Chasing His Betrayed Luna by KiKi Jones

99. Now or Never

AURELIA

| was invited to the public execution of Larisa's parents but since the scene wouldn't be appropriate for kids, |

decided to stay back at the apartment and pack in preparation for the journey back home.

Hazel was helpingpack while Katie and Kyle played a gin the corner of the room.

"What do you think he'd do to them?" Hazel asked me, folding her clothes into a duffel bag,

Instantly, | figured she was talking about how Raiden would handle Larisa's parents. | wasn't certain but after

Ronald's death and Iris's near-death experience, | knew Raiden wouldn't go easy on Larisa's parents. Was | okay

with their possible death?

Yes, | was.

Larisa was okay with killing my friend and almost killing my son and me, so why should | care about what

happens to her crazy parents?

"I hope he kills them. The world doesn't need people like them and Larisa deserves to feel the pain that comes

with losing someone she loves. She damaged so many families." | said to Hazel.

But she snorted, "Liar. You don't want anyone dead no matter what they could have done. You are Aurelia-"

"Well, I've changed. I no longer care about people who would hurtat any length or stabin the back." |

retorted.

| wanted to correct Hazel by telling her that | was Lia but | realized it's high t| accepted myself. Aurelia was

who | was after all. Lia was just a small part of the whole- Aurelia.

Hazel moved uncomfortably, shifting on her feet as she muttered, "If you say so." | thought of asking her if she

was okay but she blurted before I could, "So what day have you chosen?" My brows furrowed, "Day?"

"For the journey, Lia. When will it be?" Hazel uttered precisely.

| thought about it for a minute. | had gotten the journal from Iris, and even though | hadn't read it, | knew it

would help me. Kyle was in very good shape, which meant he was fit to travel back to the Black Fur Pack.

Nothing was holdingback now.

| still wanted to find Larisa and watch her suffer for what she did to my son and Jessica but | could do that from

home. In fact, becoming Tristan's Luna would givethe power | need to fish Larisa out and with Iris's journal, |

could take my abilities to the next level. "I believe tomorrow will be a good day to journey back home," | uttered,

smiling at Hazel whose face dropped as shock took over her body.

"Seriously?" Hazel gasped.

"Yes, Hazel. We're going htomorrow." | confirmed, laughing at Hazel's facial expression.

While Hazel jubilated and began to tellabout how she needed to get Jessica's body prepared for the journey,

Katie and Kyle rapidly closed the distance between us, and Katie blurted, "We're going htomorrow?"

"Hmm hmm," | answered casually as | didn't know what was going through my daughter's head.

| realized when she let out rudely, "But that's too soon, Mom. We just met Grandma and we need twith her.

Why can't we just stay here with our biological family?"

Kyle seemed conflicted as his gaze shifted between Katie and me. Katie pushed her luck when she started

crying, "I want to stay here with them. Black Fur is no longer hbut here is. We can move in with Dad and

since the stepmom is gone, we can beca family again-"

"Enough, Katie Anne!" | snapped, throwing the folded jeans | had in my hand into the open box on the bed, and

gosh did | glare at my daughter. "I've had it up to here with you!"

If she was shedding crocodile's tears before, her tears becreal. | could tell from the way her lips trembled.

| could barely hear Hazel excuse

herself from the room but I kinda expected that she would do that to give my kids andsspace. | didn't

drop my glare as | lashed out at Katie, "Beca family again, you say? When were you ever a family with him?

When was he ever family? Tsk! | and Kyle are your biological family and the people of Black Fur are the family

that raised you. Have you suddenly forgotten that because you like the idea of having a biological father?"

in the picture? Our local

"Mom..." Katie's lips quivered but | wasn't done with her silly ass.

"Don't mom me, Katie Anne. Yes, life is unfair. Sof your mates have a complete family but you don't! Deal

with that! We won't be staying in this pack." | said with a tone of finality hurting my daughter but making it

crystal clear to her that she wasn't the boss of me. | loved her and | always will but she has

Stav 19

understand at spoint. "And you both better not pull the crap you did

the last time. Do you understand me, Kyle?"

| faced my son to make sure he was following. Kyle averted his gaze as he responded, "Yes, Mama."

Just to be sure | uttered, "No one is

hiding and no funny plans. We don't want a repeat of the last time, do we?" The twins seemed a bit

confused but that didn't stop tear t

from rolling down Katie's cheeks. | sighed with a heavy heart but didn't hesitate to announce, “The plan to hide

Kyle in Raiden's office is the reason Kyle ended up in the hospital, Katie and you witnessed how your brother

suffered. Do you want a

repeat of that?"

Katie's eyes widened and she shook her head, "No, Mom. | never want to see Kyle like that. Never ever."

Oh, she learned something from that after all.

If Katie wasn't on board with anything silly, | knew Kyle wouldn't dare disobey me. Kyle looked atwith

questions in his eyes and | knew he didn't have memories of what happened after he followed Larisa to her lair.

And | hoped he would never remember.

"Whereas, your dad might be a good father to you both but he was terrible to me," | added the last straw without

batting a lash. They needed to know. It'd hurt them but at least they would finally understand me. "Your dad

never treatedright and that was the reason | had to leave the pack in the first place. To protect myself and

you both. Don't makethe bad guy just because | don't want to stay with him."

| was done covering up for Raiden or hurting internally while my kids fell in love with him. Yes, he was changing

but that doesn't change shit.

For the first tsince the scolding began, Kyle spoke up, askingemotionally, "Did he hurt you, Mama?"

| sniffled but answered, "Yes, baby. He hurt my heart, my body, and my soul."

Was | breaking my kids?

Most likely.

But it's now or never.