I Am The Luna

A Scatter of Pearls

ZAIA. “Have I already told you that you look beautiful tonight?” Someone whispers in my ear. My breath hitches, not sensing him coming closer and I almost turn when a hand touches my waist, stopping me.

His scent fills my nose and I smile, tilting my head and poking my eyes out playfully at Atticus. “Twice actually,” I say softly, sipping the champagne from my glass. He smirks. “I guess I just can’t express it enough.”

I am about to reply when Dad taps the microphone, capturing my attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, all esteemed guests, may I have your attention,” Dad says, making the chatter die through the hall.

We are in one of the lavish five-star hotels not far outside of the Crystal Shadow Pack territory for Dad’s dinner party he is hosting in my honour.

The night has been a blur of meeting people and making small talk, and not all of them are werewolves, hence Dad’s use of a microphone.

Atticus raises his eyebrows playfully at me as we both give Dad our full attention. Atticus’s pack and our pack became allies thanks to the friendship between Atticus and

Although Atticus still makes it clear that I am the one he wants, we are simply friends, but I won’t deny that I appreciate having him in my life. Even the children like having him around and call him Uncle too.

It’s nice having a friend. I never heard back from Valerie and, for some reason, the emails that I sent returned to my outbox with a ‘failed’ notification.

few years. Being voted in as managing director of the company last year by the

allowing the rush to die down before he slips his free hand into his pocket and looks

every hurdle, as well as her work ethic and

him, as I adjust the pearl strap of my ivory-fitted dress that reaches the floor. My hair is pulled up in a stylish updo with a small pearl hair ornament. A few small items of pearl jewellery adorn my ears and hands. Winged

don’t bother with. “It has been a while since Mr. Simmons has been contemplating retiring from his position and tonight, hot

but also the heir to the majority of this empire! It is with my greatest pleasure to announce none other than my daughter, Ms Zaia Toussaint!) Dad says and everyone begins clapping as the

Yes, I have aimed to grow, to do better every single day, but I never expected Dad

my glass from me as Dad holds his hand out to me, motioning me to step onto the stage. I look up at Atticus, my heart skipping a beat.

I take a deep breath, smiling for the cameras as I make my way over to Father, and allow him to help me up the steps to the stage. I glance out at everyone gathered here,

do you do that when you are

beautiful moment. I want to thank my father for believing in me, the

not least, I want to thank Atticus Payne for

for it to slip out again. Everyone claps and

are surrounding me, and I’m lost in the sea of faces as I try to remember everyone’s names. I’m almost out of the crowd when I suddenly feel as

me of one person and it makes my heart pound. I close my eyes, my

but all I see is the back of a man in a black suit, but it’s only for a

and I just want to head home and curl up with

I know

left. Get back in there.” I tell myself

but this single pearl strap just doesn’t feel enough to support my breasts. Well, I’ve made it through more than half

the ladies’ room, almost tripping over the hem of my skirt. I frown, bending down

I’m going, my arm knocks into someone, making me gasp as something catches on my pearl strap and to my horror, the violent tug breaks the string, making

my hands

“I do apologise, I…”

husky voice behind me trails

A voice I recognise…

eyes darting back to the bathroom door

he reaches over and pulls the door open. His intoxicating scent hits me and I’m about to rush into one of the stalls when his fingers go to the side

off, as his fingers. brush the satin until he grabs a hold of the string that once held the pearl’s- in his fingers, and he tugs

but it’s a mistake because I now see him in the mirror before me. However, I refuse to look at

commands in his deep voice that for some strange reason still has an effect on me. I spent years trying to get rid of those emotions… I

repeats, yanking at the string and I gasp, loosening my hold a little. Deftly,