His Blue Moon Princess
Chapter 99

"Twelve years ago, I was fourteen... Liam already told you about it, but life with our father was a nightmare. He came and went as he pleased, not giving a damn about us. When he did come home, he was just a violent drunkard. He hit anything or anyone he could until he fell asleep or went out again. We were barely getting by. I had dropped out of school to work, but I made sure Liam and Nate still went.

"I tried to provide so they wouldn't suffer from it, even if they obviously did. Nate had to get a night job, too, at some point. But we made it work, somehow. We had the apartment to live in, and enough food and supplies for the three of us. I didn't really care about anything else. As long as my father didn't hit Liam or Nate."

"But he was beating you instead..."

"You know, I wasn't as strong as him, but I could handle it. My mom had left us, and my brothers were the only ones I cared about. I would rather suffer a thousand hits from my dad than let him touch a strand of Liam's hair. Or Nate's. Well, Nate did get hit, too, while trying to defend me."

"He loves you. They both love you so much."

He smiles tenderly at me. "I know, Love. That's how our mom raised us. She was the sweetest woman, all she wanted was for the three of us to get along. Raising three boys, three Alpha brothers, she probably feared we would end up fighting each other, but we actually only sided against our dad."

Now that I think about it, we might have the same issue with our children, since they will most likely be Alphas only...

Damian sighs and gets closer to me. Now, my head is resting against his arm, and his fingers are gently playing with my hair. I close my eyes, listening to the familiar deep voice of my mate.

"The first time I shape-shifted, I was ten. I was in a rage after my father and just jumped into my wolf form without even realizing it. He beat me up really good that day, even in his human form I couldn't even stand up to him. I never did, for years. Honestly, it was... hard. Being an Alpha that never wins. Every time, I had some hope I could finally fight off my father, chase him out, but no, it ended only when he decided it or when I was out. I knew he was the strongest Alpha of the city, but I woke up in my own blood so many times, beating him became an obsession, as much as protecting my brothers. As the years passed, every time made me angrier. I don't think someone else can hate like I hated my father at that time. He knew it, and that made him more and more violent every time. Until one day."

I hold my breath and grab his shirt. I know I'm not going to like what comes next...

"That night, I had come home late, and Nate and Liam were in our bedroom. My father suddenly barged in, so drunk he was yelling like a mad man. He hit me before I could even say a word. I tried to fight back, but he didn't leave me a chance. I barely remember what happened, honestly, except that it was the most violent fight we ever had. When he was sure I couldn't fight back anymore, he took me outside. I was half-conscious, but I felt his grip on my hair. He dragged me down like a bag of dirt through the streets. I think he really wanted me dead. He took me to the slums and beat me again until I passed out."

What a monster. Damian was already unable to fight back or defend himself, and he really tried to kill his own son...

"It was December, and freaking cold, too. When I came to my senses, it was still the middle of the night. That's when you appeared."

Me? I don't remember this...

"I remember every detail. You were thin and dressed in rags, but you were the prettiest little girl I had ever seen. You ran up to me from across the street. All the snow around me was red, but you didn't seem to care. You were almost crying, and you asked me if I was in pain or cold. I could barely talk. You kept asking if I was hurt, but you were just a kid. Moreover, you had your scar, and it was obvious it was fresh. You didn't want to talk about it, you just kept asking and asking about my injuries." "Sounds like I was annoyingly stubborn..."

He laughs. "Right... You refused to leave me alone no matter who many times I told you to. You just stayed with me. You even cried for me, you said you were sorry you couldn't heal me. You kept repeating that while crying. I lost consciousness again at some point. When I woke up, you were gone, but your scarf was around my neck, and a pile of blankets was on me. I probably survived a few more hours thanks to that. My healing had begun, but my injuries were... serious. I honestly thought I was dying. I had never been in such pain or lost so much blood. But you actually came back a few minutes after I had woken up. You were crying again, and had that bruise on your face..."

Probably Alec... He started hitting me after our parent's death, and he was the only one I lived with in the slums.

"But you were crying because you thought I was dead. You said you had gone to seek help, but your brother rejected you. So, you stayed with me, and we talked. You said you had a brother, and that the next day would be your birthday... But you refused to give me your name."

"Why?"

"You said I might kidnap you."

I laugh. Oh Moon Goddess, what a stubborn girl I was! Talking for hours with a stranger but not giving my name so he can't kidnap me? What a unique idea! And Damian was too injured to move, anyway! Damian laughs, too, and kisses my forehead briefly. "You were so adorable. Stubborn, but caring and sweet. You said if I fell asleep again, you would give me a kiss, like the princess from your book."

"I said that?"

"You did. You laid next to me in the snow, and you said you would watch me so I couldn't sleep again. You were... Moon Goddess, I remember it so well. You were laying just like this, facing me and smiling at me. At some point, I closed my eyes a few seconds, and you suddenly kissed me." Oh Moon Goddess, how could I be such a shameless seven-year-old brat?! I blush, even though I can't remember it, but Damian is smiling from ear to ear.

"It was like a fire suddenly took me. My wolf went crazy. I felt... better than I had ever been in a very long time. Even my injuries suddenly stopped hurting. I knew you were my fated mate right away, but I couldn't believe it. We were just kids! It was so unbelievable... Even now, it just feels like a dream. Laying in the snow, somewhere lost in the slums, with you. I... I had never known or even imagined something like that before. That was the very moment you became so, so painfully and beautifully precious to me. Because you were just you, caring for a total stranger and worried he might be cold or in pain, even though you were injured yourself."

Damian hugs me tightly in his arms, and I hide my face against his shoulder. I wish I remembered any of this...

"I knew we were fated mates, but I had never imagined we would be separated so quickly... I lost consciousness again, and you gave me a little kiss. Every time, I would wake up instantly, and I realized my injuries were healing incredibly fast, so I understood. That you were, somehow, healing me with those. What I hadn't realized was that you were getting weaker each time you did. At some point, you totally lost consciousness. I freaked out, but you wouldn't wake up. You stayed like this for a whole three hours, but I couldn't do anything. I had never, ever felt so powerless in my life. When you came to your senses, I told you never to do it again. But of course, you didn't listen. You kept going. Until I woke up, and you were gone. I was completely healed, but there was no trace of you. I looked for you. In the slums, and after that, I kept looking after I went back to my brothers. You saved my life and had vanished... But we were still linked."

"So you knew I was alive."

"Alive and suffering. I could tell anytime you were in pain, and that made me feel worse about not replaceing you. So, I kept looking. Month after month, years... Nate told me so many times to reject you, to cut our bond, but I never wanted to. I loved you too much already, I couldn't give up. Until we found you."

I smile. I know what happened after that... Thank Moon Goddess he did. I sigh. I can't imagine how different our lives would have been if I was still in the Jade Moon basement, abused by Alec.

"I think I know why the Moon Goddess paired me with you," I whisper.

"Why, Love?"

"Because you're strong, and never afraid to fight. I am... Or was, the opposite. I don't care about suffering, but I avoided fights at all cost, while you never backed away from one, even if you knew you would lose. You taught me that."

I hear him sigh, and he kisses me softly.

"Nora, you're the bravest, strongest wolf I know. I don't think I've seen anyone able to endure as you do, yet still deeply care for others. Even after everything he did to you, you never betrayed Alec, because you still had some love for him, and for your pack, too. You're gentle and forgiving. I could never forgive my father, I only hated him to the core. I think... I'm the one who needs you. Because I can't care or be as patient as you are towards others. I would be as cold-blooded as my father if it weren't for you. But I'm always terrified you might hate me, that you might get scared of that violent part of me. So, I learn, every day, how to be a better man, a better wolf, because of you. I want to be a fair King. Not someone that is only feared like I used to be, but someone people can think of as a protector, someone you can truly love, a real Alpha King."

"You already are. People look up to you."

"Because I have you, Nora. They have seen the best of me because I have a Luna as gentle and caring as the Moon Goddess herself. You bring out the best of me. You're the one everyone in this city really needs."

His words bring me to tears, and I hide my face against his shoulder. I'm needed. The girl that used to hide in a basement, the weak, pitiful wolf. They need me.

Damian soothes me, caressing my hair and my skin gently, covering me with tender kisses on my neck, my cheeks, my lips. When he stops, his silver eyes look at me with a gentle gaze.

"I love you..." I whisper.

"I love you so bad, too..."

He resumes kissing me again. I kiss him, too, and we get lost in each other's embrace in this long, long night of December...

***

Two years later.

"Mama!"

I open an eye. A baby's giggle runs to me, and I suddenly feel a small, chubby hand grabbing mine. Gosh, that was a short nap.

"Mamaaa!"

He gets impatient quickly, so I sit up, waking up completely to look at the little toddler reclaiming my attention. The little boy, balancing on his two short legs, is pulling on my skirt and looking at me with his two bright blue eyes. "Where is daddy, baby?"

But he ignores my question and pulls on my skirt again. "Choco?"

"It's not the time for your snack, honey."

"Choco!" He insists, getting teary all of a sudden.

I sigh. My son is such a glutton... I still can't believe how much an Alpha baby boy needs to eat. But he insists, pulling on my skirt again. Suddenly, Damian walks in the room and spots our toddler and me right away. "James Black! I told you to let mom sleep!"

Our son, surprised by his father's voice, runs out in a hurry, forgetting completely to cry. I laugh, and Damian walks up to me, putting a knee down to face me, as I'm still sitting on the couch.

"Sorry, Love, he ran out when I wasn't looking... Did you sleep enough?"

He puts a hand on my tummy, with worried eyes. My first pregnancy was exhausting, and Damian is scared this one might be as well. But I just give him a smile.

"I'm fine, don't worry. James is-"

Right here.

Bobo walks in the room, carrying James by his overall. Compared to the giant wolf, our little boy is no match. But he is laughing from being carried that way, having fun on his own until Bobo drops him next to his dad. Damian sighs and takes James into his arms. "I told you to let mommy sleep, didn't I?"

"But... my choco..."

Damian tries to scold him, but our baby boy is just interested in his chocolate snack. Moon Goddess, I love them so much... James is his dad's copy, except for his blue eyes and chubby cheeks. He's almost two years old now. I didn't expect to get pregnant so fast, but it happened right after Damian and I decided to try. A fated pair's luck, I guess. Bobo comes to sit next to me on the couch, while James is still arguing in his baby gibberish with Damian. Daniel is still at work?

He's got crazy hours this week. I'm bored... so I came to keep you company, but I didn't think the Boss was at home, too.

He was worried James was tiring me out, so he's been working from home again these days.

You do look tired. How's baby number two doing?

He or she is well behaved and fine. I'm not as exhausted as I was with James.

It took us a while to realize I was pregnant, but I kept suddenly falling asleep anywhere, any time of the day. Damian thought I was overworking, but Sylviana was the one who told us I was expecting. The whole pack went a bit crazy after that, everyone was overjoyed. Everyone insisted I take a break from my work and Luna obligations to focus on our baby, and actually, that was the best for me, too. Bobo started watching over me again, and Damian reduced his work to spend time with me also. Anyway, Silver City is doing better than ever. The packs are all helping each other, in good relationships, and a lot of new couples appeared at the same time. Of course, our wedding was a big deal, too, even if we tried to keep it low-key. Which was almost impossible, thanks to William and Tonia... We got married six months after I woke up from my coma, in June, and I was pregnant already. All our close friends attended, even the Alphas from other packs, and a lot of people from Damian's pack, too. I also needed to join the Blood Moon. I now have a little black crescent moon tattooed on my wrist. Our wedding was perfect, though, and one of the best memories I will ever have. Especially when Liam helped us flee from it to have our alone time... "Mama!"

James finally escapes from his father and comes running back to me. He is all teary again, doing his puppy eyes. "Mama... Choco, please?"

I sigh and get up to head to the kitchen. James follows me, still holding onto my skirt. I take out the brownie I made yesterday, and give him a bit. I offer a bigger portion for Bobo, as well. Damian puts an arm around me and watches James trying to steal some cake from the big brown wolf.

"Let's have a girl next," says my husband with a sigh.

I laugh. We still don't know what's the gender of our next child, though Sylviana could probably tell us. She told Elena her baby's gender when she was only ten weeks pregnant.

Thinking about my cousin makes me a little sad. I miss her... So many years have passed by already; I wish she would come back to Silver City soon. I do get to call her every week, but she is so far, we can't mind-link. And James should meet his cousin, too. We barely talk to Nate anymore. Damian's brother has become so gloomy since Elena left... I wish they could sort things out. Other than him, everyone is doing fine.

Bobo and Daniel are more in love than ever and even engaged, despite Daniel's busy schedule since he got a job at the Children's Hospital. Tonia has decided to get back with Lissandra, though it apparently follows their fifth break up... William and his new wife just had their first child a few months ago, a baby girl. Neal just had his sixth kid, too! Apparently his wife wanted a big family.

For us, I think two babies will be enough for the time being. I miss my job, and raising Alpha children is seriously no joke, even if Damian is helping me a lot with James.

"Mama!"

My son comes running to me, his eyes full of tears. Bobo probably didn't let him take his cake. He's such a crybaby... I'm about to crouch down to soothe him, but a voice suddenly echoes inside my head. Nora!

Oh, Moon Goddess.

That was Elena's voice!