72. A Journey Home
ZAIA.
A Mark. An imprint that will strengthen your bond with your fated. Where your mate marks you, it forms a design that is unique to each mated couple. When I mark Sebastian again, his will match mine.
The mark is invisible to the naked eye, and only when the body is going through intense emotion or pain does the mark become visible on the skin. I now stare at my neck in the mirror, the bite wound has healed over but there is still an angry bruise.
I smile softly, it was the right decision to make. We may still have things to sort out, but he has proved that he regrets what he did and how he handled things plus he has made it up to me.
My cheeks burn at the memory of our shower antics. I don’t remember what happened after he marked me, but I think I ended up falling asleep.
I woke up alone in the bed this morning. I now wash my face and wrap a bathrobe around me. I leave the room and walk to the kid’s room.
The sound of laughter reaches me, and I smile gently despite the guilt inside of me. I was meant to keep an eye on them last night. “Mommy! Daddy slept in our room today!” Sia says, the moment she spots me when I open the door.
My heart skips a beat as I spot Sebastian, dressed in grey sweatpants and a white T-shirt lying down in Sia’s bed, his hair a sexy mess, clearly having woken up a short while ago.
“Aww really that’s lovely, isn’t it?” I ask as I walk over to them and give Zion and Sia a kiss. Zion nods, giving me a smile and a kiss back.
“Don’t I get one?” Sebastian says, making the kids stare. My cheeks flush as I look into his gorgeous blue eyes. Sia giggles and I tilt my head. Sitting down on the edge of the bed I look down at him.
“I’m not sure you deserve it,” I say haughtily. “Oh? Can I change your mind on that?” he asks, as he reaches over and cups the back of my neck and tugs me closer.
I part my lips thinking of a reply, but I have none, my gaze instead dipping to his lips. Goddess, this man is unfairly handsome!
He pulls me down, his lips brushing mine in a kiss that makes me feel extremely lightheaded before I move back. Zion is staring at us, utterly shocked, whilst Sia is hiding her face, her cute little face all red.
It was an innocent kiss, but clearly; they aren’t used to seeing that. “So, tell me, why are you here?” I ask him as I ruffle Zion’s hair.
“Did you miss me in bed?” he asks me in French. My heart skips a beat and I blush lightly. “No. I didn’t even realise you were gone.” I reply back in French.
Zion mumbles something incoherently that oddly sounds like it is French. He smirks. “Last night, you told me to keep an eye on the children.” I smile slightly. “Really? I’m glad.” It eases my guilt a little. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. They’re mine as much as they are yours. On that note, I want to know what medication Sia is on, and when she’s supposed to take it,” he says, now serious as he sits up.
I look at him, slightly surprised by the sudden change in his demeanour, but he has a point. We’re heading to the Dark Hollow Falls Pack, he needs to know. “I will explain them to you, and I have her files for you, too,” I say.
“Perfect.” I look around the room. I had the staff pack some of the children’s clothing, but a lot of this would have to stay behind.
“Well… you guys, pack your favourite toys with your Daddy, and I’m going to go have a word with grandma, ok?”
They nod. “Pack our toys for what?” Zion asks, now realising what I’m asking. I smile at Sebastian. “Your Daddy will tell you everything, but you see… We’re going with your daddy, to his pack.” I say, leaving the room as the children begin screaming in excitement.
“Really Daddy?”
“Pinky Promise we are going with Daddy?” I smile as I quickly return to my room, stopping when I see the door open. I step inside, scanning the room when I spot Mom packing my things into suitcases, “Mom…”
She looks up, pursing her lips together, smiling tightly. “I was packing for you since I know you are leaving soon.”
“Yes… at noon.” “Yes, and I know you’re picky with the way you like things folded,” she adds as she gets back to folding clothes into my suitcase. I watch her, not sure what to say.
The fake note that I had Sebastien send to me stated that if I left, she’d be exposed… but she hasn’t mentioned that again. But at the same time, I can tell she’s not planning on coming with Us…
I didn’t ask her this time either. “Thank you… So you will stay here?” I ask. She pauses before she lets out a little ” hmph’ “You haven’t asked me to come with you…. and I know… that I have done things you can’t forgive… but I truly have your best interests at heart, Zaia. I love you and the children… They have been my source of happiness and contentment. I’m proud of how far you have come… remember that.”
I feel guilty but at the same time, I’m unable to bring myself to ask her to come with me…
“I’m sorry,” I say quietly. “Don’t be, a child needs not apologise to their parent.” She turns and smiles warmly at me.
I don’t reply as I go over to my safe and begin emptying it and placing the items, money and documents into my bags that I will keep with me.
“Will you remain here, or move?” I ask, looking down at the files in my hand. The work with Harrison was pending, as were other things. I needed to handle these projects immediately.
“I’m not sure yet.” She says quietly.” I’ll figure it out.”
We fall silent and for the first time in many, many years, there’s just nothing to say to each other. How quickly relationships can break…
“All of Sia’s medication is ready for you.” “Thank you,” I reply politely, but the scary part is, that a horrible thought enters my mind like a thief. What if she’s tampered with or done something to the medication?
The thought of that is horrifying… Am I becoming too paranoid? We headed out soon after, but saying goodbye to Dad was the hardest. Twenty of Dad’s men would be with us. Me, Bastian, the children, Jai and Valerie are travelling together in a nine -seater SUV.
Valerie is quiet as she stares out of the window, I really need to talk to her alone… I had asked her if she wanted to return with me or remain at Dad’s pack but she had said she wanted to come back with me. It’s better this way, after all we need to work together although it’s still uncertain how, how do we unite our people?
An event. Something where we are all together on a larger scale. I know the news of last night will spread. The news of the triquetra being complete will spread.
I wonder if something like Atticus has his New Year’s Eve Ball would work… A grand event where we can reach out to many more than just our own packs.
“You’re thinking about everything again,” Sebastian says, as he adjusts Sia, who has fallen asleep in his arms. “I won’t deny that.” I sigh.
“We’ll figure it out,” he promises. Valerie stays quiet, staring out of the window when Sebastian leans back.
“So, tell me, Valerie. You first said you don’t remember anything, correct? You then said someone told you that you are part of the triquetra… So tell me, which is it?” Sebastian asks, his sharp eyes now on her.
I turn towards her, hearing her heartbeat pick up quickly. Her breath hitches as she fists her clothes, frowning as she tries to calm herself. “You can share with us Valerie. No one can hurt you.” I say quietly.
“How can you be so sure? What if the enemy is right here?” she asks quietly, glancing at the two men. I frown slightly, looking across at Jai and Sebastian.
“Both Bastian and Jai have only hoped for your recovery, Val. Jai gave up his position as Beta to take care of you.” I don’t want to throw that at her, but she needs to know they are not going to hurt her. She falls silent.
“Val, tell us, who attacked you that night?” Jai asks quietly. I look down at Zion, who is busy watching on my phone, but I know he’s always observant of those around us and what is going on.
“He… I didn’t see his face…. But I saw his eyes, and he looked… he looked like you. He sounded like you. ” She says, grabbing my wrist as she stares at Sebastian.
The shooter on the motorbike…
My heart thuds. So I’m not the only one who thought he looked like Sebastian. “Well, you can rest assured it wasn’t Seb. That night we went back to your apartment, the both of us together. Someone else had been inside and they had hurt you. It was not Seb.” Jai says quietly.
“Yes, you will say that. After all, you are his Beta, and it is your duty to serve him!” Valerie says coldly. Jai’s eyes flash with hurt, but he looks away, trying to hide it.
“It wasn ‘t me, Valerie. If we wanted you dead, we could have ended you that night instead of calling security. Why would he give up his position to take care of you?”
“I don’t know. You tell me, Alpha, was it to kill me if he ever got a chance to do So?”
Sebastian’s eyes flash, but I shake my head, motioning him to let me handle. it. I put my hand on Valerie’s shoulder and give her a gentle smile. Despite the turmoil inside of her, I need her to think clearly.
“We wouldn’t have kept you alive for so long if we wanted you gone, Valerie,” Sebastian says quietly, but his voice holds a dangerous edge.
It’s clear Jai’s disappointment has gotten to him, and I can’t blame him. He has done everything for her – but she almost died. How can I blame her for being scared?
Valerie stares back at him defiantly and for the first time since she woke up, she’s got that spark back that she did when she used to be Doctor Scott that no one messes with…..
“Oh no,” Zion says making us all turn to him.
“What is it, Zion?” I ask. He stares back at me with saucer-like eyes. “Someone is pretending to be Daddy and they want everyone to not like Daddy.”
The car falls silent as his words echo in our minds. He isn’t wrong…this man keeps himself hidden, but he has no objection to showing his eyes which are clearly very similar to Sebastian’s.
“Then the question is, who?” I ask the silent car. “I don’t know…” Valerie says quietly. ” It was just his eyes and voice.”
“We will find out.” Jai says, “And we will get revenge on him for taking years of your life, Valerie… I promise you…
Even if it was Seb, I would have chosen the right path… do you really think so low of me?” Their eyes meet before Valerie turns away, and Sebastian sighs as he sits back.
“Trust us,” I say, and she nods hesitantly. “What else did he say? In fact, what us, happened that night? Tell from the moment you stepped into your apartment. What happened?” Sebastian asks her. She looks at each of us and her eyes darken, looking almost haunted before she closes her eyes.
“That night…”
The car is silent as everyone turns to her, ready to hear the events of that horrible night from the victim herself…
