His Blue Moon Princess
His Sunshine Baby Chapter 77

She's

crying.

She keeps crying, though I can tell she's trying hard to hold it in. Is Elena really pregnant...? Damn, I... I don't even know what to answer.

"What the f**k are you saying?" She asks, completely lost. "Sterile...?"

I nod.

"It's from many years ago, I... I lost that ability to have children because of my father. One day, he hit me. He always hit us, though most days Damian protected Liam and I. It couldn't always be the case, though. And, that one time, he... hit me so hard in my stomach,

I started bleeding... I bled a lot. Damian took me to the hospital, but they couldn't... I learned I wouldn't be able to have children no matter how much surgery I went under. There's nothing medicine can do for me, Elena, I'm sterile. I've been sterile since I was fifteen..."

She's listening to me, I can't tell if she believes me or not. It's the truth, though. It's the first time someone else knows about this... I take a deep breath.

"That's the real reason she didn't want me... My fated mate. She had a choice between her rich fiance and a damaged teenager who could never have children... I can't blame her though."

She did what anyone would have done to protect their own future. Especially for a she-wolf, who looks forward to having her own children. And now, Elena says she's pregnant, too... It's like a dagger piercing my heart. Who other than me did she have s*x with? I don't want to think she's lying but... There's no other explanation. I know I can't be the father no matter what.

"f**k you, Nate."

I look up at her, surprised by her sudden anger.

"You dare mention your ex now? Do you think I care? I don't give a damn what you think you can or can't do, I know what I'm saying. Those doctors were wrong, Nate. I am pregnant, I am pregnant and no one else but you can be the father!"

"I cannot be, Elena! Even if you are, I can't have children! At all! I have all of the files, my complete medical chart, back at my place, attesting why your child cannot be mine! If you want, I can show it to you, I..."

"I don't give a s**t about your medical records, you i***t! I've been trying to think for weeks on how to tell you, and now, this? Nate, this child is my miracle! I didn't think I could have children either! I had a miscarriage, and..."

"But your chances after a miscarriage aren't down to zero, Elena. Mines are. I'm... I'll try to be happy for you that you got pregnant again, but... Don't say I'm the dad. I cannot be."

My voice sounds harsh and cold. But it's nothing compared to the ice bleeding in my heart right now. Just thinking that she's carrying another man's child... I want to vomit. I take a step back, but I stop when I see Elena's expression.

Damn it. This woman drives me nuts. She's crying so much, and all I can think is how I'm torn, between running to her or running away from her. What a f*****g mess we are...

"Elena I...."

"Nate, shut up."

It's her turn to be as cold as ice. She puts her arms around her and steps back, as if she was shielding herself from me. Shielding... her child. She takes a deep breath in, trying to calm herself down. "I don't... You know what? Nevermind. I don't need you."

"Elena, I..."

"You don't want to hear the truth, fine. I'll do it on my own."

"I'm not leaving you, Elena! You're the one who's not listening, this child..."

"Nathaniel, I never slept with anyone else but you for almost a year. This baby was conceived thirteen weeks ago, and as far as I'm concerned, I'm pretty sure I'm not able to conceive on my own."

I take a deep breath. Elena seems so sure I'm the father of her child... But it just cannot be. So, who did she sleep with and why won't she admit it? Was it really her best friend's brother? I keep imagining things I don't want to. It's driving me crazy. I want to get out of there. Or erase the five last minutes of this conversation and start all over again.

I know I lied. Well, I didn't lie. I just... I never brought myself to tell her I couldn't have children. I stayed quiet when she talked about protecting ourselves, condoms, taking the pill... I wasn't going to bring up me being sterile with what should have been a one-night stand. I could have done so later, but... As we kept seeing each other, I fell more and more in love and... afraid. Afraid that story would repeat itself if Elena knew I couldn't give her children....

"Elena, I really wanted to..."

"To what? Believe me? Believe whatever you want, Nate. I'm tired of lies. I came here to tell you this, now I've done my share. You do whatever you want with it."

"What do you mean?"

"You heard me. I've told you, now whatever you want to believe is up to you. I'll have this child, with you as his dad or not. I don't give a damn about your story of being sterile or not. It's your problem now."

She grabs her jacket, and before I can say another word, she's gone. I stay there, speechless.

What the f**k just happened? I... I can't believe it. Elena is pregnant. Pregnant. She said thirteen weeks! I fall back on the couch, completely lost. This is a nightmare... For the first time in years, I feel like crying, my heart about to crumble.

I stay alone for a long, long time, trying to think about what went wrong. Why? Just why did she do that? Going to another man, then trying to have me think it's mine? Maybe it would have been easier if she admitted to her lie. Or even if she had made a mistake. If she had a one-time thing with another. Maybe I could have even forgiven her... Yet, why can't I keep thinking Elena didn't? Some part of my mind is stuck. Stuck with this certainty that Elena didn't lie. That she wouldn't... Do that to me. To us.

I stay a long moment alone, unable to think of what to do next. I don't want to lose Elena. I feel like my heart left with her, and I'm so f*****g numb right now. If this wasn't Damian's place, I'd drink. But they are all next door, and I don't want them to see me drinking in the middle of the day...

"Nate?"

Damian walks in, frowning. He closes the door behind him, thank Moon Goddess Nora isn't there... or anyone else. I don't feel like seeing anyone but my brother right now.

"What happened?"

I shake my head.

"Sorry, I don't feel like talking right now, Damian."

"...Elena left?"

I nod. I don't even want to explain, but I know my brother Damian won't ask further. I hear him sigh next to me.

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't know... Damian, I want her back. I haven't loved anyone like this since..."

"Since Kate."

I nod silently. To be honest, I know one was my fated mate, and our feelings were almost... Programmed. However, with Elena, there was nothing simple, nothing written. It just happened, like a waterfall of feelings that overtook me. The more I saw her, the more I wanted, the deeper I fell for her.

I take a deep breath, trying hard to hold it all in.

"I don't know what to do..." I confess.

"Well... Give yourself some time, Nate. For her too. If you're like me... A couple of days apart might help."

A couple of days? It already feels like I've been away from Elena for so long... I just wish this was all a nightmare, and I would be back to those long days of summer, when we only had to worry about hiding our relationship, making love and having fun together. Damian puts a hand on my shoulder. "Nate, we'll be busy for a few days. I'll need your help for Nora's plan..."

Nora's plan. Suddenly, I realize it all. The gathering, the Clans, the Dark Witch. And the Opale Moon Clan's betrayal. What will become of Elena? She warned us about her pack's moves, she will be thrown in the middle of all this... What if she needs my help? I can't... I get up. "Damian. Let me watch the North Clans."

"What?"

I know how selfish that is. But I know I won't be able to do any good if I stay here. I'll be good for nothing, just keeping those questions in my mind and wondering, again and again, about Elena. I don't want our people to see me like this. Not even Nora, Liam or Neal. Damian's seen me like this before, he's picked me back up. He knows how low I can go...

"Fine. But stay where I can reach you. I have enough of one runaway brother..."

"Why are you leaving him with the Sapphire Moon Clan?" I ask.

"I have a feeling Liam might be working on his own... He's a bit surprising sometimes. And... It's time I acknowledge you two can be adults."

That's surprising, coming from Damian.

Before, he was the overprotective brother, the one to shield us no matter what... Is it because Nora's been more independent, he's giving us more faith too?

I drop by my place to take a shower, but I leave as soon as I can, taking my wolf form to run to the border. It's been a while since I shape-shifted. It's nice... I keep running until I reach the wolves of the White Moon Clan, the ones guarding the border. They growl at me, warning me to stay off their grounds.

I growl back. Don't you disrespect me.

I wander around, close to Elena's place. Not to close, though. I want to know what's going on with their Alpha, and about Elena. But I can't cross that border... Not yet.

More of their wolves gather to watch me, wary of my presence. But I sit there, waiting. They don't interest me in the slightest. I only move to watch who comes in and out. No one from the Gold Moon Clan, though...

The next day, at dawn, another wolf comes. An Alpha. I growl instinctively, but I don't recognize her... Who's this? She looks older, and the other wolves act differently around her. She keeps growling at me and actually steps out of her border, walking my direction with that warning stance.

Since when do they have an Alpha woman? Who is that? She's older than the Alphas we know...

Go away, Black.

I growl. She can mind-link me? Another Royal? Again?

How can you...?

Omega thing. Now go. I'm annoyed with your mutt face! Leave and forget Elena, Black. I have enough of one stalker to watch!

What? How much does that woman know? Who is she...

One stalker? Who.... Diego? That dog is stalking Elena again?

Hmpf. Looks like you're not totally useless after all...

Why is he after her? Is he the baby's....

How about you shut up before rotting your mouth with such idiocy. You think I'd let that scum near her!

I instinctively growl. So he's still around... And after her.

Let me get him.

What?

Her growling tones down. I step closer.

I'll get rid of him. I'll help you protect Elena...

Why would I trust you, when you abandoned her?

How much does that woman know exactly?

Who are you?

Shut up, kid! I'm the one asking questions! You think I'll trust you after all you've done to her! You better stay away from Elena, and from that pack at all. I'll deal with Diego myself!

She growls even louder at me, warning me to stay back. Stubborn old woman... Who is she anyway? What's her link to Elena?

She runs off, leaving me again with those others from the White Moon watching me. Damn it...

Nate.

Damian?

Everything fine?

Not exactly...

My brother and I mind-link for a while, but there isn't much to say. Our Brother Liam is still Moon Goddess knows where, absent and ignoring our attempts to mind-link him, and our Clan is preparing for the big meeting in two days.

I have faith in Nora, but I don't trust the other packs... Especially with Elena's revelations about her own pack. Will the White Moon betray the Sapphire Moon? Or will only the Opale Moon betray the White Moon? I'm restless and annoyed to not be able to do anything meanwhile.

... Damian. I need to ask you something. A favor.

What? You've never asked for anything before.

I need to cross the border.

...Which?

You know which.

He stays silent for a while.

Nate, you can't do that. Not now.

I know the timing is bad, but...

Nathaniel.

I can't help but growl, frustrated. My brother took his King's voice. I know I'm being too reckless, but... I can't endure it. Knowing Elena is behind that border, with that a*****e...

Nathaniel, it's an order. Do not cross that border.

I growl at him, but I can't f*****g disobey my older brother.

Fine...

I stay a long while there, waiting. I'm hoping that scum will show up, so I can tear him apart.

My brother and I have a strange relationship with death. We've lived with it, we've seen it. We've done that. I can kill a wolf or a man without blinking. I knew what death was before I could know about love. I knew about death that protects someone. When Damian killed our father, I was there. I witnessed it, and the void that came after. It wasn't relief, just a nightmare that came to an end. The man who had abused us for years was dead and gone.

What was Elena feeling when she tried to kill her ex? She went to jail for that... She was a victim, yet she took a double sentence, while this a*****e is still alive and around. That is enough.

Suddenly, the next day, I notice someone else is coming, in his human form. I recognize him from afar. Her friend Daniel.

He comes up, and he must have said something to the others because all the wolves that were there leave. What does he want...? He's not alone, another male wolf is right behind him. Is that his brother? I instinctively growl, and Daniel hesitates. A bit afraid. I forgot his a normal wolf...

"Reagan said you've been here for a while... Are you waiting for Elena? Because she's not coming. She doesn't know you're there, and honestly, I don't want her to. You broke her heart, Black, and that was one too many times. I wanted to root for you, but you messed I growl, but he doesn't flinch.

up."

"I'm not afraid of you. She's my best friend, you know. There are many things I can do for her, even standing up to an Alpha for her."

I have to give that to him, he's brave... So what is he doing here now if he doesn't want me near her?

"I... want to check."

What is he talking about? He crosses his arm, adjusting his glasses.

"Elena mentioned your... issue. I want to check. I am a biology student, so I can understand this kind of thing. You want to prove you didn't lie? Show it to me. Your medical file."

Is he kidding me? Why do I have to justify myself to him? Elena has to be the one who lied, not me!

"Listen, Black, I know my best friend. She wouldn't lie. She is an adopted child, too, and it's bothered her for... her whole life, actually. There is no way she would lie about her baby's biological father. So... either you lied, or you were healed and unaware."

Damn, he's really... Annoying. I hate that he somehow has more faith in Elena than I do. Why is he so sure? But he's indeed her best friend, and flatmate... He would know if she lied. So why... And why is his brother here anyway? Does he think the kid may be his, too? I take a deep sigh and decide to shape-shift back into my human form. Daniel immediately blushes and looks away.

"Moon Goddess, you could... warn people before doing... that." He stutters.

I don't have time for this...

"Fine. I'll give my medical file to you, if you can keep it a secret."

"Of course I can! Who do you..."

"In exchange, I want Diego."

He freezes, looking at me completely speechless.

"You... excuse me? You want what?"

"Give me Diego. I cannot cross your border, and as long as he's on your side, I cannot do anything to him. But if he just steps one paw here..."

Daniel seems to hesitate for a second, looking for what to say, totally surprised by my demand. But before he can formulate an answer, his brother suddenly shape-shifts too.

"We will give him to you," says Levi.

"Oh, great, now you're both naked..." sighs Daniel.

"I just want to be sure what you'll do once you..."

I smirk.

"Oh, I'll kill him."

"...Deal."