The Alpha's Stolen Luna - Chapter 170: Chapter 170

: Sutton
Lucas gently took the photo from me. He’d met my stepfather, he would know I meant this was my biological father. My real father.
“And the woman…?” he questioned.
I nodded. “My mother,” I confirmed. “She looks different but it has to be her.”
Lucas looked up at Soloman. “I’m guessing you know exactly who they are.”
“That is Princess Leanetta,” Soloman stated, “and her mate, Ashad. That was taken a few weeks before their accident.”
“So… she was…? She had to have been…”
“Pregnant with you,” Soloman finished. “Yes, it would seem so.”
They looked so happy. I’d never even thought to ask his name. I had known so little about his existence for so long… Even when my stepfather had told me about him there wasn’t a lot of information. My mother hadn’t even told him he died. So, instead of wondered if he just abandoned her — and me — I just didn’t think about him. I suddenly felt horribly guilty for my callousness. My lack of curiosity in my own heritage.
My attention shifted to the letters. I glanced through them. They were love letters between my parents. They seemed to be from early in their relationship. I was about to ask Soloman how they met but was interrupted by a buzzing at the door.
We all locked eyes. No one was supposed to know we were here. Lucas shot Soloman a look but he also looked just as concerned and confused.
“Wait here,” Soloman told us.
I watched as he went to the door. There was a small camera monitor mounted next to the door. Soloman clicked it on but blocked my view of the screen. Without saying anything, he opened the door and I rushed to shove everything back in the box.
“Councilman Erhardt, this is an unexpected visit,” he said.
“Yes, I’m here to speak with Luna Sutton,” I heard him reply, causing me to freeze.
“Oh, well, I…”
“I know they’re here, Soloman,” the councilman insisted, entering the penthouse decisively.
He spotted us in the living room and headed our way. Lucas was on his feet, putting himself between me and Councilman Erhardt protectively. I didn’t think Erhardt had come to hurt me, of course, but I could still understand Lucas’ reaction since we had no idea how he found us or why he was here.
“Don’t worry, Alpha,” Erhardt stated. “My judgment of your relationship with your mate still stands. I’m not here to cause you trouble.”
Lucas relaxed slightly.
“Why are you here then, William?” Soloman asked, coming to stand with us.
“I could be here to ask about your neglect to inform the Council of the mistreatment of a member of the royal family,” Erhardt retorted. “However, under the circumstances, I can respect your caution.”
“We don’t’ know…”
“Spare me,” the councilman cut Lucas’ denial off. “Soloman isn’t the only one who has had a close relationship with the royal family in the past. The queen was my cousin, after all. You were foolish to think I wouldn’t recognize my own flesh and blood… regardless of how distant a relation it may be.”
Soloman sighed and shook his head. “I had forgotten Queen Melosa was an Erhardt.”
“On her mother’s side,” the councilman stated. “Now, which one of you is going to tell me how the daughter of a long-dead princess ended up in front of the Royal Council?”
I stepped forward. “If you mean how is it that I even exist — I honestly don’t know,” I replied. “That is something we came here tonight to hopefully find out. As for how I wound up the subject of a pack dispute, well… what you already know is the truth. We didn’t deceive you.”
“No, I don’t believe you did,” he said genuinely. “Still, your existence, as you say, is intriguing and, perhaps, even a cause for concern.”
“We’re not after the throne,” Lucas rushed. “Sutton can’t help that she was fated to me. But she was. That doesn’t mean either of us wants to challenge King Osric or Prince Raphe. We just want to be left alone.”
Erhardt looked at Lucas with sympathy. “That very well may be the case, young man,” he said. “However, my concern lies with whether you would have any choice in the matter.”
“That’s why I have been keeping this a secret,” Soloman interjected. “To give her the opportunity to have a choice. Please, William… don’t tell Raphe. Or Osric.”
The old man pursed his lips. “I had not presumed it was my place to do so, Soloman,” he replied. “However, I would say that responsibility would fall to you. Your friendship with Osric isn’t what it used to be, my friend. You jeopardize it even more by keeping an old man from his granddaughter.” His eyes landed on me. “Our last connection to our beloved princess.”
“Sutton is not Leanetta,” Lucas argued. “She’s not a placeholder. It’s not her responsibility to be anyone’s stand-in.”
“Isn’t it?” Erhardt stated with a raised eyebrow. “Do we not all dream of our children maintaining our legacy? Continuing our dream for the future?”
“That’s not the same as expecting them to be us,” I replied. “It wouldn’t matter anyway. I don’t know anything about my mother’s legacy. Certainly not enough to carry it on. From what I do know, just the idea of doing so would cause us trouble that we don’t want.”
“What do you know?” Erhardt questioned.
“Very little,” I stated. “But it’s not hard to guess why a young, pregnant woman would pretend to be dead and leave her entire life behind. She was in danger. And until I find out what that danger was and if it’s still a threat, I would prefer not to risk becoming an unwitting target.”
Councilman Erhardt reached out and took my hand.
“As I said, it’s not my place to tell anyone who you are, your highness,” he replied. “However, it would go against my conscience if I didn’t give you this warning — it may be too late to keep your identity a secret. Soloman and I are, inevitably, not the only ones who will have suspicions of your parentage. And Alpha Anders’ fixation on you and your sister will bear further scrutiny. If you confronted — don’t deny it. It will only breed suspicion.”