Lycan Prince’s Secret Baby (Moonlit Forbidden Love #1)

Chapter 27

Kyle

I stroked the soft strands of Leah’s hair away from her bare shoulder, running my fingers down her arm as she nestled into the crook of my neck. The scent of wildflowers and pine swirled in the air, rich and invigorating, mingling with the musk of our shared intimacy. I savored the lingering sweetness of her on my tongue.

The blissful post-sex smile on Leah’s face was another prize she offered me.

“What are you thinking?” I asked, stroking her jawline as she turned to me.

“That I want to do that again and again, making up for all the time we haven’t been doing that since we met,” Leah said, a saucy smile on her face.

“I’m down with such a rigorous schedule,” I said, my cock already growing semi-hard beneath her thigh draped over me.

The mix of desire and mischief playing in Leah’s gaze was potent. But then, a soft knock sounded on Leah’s bedroom door, pulling us from our blissful haze. Leah quickly pulled herself out of bed, awarding me with a flash of her beautiful bare body before wrapping the lavender-sprigged robe around her. I hastily pulled on my pair of boxers. She glanced at me, checking I was decent, a smile on her face as she feasted on the sight of me before I covered up. It was a look that had me very much wishing whoever was on the other side of the door was gone already. I pulled the cover up to my waist, needing a few moments for the want my mate had immediately conjured to dissipate.

When Leah opened the door, Roman stood framed in the doorway. I felt none of my usual animosity as his eyes ran over Leah. I delighted in reminding myself that he was her friend and like a brother to her. His brows knitted together. His bright blue eyes were serious as he looked at her. He looked past her, his eyes landing on me. The Alpha’s lips twitched. “Finally.”

A grin spread over my face, suddenly feeling fond of the solemn Alpha. Now that I stopped to think about it, he had been warmer to me since Lina’s ritual. However, no amount of warmth from him would have been enough to make me feel this friendliness toward him if he had been sleeping with my mate.

My wolf growled possessively at the thought. But, other than my beast’s primal need for dominance, I felt only good humor toward the man standing before me. Roman had protected my mate and my daughter when I’d failed to be there for them. I knew that was a debt I could never repay the Blood Moon Alpha for.

Quickly, I swung out of bed and strode toward him and Leah, determined to try to turn over a fresh leaf with Leah’s friend. “Roman, please accept my gratitude for doing all you’ve done for my ilak and daughter. I know now that between you and Leah, there’s a bond as close as that of siblinghood, and you’d have protected her because of that bond. But I am eternally indebted to you for the care you’ve shown my family anyway. If you ever need anything, no matter how great, just say the word.”

A strange look flickered across Roman’s face as if he were lost in thought. Leah nudged him, and he seemed to snap back to the present, a faint blush creeping into his bronzed cheeks.

“I’m just glad you two worked things out,” Roman said, meeting my eye. “But as it stands, I think I may be calling on your assistance sooner than you thought. Mark sent me word from your pack tonight.”

My heart ricocheted through my chest. Roman brought news about the Moonlight Pack.

Since swearing the blood oath to the Blood Moon Pack, Roman had told me of Mark’s position as the spy within the Moonlight Pack. I knew he’d been the one responsible for helping Roman and the other Blood Moons remain safe and evade my father for so long. Far from being surprised, I’d realized that Mark was perfectly positioned within the pack to be able to get intel. He’d had access to the comings and goings of all the hierarchy of the pack—both when he’d worked for my father and now as my assistant.

For a while on learning the truth about Mark’s knowledge, I’d wished that given how much time we’d spent with each other and how much I’d longed to improve the Blood Moon Pack’s position back home, he’d taken me directly into his confidence. But given how much my father had managed to manipulate me, I couldn’t reproach him for not taking me into his confidence. I’d long since come to be grateful for the part Mark had played in helping keep Leah, my daughter, and her people safe.

“What did he say?” I asked, urgency threading through my voice.

“Your father and Elder Sam have started sabotaging your reform efforts. The traditionalists in the pack have repealed the rights you fought to establish for the female wolves, which has sparked violent conflict between those traditionalists and those loyal to you. Many of the females in your pack have been imprisoned.” Roman’s gaze shifted to Leah. “Mark says that there are Blood Moons who’ve been too outspoken about the council’s revocation of their rights, too, and many of them have been imprisoned as a result.”

My chest hollowed as I thought of all those innocent people imprisoned; I imagined Leah and Romans’ friends languishing in the cells Leah had endured, along with my Tlaak’w , Maria, and any other outspoken females in the Moonlight Pack. They were females like my mother, who refused to be subjugated and turn a blind eye as cruelty was inflicted on innocent shifters.

“Reginald’s threatening to execute them if they don’t submit,” Roman went on.

My heart battered against my chest. I gritted my jaw, fighting back the rage against my father that coiled within me.

“We need to act now,” Roman finished.

The urgency of his words sent adrenaline surging through my veins. The time to fight, confront my father, and free the Blood Moons from the tyranny they’d been subjected to was finally here.

“I’ll take Lina to Lyvia,” Leah announced without hesitation.

“I’ll gather the others and see you in the caverns in ten minutes,” Roman said before departing swiftly.

Leah swept past me. I pressed a feather-soft kiss to Lina’s temple, inhaling the comforting scent of baby powder as I promised myself that Leah and I would return for her soon. “You’ll be back in your pack lands soon, my little wolf.”

Leah’s gaze met mine, resolute determination igniting within her stormy eyes. “She’ll grow up where we did, Kyle. Your father’s rule has taken too much from all of us. It’s time for the Moonlight Pack to have a better Alpha—one much more like his mother than his father.”

The faith shimmering in her eyes made my chest swell with hope. In that moment, I knew I could challenge my father and right the wrongs he’d inflicted upon us, all for the sake of our daughter and my beloved mate, as well as our packmates.

Drawing a deep breath, I inhaled the comforting scents of Leah and Lina, encircling myself with what I had discovered here—a family bound by love and unity. “I love you, Ilak ,” I murmured, my voice laden with emotion. “I love you, little Lina.”

As I released Leah, she prepared to leave for the witch. A thought struck me, and I added, “Please, say thank you to Lyvia for me, too.”

“I will,” Leah replied, her soft smile lingering. She presumed I meant only for looking after Lina. But the gratitude I felt for the witch ran much deeper. Her sage advice had given me the push I needed to reconcile with Leah. I reminded myself that there would be plenty of time to honor the steadfast loyalty and love of our friends once this monumental undertaking lay behind us. As Leah and our daughter left, my heart ached to see Lina gone, but if there was anyone I knew she was safe with, it was Lyvia, her Kilaaka —her godmother.

Soon, Leah, Roman, and I, accompanied by the Blood Moon warriors, were ready. Our party of ten included myself, Leah, Roman, and the loyal warriors who had escaped with Roman: Kade, Todd, Shona, Sarah, Derick, Josh, and Hannah. Bernadette had remained behind to look after Sarah’s and her child. Our group was small but full of dedicated warriors, most of whose skills I had witnessed first-hand in the cavern ring. During my journey here, I had paused for rest in burrows beneath the earth, but now there was no time for rest or stopping. We kept to the dense woods and the brooding valleys, running tirelessly, both day and night.

As the second night stretched on, we found ourselves on the borders separating the Blood Moon and Moonlight lands. The sight of distant hills in the silvery light sent a jolting wave of disbelief through me. We were finally nearing home. A surreal mix of relief and anxiety washed over me, heightened by the presence of Leah at my side. How many months had I spent mourning her absence here over the last year, longing for her to be at my side as she was now?

Our journey had left us weary, but there was no time for rest. Leah's red wolf brushed against me in solidarity, and I could sense her alertness prickling through her, as well as the heat of tiredness radiating from her flanks. Together, we crested the hill, eyes scanning the familiar landscape. In milder months, these rolling slopes flourished with vibrant colors, brimming with flowers and herbs. Now, however, they lay cold and bare, stripped by winter’s grip.

We slunk down the hillside, hearts pounding in rhythm with each stealthy movement toward the Blood Moon quarters. The scent of decaying leaves hung heavy in the air, and shadows flickered in the pale glow of a half-moon. Just as we came to the foot of the hill, the peaceful silence of the forest was shattered as gray wolves erupted from the shadows and the surrounding trees. They swirled around us, creating a formidable ring that glinted in the moonlight like polished steel. The chilling sound of low growls rippled through the air, a warning that sent a shiver coursing down my spine.

My heart thudded erratically, adrenaline surging through my veins like fire. Each breath I took felt charged, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. They’d been lying in wait, I realized, plotting our ambush. The thick scent of pine and something more primal—an undercurrent of fear—saturated the air around us, heightening everything.

The wolves’ keen eyes glowed, intent and unyielding. Time seemed to stretch, every heartbeat morphing into an eternity as the stillness settled around us, thick and suffocating. Igaluk’s half-moon gazed down as sole witness to the confrontation rapidly approaching.

Reginald’s massive wolf emerged from the shadows ahead of me. His distinctive size and the silver streaks in his gray coat were instantly distinguishable among the other Moonlight beasts. He was regal yet monstrous. His gray fur began to melt into the darkness, and his formidable human figure materialized. The air thickened with aggression, a palpable tension ringing between us.

With a surge of determination, I shed my gray wolf, allowing my human self to emerge, too. I felt the solidarity of the red wolves around me. Each transformed and stood bare and proud beneath the piercing gaze of the moon, our skins exposed and vulnerable yet bolstered by the strength of our unity. Leah stood beside me. Her fair skin was almost luminescent in the moonlight. I forced myself to resist the urge to gaze at her—my beautiful mate. My focus had to remain on the hostile Moonlight warriors encircling us.

No one looked as forbidding as my father, who stood perhaps thirty feet from me, cloaked in menace. Even in the dim light, my heightened senses discerned each white scar on his body, glimmering like badges of ruthless honor. Each one spoke of battles fought, dominion secured, and hinted at the lengths he’d go to maintain his Alpha status.

Around us, the other Moonlight warriors shifted from their beasts’ forms to manly ones. I noticed the absence of females around us. So, the females of my pack had been robbed of their right to fight. I worried about what had happened to the more forthright females like Maria. My heart clenched as I hoped that we weren’t too late and that they were still in the cells, silenced, but not forever.

The familiar faces of the elders surrounded me in the circle. Sam, with silver-streaked hair, his weathered face, lined with disdain as it focused on me. There were only two females in the circle, Emily, Sam’s daughter, her sharp features and spiteful eyes focused on Leah beside me, as well as Emily’s friend.

I counted ten Moonlight warriors surrounding us. We were evenly matched. Luck surged through me as I realized that my father had underestimated us. Yet, I hadn’t anticipated being surrounded by the Moonlight warriors so soon. Disbelief sliced through me at how quickly this confrontation had come. But I swallowed it down, forcing my stance to remain confident. I knew I had to maintain my composure and steady resolve. I had to be the Alpha the Blood Moon warriors and those loyal to me needed me to be.

“You ordered me to find the Blood Moon fugitives, and so I have,” I declared to my father, my voice slicing through the tension. “But, tonight, I stand here proudly as one of them. The blood oath I have sworn to them and everything within me compels me to stand against you, Reginald.”

My father let out a mocking laugh, and my heart clenched. “You think you stand here of your own free will? All I had to do was revoke some of those precious reforms you value so much, and you came running like a dog.”

So, he’d expected me to come back when I’d heard about the reforms for the Blood Moons and the Moonlight females’ rights being revoked. That’s why they’d been lying in wait for us.

Yet, despite not having the element of surprise, I took consolation in the fact that he’d brought so few Moonlights with him. Clearly, Reginald feared what I might say and the effect it would have on the more open-minded within our pack.

A protective instinct bristled across my skin, igniting a fierce desire to shield Leah from the malicious gazes that raked her. I felt the fury boiling beneath the surface, one I’d stifled ever since discovering that Reginald was behind my mother’s cold-blooded murder. The intensity coiled within me, reminding me of the overwhelming emotion that had surged when I’d confessed my love to Leah. But this force was one of bitterness, oppressive and ready to be unleashed.

My bitterness churned like ink, oozing out into my voice. I’d heard tell of the stagnant wastelands of the Black Moon Pack, from where the killer that my father had hired came from. It felt as if those boglands and marshes lay in my every word as my hate for the man poured forth.

“Not only have you wronged the Blood Moons by seizing their lands and enslaving them, but I know that you murdered my mother, Tamara. Something that Roman, the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack, standing here, can attest to. He witnessed her killing firsthand, executed by a Black Moon wolf you hired.”

Gasps rippled through the gathered crowd of Moonlights. But only a few faces were slack with shock, while others registered a chilling sense of complicity, their eyes narrowing as the weight of my words fell over the assembly.

A couple of elders, John and Oliver, retreated a step, their expressions shifting from defiance to dismay. In that fleeting moment, I sensed a crack in the resolve of my father’s followers—a hint that perhaps not all of them were prepared to follow him down the dark path he’d chosen. My heart raced with the prospect that Reginald’s small force might dwindle further. But it was the five traditionalist elders who remained unmoved—including Sam—who fueled my next words. “You feared Tamara’s influence over the pack,” I declared, my voice ringing through the night, “and you hated that she went behind your back, seeking peace with the Blood Moon Pack.”

My gaze swung to my father. “So, like a coward, you hired a killer to dispose of her. Then you framed the Blood Moons for her murder, justifying your cold-blooded killings of the Blood Moon Pack—their Alpha and Beta,” I said, feeling the anger radiating from both Roman and Leah beside me, their losses burning like fire in my chest.

“You seized control of lands that were never yours and enslaved innocent shifters. I possess evidence—letters exchanged between the Elder Sam and you, Reginald—documenting these vicious crimes, along with my mother’s journal, which exposes the depth of your greed.”

I’d thought about alluding to the fact that Mark could testify to Reginald’s crimes, anticipating that he would be imprisoned with those Moonlights like Maria, who were faithful to me. But, like the seasoned spy he was, I’d already spotted him within the circle of Moonlights. A thrill shot through me as I thought of how skilled he’d been at keeping his cover. It was as if he had the traits of the Shadow Moon Pack, blessed by the moon goddess herself in his subterfuge.

Reginald’s fury ignited, my words acting as a match to his explosive rage. “You think you can undermine my authority?” he spat, his body vibrating with tension.

“You’ve forced silence upon us long enough,” I shot back, my spirit bristling and my voice hoarse. “The time to pay for your crimes is here.”

The tension escalated in the night, building momentum like a storm brewing on the horizon. I steadied myself, the thundering of my heart heralding in the battle.

“I’ve never regretted killing your mother,” Reginald sneered. “Perhaps the real tragedy is that you weren’t with her during those peace negotiations she was so hell-bent on pursuing. Then, the weakness that she fostered in your veins might have been spilled, too.”

Rage sparked anew as I thought back to the night I’d overheard his contempt for me and my mother. I wanted him to know how long I’d lain in wait for him, how long this retribution had been coming for him, and he hadn’t seen it.

“You once said that I had too much of Tamara’s blood in me. Know that you were right, and it’s her spirit that’s now demanding yours to be spilled.” My declaration hung in the air thick with tension. “I challenge you to fight me. When I spill your blood tonight, know it is my mother’s spirit who will drink it down.”

Adrenaline charged through my veins, anticipation buzzing through my body. I locked eyes with my father, feeling the charge crackling in the night as we squared up with one another—two forces destined to collide.

“So be it,” Reginald hissed, the bloodthirsty glint in his eyes matching my own. “I fed the earth her blood once; tonight, it will drink yours.”

In the blink of an eye, my father’s gray wolf exploded from his human form, muscles rippling and fur glinting in the moonlight. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, brimming with the need for vengeance and blood. With a primal howl echoing in my soul, I merged with my beast and charged toward the man who had shattered my family, ready to claim the justice I had been denied too long.