24. A Terrifying Reality ZAIA. or I Am The Luna Chapter 102 By Moonlight Muse , “Dad!” I shout, , “What on earth are you doing in my home? Without even knocking!” , I come to a halt as I come face to face with Annette. She’s holding a cup of tea in her hand and looks shocked to see me. , “Where is Dad?” I ask. , She frowns. “Your father has been on a business trip for the last few days.” Hearing the shouts from downstairs, she rushes to the balcony. “Who have you brought into my house?!” , A few guards rush up the stairs and I watch her, not trusting her. , “Search the house, leave no room out.” , I walk over to Annette and hold my hand out. “Give me your phone.” , She frowns, but she takes it out of her pocket and holds it out, hesitantly. “When is the last time you spoke to father?” I ask. , “The day he left… why?” she asks, her face paling as she looks at my neck and I know she can see the blood that is trickling down it. “What is going on, Zaia?” , “I talked to Dad last night…I need to find him… Unlock the phone, please.” I say and she quickly keys in her number, and I call him. , “The number you are calling is currently switched off, to leave a message…” the operator’s voice comes., Fuck! , I turn away from Annette, running a hand through my hair, calling Jai instead. , “Hello?” He answers. , “Track where Dad made the last call to my cell phone. His phone is now switched off and according to Annette, he went on a business trip a few days ago.” I say, my heart feeling heavy. , “On it… Is everything otherwise ok, Zaia?” , “No,” I say, unable to bring myself to tell him about Mom. “Has Bastien returned?” , “No. I’ll call him, don’t worry. Do you need backup or help?” “Just tell him things are a mess here and to call me on this number. Please.” I just need to hear his voice. I need him to help me out a little. , My head is still hurting, and I feel useless. I shifted, but I’m not healing as fast as I want it to. “Alright, take care of yourself, Alpha,” Jai says quietly. , “I will,” I reply. , Dad is missing, Mom is dead… , She’s dead. , My heart is thumping as I scan the spacious hallway that seems to be spinning. It’s my fault Mom was left here alone… , My fault she is dead… , I am a horrible person…, What have I done? , Where are you, Dad? , Focus, Zaia. , “Alpha Zaia! A call for you!” I turn to see one of Dad’s loyal guards hurrying over to me. , I take the phone and hold it to my ear. , “Hello?” I ask. , “Zaia. We failed, the car you were supposed to be travelling in… it was involved in a crash, and no one made it out alive.” Atticus’s voice comes, making my heart thump. , That was no accident… , That woman… the guards… , “No…” , “Hey… as long as you’re safe. I’m coming there. Don’t go out alone.” Atticus says and I hate that even he sounds shaken. , “How much did we lose?” I whisper. , “Seventeen people.” He replies gravely. , “I’m sorry…” I reply, knowing most of those were from his pack. , “Yeah… me too… We’ll get through this.” , “Dad’s missing, Atticus,” I whisper., There’s silence. “I’m coming, wait for me.” , “Ok,” I say. , Please, Sebastian, call me…. , That unease I felt this morning returns to me with vengeance and it’s scaring me. Things can’t get worse than this, but then why do I still feel like I’m missing something? , I hang up and look at Annette. “Did you learn anything as per our deal?” , She frowns. “That was more than enough!” she says. “What was? We had a deal. You would get me some information, or something.” , “It was so hard to find that number. I swear I went to places I didn’t think I’d ever return to.” She hisses quietly, glancing at the guards. , “What number?” I ask, now frowning. , “He never… Oh Goddess, I told him to pass you the number in person! He wanted to see the children before the business trip! Who knows if the number will still work and I worked so hard to get it! So he never stopped at your pack…” , Realisation dawns upon her, and she looks unnerved. , Everything is going wrong! , “What number?” I ask, , “I’ll go get it,” she says hurrying to her bedroom. I follow her, not trusting her as she rummages in her vanity table drawer before taking out a card. “Here. It’s one of theirs.” She whispers as if someone might hear her., I dial the number and it rings. I wonder if it really is. Did she manage to find something? The phone is answered after a few rings, but no one speaks. , “I’m sure you can hear me.” I begin. , “Zaia, lovely to hear your beautiful voice again.” , My stomach twists as my eyes blaze, recognising that voice. “Gerard….” , “Track the call. Now.’ I mouth to one of the guards. He nods as he hurries away, and Annette stands there observing me. He chuckles. “Ah, yes. Glad that you recognised my voice.” , “Shame you aren’t dead.” I hiss. “You had your chance to end it, but you didn’t. So luckily I’m alive and well.. , Now… I’m doing the courtesy to give you a warning. Stand down, admit defeat, and give up your packs before I take everything from you.” , How dare he…. , “Did you hear me?” He asks dangerously. “You may have been the one to take my mother, but you will not take anything else from me. I will never stand down.” I snarl, trembling with rage. , He chuckles. “We shall see, aren’t you missing daddy dearest?” he taunts. , Father… , Unease ripples through me, but I also know what Dad would expect from me … no matter how hard it is… , “Are you a coward? That you are using my father against me?” I ask, my voice full of hatred., “Hmm, all is fair… I have to do what I have to do…. The choice is yours Zaia, keep refusing and I will take everyone from you one by one.” , “No. You will pay for this.” , He laughs again as if what I said is amusing. , “Will I? Don’t challenge me, Zaia, when you are already losing everyone one by one… You couldn’t protect your daughter… you couldn’t protect your mother…” , His words are hitting hard, and my eyes prickle with tears. , I’m trying… , “Oh, and now your father. I’ll make sure you get his body.” , “Don’t you dare touch him! If you want to fight, come, let’s do this.” He laughs again, making my blood boil, but the panic I’m feeling for Dad is rising. , “You’ve already lost a fourth person…” He whispers and my heart sinks. , Who? , Are the children- Sebastian. , He hasn’t been in touch with me all morning… , “Sebastian…” I whisper, unable to hide the tremble from my voice. , Goddess, please no… help me. Fear consumes me as Gerard’s laugh rings through the phone. “Only this time, he came willingly. Sebastian is finally where he belongs.”, “Lie!” I snarl. “Is it? How else did I get out of there, if it wasn’t for his help? He played you, you little stupid wench.” he hisses. , “No! He would never-” , “Really? He wouldn’t? Give me a second Sebastian, say hello,” Gerard says, making my heart skip a beat. No. No, it’s probably someone else who will pretend- , “I don’t have time for that. End the call.” , My breath hitches, my eyes widening in horror as Sebastian’s cold voice comes down the line. , No… , My worst nightmare is coming true… , Gerard’s laughter echoes down the phone before the line goes dead and the phone slips from my hand, falling to the marble floor and shattering. , Just the way my heart is shattering inside of me…, Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.