Chasing His Betrayed Luna

AURELIA

Anxious blue eyes stared back at me, curiosity and anxiety deeply etched within them. Katie shifted her gaze from my face to Raiden's. We were sitting in the living room in uncomfortable silence.

Raiden's presence was unusual and I wouldn't have allowed it if I didn't need his help as I revealed to him last night.

"I'll do anything for you, Aurelia. Just name it." Raiden had answered, clearly convinced that he had the full capability to help me.

Tell me why he looked extremely nervous and uncomfortable now that he was sitting in the presence of Katie. It's been over five minutes of silence and Katie was beginning to assume the worse. I could sense that from the way her heart was throbbing loudly. Since Raiden seemed incapacitated, I decided to start the process myself. "We have something to tell you, baby," I announced, twisting my body on the sofa so I could stare directly at my daughter who was sitting on the other end of the dark brown sofa. Katie's breath hitched, her eyes widening a little. "Is Dad here to spend time with me?" She asked but her eyes darted around in confusion, "But where is Kyle? Shouldn't he be here with Dad?"

"Hmm..." Raiden started, sounding just as confused as Katie looked which wasn't a good way to start a conversation with a five-year-old. As a mom, I wasn't allowed to be confused or scared before my kids. Kids need to feel safe with their parents but in Raiden's case, huh... Regardless, he continued, "Your mom and I need to talk to you about Kyle, Katie."

At least he managed to get the last set of words out without stuttering. From where I was sitting, it was almost as if the mighty Alpha Raiden was sacred of little Miss Katie even though she was on her best behavior currently.

If Kyle wasn't still missing, I probably would have laughed in Raiden's face.

"I haven't seen him in four days, Raiden. I think Kyle is trying to avoid me because I stress him all the time. I can't even sense him within him like I used to." Katie's lips quavered as she let out her feelings. "Kyle doesn't like me anymore, Mom..."

Tears sparkled in her eyes and my eyes stung as well as I slid on my butt, closing the space between my daughter and me. I held her hands, sensing she was on the verge of bursting into tears, I shook my head, "Kyle loves you, Katie. I'm sorry I kept you in the dark about what has been going on with your brother. He hasn't been with you because he can't be. I-"

"You said he was with Dad." Katie blurted a little confused but with a lot of underlying anger. "Did you lie to me again, Mom?"

The accusation in her young voice broke my heart. I opened my mouth to speak words that would ease her aching heart but words failed me as my eyes stung painfully.

Katie cried, "You promise not to lie anymore, Mom." She didn't hesitate to ask about her brother despite her feelings. "Where is Kyle? Just tell me where he is, Mom! I want to see my brother-"

"Hey, hey, hey..." Raiden kinda came to my rescue when he noticed that I was short of words. He got Katie's attention and she stopped yelling, giving me the chance to catch my breath. Gosh, this was harder than I imagined.

For the first time in years, I was thankful for Raiden's presence as he lifted Katie off the space beside me, pacing with her in his arms. Katie was still upset. Her loud wails were evidence of that. Thank goodness Hazel had gone to the pack market to get some fresh vegetables for dinner and Jessica was engrossed with training in the backyard since she was aiming to get her injured leg back in good shape.

"Take a deep breath, Katie. Please." Raiden cooed to Katie who has always been known for her temper.

That girl would be the end of me... and it'd be my fault.

"I don't want to. I just want to see Kyle." Katie demanded, "Now!"

I jerked off the sofa to tell Katie the

truth. Tell her that her brother has been missing and even though I have lied to her, I did it to protect her from the kind of pain I have been enduring. I was ready to let my daughter in and trust that she'd handle the news like Hazel presumed.... I prayed Katie would be fine.

"Katie-" I began.

But Raiden spoke faster than my teary self could, "You can't see Kyle now, Sweetheart."

Katie was stunned as Raiden gently declined what could pass as her order. She stopped crying, looking at him like he had grown three heads out of nowhere. "Why not?" Katie whimpered, trying to reason with Raiden.

I thought this was the best time to tell my daughter the truth. "Because your brother has been taken-"

"To the hospital." Raiden quickly chipped in, completing my statement with what I knew was another lie.

I was dumbfounded but Raiden continued, "Your brother has been in the hospital and your mom didn't tell you because she didn't want you to worry."

Katie looked at me, sobbing, "Is Kyle sick again? Did his lung fail again, Mom?"

Prior to Katie's question, I had been staring at Raiden waiting for him to explain why he would lie to Katie when I asked him to help me tell her the truth about Kyle's kidnap. But the second Katie mentioned Kyle's lung disease, Raiden looked to me for an explanation.

He had a look that said, "Lung disease? And you didn't think to tell me?"

Maybe Raiden and I would have ended up yelling at each other and arguing before Katie if she didn't voice a plea, "I've to see him, Mom. You know my presence helps him breathe better whenever he is experiencing an episode. Take me to him, Mom-" Raiden was quick to pull himself together and he said to Katie, "Kyle's lungs are fine, Katie. He's in the hospital for a different issue and the doctors warned us against bringing you to him because you might get infected as well."

"It's a communicable disease? Like a flu?" Katie queried smartly, her nose slightly scrunched.

Raiden nodded, "Yes. A very bad flu and I'm sure you don't want that."

"Hmm hmm." Katie shook her head, wiping her face and sniffling.

"Good girl," Raiden muttered,

hugging Katie and quietly promising to get her back with Kyle as soon as he could Before he let her go, he asked, "Now what do you say to your mom for raising your voice at her even though she was trying to protect you?"

Katie walked up to me, hugged my legs, and breathed, "I'm sorry, Mom."

We had our moment before she ran off to join Jessica in the backyard. As soon as Katie was out of earshot, I lashed at Raiden, "You lied to her! I didn't call you here to have you lie to my daughter-"

"Our daughter, Aurelia!" He seethed a correction. "And maybe you should thank me for protecting Katie and saving your ass="

I couldn't believe he was talking to me about protecting and saving when he couldn't do that when Kyle was kidnapped from his home and Katie was attacked within his pack. Furiously, I gritted, "Get out!" "I still-"Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

"Just leave!" I snapped, shoving him towards the door as I realized that asking him for help and actually trusting him to help me was a big mistake.

I should have listened to Tristan...