Chapter 169 Still His Princess

Chapter 169 Still His Princess
Aileen's POV

“What if we don't mention it?" I asked Zayne. “I mean, what he doesn't won't hurt him.” I continued as I watched his brow furrow.

Maybe I was worried that everything I knew to be true was going to come crashing down. Finding out I was related to Dylan as a step sibling was already heartbreaking enough but finding out we have the same parent was a different kind of pain.

"He deserves to know.” Came his response.

“He's already hurt enough as it is, what's this new information going to change?”

"It's not for him.” Zayne started, much to my confusion. "It's for you to know that nothing is going to change. We're still going to love you regardless."

“I know that now…do we still need to–”

The door opened and my dad entered before I could finish talking. I shot Zayne a glare but he just shrugged and made himself comfortable like he was about to watch the most interesting plot unravel.

“Where was Alyssa where I needed her the most?"

“Now that I think about it,” my dad started, looking between Zayne and I. “It's been a while since I had both of you alone in a room."

“Today's your lucky day then.” Zayne replied.

"It really is."

“That's about to change.” I thought to myself before taking the seat opposite him.

After a moment of silence, Zayne sat upright as if changing his mind about just watching me shit over myself while finding the right words. “Something happened while we were gone.” He said, and my dad met my eyes.

"Did Alyssa's parents dislike you?”

Zayne frowned, "of course not, why would you even think that?" He asked. “But no, they liked me and if I was thinking about you carrying the Pack alone, I'd still be there.”

“Then why did you make it sound like it was a life or death matter?"

My gaze met Zayne and I took a deep breath as he started talking, starting from the beginning. I watched as my dad's expression moved from confusion to betrayal to hurt and then to anger. But none of them were directed at me.

“Just when I thought she couldn't be any crazier or do anything to hurt me." He murmured, not looking at me.

I felt my chest tightened, “of course, what was I expecting?" I thought, "that he'd welcome me with open arms? The girl he loved and took care of for twenty-three years turns out to be the daughter of the man who tried to kill his actual son and his daughter in-law?"

Dad closed his eyes, drawing in a slow breath that did nothing to calm the storm on his face.

“She spent months hating on an innocent girl and almost made me turn into a man I almost didn't recognise." His jaw tightened. "And all along, she was just trying to cover her tracks.”

His eyes had darkened, and I made myself smaller on the couch. My eyes burning from the tears I was trying to fight back.

"Princess, are you okay?” Jace asked, his voice filled with worry.

I nodded before remembering he couldn't see me. "I'm okay,” I replied, swallowing hard. "I'm just talking to my dad." I told him and he immediately understood.

“Do you need me?"

“I can handle it." I lied. There was a brief moment of silence before he spoke up again.

“I love you, princess."

After ending the mindlink, I turned back to my dad who was now pacing in the office. The tears I was holding back suddenly came streaming down my face.

His hands clenched into fists. "She made innocent people pay for her choices, and we're all living with the consequences." He continued as his gaze finally settled on me, and the anger in his eyes softened.

"But none of that has anything to do with you."
He let out a shaky breath.

"She lied to me for twenty-three years. But if you think that means I wish I'd never raised you, then you’re mistaken.”

My throat tightened. "Look at me, Aileen." His voice was gentle this time, nothing like the anger from a few moments ago.

I forced myself to meet his eyes. "When I look at you, I see the little girl who waited by the door every evening because you wanted to be the first to welcome me home. And the little princess who insisted on sleeping in my bed whenever you had a bad dream." A faint smile tugged at his lips.

"You learned to walk holding my fingers. I watched you grow into the woman sitting in front of me."
He'd stopped pacing to look at me.

"Do you really think just because Valerie decided to mess things up, it would erase twenty-three years of being your father?"

I wasn't sure if he needed me to answer that or not, so I just watched him and waited for him to continue.

"I don't care whose blood runs through your veins," he said firmly. "You are my daughter. You have always been, and you will always be.
Nothing, not Valerie, not Viktor, not the Moon Goddess herself, is going to change that."

Before I knew it, I was out of my chair and in his arms, crying like a child while he held me close, one hand gently stroking my hair.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

He frowned and pulled back just enough to look at me. "Did you do anything wrong?”

I looked at Zayne and then back at my dad before shaking my head slightly. “No."

"Exactly! None of this is your fault. The only person who should be apologizing is Valerie. You did absolutely nothing wrong.”
“So I'm still your princess?" I asked, not caring that I sounded like a two year old craving attention.

“That's never going to change.” He replied, and my arms tightened around him in a way that reassured me.

We remained like that until I felt myself calm down. “Are you going to talk to her?" I heard myself ask.

He shook his head, “I'm done letting her control how I feel.” He replied, "everything I need is right here…well, and outside that door. I can't believe I'm going to be a grandfather."

I grinned, “and while we're on the subject, I should let you know I'm a Luna now."

He frowned, “you sound too excited for someone that is leaving her beloved father.”

My grin widened, "your grandchildren will keep you busy that you won't even notice I'm not here.” I told him.

"Where's the boy? I need to talk to him.” He grumbled, but there was a small smile on his face.

“Not you too! Zayne already scarred him."

"It'll be a friendly conversation," he said with far too much innocence.

I narrowed my eyes. "That's exactly what Zayne said.” He insisted.

For the first time since learning the truth, the weight on my chest disappeared. I hadn't lost my dad and even much better, I never would.