90. We're practically twins

“Hey” I murmur a bit unsure of myself.

It's a week after Valery was executed and things have been settling in well. At least on my side that

is.

I was worried for Luke and Lilly because they completely shut down. Refusing to acknowledge that

their mother ever existed. They even walk out of the room when someone mentions her.

They refuse to talk to anyone about how they're feeling. That's definitely not good because for them

to ignore the topic of their mother means that they feel something.

They need to confront their feelings instead of hiding or ignoring it. I have been there. I know

ignoring your pain doesn't make it go away. It actually makes it hurt more.

"Hey" he tells me in a deep controlled voice.

He was standing on the balcony. His eyes staring at the endless ocean. His muscles leaden with

tension. I wanted to offer him comfort but I don’t know if he would let me.

“Are you okay Luke...we're heading back in a day or two and I wanted to make sure you're okay

before I leave” I tell him.

Feeling a bit worn out and tired. I take a seat in the nearby chair and wait for him to speak.

"You're going back? I thought you would stay. That you and Sebastian would take over the pack”

His voice catches but he clears his throat. Probably trying to get rid of the emotion.

"Why would we do that? I may have found my family here but this is not my home” I was genuinely

confused.

“You're the first born so the Alpha title is yours by birthright” he mumbles.

I watch him. Study him. Was this the reason why he had been cold to me since the truth came out?

He was afraid I would take the Alpha position from him.

“Is that what has you so worried and tense?” I needed to confirm first before jumping into any

conclusion.

“Part of it"

I sigh. “Come take a seat Luke”

“I don't really feel like sitting down” he said instead.

"And I wasn't really asking...so come and take a damn seat”

He must have heard the edge in my voice because he heaves a breath then comes and sits down

next to me.

The moment he does, I turn to face him and stare straight into his eyes.

“I want you to get one thing clear because after this we will never talk about again” I begin. “I don't

want the alpha position, I am content being Sebastian's Luna so the position of the alpha remains

yours."

“But...” he begins but I cut him off.

“There is no buts just what I say. You can remain the alpha and you have all my blessings. Besides,

do you honestly think the pack would be comfortable with me? I am basically a stranger to them

and so is Sebastian. In light of all the things that have happened, they need stability, they need the

alpha that they have known. What they don't need is more changes”

I watch as he lets my words sink in. For the first time I see vulnerability in his eyes.

“But what if the pack rejects me as the Alpha. Valery was responsible for some of their family

member's deaths. She has caused so much damage and I am the one left to deal with it. I am bound

to receive backlash for her actions”

See what I meant when I said he doesn't acknowledge his mother.

“Then you will deal with it like the Alpha you are and are meant to be, okay? It's in your blood to

lead them and if you can show them who you are they will take your lead and follow. Show them

your heart and prove to them that you're nothing like your mother. Earn their trust again”

He leans back on the chair almost tiredly. “It's not that easy”

“It definitely isn't, but won't it be worth it in the end?”

I leave the question out there for him to decide. The ball was in his court and only he can decide if

he’s willing to withstand the backlash he may or may not receive.

We are silent for a couple minutes as he makes his decision. Even if he decides that he doesn't want

to deal with what was to come, I still wouldn't take the alpha position. My life wasn't here. I could

always visit and I plan to do that but I can't live here.

Luke lets out a breath. “You're right, it will be worth in the end”

“Is that all? I may be late at this whole sister thing but I am here Luke. If there's something

bothering you and you want to talk about it”

"Yes... I'm sure I can deal with the other things, I don't want to burden you" he says right before he

smirks then adds “Big sister”

"Psssht...Big sister my ass, I'm only a couple of months older than you”

“Nine or ten months to be exact, that's like a whole year” he says with a smile.

This is the first time I've seen him smiling and it does wonders to his face by transforming it. He is

good looking despite him always frowning but his smile is just beautiful.

“Only Lilly is allowed to call me big sister...As for you, we are practically twins” I joke, bumping his

shoulder.

He stills for a while before his smile disappears. “I'm really sorry for what Valery did. I can't apologize

enough for the pain and heartbreak she caused you and Hailey”

“If you mention that one more time, I swear I will throw you off this fucking balcony” I snarl.

He looks at me as if I've lost my mind and maybe I have. But I was so tired of him apologizing for

something that wasn't his fault.

“How many times do we have to tell you that none of what Valery did is on you? You're carrying the

guilt for things that you had nothing do with, fuck, you didn’t even know and neither did Lilly...So

why the hell are you punishing yourselves?” I asked.

“You better stop with the fucking guilt or I will whoop your asses so bad the council will have to

scrape you from the ground...Am I understood?”

“Lauren...” he goes to say but I cut him off.

"Am I fucking understood, Luke?" I hissed.

“Yes” he mumbles his smile back in place.

Like I had suspected. Luke wasn't really a bad person. Sure he sometimes had a chip on his shoulder

but he was nothing like his mother. Valery was the devil incarnate. Pure and simple.

“Now, when are you going to come and visit?" I say looking him straight in the eyes.

With this, he bursts laughing as if I just said the funniest thing he has ever heard.

“When things settle down, I promise I'll make a point to come see my brand new sister”

I was about to reply when a throat cleared. Luke and I look up to find our dad, my mom and Lilly

staring at us. For some reason they all had tears swimming in their eyes.

“You heard everything didn't you?” Luke asks them.

They nod their heads before coming to join us.

Getting to know my parents this week hasn't been hard. The bond was established quicker than I

could have imagined.

I wish we had more time together but we had to go back home. Sebastian and I both had

businesses and a pack to run.

They did promise to visit and I promised the same. They were also happy to meet their

grandchildren. Being completely taken in by all that is Krystal and Jax. It filled my heart.

Dad and mom's relationship is getting better. They haven't given us anything but everyone is sort of

rooting for them. They deserved to be happy together after everything Valery did to tear them

apart.

"Come here” Dad says and both Luke and I stand up.

He engulfs all three of us in a warm hug.

“I'm a proud and happy father...All three of you complete me” he says. His voice thick with emotion.

I look at my mom and I see the same emotion and happiness reflected in her eyes.

I see it in her eyes. Her love for all of us and I just know that if she and my father manage to sort

things out. Then she'll love Luke and Lilly like they're her own.

My only prayer is that we can all move from what Valery did. That we can all heal and maybe just

maybe, be a real family.