Page 284 of His Sunshine Baby

“We won’t see each other until… after the war.”

“I know. I’m going to miss you so much, Selena… You have to survive, okay? You’ll look after those idiot Black brothers for me, right? I’ll join the fight if I can.”

I chuckle.

“You’ll be busy giving birth, you idiot. Stay where you are. I’ll handle it here. And, Nora?”

“Yes?”

“Look after our people. Danny, Estelle. If I don’t survive, I’m counting on you, okay? You’re the best Luna.”

“You’re the fighter, Selena. I’m the healer. I’ll take care of you after this. I’ll be protecting you from where I am. Don’t worry.”

“I love you, little sis.”

“I love you too, Selena.”

I take a deep breath, holding back the tears the best I can. Not now, Selena Whitewood, you can cry later. Right now, they need the fighter.

Nathaniel joins me outside, putting his arms around me, his forehead against mine.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

“I have to be.”

“I know. Many people are looking up to you. You’re their Luna. But don’t forget, I’m your mate. I’m here for you, okay? You don’t need to push yourself, not in front of me, my sunshine.”

I smile, and as if a door had been opened in my heart, I snuggle into his arms for a much-needed hug. I hear him sigh as he caresses my hair.

“We’re going to be okay,” he whispers.

“I know. I just want to be weak for one more day, and then I’ll be the Luna they are all waiting for.”

“I think they won’t be disappointed. Do you know your aura is going… wild these days?”

I nod. Yeah, I’ve felt it too. Ever since Nathaniel and I solved our issues, or since I became an official Luna, I feel like all restraints broke loose around my wolf. Not only that, but it’s almost like I can feel some strange halo around me too, something that seems to protect me in some way, I just don’t know how yet.

“I want to see Estelle,” I whisper.

I want to say goodbye to my daughter before this madness begins. I don’t want her to be near when hell breaks loose, and I don’t want to have regrets about not saying goodbye to her. I didn’t get to say goodbye to my parents, twice. I’m not letting my daughter lose that as well.

Liam is the one to go and get my daughter from Nora’s place, while I let Damian and Nate handle things around here, notably with the bodies. I need to be a mom, just for an hour or two.

“Mommy!” she says while jumping into my arms.

“Hi, baby star!”

I hold my daughter, while she tells me all about her game with her cousin, and her auntie Nora’s baby moving in her belly. I decide to borrow Clark’s house for a while to chat with her and let her have a hot chocolate in the quiet, far from the mess around the river.

After a while, I take a deep breath. It’s been an hour. I need to tell her.

“My baby star, you are going to stay with your Auntie Nora for a while.”

“Really? With Mommy and Daddy too?”

“No, baby. Mommy won’t be there.”

It’s hard. It’s hard to explain to my daughter that leaving her to my cousin is for her own safety while I’ll be on the battlefront. I get up from my chair to go and kneel in front of her, getting to her level. She’s still so small.

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