The Alpha's Stolen Luna - Chapter 226: Chapter 226

: Lucas
“Your Majesty, I’m not sure I understand what you’re expecting from me,” I replied, feeling uneasy. “You intend to keep Prince Raphe in the dark about the investigation?”
“That is exactly what I’m saying,” King Osric replied. His shoulders fell slightly and he sighed. “The truth is — my son has been keeping things from me for a while now. I’m sure he means well. I wasn’t in the best state of mind after losing Leanetta. So, I can’t blame him for wanting to treat me with kid gloves these days. But I have not abandoned my people just yet.”
We started walking toward the castle again. Slowly making our way across the grounds. We followed a stone path through a courtyard lit by ornate lamps that chased away only some of the shadows of the night. A question weighed on me. I hesitated to ask it but even Rhonen urged me to press the subject.
“Are you sure his intentions are good?”
The king faltered beneath an ancient oak whose gnarled branches stretched skyward, turning to me as his brow knitted together.
“Should I not be?” he questioned.
Shadows danced across the stone before us as a cool night wind rustled the leaves. I pursed my lips. Working to choose my next words wisely.
“You’re referring to the relationship between my children,” he interpreted. “I have not forgotten the strife that those two caused back then. I felt those tensions more than anyone. If you’re concerned about the suspicions targeted at Prince Raphe, they have been addressed. Regardless of any differences in ideologies, Raphe loved his sister. He loves his family. After we lost Leanetta, he changed. He became determined to honor her memory, both in his personal life and in his policy.”
I studied his lined face, wondering how much of a father’s pride was left beneath the king. And how much of that pride was affecting his desicions.
“Yet you’re willing to keep him from something as important as investigating a pack Alpha?”
King Osric gave me a side-eyed look. I probably should have regretted the impertinent comment, but I didn’t. If I was going to work with him, I needed to know he was able to accept the truth if his son was involved in something nefarious. Otherwise I was putting myself in an impossible position where I would be the one to lose everything.
“Fair point,” the king replied. “I will admit there were reasons I named my daughter my successor. Despite his changes, several of those reasons still exist.”
“Princess Nomi…”
The king shot me another look. “Yes, I suppose my displeasure with that scandal was well known. My relationship with my daughter-in-law has grown cordial over all these years, but I distrust her influence on Raphe. Many of his questionable actions trace back to her whisperings. I long ago abandoned any hope of breaking their mateship. But yes, those concerns are why I want to keep this between us for now. Is that something you can handle?”
I turn to face him. Again, considering where this proposition could land me if things went sideways. But could I refuse? Would that make things harder for me and Sutton? Would that give this man reason to keep us apart if he didn’t feel like I was worthy?
I didn’t feel like that would be the case, but neither Rhonen nor I could bring ourselves to take the risk. Especially since King Osric had already surmised this was something I was already working on. To keep him out of my investigation now would be insulting at the very least.
“I can,” I said at last, my voice firm despite the wind’s chill. “You have my word.”
King Osric held my gaze for a solid, breathless moment. His smile softened, and in the darkness of the courtyard, he looked more grandfather than monarch. He touched my shoulder—a simple, paternal gesture.
“I’m glad we could come to an arrangement, Alpha,” he stated with a diplomatic smile. “I will see you and Sutton first thing in the morning.”
Then, with a measured step, he turned away, disappearing through the colonnade. The lamp light flickered through the branches, and I was left standing alone, wondering which beast was more dangerous: an ambitious prince, an aging king, or the ghosts of the past.
I turned back toward the guest house. As I walked back, I sensed eyes on me. No doubt belonging to guards patrolling the grounds. The thought of where those guards loyalties lied settled in the back of my mind. Rhonen hunched his shoulders attentively in my mind. The reality of how dangerous the agreement I just made wasn’t lost on either of us.
Locking the guest house door behind me felt inadequate. I stripped off my suit jacket and tugged at my tie as I made my way to the bedroom. I paused in the doorway. Looking at Sutton who was already fast asleep. A gentle smile on her lips as she breathed softly, more at peace than I’d seen her in ages. I hated to think that peace would be threatened by the controversies of the royal court.
How could I protect her from that? From a world I couldn’t deny she was literally born to be a part of. Suddenly, Sutton’s research into her mother felt more important than ever to finding out what kind of fire we were walking into.