His Blue Moon Princess
His Sunshine Baby Chapter 87

"Nathaniel! Nathaniel, where is she? Elena is..."

I turn to see Nora, running up to me, with my brother and Boyan. They probably left in a hurry, her bun is messy, and my brother's shirt is wrinkled too. We're in the Emergency waiting room, gathered like idiots while waiting.

That wait is killing me. I'm only holding on because I have Estelle with me, who's been crying silently against my shoulder. She's terrified, and I have no idea how to comfort her. The only thing is I can do so far is to carry her. She still has that jacket that smells like her mom around her, hopefully comforting her a bit too. Her little hands are holding on tight to my shirt, and she won't let go.

Isaac walks up to Nora and Damian to explain the situation to them, whispering.

"Elena's in surgery. Her injuries are bad, but the doctors said she will make it."

"Moon Goddess, Estelle..."

Nora walks up to me, seeing my daughter in my arms. Estelle looks at her with a little frown, confused.

"Estelle, honey, it's Auntie Nora... You remember me? We talked a lot over the phone..."

"Auntie Nora...?"

"That's right, honey," says the Luna with a gentle smile. "You were a brave girl, weren't you?"

Estelle seems a bit hesitant. She probably only ever talked to Nora over the phone. She was already very scared when we reached Silver City... Which is not surprising. She just went from the countryside she's known her whole life to a city full of skyscrapers and noise.

I'm still shocked that I have a daughter, yet she's been holding on to me this whole time....How come she knows about me? She trusts me as her dad, like she had known me her whole life. I'm still baffled. "Estelle! Elena!"

This time, it's Daniel Lewis and his brother who come running in. s**t, I didn't expect him... nor his brother. He walks up to me, immediately turning from worried to angry at me.

"How dare you pick her up! Let her go! Estelle, it's Dada! You know, your Dada?"

"Dada!"

This time, Estelle recognizes him immediately, and when he takes her from me, she doesn't resist. s**t. I have to control my wolf not to be angry at him. It's odd, that sensation. I didn't want to part with Estelle. Even now, she's only a few steps away, but my wolf wants his pup back.

"Dada... I want to see mommy..."

Daniel turns to Liam and Sylviana, clearly ignoring me. Behind him, his brother is giving me weird glances too.

"Where is she? Elena? What happened?"

"Nora and Nate picked up their distress calls," explains Liam. "We found Estelle alone, but Elena probably acted as a decoy to save her."

"It was the dark witch," admits Sylviana. "I think she ran when she felt me coming, but..."

"How is she?" asks Daniel's brother, sending worried glances at the surgery room.

"She's going to be fine. I won't make a full list, but she had a lot of injuries, though the medical staff said she will make it."

"Thank Moon Goddess..." sighed Daniel.

"Daniel... We... found Reagan too."

Her sorry expression says it all, but Sylviana's probably careful with her words because of Estelle. Daniel's jaw drops.

"She...?"

A long silence follows. He looks terribly affected, shaking his head, maybe holding back his tears. Boyan walks up to him, standing by his boyfriend to try and comfort him. Nora, too, walks up to him and rubs his shoulder. "Daniel, I'm so sorry..."

"Damn it... She's going to be so sad when she hears this..."

He has a hard time not crying, I can tell. I guess he was close to that woman too. I see his brother take out his phone from his pocket and leave. They probably need to tell their pack the news... What a mess... Daniel puts a hand on Estelle's left ear, holding her with his free arm, and turns to us again.

"Elena, did she... say anything?"

"No, she only called me for help, and I lost the mind-link almost immediately," sighs Nora.

"f**k! I can't believe something really happened. And Reagan's death... Moon Goddess..."

I'm confused. Why the hell is he only blocking one of her ears, what's the point if she hears it? I understand his other arm is busy, but...

However, to my surprise, Estelle isn't reacting at all to his words. I stare at my daughter, who seems tired in his arms, but really, it's like she didn't hear. "Estelle?"

She doesn't react, again. What the...? She really didn't hear. Daniel sighs and turns to me with an exasperated expression, like I did something wrong. "What are you doing?"

"Why can't she hear me?"

He sighs.

"... Her right ear is deaf. She was born like that. She only hears from her left side."

What? Why? Why was she born with a deaf ear? Nora seems surprised, too, so I guess my sister-in-law wasn't aware either.

Understanding we're talking about her, Estelle pushes his hand away and turns to him.

"Dada, can I see mommy now? I want to see mommy..."

"Not yet, baby star, mommy is with the doctors. You will see her soon, I promise."

"The surgery will probably take a couple more hours, though," says Liam with a frown.

"Daniel, how about we take her for a little snack?" suggests Nora. "She must be tired from all that happened... Estelle, do you want to drink something?" "A hot cocoa..."

Nora softly smiles, caressing her blonde hair.

"Alright, let's go get hot cocoa, alright? Danny, come."

Like they had discussed this before, Nora gives a little nod to Damian, and she walks away with Daniel, Boyan following them.

"Liam, you're going with them," suddenly says Damian.

"But..."

Our brother's eyes definitely won't take any refusal. Liam hesitates, sends me an annoyed glance and follows after them.

I'm left with Damian and Sylviana, and my legs officially give up. I fall on my arse on one of the benches. That's too many emotions for one day.

"I have a child... Moon Goddess, Damian, I have a four-year-old daughter..." I whisper, my head in my hands.

The truth hits me again, like a hammer getting bigger every freaking minute. Though Estelle walked away with her mother's best friend, my wolf can still feel his pup. I can tell exactly where she is in the building. Damian takes the seat next to me, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Elena will be fine."

"She will kill me when she wakes up. She has every f*****g right to. I can't believe it..."

"Nathaniel, calm down."

"I can't calm down! I have a kid! Elena had my child, all by herself, and she raised her alone in the woods for four f*****g years after I basically kicked her out!"

"You didn't kick her out."

Sylviana's voice surprises me. I didn't expect our friendly neighborhood witch to step into this conversation. She looks tired, with her sullied dress and disheveled red hair.

"Elena had many reasons to leave. You were one of them, but it wasn't only you. It was to protect her baby."

"Why couldn't she have protected her within Silver City?" I ask, angry.

"Nathaniel. Nora and Elena are related."

I turn to my brother, confused.

"What do you mean, related?"

"They are cousins."

I shake my head, doubtful. What is he saying now? Where does that come from? His wife and Elena, related?

"It's a long story," adds Sylviana. "But... Elena has Royal Blood, just like Nora. She left because Estelle was your child. She knew that with your Alpha blood, her daughter would be a Royal too."

"It doesn't make any sense. Elena isn't a royal! She doesn't even look like Nora!"

I'm exasperated now. Why all those crazy truths, after all this time? How does Damian know so much about Elena? He turns to me, using his big brother's voice just when I'm getting too confused to think straight.

"Nate, you'll sort it out with Elena when she wakes up."

"How do you know those things, Damian? Why didn't you tell me before?"

"There were many things concealed to protect Estelle," says Sylviana. "Other things Elena didn't want you to know, too."

"I've had my share of secrets," I growl. "Anything else I need to know?"

"She can't come back to our pack."

Surprised, I turn around, to realize Daniel's redhead brother is back. I had forgotten about that guy. What was that guy's name again? Levi? I can't believe I suspected he was Estelle's father... He looks nothing like her. He has darker skin than Elena's, is tall like a giraffe and though his eyes are blue, it's a different shape and shade, nothing like mine.

"What? Why?" I ask, confused for the hundredth time today.

"She was banned... five years ago."

"You mean before she left? Why would they ban Elena? Isn't her godfather your Alpha?"

He hesitates, looking a bit embarrassed. That's when I realize. I get up and grab his collar, furious.

"Because of Estelle? You bastards kicked her out because she was having my child?!"

"Nathaniel!" Growls Damian.

My brother intervenes to get me off Levi, but I'm so angry, I just keep growling at him. He shakes his head.

"First, I am not our Alpha or our elders, we didn't have our say in this. And there were... circumstances, okay?"

"I don't give a s**t about your circumstances! You can tell Clark next time I see him, I'll... "Nathaniel, enough!"

This time, I can't disobey Damian. His Alpha aura is working on suppressing mine. f**k! I can't believe the White Moon banished a pregnant woman because of her relationship with me! I know it wasn't the best for us to be together back then, but still! Damian insists on having me sit back, where Levi is out of reach.

"Enough. First, let's focus on Elena and Estelle. We'll deal with Clark later, they will stay with our pack for now."

This time, Damian's glare is on that guy, meaning there is no arguing on this. Or maybe he's a bit pissed at the White Moon, too. Even though the borders within Silver City are long forgotten and the packs relationships have gotten a lot better, there are some things that just won't be solved like that.

Like a Clan kicking his niece's mother out.

"Thanks. I know Daniel can freely go to your territory, so..."

"Anyone can come to our territory," says Damian. "If Elena's friends want to see her, they can."

Levi nods, looking a bit thankful. I don't feel sorry for them. If only they hadn't banished her, I would have been able to see my daughter as soon as she was born. They...

"Daddy!"

I turn around. Estelle is already back, running to me with a Starbucks cup in her hand. She walks up to face me as I'm still sitting, showing me her cup.

"Daddy, look. Auntie Nora bought me this, and the lady made it with the coffee machine, and she put whipped cream on it..."

I can't help but smile while she tells me all this. She's so excited by a mere cup of hot cocoa, she looks better than when she was worried about her mom.

"She wanted to come back soon," says Nora. "She was afraid her dad would be gone..."

I frown. Estelle was scared I'd leave? Why? Is she so insecure, because she only just met me? Behind her, Daniel is glaring at me with his arms crossed, but he doesn't dare say anything in front of Estelle.

"Daddy, do you want some? Auntie Nora, can I share?"

"Of course, honey."

"I'm fine, Estelle. You can drink it."

She nods and drinks a bit.

It's strange how curious I am about each of her movements. I'm fascinated by my daughter, literally. I turn to Nora, thinking about their own child.

"Where is James?"

"We left him with William," explains Nora.

Oh, her cousin. It makes sense. My two-year-old nephew is a bit too young to be in a hospital, and he has a bit of a temper, too. He probably couldn't sit still for a long time. Estelle, on the other hand, is very calm, though she sends regular glances at the surgery room, and seems a bit afraid by the crowd around us. Is that why she stays right next to me?

"Estelle?" I gently call her.

"Mh?"

"How did you know... I'm your dad?"

Daniel sends me another glare from behind her, but I don't care. Estelle smiles, all proud, and explains with her little voice.

"I have your picture! Mommy showed it to me, and I said I liked it, so mommy printed it and now I have it! I put it in a pretty frame so I could see you all the time!"

My heart is torn apart, hearing this.

I'm such an a*s. All those years... Damn it. I can't hold back, I pull my daughter in to hug her. I'm so thankful to Elena. She didn't tell her how much of an imbecile her father was, or pretend I didn't exist. "But... Daddy... I left the picture at the house..."

I chuckle.

"It's okay, baby. I'm here now. And we can get it back later if you want."

"Can we?" asks Nora, turning to Sylviana. "You said she was..."

The witch seems to hesitate for a few seconds.

"She fled as soon as she sensed me, but... From what I felt... She is definitely stronger than before. I'm afraid we don't have much time left..."

Damian and I exchange a glance. We were preparing for when this Dark Witch would attack, but... This is too soon. I only barely meet Estelle, and Elena is in such a state!

"How long?" Asks Damian.

"I'm not sure," sighs Sylviana. "It could be a few weeks, a few months... But it will be before next year."

Next year? We are already in July... Meaning we only have six months left, maximum. I look at my daughter, a thorn in my heart. At least now she's here, with me.

"Tonia?"

Boyan's older sister just came out of the surgery room, wearing a nurse's gown. She takes off the paper hat and mask, walking up to us. I realize Damian probably gave orders right when we came back.

"Hi everyone. First, Elena is fine. We managed to save her arm and shoulder, too. It will take a few weeks, but she'll heal. She's stable, but she will need to stay in the intensive care unit. She lost a lot of blood, and like Nora, she doesn't heal like a normal werewolf either." "Thank you for taking care of her," says Levi.

"What are you talking about? She's family, of course we will take care of her, and Estelle too," replies Nora.

He looks down, a bit overwhelmed by the Luna's annoyed tone. Damian probably told her about the White Moon Clan banishing Elena too. Nora is usually gentle, but when she's pissed, you don't want to be in the same room. She somewhat learned how to be scary from my brother, but her Alpha aura is no imitation...

"Nora, go home with Estelle," says Damian. "She won't be able to see her mother in the intensive care unit."

"But... I want to see mommy..." Estelle starts crying.

She's standing next to me, opposite from my brother, but I can tell Damian scares her a bit. I caress my daughter's hair.

"Estelle, mommy is sleeping now, and doctors are taking care of her."

She slowly cries, fidgeting. She grabs my hand, holding on to it.

"Daddy... Please... I promise I won't wake mommy up... I'll really be quiet... please..."

Shit... I'm going to be a really weak-willed father. I sigh a bit and turn to Damian. Maybe we can do an exception, just this once? I see Nora gives him the look, too. Thank Moon Goddess my sister-in-law's on my side. He nods and turns to Tonia. "Make sure she sees her mom."

Tonia frowns.

"The Hospital Director won't be happy..."

"The Hospital Director's salary comes from my wallet," growls Damian. "Let him know he better think twice before being unhappy."

"Sure, Boss."

Tonia walks away to warn the nurses, and Daniel turns to us with a frown.

"Where will she stay? Elena doesn't have a place here, we left our flat and she sold her parent's house."

"Both were on the White Moon territory, anyway," says Liam.

"I'm not homeless," I say to him.

"Why would she live with you?" Says Daniel. "Technically, you were a stranger until two hours ago. You've never raised any kid, as far as I know, and you don't know anything about her."

I would argue about not raising anyone, considering what a pain in the a*s Liam was growing up, but I'll let that slide for now.

"I'm still her father," I growl.

"Her estranged father. I'm her godfather, I've talked to her and her mom every week since she was born!"

"Shut up, both of you!" Suddenly yells Nora. "First, may I remind you this is an hospital, so be quiet. Second, Estelle is right there, so stop fighting in front of her. And third, she can stay with us for now." Liam opens his mouth to argue, but she glares at him.

"Liam, I'm very tired, very pregnant and your Luna. Don't you think about it."

...That's my wife.

Liam and I both glared at him and his smirk. Does he really have to brag right now?