THE LUNA QUEEN IS ME

3: Zora is Back

NYX

Zora was back, crying in my husband's arms, holding onto his shirt as if her life depended on it. My mother was also crying in my father's arms, definitely too relieved that her daughter was finally back. No one noticed me, and if they did, they didn't say anything.

I remained rooted to a spot, hands on my lower belly, till Zora herself looked up and saw me.

“Nyx,” she cried before turning away from my husband and opening her arms for me. I hugged her and cried too. I was happy that she was back in one piece, but my throat burned at what this could mean for me, for my unborn child, and for my relationship with Kael.

Apparently, Zora didn't think straight when she decided to leave the house 3 years ago, and when she finally came to her senses after a couple of days in another continent, she was kidnapped, and that's where she had been held for the last three years. She didn't want us to be traumatized by what she went through, so she kept the details of it from us.

But when I looked at her, I didn't see any trace of a lady who had been kidnapped. Her hair was shiny and glossy, and her skin was clear and smooth like butter. She looked like someone who had had the best time of her life during the last three years.

I chastised myself over my thought, and I momentarily hated myself for thinking that way because she didn't have any reason to lie that she was kidnapped. She didn't have any reason to lie at all. I was just jealous and bitter.

The whole day was spent doting over Zora. Mom entered the kitchen for the first time in years to cook her favorite meal. Dad wouldn't stop looking at her, and my husband forgot that he had a wife. He hovered around her and was quick to pull out a chair for her in the dining room, while I had to pull out my own chair.

The plan to announce my pregnancy was forgotten as everything suddenly revolved around Zora. Dad and Mom made plans to sign her up for a therapy session and organize a party to welcome her back to the pack. Kael vowed to investigate the kidnapping ring and make sure to punish all of them.

“They're on another continent, Kael,” she replied softly, “I escaped. I burnt part of their hideout down while at it. They're not worthy of your stress.”

“They took three years of your life, Zora. They hurt you. “ I can't even start to think about what you must have gone through in the last three years,” his voice tightened, “How can I not worry about it?” How can I not make a plan to burn them all to the ground?”

“Oh my poor Kael,” she murmured, and she palmed his fist on the table. She slowly rubbed her hand over it, and I could have sworn she looked at me with a sly smile before she looked back at him.

“You're an Alpha with a whole pack to run and a wife to look after, you shouldn't concern yourself with what happened to your former fiancée, especially since she survived the said thing. And besides, it's been three years.”

I poured myself a glass of water and drank.

“Ahem,” Mom cleared her throat, “about that. It might be too early, but there's no need to drag things out and delay them. Kael had to marry Nyx out of necessity. We needed a replacement for you because we couldn't cancel the wedding. We had to secure your place.”

“So you're saying that Nyx is just a placeholder?”

“Yes, my dear, and now that you're back, things should revert to how they were originally.”

“Come on, Mom,” Zora replied with a chuckle, “that's ridiculous. You want a whole Luna to step down just because I'm back?”

“But it's… It’s your original position.”

“I left it willingly! Fine, I regret it, and I wish I hadn't left impulsively as I did three years ago, but it's done. You can't expect my sister to walk away from her marriage and husband just because I'm back. She's your daughter. When will you learn to prioritize her feelings, too? This was the main reason why I left in the first place. Because I kept feeling like I'm stopping you from warming up to your biological daughter.” Her voice trailed off into a quiet sob while I stared on, suddenly lost and overwhelmed and tired.

“I'm sorry, Zora. I just… Your father and I just want you to be happy.”

“I'll be happy when you treat Nyx like you should treat her.”

“Can we talk about this later? Zora just got back, and emotions are pretty high right now. Let's just eat, sleep over it, and have this conversation sometime later, hmm?” Kael ended that conversation without even looking in my direction.

No one looked in my direction all evening except for Zora, and I couldn't tell if she was looking at me or mocking me.

**********

We retired to bed very late that night. Mom showed Zora to her room: the room she moved her belongings into three years ago and decorated into Zora’s best because she believed that her daughter would return one day. Both of them had another emotional breakdown while I snuck away into our matrimonial room.

I didn't know what to do with myself, what to think, or what to do. My place in this household has always been fragile, and now that Zora was back, it was going to become even more fragile.

Even if she doesn't want it to be.

Kael entered the room almost an hour after, and he was the most relaxed and happy I've ever seen him. Three years of marriage, and I couldn't make him happy, but half a day with Zora, he was radiating so much happiness and joy.

I felt a sudden bitterness overpower me, and I had to shove it away. I should focus on the good news. I should focus on how a baby would change our lives and relationship.

“Kael, I have something to tell you.”

“What's that?”

He didn't look back at me from where he was undressing near the walk-in closet.

“I went to the hospital today.”

A normal husband would have turned back in worry, but my husband's back remained turned to me. He didn't even urge me on.

“And the doctor said I'm…”

His ringing tone interrupted me, and he quickly picked up his phone. I could hear the voice from the other end of the phone.

“I'm actually terrified of sleeping alone, Kael,” she sounded broken, like a child, and my husband already started walking towards the door even before she finished talking.

“Can you come and watch me till I fall asleep?”

“Don't wait up, Zora needs me.”

And then I was all alone in our huge main bedroom.

My husband didn't return to bed that night.