Beneath a Moonless Sky - Book One (Moon Child Series)

Chapter Fifteen

Elaina POV

Little hands squished my cheeks together pulling me into consciousness. My eyes fluttered open to a face full of Mia. She bounced up and down on my stomach when she saw my eyes open, winding me.

“Uncle Magnus! Uncle Magnus! She’s awake.”

“Woah there Princess, careful.” I felt her weight lift off of me and Magnus came into view. “Hey there Ell.  How are you feeling?” He helped me sit up and I winced when my hand hit the metal bar attached to the bed.

“Better. My hand is sore, but my head is no longer dizzy. What happened?” Magnus ran his hand roughly through his hair as he bent and picked up Mia.

“Mia, can you go and fetch Aunty Emma for me?” She smooshed his cheeks together and nodded. He put her down and she ran from the room.

“Long story short, you passed out. Lucian freaked out. I put him in his place and told him to give you space till you’re ready to talk.” I let my head fall back into the headrest and let out a big sigh. “Penny for your thoughts.” Magnus sat on the edge of the bed and took my good hand in his.

“I don’t know Magnus. Part of me wants to forget it all and forgive him. I love him. I’ve always loved him. But then the other half wants to kick his ass and make him feel the agony I felt when he left. Make him suffer for pain I had to face giving birth to the twins without him, of having to find a way to explain where daddy was and why they didn’t have one. How can I just let him into their lives and not worry that he’ll hurt them the way he hurt me?” Magnus reaches out and wiped away my tears before pulling me into a tight hug. I sobbed into his shoulder for goddess knows how long, until Emma came in and took his place. She held me till I couldn’t cry anymore.

“I have a lot of thinking to do.” Emma smiled softly down at me and ran a hand over her belly.

“Magnus and I will support whatever decision you make, but don’t let the hate consume your life. Yes, Lucian was a complete and utter twit for leaving you behind without an explanation, but his heart was in the right place. And from what I could see he is deeply sorry, and he loves you very much.” She kisses the top of my head and lets me rest with my head on her shoulder. Little feet thundered into the room and I smiled widely as Mia and Luca jumped up on to the bed. I pulled them both tight to my chest and smothered them in kisses.

“Where have you two little monkeys been?” I leant my head atop Luca’s as we cuddled in bed.

“We were watching Uncle Magnus wrestle with Lucian. It was funny.” I shot up in the bed.

“What?”

“Lucian and Uncle Magnus are wrestling. And we were watching.” Ignoring my dizzy head, I leapt from the bed and bolted out of the hospital, much to the protesting of Dr Grey and the other staff. I didn’t know where my feet were taking me but when I reached the training grounds, I saw them. Magnus and Lucian were both in wolf form snapping and growling at each other, a circle of people around them. I pushed through the men until I reached the edge of the mob surrounding the two wolves. They clashed and bit, and I felt anger swell in me. Magic crackled in the air as electricity ran down my arms and before I could stop myself, I stepped between the two wolves and shoved them back with my magic. Magnus landed with a roll in the dirt, while Lucian wasn’t so lucky, hitting a tree. Might have been intentional. I won’t deny it.

“What the hell do you think you two are doing?! How dare you fight in front of my children!” I glared between the both of them as they both shifted and dressed in the shorts people handed them. “So much for no violence, Alpha.” Magnus rubbed the back of his neck as he shuffled on his feet.

“Ell. It’s not his fault-” I put my finger up at him and glared.

“I’ll deal with you later.” He winced but put his hands up in surrender and stepped back. “Explain to me please why my children were watching you ‘wrestle’?” Magnus cringed and hung his head.

“Lucian kept pushing the point of letting him see you. And I know you needed space and the Alpha in me just snapped. I’m sorry.” There were not many people who could elicit an apology from the big strong Alpha, but I’d earned my place as one of them. I turned to the group of men still assembled around us.

“Shoo! This isn’t a show. Get!” Sheepish looks appeared on their faces as they dispersed and soon it was just the three of us. I turned to Lucian who looked so lost I just wanted to grab him and... no! Elaina get a hold of yourself!  

“Lucian,” he looked at me, his face open and ready, “I need you to give me my space. I have no problem with you and the children spending time together and we really need to sit them down and discuss who you are to them. But I’ve had to absorb a lot of new details in the course of a day and I’m feeling a little overwhelmed. Okay?” He nodded so fast I was sure his head was going to fall off. “And you!” I pointed angrily at Magnus, “are going to go tell your pregnant mate what you were just doing and who you were doing it in front of. Okay? Great. I have children to tend to. Goodbye.” I stormed off back to the pack hospital where Dr Grey stood looking very unimpressed. She led me into an exam room and checked on my burn.

“What the...? I don’t understand. It was there last night!” I glanced down at my hand and sure enough my burn had vanished. I flexed my hand, no pain.

“Huh. What do you know?” Dr Grey just huffed in exasperation and after checking my vitals and giving me the all clear I was good to go. Fergus and Connor stood in the waiting area with a kid each talking their ears off and I smiled as I walked up to them, holding my hand up.

“All better. Let’s go home.” Their shocked expressions made me laugh as I took Mia and Lucas hands and made the small journey home to have a nice hot shower.

***

My morning started like it always did the next day, with two sets of hands smooshing my cheeks and sticking up my nose. I grab them both and tickle them, their giggles the only coffee I need.

“It’s time for training, mummy!” Mia says excitedly jumping on the bed.

“Ok, ok. But after, can we discuss a better waking mum up tactic please?” I joke as I walk them to their room to get them dressed. After they were adequately dressed, I ran back to my room and chucked on a sports bra, shorts, and sneakers. Mia and Luca sat patiently in the kitchen for me and I grab each of their hand and we walk to the training grounds.

As we draw closer Luca takes off at a run, barrelling into Colins legs and knocking him to the ground.

“Pinned!” He shouts.

“Luca!!” I helped a laughing Colin up from the ground. “Colin, I’m so sorry.” He just shakes his head as he ruffles Lucas hair.

“No. That’s my own fault for showing him the pin game.” Luca smiled widely up at me, proud that he’d managed to pin Colin. I just shook my head.

“What am I going to do with you, young boy?” He just shrugs and runs away to go find Fergus. I know he’s found him when I hear a loud “oof!” followed by “pinned!”.

“Sorry Elaina,” Colin said through his laughter. I gave him my best mum look, making him laugh harder and throw his arm over my shoulder as we walked, Mia skipping happily next to me. We approach a winded looking Fergus and a proud looking Luca.

“Luca honey, maybe that’s enough ‘pinned’ for today.” His chubby little face pouts and he juts out his lip.

“Ok, mummy.” I bend down and give him a big smooch as Magnus approaches.

“Maybe one more.” I whisper conspiratorially to him pointing at Magnus. A huge cheeky grin breaks out on his face as he bolts in Magnus’ direction. He is too busy talking to Lucian as he’s walking and doesn’t notice the little bundle of 5-year-old heading straight for his knees before it’s too late. Luca hits the right spot and down goes Magnus.

“Pinned!” Colin, Fergus, Luca, and I yell, before we bend over in laughter. Colin throws his arm over my shoulder to hold himself up as he laughs, tears streaming down his face. But pulls away quickly when he hears a low threatening growl. I don’t notice as I watch a happy Luca skipping back towards my open arms and I smother him in kisses.

“Good job little one.” I whisper, kissing the tip of his nose. He returns the favour like he always does then runs to Colin who’s standing at the front of the gathered men.

“You know the drills boys, and ladies. Roll out.”

“Auto-bots roll out.” Luca yells and takes off running. A soft chuckle ripples through the group as the men follow suite. Mia runs at her own pace and I check with her before running ahead, able to keep up with Colin after five years of training. He bumps me with his shoulder playfully, trying to break my balance but I speed up and he misses as he tries again, nearly tumbling over.

When we get back to the training grounds, we stretch out our muscles and prepare for sparring.

“Alright men you know the drill, partner up.” Mia and Luca grab each other’s hands and go to stand next to Colin for their own private lessons on defending as the other men pair up. I look to Magnus and he shakes his head.

“Sorry Ell, I’m partnered up already. He’s the only one left.” He points and I follow to where Lucian stands getting a drink of water. My glare could melt metal, but he just shrugs and smirks before walking off with his partner to spar. I watch as Lucian approaches cautiously.

“So, I guess were partners then?” I could tell he meant it as a statement, but it came out as more of a question.

“Fine. But I won’t hold back on you.” He smirks and holds his arms out, bowing.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I return his smirk. He has no idea what he’s up for. After five years of brutal training and even side lessons with Colin, I was able to take on the best of the warriors in hand to hand combat and come out on top. He’ll underestimate me because of my size and my gender. But that’s ok. It’ll make it even more fun when I kick his ass. I think this will also help with my anger towards him and let me vent it out.

We began circling each other and I kept an eye out for his weaknesses; how he stepped, his patterns, his giveaways before he strikes. He was the first to strike, his fist flying towards my face. I dodged it just in time, feeling the air rush past me. Grabbing his now outstretched arm I threw him over my shoulder, ignoring the sparks that came with touching his skin, hoping he would land on his back so I could pin him. But no such luck as he rolled to his feet as his back hit the ground.

“Smart. Using my weight against me.” He sounded impressed but I ignored him and focused on his movements. We circled again, watching each other. I decided to strike first this time, sweeping my leg out. I felt my foot connect with his ankles and watched his shocked face as he fell to the ground. I placed my foot on his chest and pressed, holding him in place. My win was short lived as he grabbed my leg and yanked me forward, rolling atop me and pinning my body down with his legs straddling my waist. His smirk had me fuming, and my anger peaked when he placed his hands on either side of my head in the grass and the sparks of his body touching mine rippled through my body, sparking my magic.

“Pinned.” He whispered. His scent swarmed my senses making me forget myself for the moment. Then it all came back. I was still mad at him, and he needed to know it.