by L. P. Dover
“Good.” He huffed and ran a hand through his hair. When he finally collected himself, he picked up his chair and set it upright. I waited for him to look at me, but he sat back at his desk and reached for his drawing pencils.
“We need to end this feud, brother. I know keeping you in the dark all those years ago was a mistake, but I only did it to protect you. Attacking that pack in a fit of rage would’ve cost you your life. I couldn’t have saved you.”
“I wouldn’t have cared,” he replied, his gaze full of pain. “My life was forfeit once she was gone. I’m still not over her death. It haunts me every day. If I’d just left Canada sooner to get her, it wouldn’t have happened. I never would’ve . . .” He stopped and bit his lip.
“Never would’ve what?” I asked.
He waved it off. “It doesn’t matter anymore. What’s done is done. We can’t change a goddamned thing.”
“No, but we can make it better. I need you to forgive me, brother. What I did was out of love for you. I miss Alina too. She wouldn’t want to see us like this.”
Setting his pencil down, Zayne ran a hand over his face. “You’re right, she wouldn’t. That’s why I can forgive you now. But it still doesn’t take away the pain. I’ve lived with nothing but regret for the past thirty years.”
“So have I,” I said truthfully. “I understand now why you hated me so much for taking away your revenge.”
He sighed. “I don’t hate you, Sebastian. You’re my brother.” He held out his hand. “All is forgiven.”
Taking his hand, I squeezed it tight. “Thank you, I’ll take it. But unfortunately, I’m not done with what I have to say.”
“There’s more?”
Nodding, I licked my dry lips. “First, I need to ask you a question.” He stared at me, waiting. “Did you ever mate with Alina on the full moon?”
Gaze narrowed, he lifted his chin. “Why are you asking that?”
“Please just answer the question,” I insisted.
“I loved her, Sebastian. We spent many nights together until I was called back to Canada.” My heart raced and he could hear it. “What are you not telling me? Why do you want to know this information?”
I kept my gaze on his, eyes never wavering. The last thing I wanted was to bring him more pain, but I had to believe Laila would be what he needed to heal. “There was a child,” I said, releasing a heavy sigh.
His breath caught. “What do you mean there was a child?”
“Alina was pregnant when Vincent took her for his mate. The girl’s name is Laila, and she was the one who helped us fight the Sierra Pack.”
Jaw clenching, his whole body shook. “What the fuck are you saying Sebastian? Just spit it out.”
“I’m saying that Laila is your daughter. I didn’t know she was yours until I saw her for the first time. However, she’s known about us for a while now. It was her plan all along to get me and Tyla out there to help her. It was the only way to end the Sierra Pack.”
His face turned red and he sucked in a breath, his eyes growing wet. “Does she know I’m her father?”
I nodded. “She found out through some of Alina’s belongings. There was a stone with some of her memories on it. When Laila touched it, she was able to see all of us, including you.”
“Where is she now?” he asked. I could hear the desperation in his voice; he was worried about her.
“She’s staying at Tyla’s house. And she wants to meet you.”
He huffed. “What am I supposed to say to her? ‘Hi, I’m your father. Sorry I failed you and your mother.’”
“No, you didn’t,” I growled. “She doesn’t blame you for what happened. She’s lost, and needs your help. You’re her only family, her only connection to her mother. She needs you, and I believe you need her too.”
He dropped his head to his desk, crying silently.
I didn’t want to leave him, but I knew he needed to be alone. My heart hurt for him and I couldn’t begin to imagine what he must be feeling. I started for the door and stopped. “I know this is a lot to take in, but I’ll be bringing her over here tomorrow morning. I don’t think I’d be able to keep her away any longer than that if I tried.” I walked out and breathed a sigh of relief.
“It’s done,” I said to Tyla.
“And you’re still alive? I take it everything went okay?”
“I’m not sure yet. I guess we’ll see when tomorrow comes.
Tyla
I sat in Laila’s room and watched her change into a million different outfits. “I don’t think he’s going to care what you wear,” I said.
She held up a dark, navy sweater to her chest and looked in the mirror. “I just want him to like me.”
“He’s your father. Of course he’s going to like you.”
She tossed the sweater onto the bed and grabbed a cream colored one, slipping it over her head. “I’ve rehearsed what I was going to say over and over last night, and none of it sounds good. Knowing me, I’ll walk right up to him and forget my name. It’s not every day you meet your father.”
I pulled her hair out from underneath the sweater and faced her. “You’ll do fine, I promise. Now let’s get going.”
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and nodded. “I can do this.”
We walked out of her room and met Sebastian and Amelie in the living room. Amelie gave her a hug and a pep talk. I loved how close they had become. Sebastian started for the door. “All right, ladies, let’s get this over with.”
Amelie stayed home, while Sebastian and I drove Laila to Zayne’s. She tapped her fingers against the seat and her leg bounced up and down, making the car shake. When we pulled up to Zayne’s, I thought she was going to pass out from hyperventilating.
“What am I going to do if he doesn’t want to see me?” she asked nervously.
Sebastian glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “He does. He’s just afraid you think he failed you. He feels ashamed for not being there to protect you.”
“But he didn’t know I existed. I don’t blame him for that.”
“Then maybe you should tell him so,” Sebastian suggested.
We all got out of the car and started for the front door. Sebastian walked inside and I stayed beside Laila, keeping a hand wrapped around her arm. I didn’t want her to bolt.
“Zayne?” Sebastian called.
There was no sound in the house. In fact, I couldn’t feel anyone’s presence around at all. Surely, Zayne didn’t up and leave, knowing very well Laila was coming over to see him. If he did, it was a dick move. Hopefully, Sebastian would kick his ass if that was the case.
“Don’t worry, love. If he’s not here, I’ll be doing more than kicking his ass.”
“He’s not here, is he?” Laila said, her voice sounding deflated.
My heart ached for her. I put my arm around her and squeezed her shoulder. “We’ll find him. He has to be here somewhere.”
Sebastian walked out the back door and froze. “He’s out here, love. Bring Laila.”
“Sebastian says he’s outside,” I whispered.
She sucked in a breath and nodded. “I’m ready.”
I walked with her through the door and stopped by Sebastian’s side. I followed his gaze across the field to where Zayne stood with his back to us. “Should we walk her out there?” I questioned. I felt like a mother hen protecting one of her chicks.
Laila couldn’t take her eyes away from Zayne. “No,” she said, lifting her chin. “I want to do this on my own.”
“Are you sure?” Sebastian asked.
She nodded. “I think it’ll be better this way. Unless he won’t want to talk to me, that is.”
I stepped in front of her. “He’d be stupid if he doesn’t. I have faith in you, Laila. You can do this.” She hugged me and Sebastian before walking out into the field, her steps slow and timid.
My heart pounded with each of her steps. “I wish I knew what was going to happen,” I whispered.
Sebastian
sighed. “Me too. We should probably leave for a little while to give them privacy. I know my brother. If he thinks we’re close, he’ll be on guard. He doesn’t like to show emotion.”
“Just like another Lyall I know,” I teased.
Taking my hand, he led me through the house and out to the car. “I was only like that at the beginning. You don’t have to worry about that now.”
“I know, babe.” He opened the car door for me and I got in. “Laila won’t be mad that we left her will she?”
“I don’t think they’ll be done anytime soon.” He shut my door and got behind the wheel. “Is there anything you want to do?”
My insides tightened and I squeezed my legs shut. Ever since I’d found out I was pregnant, it was as if my whole body was in heat. I loved it and I knew Sebastian did too.
“I think we have plenty of time for that,” he said, reading my mind.
We started on our way home and I closed my eyes, remembering our last vision. It had been a beautiful place. I opened my eyes and turned to him. “How about once everything settles down, we go to Canada? I want to see your home, where you grew up. I want to be where we were in the vision.”
Taking my hand, he lifted it to his lips. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go. I know you’ll love it there. There’s so much I can show you. It’ll be nice to see it again.”
“Then it’s a date. I want to go as soon as we can. After everything we’ve been through, we need a vacation.”
He chuckled. “That’s for damn sure.”
Laila
My heart pounded the closer I got to him, and his beat even harder. I was still staring at his back and I longed to see his face. I’d seen it in my mother’s stone, but that wasn’t good enough. I wanted to run and jump in his arms; to tell him how, even though I didn’t know him, I loved him. Maybe it was stupid of me to think we could have a normal relationship. But I had to try.
Sebastian accepted me as his niece. If all else failed, I’d have him and Tyla. Swallowing hard, I closed the distance, leaving only three feet between us. I didn’t know if I should say the first word or wait for him to turn around. I’d heard of the Lyall stubbornness and figured it was probably best if I made the first move.
“Hi,” I said, my voice just above a whisper. He stiffened and didn’t turn around. “My name is Laila, but I’m sure you already know that by now.” Still, I waited for him to turn around and he didn’t. It didn’t matter though, as long as I said what I had to say. “I know all of this has come as a shock to you. Believe me, it was the same for me when I found out. I just want you to know I don’t blame you for not knowing. How could you? Nobody knew, other than my mother, but by then it was too late.”
His shoulders hunched and his head fell, breaking my heart. “Please talk to me,” I pleaded. When he didn’t, I held back my tears. I remembered what it had been like on the day I’d found out the truth. It had taken me some time too. “There’s something I want to give you. It was my mother’s.” In my hand, I held a black, velvet bag that kept her pink stone safe. I set it on the ground behind him and stepped back.
“I don’t know if you ever saw her with it, but it’s her rose quartz. She spelled it to capture her memories. It’s where I saw you for the first time.” I took another step back, hoping he’d face me. “If you ever want to find me, I’ll be at Tyla’s. She was nice enough to let me stay at her place.” For another few seconds, I waited, before realizing nothing was going to come of it. My throat closed up tight. I didn’t think I could speak, even if I wanted to.
Turning on my heel, I pulled out my phone and started to text Sebastian but thought better of it and put it away. He’d only get pissed if he found out my father ignored me, and probably start some big fight.
“Wait,” my father’s voice called out. Heart pounding, I turned around quickly. He glanced down at the velvet bag and picked it up, keeping his gaze on it. When he looked inside, a sad smile spread across his cheeks. “I gave this to her when we were kids. She used to carry it around everywhere. I found it in the creek by my house.”
My moonstone was in my pocket and I pulled it out. “I must take after her then. I always carry mine with me too.”
He took a deep breath and lifted his gaze to mine. Eyes wide, he stared at me. “You look just like her,” his voice cracked, tears threatening to spill down his cheeks.
I turned my head. “I know it pains you to look at me. If it’s too much, I’ll understand if you don’t want to see me again.”
He took a step forward, and then another, until he was right in front of me. His fingers lifted my chin and I lost the battle with my tears. “Don’t ever think that, Laila. Seeing you makes me miss your mother more, sure. But now I have a piece of her here with me. I just wish you knew how much I hate myself right now.”
“Why did you leave?” I asked.
His fingers fell from my chin and I could feel his anger. “Being a protector has always been my way of life. I knew that when the time came, I’d have to make a choice. I was prepared to defy my pack to be with her. And so, the night after your mother and I were together, I left to go back to Canada. I was to be back in a couple of weeks, but it ended up being closer to a month. When I showed up at her house, she was gone. There wasn’t a trace of her anywhere.”
“Vincent,” I growled.
He nodded. “But I didn’t know that at the time. I searched and searched for her, and there was nothing. I figured she’d gone back to the Land of the Fae. She’d always gone back there for visits because she loved it. In fact, the only reason she’d stayed on Earth was because of me.”
He turned the stone over in his hand and rubbed it between his finger and thumb. “After months and months of looking, I went back to Canada to fulfill my duty as a protector. Sebastian and Micah still had time to explore the world and it was Sebastian who found out she had been killed by Vincent. Only, he didn’t tell me until after he’d already killed him.”
“And you were mad because it was your right to do it yourself,” I added.
“I loved her, Laila. For the past thirty years, I’ve lived in a darkness I can’t seem to find my way out of. And now there’s you, a daughter I had no clue existed. The thought of what you went through while being with those monsters plagues me. And again, my brother was the one who ended them, when it should’ve been me.”
I shook my head. “Life isn’t all about vengeance. But if it makes it any easier, the Sierra Pack never hurt me. They knew they couldn’t. I was actually the one who turned on them and delivered death to their door. Sebastian and Amelie helped, but it was my doing. Take comfort in knowing that it was me who did it as well. I’m a part of you which means you were there too.”
He brushed a finger across my cheek. “Wise beyond your years.”
“I must take after my father in that respect.” He chuckled and it made me smile. “I don’t know much about my mother and I’m hoping you can help me with that. I was left with only a few of her memories, and a couple journals written in Elvish that I can’t translate.”
“I guess that means you’ll need my help.” He smirked.
I gasped. “You know Elvish?”
He nodded. “Your mother taught me. I’ll help you with anything you need.”
Jumping in his arms, I didn’t care if it was overstepping my boundaries or not. I was surprised when he wrapped his arms around my waist. “I feel like I’ve waited an eternity for this one moment.”
“So have I, my dear. And I promise I won’t let you down.”
For once in my life, I finally felt like I belonged.
Tyla (Three Months Later)
“So you’re quitting on me, eh?” Blake called, joining me at the fence.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not quitting. I’m just taking a leave of absence, I think. I’m not sure yet. Besides, I found a replacement. You can’t complain too much.”
Amelie rode around the field on Nightshade, Blake’s black stallion. She was just as goo
d with horses as I was. Blake stood beside me—leaning his elbows over the fence—watching her with a skeptical eye. “I don’t know if she’s as good as you, but I’ll see what she’s got. She can start on Monday.”
I waved Amelie in and she trotted over. “Thanks, Boss. I think this is exactly what she needs.”
Smiling, he nudged me in the shoulder. “No problem. Just please consider coming back after the baby’s born. I don’t know what I’ll do without you.”
“I thought you said you could handle this place on your own?” I teased.
He chuckled. “I can, but you’re my friend. I’ve kind of gotten used to you being around. Just promise me you’ll think about it.”
“I promise.”
“Hey, before I forget, I need to catch up with Sebastian. Maybe we can meet at the bar tomorrow night? There’s something I need his help on.”
“Of course, I’m sure he’ll be happy to help.” He patted me on the back and walked back toward the barn. Amelie finally made it over to me and I rubbed Nightshade’s muzzle. “Looks like you have a job come Monday,” I told her excitedly.
She beamed. “Thank you, Tyla. I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t. But let’s put this big boy back in his stall for the night, so I can get home.” I helped her put Nightshade back and showed her around the barn. There were two new horses she’d have to help train and I knew she could do it.
Once I dropped her off, I hurried home and rushed to the kitchen. I was craving grapes. Morning sickness didn’t bother shifters, but the cravings were ridiculous. One day, I’d want grapes, the next, Brussel sprouts, and so on. My weirdest craving had been tuna and chocolate syrup sandwiches.
I grabbed a handful of grapes and popped them into my mouth, one after the other. “Sebastian?” I called.
“Up here.”
What was he doing in the nursery? I walked up the stairs but couldn’t see him because the door was closed. I opened it up and gasped when the room came into view. The walls were no longer cream, but a light shade of aqua. It was the exact color I’d wanted, but that wasn’t what had me in tears.