74. A Reunion
ZAIA.
We step into the underground car park when all of a sudden, I feel an intense wave of emotions hit me, sorrow, despair⦠hopelessness?
What is this? I look around the dark car park. The lights above are lit, and nothing is out of place. How strangeā¦
I look over at Sebastian. Heās the same as ever, piercing blue eyes on me, dark hair that is combed back and that sexy jawā¦
I look away. Why do I feel like this?
āGet in,ā Sebastian says as he stops by the first car in front of him. āOr would you like me to lift you in? I could, as long as you are willing to reward me later.ā
I give him a look, but his humour somehow puts me at ease. My nerves are getting the better of me. After all these years I am finally going to be facing Sebastianās family again.
Thereās a strange feeling in the air, and I feel like thereās something coming. āZaia?ā I shake my head and look up suddenly, sucking in a sharp breath. ā Are you ok?ā
Heās concerned now..
āSorry⦠I justā¦ā I run my fingers through my hair, and he walks over to me, cupping my face. Tingles from our bond course through me, eyes. and I grip his wrists, closing my I feel stronger. His touch is comforting and protective.
I shake my head, unable to explain how I feel and wrap my arms around his waist instead. He seems surprised for a moment before his muscular arms wrap around me tightly and he inhales my hair.
āHeyā¦ā
āPlease⦠I justā¦ā I canāt say it. I donāt want to voice the anxiousness Iām suddenly feeling. āDonāt say anything then,ā he murmurs, kissing my shoulder.
I frown, moving back slightly and looking up at him. āHow do you do that?ā I ask quietly. āDo what?ā he asks, cocking a brow. āHow do you read I my mind?ā
He looks confused for a moment before he raises both eyebrows. āI wish I could, so I can know exactly what youāre thinking,ā he replies huskily, combing his fingers through my locks.
I close my eyes, relishing in the feel of his touch. āNo, youāve done it a few times, like right now; I thought I couldnāt say anything, and you replied. āDonāt say anything then.ā
He lets out a throaty chuckle, gripping my chin. āYou are easy to read, Little Fox.ā Am I really that easy to read? He kisses my forehead, letting go of me, and opens the car door. āNow letās go.ā
I sigh and get into the car. He shuts the door and gets into the driverās seat, silently leaning over as he straps me in.
His eyes meet mine before driving out of the parking lot. He enters a security code, and his thumb is scanned before the wall splits open and we drive out. I look out the window. āWhat do you think they will say?ā
āThey were angrier at me than they ever were at you. Iām the one who drove away their beloved daughter-in-law. I wasnāt lying when I said that my parents wanted you back. Dad and I donāt really talk.ā
I look across at him. His voice is emotionless, but his eyes are cold. He and his father have never had a close relationship, but⦠if things are worse⦠it really must be rough. āWell, whatever we face, we face it together,ā I say softly.
He nods, taking my hand and kissing it softly. Why does he seem⦠quieter since he marked me? A wave of insecurity washes over me. Before he rejected me, he was quieterā¦.
is all that charm just to win me over? I remain emotionless, the fear of that thought clenching at my heart. I would have thought heād want me to mark him, but he didnāt even bring it upā¦
But we havenāt really had time eitherā¦
Donāt overthink it Zaia, he must be worried about facing his father and heās probably worried as he is now responsible for our safety.
The journey passes in silence. The safe house is more in the woody part of pack territory, so it takes us a good fifteen minutes to get to my old homeā¦
When the mansion gates that I never thought Iād see again loom before me, I feel nostalgia hit me hard. Memories of us here fill my mind and my heart squeezes. Good, bad, sadā¦.
āDonāt let anything they say get to you, alright?ā he says quietly. Reaching over, he unstraps me and forces me to look at him. āZaia, whatās wrong?ā
āI just feel uneasy,ā I admit, his gaze softens slightly before he pulls me close. āDonāt. Iām going to be right beside you. Understood?ā
I nod, about to turn away when he forces me to look at him again, his eyes flashing. āZaiaā¦ā His voice is deep and husky and my stomach does a flip. āHmm?ā I ask.
āWe got thisā¦ā he murmurs as he leans in, kissing me. My breath hitches as pleasure rushes through me, making my mind turn to mush.. Since marking me, his effect on me has gotten stronger.
His lips caress mine passionately. The force of his kiss pushes me back against the seat, his lips devouring mine as he deepens the kiss. I sigh softly as I grip the side of his neck. I have himā¦
Our hands begin roaming the otherās body, our tongues playing with each otherās. My entire body is hot and bothered. My core clenches and Iām forced to pull away, gasping for air.
He doesnāt stop, his arms now possessively caging me to himself. We break apart when I need air and he continues to kiss my neck hungrily.
āBastien⦠we need to go,ā I murmur. āIād rather ravish you,ā he growls, sucking on the corner of my neck that still feels tender from his marking.
āOh fuckā¦ā I whimper, digging my nails into his shoulders as a sting of pain and pleasure rushes through me. He releases me, but I know heās left a mark and slowly flicks his tongue over the area.
āSorry⦠I got a little carried away,ā he says, gripping my jaw and kissing my lips roughly. I moan against his lips, kissing him back sensually before we force ourselves back.
We both donāt want to do this, but we need to. āRight, letās get this over with,ā he says, now serious once again.
I take a deep breath, fixing my top and hair as Sebastian gets out, walking around to open my door for me. I close my eyes for a moment and take a deep slow breath. Here we goā¦
I remain calm when the door to the mansion is pulled open by a member of staff, one I do not recognise. āAlpha Sebastian.ā He bows low.
āYour Luna, Zaia,ā Sebastian responds coldly. The man looks surprised before he quickly masks his emotions and bows deeply to me. āLuna, welcome home.ā
āThank you,ā ,ā I respond politely. Sebastian places a hand on my lower back, guiding me to the living room.
I pick up his parentsā scents before I reach the room, feeling a little nervous as we step inside. āMother, Father, Iām home,ā Sebastian says.
His mother, Agatha, who is sitting on the sofa with her legs up and a magazine in hand, freezes, staring wide -eyed at us. His father, who was on his laptop in the armchair opposite, doesnāt even bother to look up.
āSebastian, you are ok! Oh my! Zaia! You are back, you are finally back!ā She jumps up and rushes to us, flinging her arms around me tightly. āMy Zaia! My daughter-in-law is back!ā
āMom, calm down,ā Sebastian says, for the first time since this morning, I see a proper smirk on his face.
āDonāt tell me to calm down! Sheās the only one who cared for me around here!ā She scolds him as she cups my face, smiling happily. Her hazel eyes are full of happiness before she lets go and pulls Sebastianās face down, kissing his cheeks and forehead.
āI was so scared when I heard you were injured, but you are in far better shape than I imagined! I am so happy you are back, Sebastian, but where are the children? I want to meet my grandchildren.ā
āYou will, just not right now,ā Sebastian says. āThereās a lot we need to discuss prior, and I wonder if you might have any more insight into certain things.ā
I look at his father, who simply continues working on his laptop, wondering if I should go over or notā¦
I decide to do so and cross the room. Mr. King, itās good to see you after so long. I apologies for upsetting you and for any pain I have caused you.ā I say, offering him my hand.
He pauses, his sharp blue eyes that are duller than Sebastianās flick to mine, and he cocks a brow, reminding me at lot of his son. āYou will need to earn my acceptance. You are the reason this family was torn apart-ā
āThatās not true. Iām the one who cheated on her. Iām the one who hurt her and rejected her. You know that. She had nothing to do with that.ā Sebastian says sharply.
I look over at him mouthing āI can handle itā, but heās not having it. His eyes are flashing silver as he glares at his father. Aran scoffs as he snaps his laptop shut and stands to his full height, glaring at his son with anger or⦠is that hatred?
My stomach sinks as I look between them. Both men are staring at one another with contempt and hostilityā¦.
things hadnāt just gotten ābadā this was far worse than I could have imagined. How? How could things have gotten so bad? Is this my fault? āOk, letās all sit down, Look we are happy that Zaia is here, right Aran? Sheās home. Our grandchildren are home.ā
āA little too late⦠Whatās the point of your return now when it is already too late,ā he mutters the end part, and I almost donāt hear it as Agatha begins fussing over Sebastian and me, but I just about caught it.
āToo late? Why is it too late, Mr. King?ā I ask quietly, making Agatha and Sebastian look at us sharply.
His eyes snap up to me and I see him clench his jaw, but he refuses to reply by simply turning his gaze away.
āI will go tell the cook to prepare a feast!ā Agatha says, trying to diffuse the tension. āThe journey must have made you hungry! I canāt wait to hear everything about my grandchildren!ā Sheās almost at the door when Sebastian stops her.
āNo, Mom, there are things we need to discuss first.ā She huffs, planting her hands on her hips. āAnd what, pray tell, do we need to discuss?ā
Sebastian sits down on the sofa opposite his father, spreading his arms across the back of the sofa, he rests his left ankle on his right knee as he looks between his parents, before settling on his father.
Iām expecting him to say The Blood Borns, wondering if theyāll know anything, but what he says surprises me.
āI want to know exactly what the issue between Hugh Toussaint and you is, and this time, you will not deny me the answers,ā Sebastian says, his voice is cold and then I feel it; the wave of power that fills the room and I realise heās commanded his father to answer him.
I look across at the older man, whose face is pale, but he looks absolutely angry at the insult. āSo now you think you can command me?ā He sneers. āAranā¦ā Agatha whispers, but the older man is not having it.
āNO! He needs to know his place!ā
āAra-ā
āLet him say what he wants to.ā Sebastian says coldly.
āPlea-ā
āI think I came at the wrong time.ā A deep voice says making us all turn to the open door. A tall muscular man in a dark suit stands there, his dark hair flops over his forehead and his piercing eyes scream power and intelligence.
Piercing blue eyes⦠just like Sebastianāsā¦..