His Blue Moon Princess
His Sunshine Baby Chapter 105

"No, Damian, you need to... No, not that either! Did you get the parmesan...? Yes, exactly! Now you just cut a few pieces and put it on top. Slices, not chunks!"

I can't repress a laugh. Nate's been on the phone for over half an hour, trying to guide his brother into making whatever crazy dish Nora is craving again. Apparently, the King's only weakness is his non-existent cooking skills to satisfy his wife... Though, I have to admit Nora's cravings are getting crazier every day. Moon Goddess, I wish I'd had that kind of pregnancy! With Estelle, I just felt sleepy all the time and unable to sleep when I was supposed to. "Mommy? Can I put this one?" "Try it, baby."

Estelle has gotten into puzzles lately, so we just bought this new one for her yesterday, but she picked a big one. We had to install it in the living room, and we are both on the floor, trying to make those five hundred pieces work together somehow while chatting about her first weeks of school.

It was a bit of a last-minute, but Nate used his connections to get Estelle into a nearby school right in time for September. So far, she likes it. She even became friends with a deaf-mute girl one year older, who she "plays" sign language with... Her teacher is a nice old lady, and they even have a little school farm where Estelle can see a rabbit every day.

While she tries to fit another piece of that puzzle, I turn to watch my man, visibly desperate on the phone. Despite his shirt, I can see the marking on Nate's neck, making me smile every time.

Nathaniel was right about one thing: I feel much closer to him now with that marking on both our necks. They finally went from pink, painful and fresh to a proper scar. Truthfully, I didn't think I could like a scar so much. It's like I now have a special connection to him, something I can feel at all times, binding us together.

He feels my stare and turns to me with a smile as he hangs up and comes back to us.

"How are they doing?"

"I'm not sure. I can't guarantee she will get her almond butter and four kinds of cheese lasagna, but I do hope for my brother he doesn't burn it. When he hangs up, I think I heard something about Nora trying to stab him with a spoon..."

Estelle and I exchange a look before bursting to laughs. It's just too funny to imagine the strongest Alpha of Silver City being subjected to his pregnant wife's crazy whims... It reminds us that Nora's delivery date is near, though. I'm already glad that we finished the summer without any further incident, but it definitely won't last.

More and more, the vampires are coming closer. At night, our patrols in the north spot them from afar, and Sylviana, too, says she can sense them trying to break the protections she put in place. They are roaming around, but too afraid to come close. No sign of the Dark Witch though, which is scary. Since she attacked me, that woman hasn't appeared anywhere...

The good side of it is, we didn't think we would have so much time left, and got ready as soon as we could. There were several Alpha gatherings, between the few Clans that had not yet fusioned.

The Sapphire Moon Clan, the White Moon Clan, and the Violet Moon Clan were the three last ones. For a few weeks, Nora, the Black Brothers, the Mura Siblings and I worked together to convince every pack to rally our cause. Truth is, I was surprised about how quickly my new position was accepted by other packs. The Sea Moon wolves even ended up rallying my pack, unexpectedly. Arthur Seaver wasn't too fond of the Sapphire or Violet Moon, but their pack had a debt to Nora and I since the last battle, almost five years ago. Hence, after further discussions, he finally agreed to submit to me and use his Alpha position to lead his pack into the war.

The Rising Moon, after protesting a lot, wasn't given much choice. Every pack still resented them for their betrayal four years ago, and Damian Black made sure they would regret if their Alpha didn't purely and simply renounced her position. When she was given a choice to fight against him or subdue, she chose the option that would let her live.

Finally, once our cousin William Blue gave Nora the leadership of the Sapphire Moon as promised, only the stubborn Lysandra Jones was left. That was a very different battle, and one we didn't expect to last this long. The Violet Moon is the proudest pack, and despite Tonia being her partner, Lysandra refused to submit to Damian, Nora or me until the very end.

This is the only issue we still have today. After many, many attempts to discuss this, Lysandra sort of agreed that she could potentially submit to Damian, but only when the Dark Witch would attack, not anytime before. This makes the situation more complicated, as we have to prepare a battle plan while continuously arguing with her...

"My Sunshine, my little star, I have to go."

"Daddy? You're going to work?" Asks Estelle, looking disappointed.

He gets on his knees and gives her a kiss on her forehead.

"Sorry, my princess, but your uncle Damian needs to stay home with aunty Nora, so I need to take care of the Company."

"With Uncle Isaac too?"

"Yes, exactly."

"I can't come with you...?" She asks with that cute pout.

Damn, I need to intervene before Nate loses again against our baby girl's ultimate cuteness attack. I chuckle and caress her chubby cheek.

"We're going to see Sylviana and your uncle Liam today, remember? You'll see Daddy tonight, baby."

"Okay, then..."

He smiles and hugs her once more, before giving me a long goodbye kiss.

I watch him leave with a light heart. Moon Goddess... I still can't believe this is my new daily life, with Nate and Estelle, in his penthouse. I wake up by his side, usually with a bit of delightful morning bed action, and let him make breakfast while I wake up our daughter, and all three of us eat together. Estelle goes to school, he goes to work and I study or go to the White Moon for my Alpha duties. I still don't really know how we made it work, but with Nate, everything happens so naturally, it feels like I don't have to worry about anything but the war that's coming at us.

And it is coming. I'm satisfied with each day that we go through without incident, but my first worry in the morning is, will it be today? I have never been patient, but Moon Goddess, this is utter torture.

Once again, I try to chase all of the gloom away while getting ready. My little baby sunshine helps a lot with that, too. She is happy whatever it is we do, and today she is ecstatic about going to see Sylviana and Liam.

We arrive in the large garden, but as usual, I feel like I'm entering some wild, unique tropical forest. There's green absolutely everywhere, and flowers of all colors sprouting randomly here and there. The ivy is covering most of the house, I wouldn't even be able to tell which color are her walls. I can feel the wildlife, too, notably, the butterflies busy living their lives from one flower to another. Estelle immediately runs to play with them, excited. There is something really special about walking into a witch's lair. I can't quite describe it, but my instincts are never fully... trusting. A tingling at the back of my mind that keeps me restless.

"Good Morning."

Sylviana's pretty voice welcomes us, and Estelle runs into her flowery dress.

"Aunty Sylviana, good morning!"

"How are you, little star?"

"I'm fine! Mommy and I made a puzzle today!"

"Did you?" Asks Sylviana, looking at me with a gentle smile.

"She loves it," I answer. "How are you, Syl?"

"A bit busy, as usual. Have you had breakfast yet? I was making waffles..."

I suspect Liam is the main reason Sylviana always has some delicious food ready whenever we arrive. He comes out of the house behind her, greeting us and immediately playing with his niece. I'm surprised with how good Liam actually is with children, James and Estelle absolutely adore him.

"What's up, Selena?" He asks with his usual bratty attitude.

"The usual," I sigh. "You know, training, family time, waiting..."

He nods and lets Estelle follow Sylviana inside her house to talk with me, putting his hands in his pockets.

"I hate that wait too... I am not used to not doing anything."

"Your brother still makes you patrol at the border?"

"Every day, three or four times a day. He's as restless as us. Nora can give birth anytime soon, now. It makes everyone crazy. To be honest..."

He sighs a bit, taking a glance at the house. From the kitchen window, we can see Estelle and Sylviana chatting and smiling happily, playing with fruits.

Liam shakes his head, frowning.

"I feel like she doesn't tell me everything," he says. "I mean, she never really does, but... About the witch, I feel like she has something she won't tell me."

"Sylviana's always a mystery to everyone, you know. She knew about my link to Nora, about my parents' death... She's different from us. Being a witch probably has its perks, but also some issues, I guess."

I wonder what it feels like, to be the only one of your own kind... I never stopped to really think about it. I've always lived surrounded by wolves. Silver City is this strange, somewhat working cohabitation between humans and werewolves. After all, both kinds have a lot in common. I'm the living proof of how close they can be, actually. My hybrid status never really was an issue but to Sylviana... She doesn't seem to know any other witch. I know she said something about how she learned from her mother, but, apart from her family, how did she grow up without ever interacting with other people her kind? She never mentioned any other witch...

I notice Liam seems to be lost deep in his thoughts, too. I give him a little elbow bump.

"What is it?"

"I... I'm going to propose again after the battle is over," he says.

I can't help but roll my eyes.

"What is it with you guys and weddings? Damian got engaged to a b***h and then to Nora when she was in a coma, Nate is asking every damn day and now you too?" Liam laughs.

"Hey, for the record, Sylviana and I are together since way before you and Nate, okay? Also, this is my fifth time asking."

"Well," I sigh, "at least you're persistent. What's her excuse for saying no, by the way? I mean, I know I'm also making Nate wait, but..."

"Oh, that i***t brother of mine deserves to wait, I support you fully on that one."

"Thanks. But?"

"But," he says, "Sylviana says I should wait to be sure."

"Be sure of what?" I ask, confused.

"She thinks I'm too young, that I should at least wait after the war. I think she's afraid since she can't see past the war... She says there are too many futures pending."

"It's terrifying. If not even Sylviana can see what will happen in that war..."

Liam nods, scratching his head.

"Yep, tell me about it. Truth is, she's good about the past, but the future is always some blurry, changing sequence. I mean, that's what she says; maybe we're all going to die and she just won't say it."

"Thanks, Liam, very heartwarming forecast..."

"You're welcome. I bet it's going to be a downpour, too, like in one of those super epic battle movie scenes."

"Against a water witch. Sounds awesome..."

He realizes what a horrible situation that would be and make a grimace. "Okay, nevermind that. Anyway, when will I get to call you sister-in-law?"

"No idea. I don't trust you to shut up, anyway, so I wouldn't tell you."

I leave him with his shocked expression and walk inside the house, hearing him shout behind me.

"That is so not nice, Selena! Really, I can't believe you don't trust me!"

I'm still laughing when I walk into the house to join my daughter and Sylviana, who are making some flower crowns together. Just like her garden, walking into Sylviana's house is like walking into an indoor garden. There are random plants in pots in about every furniture available, some even hanging from the ceiling, and, especially for a werewolf, it smells so, so fresh and good, like a forest.

"Is it okay if she plucks out flowers?" I ask with a frown while taking a seat on the couch.

"Of course, I can always make more grow," replies Sylviana with a smile. "Right, little princess?"

"Look, mommy! Uncle Liam, can I make you one too?"

"I would love too!"

Half an hour later, Liam's head is covered in flowers, and Sylviana and I are watching him make some hot chocolate for his niece from the couch, laughing.

"I can't believe she is so big already," sighs Sylviana. "I still remembering the day you gave birth to her..."

"You're the first being she saw," I remind her. "No wonder she loves you so much."

"She still secretly call me her fairy godmother," she whispers with a smile.

"Is that a compliment for a witch?"

"Of course! I even taught her a few tricks..."

I can't help but frown a bit. What the heck did she possibly teach my daughter when I wasn't looking? I'll have to ask Estelle later. I love Sylviana, but sometimes she's a bit... scary and unpredictable. I don't want a jungle to sprout in the middle of Estelle's bedroom or a butterfly invasion.

She chuckles, seeing my baffled expression.

"Liam taught me you're making him wait..." I whisper.

"The brothers and their attachment issues," she sighs.

"I know!"

"I love Liam, but he's still too young. And witches aren't exactly popular as housewives..."

"You do know Nora and Liam are the same age, right? And she's on her second pregnancy..."

Sylviana laughs again, though quieter because Liam is definitely listening, thinking we can't see his ears moving a bit or the glances he sends us from time to time.

"Nora matured faster, and she's found her fated mate. Liam and I... It's different. Sometimes, two stars don't align perfectly, but it still works."

"I think I know what you mean, but, my parents were from different species, too. And for the reminder, it saved my life."

She shakes her head, looking at Liam and Estelle fooling around with that lonely expression of hers.

"We'll see... after the war, things will be clearer, I hope. Oh, that reminds me, I need to make some more almond butter for Nora. Do you want some too?" "Yeah, I guess!"

So this is where Nora's crazy infatuation with almond butter comes from. I'm about to follow Sylviana in the kitchen when I feel another wolf looking for me. Selena?

What is it, Levi?

Damn, this new link is kind of weird, I have a hard time getting a hang of it. Anyway, where are you? Is everything okay?

At Sylviana's house, why?

Oh, the witch? Okay, hem, well something happened here.

I freeze immediately, turning to Sylviana. Now, she should have felt it if something had happened, right?

Levi, what is it? What happened?

It's Iris... She disappeared.

What the f**k do you mean, she disappeared?

Her cell was open and empty, and we couldn't replace her anywhere. We have two dozens of wolves looking, absolutely nothing.

F**k... How the hell did she break out of her cell? To go where?

Elena, we know how she got out.

What? How?

I just checked the CCTV... It's Chris. Her brother opened her cell, and... he's missing too.