Chapter 19, ZAIA., Two days have passed since that night, Valerie didn’t call again and even when I tried to leave a message or call. Nothing., I guess Sebastian found out that we were in touch., It leaves a bitterness inside of me, but he’s selfish… that’s clear enough. And as much as I want to find a way to keep in touch with Valerie, there is no way I can justify making her life harder just for my own benefit., Sebastian’s wrath can get out of hand and if he punishes her for talking to me… well, it won’t be pretty and it’s unfair on her. She’s already done so much for me., A part of me wants to fight him for it, but right now I’m pregnant, and my babies are a priority. I need, to get my health back up first before I go against the world., I’m at a coffee shop far away from Atticus’s pack. I had requested a meeting with my father anonymously. Saying I know where his daughter is. Surprisingly, he wanted to know, and it seems he has been searching for me., I’m sitting in the private restaurant room of a hotel. The food has just arrived, yet Father hasn’t. Turning I scan the cobbled street outside. It’s a quiet area and the blinds are partially drawn, casting strips of light over the table and carpet., I have a wide-brim hat on, with sunglasses, disguising myself the best I can., The door opens and I look up just as a man wearing a black suit steps inside. His coppery-coloured, hair is several shades darker than mine, and it is peppered with silver. His blue eyes instantly fall on me, and he motions for his men to stay outside., “Keep watch,” he commands in his deep, gravelly voice., “Yes Alpha,” someone replies quietly, and the door shuts behind him., “So, you finally showed yourself,” he declares., I stand up, knowing he’s recognised me., “Father,” I say, bowing my head slightly to him., “Zaia… and to think I’ve been looking for you.” There’s irritation in his voice, but not as much anger as I predicted., That’s a good start., I remove my glasses and hat as Dad stares at my stomach, a frown furrowing his brow., “You’re carrying his child?” he asks sharply., I look down before I motion for him to take a seat opposite me. “It’s a long story… but yes, I am.”, “And he discarded you?” he asks, his eyes flashing with anger as he sits down., “Annalise returned, and they want to be together, and that’s fine, they can.”, Dad slams his fist onto the table, making the dishes rattle. “Does she know you’re pregnant?” he questions sharply., Interesting, is Dad really angry at his favourite daughter?, “She does know,” I say quietly. “But I’m not here to ask you to fix things or to complain about her.”, He’s about to speak but stops as if the words I have spoken just registered., He frowns as I motion at the food. “Let’s begin on the meal before it gets cold. I will fill you in.” I say., His eyes meet mine, but he doesn’t argue and begins to put food on his plate, and I do the same. I had ordered a selection of dishes, most of which used to be his favourite. I just hope they still are., For a few minutes, we are silent. The only sound is the tinkle of dishes and the rustle of cloth as he fills our plates up. When we are finally done, I wait for Dad to tuck in first before I begin eating my, own food., “I have a proposal,” I state when he’s taken his first bite., “And what may that be?” Dad asks, cocking a brow. “I told you that man is useless, that you were better off without him, and the same arrogant man you decided to marry has now tossed you aside.”, “It has nothing to do with Sebastian, father… and the time we were together, he was… good to me, until he decided to divorce me,” I whisper., It still hurts, and no matter how strong I want to be, I don’t know if this pain will go away., Taking a deep breath I look at the man before me, the man who practically disowned me the moment I accepted Sebastian as my mate., “My proposal is, you only have two daughters, Annalise and myself, and you need to have an heir who can successfully run the pack.”, “Are you offering me the offspring of Sebastian King?! Never! A King will never run the Toussaint pack!”, “Father, not my child, Goddess! They are not even born yet!”, “They?”, “I’m having twins,” I say., His eyes widen in surprise before he nods in understanding and for a second, I thought I saw a glimmer of a smile on his lips., “Ah I see,” he says curtly, taking a sip of his wine. “Then?”, “Me. Zaia Toussaint, I am no longer a King, father. I want you to consider making me your heir again. I know you have currently said that everything will go to Annalise, but give me a chance to, prove that I’m worth it. I don’t want money. Just allow me to help with running the pack.” I say, hoping he listens. “Give Annalise the businesses.”, He frowns staring at the door to the room before he looks at me. “She’s not been around for years, what makes you think she even cares for the business, as long as she gets the money,” he says coldly., I’m not surprised, but I am surprised at the way he’s talking about her., “But I am not someone who goes back on their word,” he says, staring at me coldly. “I am not making you my heir, I was as good as dead to you remember?”, I tilt my head but wait for him to continue. When he doesn’t, I speak., “Perhaps I’m not asking you to give me inheritance, or asking for shares in your business. I want you to allow me to help you. I want you to give me a chance to prove I am capable.”, “You may be angry at me, Father, but you know that every pack in the country has a high level of, respect for me. I as Luna Zaia King, have an excellent reputation and if I stand by your side, even more, people will be willing to join hands with you. I promise to take the pack and even your business to even better heights.” I continue., I can’t afford for him to deny me what I’m asking., “Give me a window of time, a chance to prove myself, and if I fail, then I will walk away,” I say quietly., He frowns but says nothing, and I know he’s considering it., My reputation does precede me. One thing that I learned from Sebastian was to believe in myself, and he saw I had a knack for these things and pushed me to do more., In a way, I owe him that, but I will now use that to defeat him., “I have indeed heard of your endeavours… and although I am still fit and healthy, I do have many people asking about my heir.”, “What else do you want?” Dad asks., “I want to be granted permission to join the Crystal Shadow Pack, with Mom and guaranteed safety,, along with my children,” I state., His face falls at the mention of Mom., “That woman is trouble, but very well, if she wants to return to the pack, I won’t stop her.”, “Don’t misunderstand, she doesn’t want to, but for me, she has agreed.” I say firmly, making it crystal clear Mom does not want anything to do with him., He nods arrogantly and I try my best to hide the bitterness that I’m feeling., “Very well. You will be protected. I will make sure you have a place to stay, but you will be given one year after the birth of your children to prove you are capable and, if not, you will be thrown from the pack, understood?”, That’s more time than I had expected him to give me., “Very well. That is fair.” I nod, eating a piece of my grilled chicken., We fall silent enjoying the meal when I tilt my head and look across at him, wondering how to word this next thought., “Father, in the last three years, where has Annalise been? I mean, I heard she was on a trip.”, I make sure my voice sounds nonchalant and casual., Dad’s observing me and I wonder if there’s something else going on. I know she faked it, but who else was in on it?, “I’m only asking because she told me she was so heartbroken that she had to get away from here.” I lie with a heavy sigh., That seems to relax him a little. “Yes, she wanted to get away for a bit, and truth be told, her mother, agreed, and neither was willing to listen and so she left,” he replies, a glimmer of irritation in his eyes., Oh, so all is not well in the world of father and daughter…, But my relationship with my father is rocky, and until I win some trust, there’s no point in me mentioning what Annalise truly had said. I’ll bide my time., “And Sebastian, will you really just forget him?” he suddenly asks. “What he did was wrong, but I don’t think you will simply let him walk away. You were his mate and I’m certain you will want him back. Will you really be able to focus on the Crystal Shadow Pack?”, I scoff,, “What he does is not my issue any longer, and father, really, it’s like the pot calling the kettle black. Please remember that you did the very same thing to Mom, that he did to me. You took a mistress when you had a mate,” I remind him quietly, my heart thudding as I try to remain calm., My eyes flash as I feel my anger rage within me as his defiant gaze meets mine., “Fine. I hope you don’t go back on your words then?”, “I assure you I will not.”, As a child I saw the pain my mother experienced, and I will make sure that my children never feel, that way. Ever., As for Sebastian… well, Sebastian King will have a business rival, one that he didn’t see coming., “Excellent. I like that look in your eyes. Then we have a deal. Welcome back home, Zaia,” he holds, his hand out to me over the table., Home… home is where the heart is… I place my hand on my stomach as I take his hands with the other and give it a firm shake., Home is where my babies are., Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.