I Need You, My Luna

CHAPTER 9

MEGAN'S POV

What happened with Xarion today won’t stop replaying in my mind.

His voice. His eyes. The way he looked at me like he wanted to peel back all the years between us and rewrite them. It’s like a broken record spinning in my head, the kind that scratches against my ribs every time it hits rewind.

I’m back in my hotel suite now. The twins are in their room playing with the new toys I got them after we left the hospital.

I had taken them to see Dad in the new hospital I moved him to.

Unlike yesterday, this time they got to see him properly, to hold his hand and to hear him whisper their names with that smile that crinkles his tired eyes. It made me smile too. For a moment.

I close my eyes briefly, pressing my fingers on my brows. After visiting Dad in his new hospital, I thought maybe I’d feel better. At least steadier. But seeing Xarion again… hearing him say the twins are his…

My heart clenches.

A soft giggle draws my attention. I glance toward my bedroom door.

The twins.

I follow their laughter down to their room and gently lean against the doorframe. They're surrounded by their toys, building a miniature city with colorful blocks. The evening sun pours in through the curtains, spreading a warm glow over them.

Makayla notices me first.

"Mommy?" she asks, pausing her game. Her voice is gentle, curious.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

She angles her head slightly. "Are you okay?"

That catches me off guard.

I push off the doorframe, furrowing my brows. "Why do you ask that, baby?"

Makayla pauses, fiddling with one of the blocks. "Because your face looks sad. Like when you’re thinking hard and your eyebrows do that weird thing."

Before I can answer, Maverick chimes in, concern plain on his face. "Yeah, Mommy. You were quiet in Grandpa’s hospital room, too. And now again. Did something bad happen?"

My heart folds in on itself. These two. They see everything.

I force a smile as I walk in and kneel beside them. "No, no. Nothing bad happened, sweethearts. Mommy's just a little tired, that’s all. Nothing you need to worry about."

They exchange a look, like they’re silently deciding if they believe me. Then, Makayla angles her head again and asks, "When are we going to see our Daddy? Like how we saw Grandpa today?"

My stomach drops.

I blink. "What?"

Maverick nods seriously. "Yeah. Just like we saw Grandpa. Are we going to see our Dad soon too?"

I feel like I’ve been doused in ice water.

I stare at them, momentarily stunned. My heart starts pounding again.

Makayla drops the block and adds softly, "Was that him, Mommy? The man at the old hospital? The one who stared at us like he knew us?”

"Why do you ask that?" I ask, my voice quieter than I intend.

Maverick bites his lip, eyes wide. "I had a dream about him. Last night. He was standing and waving at me from afar."

“Me too!” Makayla nods quickly. "In my dream. He picked me up and spun me around, then he looked at Maverick and smiled."

My breath catches in my throat.

Oh Goddess. How is this happening?

How is Xarion already invading their dreams?

"Tell us the truth, Mommy," Maverick says, crawling closer. "Is he our Daddy?"

I inhale deeply, steadying my breath. It takes everything in me not to burst into tears.

This moment was always going to come. I just never imagined it would come like this.

But I can't hide it anymore. I can't. They deserve the truth.

I reach for them, wrapping an arm around their small bodies. They nestle close. Their warmth calms my trembling chest.

"Yes," I whisper with a slow nod. "The man you saw… his name is Xarion. And he... he is your father."

Makayla lets out a soft gasp. Maverick looks down, like he's processing it all.

“Why didn’t you tell us before?" Maverick murmurs.

I sit down on the edge of the bed and take both of their hands in mine.

"Because... it’s complicated. Things didn’t work out between your father and I. We went our separate ways a long time ago."

"Did he not love you?" Makayla asks with a trembling voice.

The question slices through me like a dagger.

I close my eyes. My voice shakes. "He... told Mommy to do something she didn’t like. Something that would have meant not having you two.”

Makayla presses her little hands to her mouth. Tears shine in her eyes.

Maverick frowns, his brows knit. "He didn’t want us?"

"It’s not that simple, sweetheart," I say quickly, brushing a hand through his curls. "He made a choice. A wrong one. But that was a long time ago. And you two are here now. With me. And that’s what matters."

Makayla sniffles, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt. "But I want to ask him why he did that to you. Why he didn’t want us."

Tears burn behind my eyelids. Goddess, help me.

I reach for them both and pull them into a tight hug.

"No, baby," I whisper, my voice thick. "I don’t want you to worry about any of that. I have both of you, and both of you have me. We’re okay. You both are my world. You hear me?"

They nod slowly, and I hold them tighter, trying to memorize the feel of their tiny bodies and warm cheeks.

I’ve fought so hard to make sure they're happy and protected from pain. From the cruelty of the world.

From Xarion.

But how long can I keep doing that when he’s already found a way into their dreams?

Just then, a knock on the door startles me, interrupting the moment.

Gwen, the twins' nanny, peeks in with her face creased with worry.

"Ms. Pierce? There are some men here asking to see you. They said it’s urgent."

I wipe my face and stand. "Who are they?"

"They said... they’re from the Luther family."

My pulse spikes.

I kiss the twins quickly and whisper, "Stay here, okay? I'll be right back."

I wipe my face again, smooth my blouse, and walk out to the hotel suite's front door.

Three sharply dressed men stand at the entrance in black suits, hands behind their backs. Looking like they walked out of a mafia drama.

"Ms. Pierce," the one in the middle says with a respectful nod. "We come on behalf of former Alpha Wilson Luther. We were instructed to deliver a message."

My jaw tightens. "What kind of message?"

The man opens a leather case, pulls out a phone, and taps on it. A voice recording begins to play.

"Megan," comes Wilson Luther’s unmistakable voice, cold and sharp. "I’m aware of your presence in Arkon. There are things that concern the Luther family… important things… that we need to talk about. In private. I expect you to meet with me soon. Tomorrow would be best.”

The message ends.

I stare at the men, stunned.

Wilson Luther. Xarion’s father. The man who made it no secret back then that he despised me. He never wanted Xarion and me together.

And now he wants a meeting?

The air feels heavier than it did moments ago. I clench my jaw as unease coils in my gut.

Why now? What could possibly be so urgent?