Bloodmoon Heir

Not Over Yet

My phone shattered the silence, yanking me back from the depths of my thoughts. I pulled it out of my pocket.

Derek, my mate.

I swiped to answer and placed the phone to my ear. “Hey, love,” he asked. “How is she?”

I closed my eyes; I missed him and my other children.

After a few years, I lost it and mentally broke down when the rogues attacked the pack. It brought back everything; it felt like I was trapped again in the moment when my father was injured. I often wondered if I hadn’t come back to the pack, would I still be with James and Aria? I was in the hospital and didn’t speak to anyone, not even Derek.

I remember, after a few days there, everyone was trying to figure out what was wrong with me. One evening, when it was just Derek and me, I blurted everything out about Aria.

He stared at me, never spoke, and left me alone to let it sink in that I had another man’s child.

I cried for hours.

When he came back, he wanted to know everything.

“Love, you still there?” he asked as I closed my eyes, trying to block the memory. My wolf stared back at me; I could feel her heartbreak.

“She hates me,” I whispered, opening my eyes to look toward the door. “Her father is dead, and she hates me.”

“Hunny,” he said softly. “She needs time to mourn her father. Are you going to bring Aria back with you?”

I didn’t say anything, remembering the shouting earlier. She would rather be with her friend than me. “I don’t know,” I said. “She has three weeks left in school; I might wait till then. I might have to get social services involved.”

“Why?” he asked. “You’re her mum; she should be with you.”

“I know,” I said. “I left her, and I had no contact with her. I wasn’t her mum. I gave up all my rights, remember?”

Derek was quiet.

I kept all the documents James gave me when he sent them; I left my address, and the only thing James sent was those papers, no photos of Aria, nothing. I kept finding myself staring at the full custody agreement I had signed. I told Derek where to find everything when I was in the hospital. I remember him bringing the papers to me, and I showed him the document.

Everything fell into place for him, how I was acting when I was with him, and why I was sometimes distant with the kids.

I even came forward to my parents, who hadn’t spoken to me since. They were ashamed, even heartbroken, that I kept their granddaughter away from them.

“Get Jacob to come to you,” Derek blurted out. “He is the best of the best. We can fight this, and she will have to come and live with us.”

I was grateful that Derek was willing to accept Aria into the family. I was, but she was human. I needed to protect her.

“Ok,” I said.

The door to Aria’s room opened, and I noticed the woman from earlier looking around until her eyes landed on me.

I had to control my wolf in there; she wanted to rip the woman’s head off for the way she spoke to us.

She stared at me but walked over. “You need to leave,” she said. “You have no right being here. Where were you all these years?”

I didn’t have to answer her.

“That’s none of your concern,” I muttered.

I knew Derek was still on the other end of the phone since I still had it to my ear. I could hear a low growl slip through it.

“I don’t care what excuse you have for Aria,” she said. “You need to leave; she doesn’t want you here.”

I stared at her. I knew she was right, but Aria was my daughter, and I needed to be here for her.

I gritted my teeth. “Fine,” I said. “I will leave, but this is not over.”

I turned on my heel and walked away. I could feel that woman’s eyes burning into my back as I left.

“I will kill that human,” growled my wolf, but I ignored her.

“Hunny,” called Derek. “Are you okay?”

I was angry but also broken.

The thought of James came to my mind, and I missed him. I missed our talks, everything. Derek was the one who suggested I get in contact with James. He met us halfway, telling Aria he was on a business trip.

James told me he had moved on. I knew he lied, but I was happy that he had accepted my life.

Derek and he talked and even decided what to do about Aria.

“Hunny, you there?” Derek said.

I stopped in my tracks and turned the corner.

Determination took root in my mind. I knew I had to fight for Aria, even if she hated me.

“Tell Jacob to come here,” I said. “I’m going to need his help.”

“Ok,” he said.

We talked a while longer as I walked out of the hospital.

I headed toward the forest edge and glanced around. No humans knew about our kind, so I had to be careful.

My wolf needed to run, but I had to stay cautious.

I headed back to the motel; the owner was a wolf. He was surprised to see me, but when I got the call about James and Aria being in a car accident and that James had died, I knew I had to come and get her.

I had so much to prove to Aria, and I needed to fight for her.