’s glare is on that guy, meaning there is no arguing on this. Or maybe he’s a bit pissed at the White Moon too. Even though the borders within Silver City are long forgotten and the packs’ relationships have drastically improved, there are some things that won’t be forgiven just like that.

Like a clan kicking his niece’s mother out.

“Thanks. I know Daniel can freely go to your territory, so--”

“Anyone can come to our territory,” says Damian. “If Elena’s friends want to see her, they can.”

Levi nods, looking a bit thankful. I don’t feel sorry for them. If they hadn’t banished her, I would have been able to see my daughter as soon as she was born. They--

“Daddy!”

I turn around. Estelle is already back, running to me with a Starbucks cup in her hand. She stands face-to-face with me as I’m still sitting, showing me her cup.

“Daddy, look. Auntie Nora bought me this, and the lady made it with the coffee machine, and she put whipped cream on it.”

I can’t help but smile while she tells me all this. She’s so excited by a mere cup of hot chocolate, she looks better than when she was worried about her mom.

“She wanted to come back as soon as possible,” says Nora. “She was afraid her dad would be gone.”

I frown. Estelle was scared I’d leave? Why is she so insecure when she has only just met me? Behind her, Daniel is glaring at me with his arms crossed, but he doesn’t dare say anything in front of Estelle.

“Daddy, do you want some? Auntie Nora, can I share?”

“Of course, honey.”

“I’m fine, Estelle. You can drink it.”

She nods and drinks a bit.

It’s strange how curious I am about every one of her movements. I’m literally fascinated by my daughter. I turn to Nora, thinking about her own child.

“Where is James?”

“We left him with William,” explains Nora.

Oh, her cousin. That makes sense. My two-year-old nephew is a bit too young to be in a hospital, and he has a bit of a temper, too. He probably can’t sit still for a long time. Estelle, on the other hand, is very calm, though she sends regular glances to the surgery room, and seems a bit afraid by the crowd around her. Is that why she’s staying right next to me?

“Estelle?” I gently call to her.

“Mhmm?”

“How did you know that I’m your dad?”

Daniel sends me another glare from behind her, but I don’t care. Estelle smiles, all proud, and explains in her little voice.

“I have your picture! Mommy showed it to me, and I said I liked it, so Mommy printed it and now I have it! I put it in a pretty frame so I could see you all the time!”

My heart is torn apart from hearing this.

I’m such an ass. All these years… Damn it. I can’t hold back; I pull my daughter in to hug her. I’m so thankful to Elena. She didn’t tell her how much of an imbecile her father was, or pretend I didn’t exist.

“But… Daddy… I left the picture at the house…”

I chuckle.

“It’s okay, baby. I’m here now. And we can get it back later if you want.”

“Can we?” asks Nora, turning to Sylviana. “You said she was…”

The witch seems to hesitate for a few seconds.

“She fled as soon as she sensed me, but from what I felt, she is stronger than before. I’m afraid we don’t have much time left.”

Damian and I exchange a glance. We were preparing for when this Dark Witch would attack, but… this is too soon. I only barely met Estelle, and Elena is in such a state!

“How long?” asks Damian.

“I’m not sure,” sighs Sylviana. ”It could be a few weeks, or a few months. But it will be before next year.”

Next year? We are already in July… meaning we only have six months left, maximum. I look at my daughter, feeling like a vice is constricting my heart. At least now she’s here with me.

“Tonia?”

Boyan’s older sister just came out of the surgery room, wearing a nurse’s gown. She takes off the paper hat and mask, walking up to us. I realize Damian probably gave orders right when we came back.

“Hi, everyone. Elena is fine. We managed to save her shoulder too. It will take a few weeks, but she’ll heal. She’s stable, but she will need to stay in the intensive care unit. She lost a lot of blood, and like Nora, she doesn’t heal like a normal werewolf either.”

“Thank you for taking care of her,” says Levi.

“What are you talking about? She’s family, of course we will take care of her, and Estelle too,” replies Nora.

He looks down, a bit overwhelmed by the Luna’s annoyed tone. Damian probably told her about the White Moon clan banishing Elena. Nora is usually gentle, but when she’s pissed, you don’t want to be in the same room as her. She learned how to be scary from my brother, but her Alpha Aura is no mere imitation.

“Nora, go home with Estelle,” says Damian. “She won’t be able to see her mother in the intensive care unit.”

“But… I want to see Mommy…” Estelle starts crying.

She’s standing next to me, opposite from my brother, but I can tell Damian scares her a bit. I caress my daughter’s hair.

“Estelle, Mommy is sleeping now, and doctors are taking care of her.”

She slowly cries, fidgeting. She grabs my hand, holding on to it.

“Daddy… Please… I promise I won’t wake Mommy up… I’ll be really quiet… please…”

Shit… I’m going to be one weak-willed father. I sigh a bit and turn to Damian. Maybe we can make an exception, just this once? I see Nora give him the look too. Thank Moon Goddess my sister-in-law is on my side. He nods and turns to Tonia.

“Make sure she sees her mom.”

Tonia frowns.

“The hospital director won’t be happy.”

“The hospital director’s salary comes from my wallet,” growls Damian, “and the budget comes from our company. Let him know he had better think twice before being unhappy.”

“Sure thing, Boss.”

Tonia walks away to warn the nurses, and Daniel turns to us with a frown.

“Where will she stay? Elena doesn’t have a place here; we left our apartment and she sold her parents’ house.”

“Both were on the White Moon territory, anyway,” says Liam.

“I’m not homeless,” I say to him.

“Why would she live with you?” says Daniel. “Technically, you were a stranger until two hours ago. You’ve never raised a kid, as far as I know, and you don’t know anything about her.”

I would argue against not raising anyone, considering what a pain in the ass Liam was growing up, but I’ll leave that for now.

“I’m still her father,” I growl.

“Her estranged father. I’m her godfather; I’ve talked to her and her mom every week since she was born!”

“Shut up, both of you!” suddenly yells Nora. “First of all, may I remind you this is a hospital, so be quiet. Second of all, Estelle is right here, so stop fighting in front of her. And third of all, she will stay with us.”

Liam opens his mouth to argue, but she glares at him.

“Liam, I’m very tired, very pregnant, and your Luna. Don’t you think about it.”

“ That’s my wife.”

Liam and I both glare at Damian and his smirk. Does he really have to brag right now?

“Anyway, we have plenty of room at home,” she adds. “Everyone can sleep over for now.”

“Guess I’ll get to see my nephew, then,” says Liam, avoiding my eyes.

I guess he is still mad at me too.

“Estelle, you’ll be able to meet your cousin tonight!”

She looks at Nora with surprised eyes.

“My cousin?”

“That’s right, honey. Your cousin James. He’s younger than you, only two years old.”

Estelle smiles, visibly happy, though she doesn’t dare to add anything else. Her hand is still holding on to mine. Somehow, it’s a huge relief to me. She doesn’t consider me a stranger.

“Boss, you can go in now,” announces Tonia. “Not too many people at once, though.”

“I can see Mommy?” suddenly asks Estelle.

“Yes, honey, but you have to be very quiet, okay?” replies Nora.

“I will! I will be as quiet as a mouse,” she says while covering her mouth with her little hands.

I get up, my heart beating like crazy in my ears. I get to see Elena in her human form. I try to calm down, but it’s hard. Estelle is overjoyed, her hand still in mine.

“Where are you going?” asks Daniel with a frown.

“To see Elena,” I reply, though I can already tell it won’t be that simple.

“How dare you! She wouldn’t want to see you!”

“It’s not about her seeing me but me seeing her, Daniel,” I say, trying not to growl to not scare my daughter.

“How easy, for someone who didn’t want to see her for four and a half years,” says Liam.

I growl at my brother, annoyed that he’s on Daniel’s side, but Damian steps in before I can say anything.

“Liam, enough.”

“But–”

“I said enough!”

This time, our younger brother doesn’t dare say a thing, and no one stops me when I follow Tonia to the intensive care unit.

I can feel Estelle’s hand shaking. She’s scared in this unfamiliar environment. A hospital is no place for a young kid. I decide to carry her again, since she seems a bit less frightened this way. I still can’t get used to it. Carrying my daughter, having her little body against mine, her arms around my neck…

“Here she is…” whispers Tonia, taking us to the right bed.

Moon Goddess…

My heart is just about to explode. Fuck. She is even more beautiful than I remember, despite being stuck in a hospital bed with machines all around to help her breathe. I wish I could see her eyes though. Estelle doesn’t have her mom’s unique amber eyes. Elena’s blonde hair is longer, and she’s lost weight. I try to engrave her face into my memory, replacing all the images I had already.

“Mommy…”

Estelle is frowning, a bit impressed by the medical equipment.

“She is okay, honey, the doctors are taking care of her.”

“She is sleeping?”

“Yes, sweetheart.”

It’s good that Nora is answering her questions because my throat is too tight to utter a single word right now. I want to cry, apologize to her. I’m such a--

“Nate, are you okay?”

“Take Estelle for a second.”

I give my daughter to Tonia and leave the hospital, finding the closest exit I can. Fuck, fuck, FUCK! This all my fucking fault! I lost four and a half years with Elena and our daughter! And now she’s in that state?! I’m the worst!

I fall on the asphalt and burst into tears, something I haven’t done in a long, long time. But I can’t hold it in. It just all comes back to me now: all the regret, the pain from these last few years. I can’t believe it. All this time lost, and I’m never going to get it back.

“Nate, calm down.”

I feel Damian’s hand on the nape of my neck, trying to comfort me, but I can’t. There’s a torrent of tears that needs to flow out.

“I’ve been such an… an idiot…”

“It’s okay. You’ll earn their trust back.”

“How? There’s no fucking way Elena will forgive me!”

“Nate, you’ll think of something later. For now, focus on your daughter.”

Estelle… Damn it. It’s a miracle she even knows I exist. I hang on to this tiny sliver of hope that maybe, just maybe, Elena told her about me because there’s still something, a little something left between us…

“ Nathaniel? Estelle’s asking for you.”

Nora’s voice in my head makes me calm down. Damian helps me up, and we walk back inside. They’re right. One thing at a time.

“Daddy!”

From the other end of the corridor, my daughter lets go of Nora’s hand and runs to me. It’s one of the best feelings ever. Opening my arms to her, seeing her shy smile before she hugs me.

“Auntie Nora said we can come back tomorrow to see Mommy.”

“Yeah, let’s do that,” I whisper to her with a nod.

“The Lewis’ are with her now,” explains Nora, “but they will come over for dinner later. Let’s go home.”

We take the car back to their house, and for Estelle, it’s a whole new experience. She keeps staring outside, asking us a thousand questions like what is that building, how does the car work, why do the streets have names, and so on.

We drive back to Nora and Damian’s house. He bought it for them a few years ago, and they are properly settled in now. Even the room for the new baby is already prepared. They are careful with this pregnancy since James was a premature baby. Now that I think about it…

“Estelle, you’re four years old? When is your birthday?”

“May 1st!”

So she was born a bit early too? If I remember correctly, Sylviana said Elena got pregnant mid-September, so she should have given birth late June. Maybe it’s a Royal thing? The babies are more fragile?

We finally arrive at their house, and Estelle stays right next to me, a bit shy. I notice she doesn’t go near Boyan. The huge brown wolf seems to scare her a bit.

“Mama!”

James is already running to us when we enter. My nephew is an energy pill, and very, very stubborn. I wonder who he got that from…

“My baby!”

Nora gets on her knees to hug him with a big smile. Behind him, her cousin William comes to greet us.

“Welcome back.”

As usual, William and Damian are exchanging glares while he talks to Nora. He’s just like a picky father-in-law. He leaves to go home to his wife and daughter after a while, and Nora takes care of James, who’s being fussy as usual, while I give Estelle a tour of the house.

“This is Auntie Nora’s house?” she asks, impressed as we visit the living room and playroom on the first floor.

“And your Uncle Damian’s.”

“Uncle Damian?”

I think my brother is still a bit too frightening for her. I can’t blame her. Aside from his family, I haven’t met anyone who isn’t naturally scared of my brother. Nora comes back and decides we should order pizza for everyone to share, James following her every step as usual.

“Pizza?” repeats Estelle with a little frown.

Moon Goddess, she doesn’t know what pizza is? Well, with her mother’s cooking, I shouldn’t be too surprised, but I smile and kneel to face her, a bit amused.

“You’ve never had pizza? It was your mom’s favorite food.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I made it for her when she was sick; she loved it.”

“Can you make one for me too?”

“Nora ordered them already, but I promise I’ll make you any dish you want later, okay?”

“Okay, Daddy.”

I smile. This is a new sensation for me. Estelle smiles and goes to play with James, who’s basically treating poor Boyan like a horse. Nora only introduced them quickly, but my nephew’s apparently decided he loves his cousin already. They brought over some toys from the playroom to play with on the carpet, but Boyan is the main entertainment for now.

Meanwhile, I grab the backpack Estelle had with her this whole time. Was Elena ready to leave anytime? I check inside. There are children’s basic toiletries, two changes of clothes, some money, and a letter. I hesitate a second. The envelope is blank, but whatever Elena wrote is inside. Before I can make up my mind, Damian takes it from me to open it.

“To whoever found her, please bring my daughter Estelle to her father in Silver City. If I can’t be by her side, please make sure she meets him safely. His name is Nathaniel Black. He will take care of her, if you present her to him. He can even give you money in exchange if you want, but please, to whoever is reading this letter, take good care of my baby. I’m sorry I can’t be there, but she is the most precious thing to me. Please.”

I take a deep breath.

She trusted me. Elena knew I’d take care of Estelle if I met her. It’s a huge relief. All the signs are there. She wanted me to know my daughter, and for her to know me.

Someone takes the letter from me. Isaac and Daniel are back, and read it together.

“Dada!”

“I can’t believe it. She said to bring Estelle to you instead of me?” he sighs.

“You still belong to the White Moon clan,” says Damian. “She doesn’t. And Nathaniel is her father.”

“He doesn’t–!”

Damian suddenly gets up to face Daniel.

“Daniel, I’ll say it one last time. Nathaniel made mistakes, but so did you. Who was in charge of that paternity test back then?”

He inevitably looks down, shaking his head.

“It wasn’t my fault. Iris…”

Iris? Who is he talking about?

“I don’t care what Whitewood did,” growls Damian. “It was also your fault for not watching those tests. My brother has his wrongdoings but so do you, and so did Elena. Now if you still have a problem with Nathaniel taking care of his daughter, you’ll settle this with him outside, not inside my house.”

He used his Alpha Aura in that last sentence, and Daniel steps back instinctively, overpowered. I’m grateful to him. I’m feeling shitty enough without having to fight Daniel today.

“That goes for you too,” Damian says to Liam, who had just walked in.

“Yeah, yeah, I get it.”

Our younger brother just avoids us to go play with James, but Sylviana sits next to me. The witch is very comfortable around us now. Of course, given that I have been avoiding pretty much everyone recently, I didn’t see her much either, but I know she hangs out a lot with Nora.

“How are you?” she asks me softly.

“A bit shaken up,” I sigh. “It’s… a lot for one day. I just can’t believe they are here.”

She smiles, and when James starts to whine about some toy, Sylviana agitates her fingers. A few flower petals appear out of nowhere around the kids, who immediately start playing with them, amused.

“You were there when she was born.”

“Yes,” she nods. “I helped Elena give birth to her. Estelle was unhealthy. I think Elena suffered too much stress during her pregnancy, plus the pre-eclampsia and her previous miscarriage.”

I guess Estelle’s birth was a miracle to begin with. How was she even conceived? Between both of our difficulties, it should have been impossible. So how?

“Nathaniel, don’t think too much, for now,” says Sylviana. “Even if she looks fine, Estelle is in a new environment, without her mother, and with people she didn’t know until today. She probably trusts you more than any of us because of her wolf’s instincts too.”

I hadn’t thought of that. But indeed, her wolf is already awake. She probably felt our bond before I did.

“ Estelle ?”

She turns her head and walks up to me, curious.

“You called me, Daddy?”

I can’t help but smile. I caress her blonde hair, and she puts her little hands on my knees.

“Are you tired?”

“Mhmm. A little. But I’m really hungry.”

“The pizza is on its way,” says Nora from across the room.

“Pizza? You ordered pizza?” asks Liam, suddenly very interested.

“Pizza!” yells James, excited.

“Liam, take the kids to wash their hands first,” says Nora.

Two hours later, we are done eating the pizza. It’s the best evening I’ve had in a long time. Watching the kids play with Boyan, Daniel, and Liam, chatting with my brother and Isaac about company matters, and leaving Sylviana and Nora to talk about the garden.

When Nora decides it’s time for everyone to go to bed, I realize she already prepared the rooms for us all. Estelle’s is right next to mine, but I insist on tucking her into bed. I lay next to my daughter, while she’s still glancing around the room, a bit uneasy.

“You don’t like the room?” I ask.

“No, it’s pretty.”

She’s probably just not used to the new environment. She’s snuggling against me, unable to close her eyes despite the late hour.

“How was your bedroom? In Mom’s house?”

“Hmm... smaller. And I draw bunnies on the wall too.”

“You like bunnies?”

“Yes! I draw lots and lots. And Mom got me a bunny plushie. But I left it there.”

“It’s okay, we can go and buy you new plushies tomorrow, okay?”

“Really?” she asks with her big eyes opened wide.

“Yeah. We can buy whatever you want. And new clothes and pajamas, too.”

For now, she’s sleeping in one of Nora’s shirts that falls to her knees.

“Daddy?”

“Yes?”

“We are not going back to our house?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Oh.”

She seems a bit sad. She probably left all of her toys and stuff there. And she’s lived there her whole life, too.

“Estelle, where did Mommy get your bunny?”

“At the village with the humans. But I don’t like going there. They don’t like us.”

Probably because they were wary of werewolves. We are lucky in Silver City; decades of cohabitation have made it so that humans and werewolves get along. We don’t get involved in each other’s business, but we don’t fight either. They hate vampires a lot more, but they don’t mind us.

“I miss Grandma Reagan too.”

“I’m sorry, baby.”

“Baby star!”

“What?”

She suddenly smiles.

“Mommy called me baby star! She said my name comes from the stars, because I’m Mommy’s little sun. So I’m a baby star!”

I chuckle. So that’s how she decided on her name. Estelle. Did she pick a French name on purpose? I really like it. And I called her mom my sunshine, too. It’s very fitting. I kiss her cheek.

“Alright, baby star needs to sleep now.”

I’m about to get up and leave, but she holds on to me, suddenly losing her smile.

“Daddy… Can you stay? I’m… a little bit scared…”

I nod and take my position again next to her. Estelle smiles and grabs my shirt, satisfied. We stay silent for a while, and I think she’s asleep, but then…

“Daddy? Can we see Mommy again? Tomorrow?”

“I promise. You’ll see Mommy every day.”

“And you’ll stay with me?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not leaving?”

“Why do you think I’ll leave?” I ask.

“I don’t know. Mommy said you have a house in the sky.”

A house in the… Does she mean my apartment? Elena really loved the view from up there. I smile.

“Would you like to come and see my house in the sky tomorrow?”

“Can I?” she asks, excited.

“If you’re a good girl and sleep well.”

“Okay! I will sleep now. Good night, Daddy.”

“Good night, little star,” I whisper.

I watch her sleep for a while, unable to find sleep myself. She’s the cutest little girl I’ve ever seen, and she’s mine. She’s breathing slowly, her hand still holding on tight to my shirt. I just hope she’s not remembering too much of her scare today. Sylviana gave us a dreamcatcher to hang at the end of the bed. I hope this witch stuff is effective…