The Alpha's Stolen Luna - Chapter 142: Chapter 142

: Sutton
I did as I had promised and kept Sera at arm’s length over the next few days. But not just her. I was having trouble opening up to anyone around me. I still didn’t believe that Sera had betrayed us — or at least, I still didn’t want to believe it — but the more time I had to dwell on the subject, the more I began to doubt. However, I didn’t let those doubts eat at me. Instead, I let the whole situation fuel my determination.
I had been keeping my plan close to the vest before Lucas’ revelation. Mostly because it was likely foolish and never going to work. But also because I didn’t want anyone to talk me out of it. Especially Lucas. He would never be okay with me taking such a risk but I had to. He would just have to understand that I was doing this for both of us.
I’d been buried in my studies and defense training on the days leading up to the summit to make sure I was as prepared as possible for the endeavor ahead of me. I was feeling confident as I packed my suitcase the day before we were scheduled to leave. I was admiring the custom suit I’d had made for a very specific purpose when the intercom dinged.
Going to the monitor, I clicked the button. Soloman appeared on the small screen that showed the inside of the elevator to our floor.
“Good afternoon, Ambassador,” I greeted. “Did we plan to meet today?”
“No, no,” he insisted. “This is a bit of a surprise visit. Do you mind if I come up?”
“Of course,” I replied. “But Lucas isn’t here right now.”
“Yes, I’m aware. It’s actually you that I wish to speak with.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll buzz you up,” I told him.
I pushed the button for the elevator before heading out to the foyer to greet him. Nova came to the front of my consciousness, her tail twitching with focused curiosity.
“You look well today, Luna,” Soloman said as he took my hand in greeting. “I assume you’re ready for our trip tomorrow?”
“Just about,” I told him, directing him toward the living room. “Just some last-minute packing left. To what do I owe this visit?”
“Well, I will be leaving shortly,” he said. “I must travel ahead of you to check in with the Council and make sure everything is ready for the Alphas’ arrivals tomorrow. But before I go, I wanted to give you this.”
He pulled out a rectangular velvet box and handed it to me. I gasped when I opened it. Inside was a necklace and pair of earrings. A very expensive necklace and pair of earrings. Exquisitely crafted in a gold setting was an array of diamonds tapering away from a central pendant that featured the biggest sapphire I’d ever seen. The dangly earrings sported smaller — but just as vibrantly beautiful — sapphires with a similar trail of diamonds.
I couldn’t identify the feeling that emerged with both me and Nova. Although, I suspected Nova understood it more than I did because she stood proud and regal in my mind, dipping her head to encourage me to accept the gift graciously.
But I couldn’t. There’s no way I could accept something like this.
“Soloman… this… this is beautiful,” I breathed, “but I can’t accept this. This is far too extravagant of a gift.”
I closed the box and tried to hand it back to him, but he refused.
“It is far from that, my Luna,” he said. “But if you would like, you can think of it as a loan. I know how much you want to impress the Royal Council. I can assure you that these will do just that. However, they do come with a stipulation.”
I looked up at him with a furrowed brow, still not sure what was going on.
“Only wear them during the Farewell Ball,” he instructed.
I knew what he was talking about. After everything on the Council’s agenda had been addressed and completed, the summit would end with a formal ball. It was a tradition for every summit as a way to celebrate the unity demonstrated by such a gathering. Truth be told, it was the one event during this whole summit that I was actually looking forward to. I just hoped nothing would prevent us from being able to attend.
I felt a spark of excitement from Nova. Although I still didn’t understand what it was about. I felt like she knew something she wasn’t telling me. Almost like she didn’t think I was ready to hear it. She was probably right. There was a weight to the jewels that wasn’t a tangible one. As if putting them on would solidify a thought or suspicion that had been lurking in the shadows of my mind. One that I had been purposely avoiding.
“Why are you giving this to me, Soloman?” I questioned.
He looked back at me with a fondness that warmed my heart. It was a look I’d seen from him on more than one occasion, even when he tried to hide it.
“These belonged to someone I cared very much about,” he said. “It would mean a great deal for you to wear them.”
I sighed, shaking my head. “Princess Leanetta?” I questioned.
He nodded once.
“Soloman, we’ve been through this,” I said gently. “There’s no way to know if she was actually my mother or not. The last thing I would want is for someone to recognize these and think that I was making some kind of claim.”
I lifted the box to return it to him again, but he still didn’t move to take it. Instead, he stared at the dark blue velvet container for a few moments.
“I never told you why I believe you are Leanetta’s daughter,” he said, locking eyes with me. “Would you like to know?”