Page 52 of The Alpha's Lunar Crown

She let out a light chuckle. "I'm sure you haven't. He's not known to stay in one place for a long time."Everything made sense. How he's conveniently present in areas I told him nothing about and how he is always there before I even need him.

What I can't wrap my head around is why he stuck around. Why was he always trying to save me instead of killing me? Was he trying to use me to get to Lucien? Was he hoping to marry me and use Ronan as a future alpha to overthrow Lucien?

Question after question fills my head, and I massage my temple to ease the growing tension.

I toy with the idea of telling the queen, but I decide against it. Lucien has to be aware of every decision I make.

The queen's brows furrow in concern. "Is everything okay?"

Before I can respond, my phone buzzes. My nanny's name flashes across the screen.

Frowning, I answer. "Hello?"

Her panicked voice nearly stops my heart. "Aurora—Ronan's gone."

The room spins, almost knocking me out. "What?"

"I only left him for a moment—he was playing in the backyard, and then he was gone. I searched everywhere—"

Ice fills my veins. "Call the authorities. Now."

I end the call, my hands trembling. Alice is already on her feet, her expression deadly calm. "What happened?"

My voice comes out hoarse and trembling. "My son is missing."

Alice's eyes darken, her authority slipping into place instantly. "Then, we have no time to waste."

I didn't wait for her to give orders. I am already moving. My mind screams one name over and over again.

Damon.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Lucien

The maps of Blackwood and Silver Pack's territory were spread across the large oak table in my office, marked with red ink where we know their forces are stationed. Liam stands beside me, his arms crossed, his face etched with tension. The room is dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the desk lamp and the faint glow of the moon outside the window.

"This war is escalating faster than we anticipated," Liam mutters, rubbing his temple. "We need a solid plan if we're going to put an end to it once and for all."

I nod, scanning the information we have gathered over the past few weeks. Silver Pack has been making strategic moves, striking our weaker patrols, cutting off business routes, and stirring unrest among the smaller allied packs. But something wasn't adding up. Their alpha, Alpha Kaden, had always been ruthless but never reckless. And yet, his recent actions feel desperate, as if he is running out of time.

"We're missing something," I say, gripping the edge of the table. "Kaden isn't the kind to act without a reason. He's pushing too hard, too fast."

Liam sighs. "Maybe he knows something we don't. Maybe he has an ace up his sleeve."

I shake my head. "Or maybe he's being pushed from within."

The thought had been lingering in my mind for some time now. The attacks, the sudden aggression—it didn't feel like Kaden's style."Is the detailed investigation I ordered on every core pack member done?"

"I'm not sure. Liam says, fishing out his phone. "The investigator said he'll get back to me today, but he hasn't."

After a few taps on the screen, his face slightly scrunches before his brows raise with suspicion. "Do you know this guy?"

He hands me the phone, and on the screen is Damon's unpleasant face staring back at me. The sight of him causes bile to rise to my mouth. Like I said, unpleasant. "What about him?" I reply, handing the phone back to him.

"I am not sure, but there are rumors surrounding him being Kaden's long-lost son." My brows jump to my forehead, and my alarms go off. I snatch the phone from Liam, giving the face on the screen a second look to make sure it was Damon.While the bastard always left a sour taste in my mouth, and I have on more than one occasion wanted to tear off his head, I never pegged him as anyone important. "Are you sure about this?"

Liam gives me a questioning look. "The information is right there. It says he has a human mother and was raised in secrecy while Kaden provided the necessary help and support to them with the clear instruction that he wanted nothing personal to do with them.His reunion with his father was solely born out of necessity. Kaden has no son and reached out to him when he figured age was not on his side anymore. He gave Damon the condition that he could assume his place as his son if he could prove his worth by securing Blackwood."

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