His Blue Moon Princess
His Sunshine Baby Chapter 83

It's been a rough six days... Nora just woke up yesterday, but her mate is still in the coma, and this morning, I buried my dad. And we lost so many werewolves in this battle, and the damages... The stadium and its surroundings are still ravaged, like a gaping wound in the city. Silver City is sad those days. The sky is dark, and we get rain from time to time. With the King in the Hospital and Nora in a coma, all the Alphas are helping each other with the aftermath of the Battle.

I know Nathaniel is replacing his brother Damian as the head of their pack, but I haven't seen him since. I've come to realize this is no coincidence, but I'm still unsure why he would be avoiding me at such a time. Is he afraid I'll distract him? Or... When I show up at the offices of Black Corporation that evening, the secretary behind the welcome desk looks unsure and tired.

"Excuse me," she says, "M. Black is busy..."

"Is he upstairs?" I ask.

"Yes, but he's..."

"Fine."

"Miss Whitewood! You can't...!"

But I ignore her and walk to the elevators, hitting the button to go all the way up to his brother's office. Since the King is still in a desperate coma, I bet Nate will have directly taken over... When I walk into their office, I do notice he's busy, but with Isaac and Tonia. They both look surprised to see me.

"Hey, blondie," says Isaac. "It's been a while."

"Hello, Isaac, Tonia. Mind if I talk to Nathaniel for a few minutes?"

"We're busy, Elena."

I send him a glare. Too busy to see the woman carrying your child? Tonia and I exchange a look, and within a few silent seconds, she understands and walks out. Isaac sighs and follows her out, too.

Nathaniel crosses his arms.

"Great. I never meant to replace my brother, but now I really can see I don't have his authority..."

"So you still have some humor. Now I know you do resemble Liam a bit..."

He shakes his head, looking annoyed.

"Why are you here, Elena? I don't mean to be rude, but with both Damian and Nora in the hospital, I have a lot to deal with, and no one is being easy to deal with these days. Including but not limited to your Alpha, who hates me."

I am not going to be sorry for him. Clark is still my godfather, and dealing on the daily with the jerk who got me pregnant is probably testing his patience...

"You've been avoiding me."

He takes a deep breath in, not hiding his fool mood.

"No, I've been busy, and..."

"Don't give me that, Nate. Being busy never held you back before. So what is it? I went to see you at the hospital, but when I woke up you were gone."

"I was needed elsewhere."

"I get that, but it's been a few days now. Even Clark found time to come back to our pack. You're avoiding me."

He sighs. Does he think I haven't noticed? He's looking anywhere but my direction!

"Nathaniel."

This time, I'm growling and using my Alpha voice. He won't avoid me like that.

But to my surprise, he growls back. I think this is the first time Nate's ever growled back at me.

"Enough with your insolence, Elena," he says. "If you have something to tell me, say it now, or be gone. Despite what you think I really have other priorities than you."

I'm speechless. What does he mean? Nathaniel has never talked to me like that before or sent me away. He's always been the one to hold me back! What is this? "Nate, what..."

"Tell me again, Elena. The truth this time. Who is the baby's father?"

"It's you! Of course it's you, for the hundredth time, I..."

He turns around and suddenly, throws some file on his desk, looking angry, and... hurt.

"I don't understand how you can keep lying with a straight face like that, Elena. You knew you'd get caught sooner or later. I mean, maybe you didn't want to believe it wasn't mine at first, but when I told you the truth about my condition, you could have just apologized and said the truth!"

What the heck...? I take a few steps to his desk, grabbing those papers. They are from the White Moon Clinic, it's the paternity test from our samples that Daniel had sent. I check it out. Moon Goddess, the results...

How can it be negative? Nathaniel is the father! I check and recheck again, but it doesn't change a thing. According to those, Nathaniel is not the biological father of my baby.

I'm in such shock, it takes me a couple of seconds to understand.

Iris.

It has to be my cousin. As of today she's pending trial for her betrayal, and because we are so short-handed, still runs all our facilities. Iris knew I was running a paternity test to prove Nate's the father, I bet she did this to punish me. F**k...

I look at Nathaniel, and his eyes, full of anger and sadness. He thinks I betrayed him. That I slept with someone else, probably Levi or Diego, and lied to him. That I'm bearing someone else's child. This is so pathetic... I start crying silently, but it's only adding to his anger.

"Don't you cry, Elena! You're the one who lied! I gave you so many chances to say the truth, but now you're feeling sorry? Won't you even apologize?"

"Those papers are lying, Nate. You're the father. My cousin Iris did this, she..."

"No, no, enough with the excuses, Elena. I already gave you the benefit of the doubt when Daniel asked me to re-test my disease by giving you my samples for a paternity test. Now I'm done listening to your lies."

"Nate, I swear, on the Moon Goddess, this baby is..."

"ELENA, ENOUGH!"

I have no choice but take a couple of steps back, shocked by his Alpha aura thrown at me. I've never seen him so angry, and I've never been so scared of him. His wolf is so like the King's... All dark, growling and glaring at me.

He really thinks I cheated on him, that I lied. I keep crying, tears rolling down my cheeks. I can't think of any words to say. He's too mad and too hurt to listen. I'm not going to convince him like this. I sob painfully, but that irritates him. "Elena, we're done. I don't want to see you if you don't want to apologize and say the truth."

"I never said anything but the truth, Nathaniel."

He looks at me, shocked, but when he's about to burst at me again, I turn my heels and leave this place.

I burst out and cry loudly in the elevator, so loud it echoes in my ears. Why, why, why? It wasn't supposed to end like this! I thought the test would prove he's the dad, he'd be happy, and we could be happy together...

Moon Goddess, my baby. What am I going to do with her? Her father won't believe she's his, and my pack will reject her! I keep crying as I leave the building, and with no idea where to go. I don't want Nora to see me in that state. I don't even feel like seeing Daniel, he's helping at the hospital, there is so much work to do. I don't have the heart to call and tell him. He will be so devastated when I tell him Iris actually messed up the paternity test...

I slowly walk back to the White Moon Clan, to our flat. I feel like a ghost, walking in silence, by myself, a step away from the real world. I can barely breathe. All I can keep thinking is, what will I do from now on? I could ask Nora, but she's already overwhelmed by the King's state...

it's already late and dark when I go to my room, feeling like a stranger in my own place. It's like I can't recognize the smells, the pictures on the walls, anything that was so familiar. Everything that used to make me feel better is gone. I try to wipe the tears off my face, trying to think straight. I've reached the lowest levels of sadness, like my heart is getting swallowed by ice. I want to cry again, but I'm too tired for that.

"Elena?"

I turn around. To my surprise, Sylviana and Daniel are there, coming out from his room. My best friend's eyes are red. I frown, a bit lost. He runs up to me, however, and hugs me without a word. I don't understand...

"I already explained it to him," says Sylviana.

So she knew? That the results had come out negative... I can't hold back new tears as I keep looking at the witch.

"He's the father," I repeat uncontrollably. "Nathaniel is..."

"I know, Elena," she whispers, walking up to me to caress my hair. "But he won't accept it now. I'm really sorry, Elena."

"It's okay, babe. I'm here."

Daniel's words comfort me a little, but it can't fill that void in my heart. I'm too sad, too worried, too disappointed. When he lets go of me, I realize I won't be able to go on like this. Just when I'm about to talk first, Sylviana takes my hand. "Nora went into a coma again."

I frown.

"What? Why? I saw her yesterday, she was fine!"

"She couldn't take it anymore, Elena. I can't explain it to you, but... She went back into coma, and the King woke up."

Damian Black woke up? I heard the medical staff said he was not going to make it.... What did Nora do? How did she do that? I have a feeling her fated mate's condition is because of Nora, but I don't understand.

"Elena... Nora is in a deep coma. Her power will go... dormant."

I frown. Dormant? Meaning the dark witch won't be able to feel it anymore. Then... I put a hand on my tummy.

"She will be able to feel my baby?"

"Her aura, yes. For now, she is still concealed in your belly, but..."

"When will Nora wake up?" I ask, realizing that's all this is about.

If my cousin wakes up before my baby is born, it could be fine, but if she doesn't... To my surprise, Sylviana shakes her head.

"I can't tell, Elena. But... No matter how many times I try to see, Nora, she... She won't be back before your baby's birth."

I take a few seconds to handle the shock. It means Nora will stay in the coma at least five or six more months...

Piece by piece, everything adds up, doing the math I've been to blind to realize. My cousin in a coma, my baby will be more in danger than ever... and with no one but me to protect her. I chuckle nervously. "It's just like when Reagan saved me."

Daniel shakes his head, confused.

"What are you talking about, Babe?"

"Danny... I have to leave."

"What? But aside from the White Moon, the packs..."

"I'm not leaving the White Moon Clan, Danny, I'm leaving Silver City."

My best friend stares at me, speechless. I take a deep breath. It's like I'm feeling better now that I've come to that conclusion.

"Danny, it's the only way. The White Moon Pack won't accept my child, and Nathaniel isn't going to help me. With Nora in a coma, I can't do anything but leave. As soon as she's born, this baby will become a target. I don't want that." "But..."

He stumbles on his words, unable to come up with something. I exchange a glance with Sylviana over his shoulder. I don't know how far ahead the witch had planned, but I know she saw it coming. She knew it would come to this.

I put my hair back, trying to get my ideas in order. I need to stop crying and think rationally. The truth hurts, but it's in front of me.

I have to leave.

I turn to Sylviana, holding Daniel's hand.

"I just want to see Nora before I go."

"Wait! Elena, you want to leave now?" Asks Danny, shocked.

"Daniel, every second I stay in the same City as Nathaniel, I'm feeling bad. My father isn't here anymore, too. With Nora in a coma, you're the only one I have left here..."

"...But! Whot obout Clork, ond Chris, ond Boyon..."

"I'm so sorry, Noro," I whisper. "I wish you were here... I wish I could tell you goodbye in person.

"...But! What about Clark, and Chris, and Boyan..."

I smile and hug him once more.

"It's okay, Danny. Clark is just making up excuses not to banish me yet, those days, and I know Chris will understand. You can explain to Boyan and your family, too."

"How will you do! If you leave alone, you..."

"She won't be alone," says Sylviana. "I will go with her, at least until I'm sure the baby is born safely. Elena will need my help and protection to settle somewhere the dark witch won't replace her, too."

I nod. I feel a bit better knowing our witch will help me. I need to ask Reagan, too, but I'm pretty sure my mentor will follow me anyway. I go to my room and grab a backpack. Daniel is crying, but he helps me gather a few clothes and necessities. "I can't believe it. This is so unfair, this is..."

He keeps mumbling and sobbing, but I don't have the heart to answer him. It only takes a few minutes for me to get all my things. I leave a lot here, but I have no idea when I'll be back, honestly. It may only be a few months, but it could be... years. I take a deep breath.

I watch our flat one last time before Daniel closes the door, and that's it.

This is so crazy, yet I'm feeling a lot better as we walk through the City, leaving the White Moon Clan's borders to head to the Black General Hospital. It's the middle of the night, and I doubt Nate will be there.

Sylviana and Daniel wait for me outside. I silently walk up to Nora's room.

Just as I'm about to walk in, a shadow suddenly comes out. I hold my breath. Damian Black. The King looks at me, his eyes even darker than usual. Damn, he looks healthy but so sad... We exchange looks, and I'm very uneasy. Should I say something? I didn't think he'd be here at night too... But without a word, he steps aside and walks away. Is this okay...?

Something strange happened there... Her bed is surrounded by roses, and I suspect Sylviana is no stranger to this eerie setting. My cousin looks like the modern version of Sleeping Beauty, lying in her hospital bed surrounded by roses as white as her new, strange hair. A huge brown wolf is sleeping under her bed, and Liam Black is snoring in the chair across the room.

I sit next to her on the bed and take her hand to caress it softly.

"I'm so sorry, Nora," I whisper. "I wish you were here... I wish I could tell you goodbye in person. I... I hope you'll be back soon. They all miss you. I'll miss you the most. Do you know how much you're loved, Nora? He is coming every day to see you... Liam and Bobo too. Everyone loves you. They are all waiting for you... I hope you will be back soon. I'm so sorry we have to part this way. I hope you'll understand, Nora. We will see each other again, I promise. ... Forgive me."

I feel like crying again, but this is only a goodbye. Not a farewell. I know I'll see her again. I know they will take good care of her. I stay a bit longer, holding her hand, until I'm calmed down. If only I could borrow a bit of your strength, Nora...

I give a long kiss on her forehead, taking one last good look at her. Next time I'll see her, she'll be awake, bright and happy. I really pray for it.

When I leave the room, still teary, I meet Damian Black again outside. But this time, he stands in front of me in the corridor.

"I... I'm sorry, I have to go, hem..." I stutter.

"Take this."

To my surprise, he hands me a thick bundle of bills. Just by the number on the first one, I can tell there is a lot! What is this? I glance at him, surprised. Why would the King give me money? Did he hear me talking to Nora? "I don't..."

"You'll need it. Nora thinks of you as a sister... and you're carrying my niece."

I frown. How did he...?

"Sylviana, Liam and I talked... a lot when I woke up," he explains.

So he knows about my baby? Why would Sylviana tell him? I hesitate, but take the money. If he knows, he probably already made up his mind about this... "Thanks..."

I wonder what to add, but before I do, he's already walking back into Nora's room. I guess that's it... I put the money in my jacket, and leave the Hospital.

Sylviana and Daniel are still waiting outside, and I mind-link Reagan so she can join me at the border. We walk there in silence, only Daniel sobbing softly. When we finally reach it, I turn around and take my best friend into a big hug.

"Be careful outside, okay? Don't drink, don't get sick. Sleep a lot, okay? And... I anything happens..."

"Don't worry, Danny. I'll keep my phone just in case. I'll text you where I am when I can, okay? Please explain everything to your family. I'm sorry I can't stay longer, but I won't have the courage to leave if I don't do it tonight." He nods but cries again. Oh, poor Danny. I take his hand.

"Daniel, you're my best, best friend in the whole world. I love you, babe."

"I love you too, babe..." he sobs.

"See you soon, okay?" I say with the bit of a smile I can gather.

"It better be soon. I want to see my goddaughter... She'll be so pretty..."

"I'll do my best. Take care, babe. Don't fight too much with Bobo, and eat properly."

He's about to say something, but he's crying too much to make sense.

I hug him long and tight.

"See you, Babe."

"See ya..."

I part with him and start walking away.

Away from Daniel, from my pack, away from Silver City. I'm crying hard and ugly. It's so hard to go this way... Sylviana takes my hand, and Reagan is by my side too.

It will be okay.

I'll be okay...