Resisting the Moon: A Royal Shifters Novel (28 page)

“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

M
y 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.”