A Jealous Sister
ZAIA. The glimmering fairy lights and the lanterns twinkle in the night. The music is soft and soothing, the opposite of the storm that rages inside of me. I am still unable to fully process the information that Mom shared, and neither can Dad…
Mom decided to stay home. She had originally been extremely worried about facing Annette. and with what happened, she couldn’t do it and I can’t blame her. Since we moved here, both women have avoided one another at all costs.
Dad is greeting everyone, but his constant tugging at his tie and readjusting tells me he’s stressed. Right now, I could use Sebastian’s arms around me…
Wait, stop. Did I just say that? My cheeks burn as I step out into the open. A silence falls as all eyes turn to me and hopefully, the cameras catch everyone’s expressions…
My eyes find Atticus and he’s staring at me with an expression I can’t make out. Interesting… is it me or the symbol?
“Ms Zaia Toussaint.” Someone announces me and I gracefully walk down the steps. Atticus glances around before he swiftly crosses the garden and holds out a hand to me.
“Hey…” He says. I take his hand hesitantly, but instead of his normally charming smile, he’s looking me over with a tiny frown. “Hello, Atticus,” I say. “Are you alright? You look a little… shocked.”
He tenses before he shakes his head. “No, not at all. So shall we?” He offers me his arm and although I’m tempted to refuse, his reaction has intrigued me, although after Mom’s, nothing feels like a surprise anymore.
“Congratulations Ms Toussaint, it is a pleasant surprise to learn that you will head this pack. I hope our alliance will continue.” An older Alpha from an allied pack says.
“Thank you, Alpha Bruce,” I say politely, giving him and his Luna a grateful smile. “Will we perhaps see another alliance between you and Alpha Payne?”
not wanting to cause a scene. “Excuse us,” I say politely before I lead us away, taking a glass of wine
one of the larger oaks at the further end of
no. I’ve made my decision, Atticus. Sebastian
his eyes vanishes as he
jaw. “I’m sorry, but I have
mistake, Zaia. He can’t protect you.” He says, glancing around
don’t argue as someone else approaches us and pasting a smile on my
with the full moon at its fullest I feel even more confident that it’ll help Valerie. Dinner is almost over, and I’m almost done with having to
clear on her face as she stares at
still distracted, not noticing
had pushed Mom away so she didn’t think she reach out to
can be painful
prepared for such a position? I’m worried you are biting off far more than you can chew.” Annette murmurs the
when Dad had made to sit between us; she had pushed herself in between. I now
I reply, taking a spoonful of my chocolate cake.
trying something,” I reply simply. “Trying to look like a fool.” She mumbles her breath, but I hear under.
napkin, patting
his glass as he looks out over the garden. We’re dining out in the open. The
their full attention. “As you all know, recently I have made my daughter the head of my company and
ripple of surprise flits through the room and although it’s not unheard of to have a female alpha, it
position…” Dad says quietly. He’s not himself… I can see it in the way he’s talking. He’s distracted and upset. For Dad’s. emotions to show through, it’s obvious Mom’s secret
maybe he’s even rethinking if he wants to make me his heir, and I don’t mind. But right now, he needs me, I stand up and move past Annette, placing a hand on
moving moment.” He says quietly, he places his arm around me and gives me a small smile. “I present to you, the future Alpha of the Crystal Shadow Pack, Zaia
stands and begins clapping, and I look up at Dad. “You didn’t have to,” I whisper. He shakes his head. “I wanted to.” He replies quietly before he pulls me into a
thanking me for, but I hug him back. I know it’s a devastating hit, but I do hope
well well… look at this. I am hurt father, you are giving
but is familiar as the morning sun, reaches my ears. I turn
she once did. Her hair is shorter than it used to be. It’s curled and frames her face, but what captures my
she had moved on. Maybe that’s why she hasn’t been
says, a
as she runs to her
have you been…
to set foot in this pack after what I did. I think he forgets that she is the one
why did you
to address the latter part of her statement. “What?” Annette asks, shocked. “You refused to let me see her! You said that she’s the one who should come to us and when she tried, you
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Rd75r8LXXu6831nCkO6aEVfnLxiALNCsu16tERytrTSUF2Hkdxx+EEZylJGR44tCI3sB+thY1lk6kPlSYLV7ZpuM6LctN9aH+aXNB2qhRBNTlUaPS/tq5IlCUBajApHgyo9P9/2ecjO2VKscpFzgljHn1tzGgPiT3MMGf2zAEQecEvLUrp+dinhw6zV3GnkBo2mwa9Yd/vksSTQxxTDOUvVU/gsRaYGBGmdsWoTP7oK4SBX02IgOiAyIQsH5dy70Vk378rGDDfa1iDOPOnl5MsXUTKcgItVQqpp5U6BFavU5AJh/wTT0Kqw4KJPXIb++1o5p9Mh9WYKqgfVilFMVral4fnwFk9b1dNmXPGsQHU6yRfL72TN/17nZcnolLOD6Gpz3zrU510aT0iPGvdkuQN1UMB9D+noBij9//IqpPUzvSqcJ9cAjVl7GC0dBwtELpnyUlFEKDQ==
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