Chapter 76

Chapter 76: Chapter 76

Chapter 76

It was quite nice to have some silence after all, and even more welcoming to have Kai start the conversation. It was obvious everyone wished to forget the matter.

"My investigation into the stolen armories led me to another neighboring Pack, apparently. I’ll send the reports to you, Clawface." Kai’s eyes shifted to Clawface just then.

He gave a light nod, more an acknowledgment than a bow, and it was beautiful for me to watch. I had never thought a time like this would come when Clawface would simply be a normal person and not the soldier he had been trained to be all his life.

And speaking of training, he and I still had plenty of that to do once I resumed being Luna at the castle.

"The armories lead to Leo. I believe that is not our greatest threat. The other madman..."

"Nathan?" I suggested.

Marcellan nodded, snapping his fingers in my direction.

"Yes, that mad rogue. He seems to me like the ultimate threat," he said.

Clawface placed a finger against his jaw. He seemed lost in thought.

"Care to share, Clawface?" I prompted, expectant in the way I looked at him.

He merely shrugged. "Not much. I believe that since the two are working together, they are both threats. One feeds the other, and as long as that connection remains, we cannot weigh one’s brutality above the other’s. Also, Leo is in the castle right now. It was obvious that, of all the times he could have chosen to become a Count, it had to be now." He paused briefly before continuing. "Instead of arguing over who is more dangerous, we should focus on finding out what they want."

"To kill me. Both of them agree on that." I answered immediately. "Then to turn Kai into Leo’s own puppet."

"What?" Marcellan blurted out.

"I may be wrong, but the pattern seems clear. Nathan stole part of my powers. He never came back because he still loved me, but because he wanted to use me. Then there is Leo, who is so adamant about becoming Luna. It has to be for some benefit, and we know that even if he became Luna and killed Kai, he still could not rule SilverFang. So he would keep Kai alive just enough to make him his puppet. I’d only be a hindrance with my magic, so he’d try to kill me," I explained.

The group seemed to find my reasoning sharp and worthy of careful consideration.

"So, here’s the next question. How do we tackle these threats?"

The table fell silent for what felt like a long while. Behind us, the trees swayed, gentle gusts of wind drifting past, while clouds shadowed the sun and left the atmosphere pleasantly warm, a fitting setting for this gathering.

"I have a plan," I muttered.

The group focused on me.

"Is there a way we can cut power in the castle?"

"You mean so there would be no way of communicating with anyone outside the palace?" Kai asked.

"Yes, that."

He nodded, alongside Clawface. "Yes, there is. Why?"

"Because I have a plan," I repeated.

And like every time I had a plan, it was always the same. Someone’s life would end up at risk, even if it had to be mine.

∆∆∆

The castle was a beautiful sight to behold. It looked almost like a cathedral, intricately detailed with the craftsmanship of generations of architecture.

The car stopped, and the door was opened for me. Kai took my hand in his, and we made our way to the front entrance. For some reason, my heart sank when I saw the crowd inside.

Maids lined the sparkling clean tiles on either side, leaving the polished floor open for our approach.

"I don’t remember this happening," I whispered to Kai.

From the corner of his eye, he replied, "You’re a crowned Luna now. This is what you should expect whenever you leave the Pack for too long."

"Wow..." I murmured.

Our measured pace carried us away from the crowd and into a quiet hallway where only the clicks of my red bottom leather shoes and the soft thumping of Kai’s boots disturbed the silence.

Being in the West Wing, we were nearing our chambers, and I was already imagining a leisurely nap for myself. I felt exhausted all over. Then a new scent drifted into the air.

It was the seneschal.

And behind him was... Leo.

The surprise was etched across my face for only a second before my mind caught up and prepared for the change.

The seneschal was a grey haired man whose back had grown stiff with age, burdened by a touch of scoliosis, a testament to the many years he had devoted to the palace.

"Your Highness, it is nice to have you back," the man’s voice quivered, not from fear, but mostly from old age.

My gaze settled on him, and I pitied how much trouble Leo might have caused the poor man. Speaking of Leo, he stood beside the seneschal with his hands on his hips, his eyes glinting toward me.

I did not return his gaze.

"Lord Cyrus," Kai acknowledged the man. "Leo," he added, cutting his eyes toward him.

Leo picked up the conversation. "Matters regarding my enrollment into the Council, sire. I had a discussion with Lord Cyrus, and he wished to show you the quotation for my request."

"And that cannot wait?"

"My welcome party is less than a week away. I do not want to risk not having you in the throne room for a second time," he threw back at Kai, the meaning behind his words far sharper than they sounded.

"Do you want to head in? I’ll join you later," Kai asked me.

I almost agreed. My back and legs ached, and at this point I was beginning to suspect I might be carrying twins.

But I was not about to leave Kai alone with Leo.

To the left was a seat fixed against the wall, with a ventilation opening above it where shafts of sunlight streamed through.

"I’ll wait for you," I said as my hand cupped Kai’s left cheek.

As though we had practiced it, he leaned in and kissed me.

Kai pressed his lips into a thin line before turning his attention back to the seneschal, who continued explaining Leo’s requests.

I took a seat, crossing my legs and resting my head against my palm.

"I’m sorry. I should have called at least." The familiar voice came from beside me. I straightened as Leo took the opportunity to sit next to me. "I didn’t attend your mating ceremony or your coronation. I’m glad you’re Luna now, Alex."

He smiled so brightly that the sunlight threatened to reflect off his teeth.

"Is that really true?" I asked, raising a brow.

"I know it’s hard to believe, but truly..."

"I do remember you chasing me out of your house without knowing how I’d survive, along with all the other messes I had to face," I cut in. "But you know, in the end, I’m actually grateful."

I was grateful to Leo because if he had not forced me out of the comfort of his home, I would never have discovered this much about myself.

All that time, I had thought our friendship gave me relief, but from the very beginning, Kai had seen how I was little more than a puppy to Leo. Being fed and clothed had made me think we were truly friends.

"Not my fault. You stole my man," he said quietly.

Not far from us stood Kai and Lord Cyrus.

Oh, that caught my attention.

My fingers intertwined over my knee as I tilted my head.

I almost scoffed.

Of course, he still called Kai his man.

"He is my fated mate. We were simply meant to happen."

"You and I both know you’ve always had an eye for whatever glitters, and Kai is a constantly horny man. Maybe you just convinced him that you were meant to happen. Who knows?"

That was one of the worst insults I had heard in a long time, and I really had only myself to blame for entertaining the conversation.

"Hm. I see you’re still of the same mindset."

That was all I said before standing and walking over to Kai.

"...the crowd from the ballroom must be from SilverFang. Allies are not welcome..."

The old man paused his reading as Kai turned to face me.

"Is everything all right?"

I nodded once, though my attention remained on Lord Cyrus, noticing the tiny beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"You can have this emailed to us, can’t you?" I asked.

He nodded.

Leo approached just in time. "I need to discuss these matters with the Alpha in person."

"And as his Luna, I have just as much say in these exact matters. The Pack are my children, after all. The same goes for you, Leo. Don’t worry. As a good mother, I’ll be sure to exceed your expectations."

I simply smiled at him.

Kai squinted at me as though he was trying to understand even a fraction of what was happening.

"That..."

Leo was cut off as I continued.

"Both the Alpha and I are tired. Send the rest of your concerns through the seneschal. He will report them to us."

Truthfully, that was how things were supposed to work anyway. I was certain Leo simply wanted to be a sneaky bitch and show me that he could still take Kai’s time and attention right in front of me. It was his way of proving he still had some influence over Kai, even if Kai himself was completely unaware of it.

Leo took a bold step forward but Kai waved him off.

"Your Luna has spoken," he stated.

Simple and authoritative, the seneschal ushered Leo away with him.

Once again, the hallway fell silent.

"That whore of a sneaky bitch..." I muttered.

Kai chuckled, nearly collapsing onto my shoulder with laughter.

"Nah, you’re the bitch here. A badass bitch."

"Oh, please..." I rolled my eyes.

Before I could turn away, Kai swept me off my feet. Carrying me in a bridal style, he led us toward the bedroom.