Liana

POV

"Out with it," Missy turns to me. "Why are you really taking me to see Nicolette? We haven't seen each other in decades."

glance at David, who is driving us to Moonstone before I smile at her. I knew Missy would not fall for my lame explanation that Nicky needs a friend, but I did not expect her to call me out on it. "Because you know how it feels when everybody disappears," I reply. "Her mother is banished and her stepfather dead. She's going to feel alone and deserted.

When I lost my mother, I had loved ones to support me.

Nicky doesn't have that luxury."

"May I ask why her mother is banished?" She asks curiously.

"It's up to her to tell you everything," I exhale deeply. "But they lied to the alpha and neglected a pack member in need."

"I hate lies," Missy says absentmindedly and stares out of the window. "Or half-truths."

"Missy, technically this isn't my business," I say adamantly.

"And therefore, it's not my place to tell you everything."

"I didn't mean you," she says quickly and looks at me. "I was thinking about my mother. She never told me the truth about my father. My entire life I had the choice to either lie about him or admit the humiliating truth that I don't know who he is." "I'm sorry," I reach over and squeeze her hand gently.

"Don't be, you're not my father," she shrugs and smiles at me. "But I've been thinking about our previous conversation. I want to know who my father is."

"Okay," I nod. "I'll arrange for a DNA test. Once is confirmed we'll take it further."

"Thanks," she inhales deeply. "I admit, it's scary for me. I know myself; I'm going to be disappointed if I'm not that man's child."

"Why?" I ask softly.

"Because I'm going to be back at square one," she sighs. "I have no longing to get to know the man or have a relationship with him. I just want to know my roots. I want to be able to visit the doctor and complete the section about family history. It's a simple thing, I know. But those empty lines make me feel incomplete."

"Would you like to meet him someday?" I study her face for the truth.

"I don't know," she shrugs. "He would be able to answer some of my questions, but I don't know if I want to know the truth. The truth can hurt."

"That it does," I agree and remember my mother's confession that she did not want me. "But it can also be freeing. Once my mother told me the truth, I could move forward."

"I've made up my mind," she smiles. "I want to know. I'll decide afterwards if I regret it. And if I do... well, I'll get over it. It won't be the first time."

I smile and look away. There is no doubt in my mind Missy is Luthers sister. Edith Chester practically admitted it.

Missy is a phenomenal person and Gary missed out when he cut her out of his life.

"I wonder if Nicolette will be happy to see me," Missy mumbles as David parks in front of the house. "Or recognise me."

"We'll know soon enough," I reply as David opens the door for me and gets out.

Except for the lawn and rose bushes, the place has not changed one bit. In silence, we walk to the door and knock.

"Luna," Nicky's eyes widen when she recognises me. "Am I in trouble?"

"Hello, Nicky, may we come in, please?" I smile sweetly.

"Oh, yes, yes, sorry," she mumbles as she quickly opens the door and allows us inside. "I'm sorry, excuse the mess. I didn't expect company."

"No apologies needed," I say softly and follow her to the living room. Nicky is either a slob or she has been too grief-stricken to clean up. Empty cups and plates are on every surface. There is more than one pair of shoes on the floor and a box with a half-eaten pizza is rotting on the coffee table.

"I'm so sorry," she blushes and closes the box. "You must think I'm filthy and ..."

"It's okay, Nicky," I say calmly. "Were not checking up on you, we're here to support you."

"We?" She frowns and looks at Missy. After a moment, she pales, and her jaw drops to the floor. "Missy? Is that really you?"

"Hello, Nicolette," she smiles. "It's been a while."

"It's really you," a sob bursts through Nicky before she throws arms around Missy's neck. "I never thought I'd see you again."

"Why would you think that?" Missy frowns as she looks at me while holding Nicky. "I'm just in the pack next door."

"Really?" Nicky sniffs and pulls away. "Mom said you moved after your mother passed away."

"Wow," I mouth the word at Missy and raise my eyebrows.

"Let's sit down," Missy suggests and leads Nicky to the closest sofa. "And then you can tell me everything that happened since we last saw each other."

Silently, I sit in the corner and listen to Nicky blabbing about the last two decades. I am bored out of my mind as I listen from her first pimple to her first boyfriend. What I do replace conspicuous is that she hardly mentions Sam. It is mother this and mother that, but she remains silent about her stepfather. Nicky also does not breathe a word about Luther or about replaceing her biological father.

"Nicky," I finally speak when it feels like my intelligence is dying by listening to her rambling. "I'm sorry about Sam's passing."

"Thanks, Luna," she replies stiffly and avoids eye contact.

"How's your mother doing?" I ask softly. "I would like to see her and offer my condolences."

"She's fine under the circumstances," Nicky replies brusquely, and I look at her intently. Her entire demeanour has changed. The chirpy girl from a second ago is now an angry, broody teenager.

"I would like to ..."

"You've done enough," she snaps at me.

"Excuse me," I raise my eyebrows.

"I... I'm sorry," she stutters but she does not look sorry at all. "With all due respect, Luna, the last time you spoke with my mother, she got exiled. You're the last person she would like to see." "Nicolette," Missy's words are soft and kind. "Luna Liana only wants to pay her respects."

"That bastard committed suicide and nearly killed her and

Alpha Axel," Nicky explodes.

"It's not Mother's fault, you hear me?" Nicky looks at me with blazing words. "You can't blame and punish her because of what he did."

"Nicolette, I don't blame your mother for anything," I say firmly. "She must be devasted and...

"Can she come back now?" Nicky interrupts me with wild and stormy eyes. "Now that he's dead, can she come back home?"

"I have no authority in Moonstone," I reply. "But I will speak with Alpha Adele."

"Thank you," she nods and looks down at her hands.

"Nicolette, why did you call Sam a bastard?" I ask and her head jerks up. "What has he done?"

"N... nothing," she looks past me at the wall. "He provided well for us."

"Being a provider doesn't make him a good father or husband," I argue. "Did he hurt you or your mother?"

I can see Nicolette breaking before my eyes, and I know the answer without her saying a word. Everything makes sense to me. Her childlike demeanour. Her adoration for Luther.

The desperation to belong to a family other than Sam's. Her stepfather broke her, and the fantasy of replaceing a kind and loving biological brother was her escape from the horror show which was her life.

"Nicky, look at me," I order and wait until she obeys. "I wish he was alive so that I could kill him slowly and painfully for what he's done to you."

"He... didn't... he was good... he...

"He's dead, Nicolette," I cut her off and walk towards her.

"He's gone," I kneel and take her hands in mine. "You don't have to lie and protect him ever again. He can't hurt you anymore."

"I hate him," she blurts out. "He killed my baby and I hate him."

"Does your mother know?" I ask softly.

"She tried to protect me" she starts crying. "She nearly died trying. So, I stopped fighting him. He tied her down and made her watch as he ... as he..."

"It's okay," I stroke her hair. "You don't have to talk about it."

"I was a good girl," her voice is hoarse, and her brown eyes are soaked in pain. "But he didn't care. He hurt me and Mom. He was furious when he learned about the pregnancy. Posted by Ebookex.com, always visit us for more novels. That night, he beat Mom to the brink of death and kicked me in the stomach until I passed out. I woke up in a white room and my baby was gone."

"Pack your bags, Nicky," I say softly and stand up. "You're coming with me."

"Please no," she begs. "I didn't want him to ..."

"Nicolette," i cut her off smiling. "You're not being banished.

You didn't do anything wrong. You're coming home with me so that we can get you the help you need."

"Oh," she sniffs and stands up. "Okay."

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