The Luna they betrayed became Untouchable

Chapter 31: Chapter 31

The ride to Alpha Lucien’s pack felt longer than it should have. Kael had made this journey a dozen times before—for council meetings, for negotiations, for the endless political dance required of any Alpha hoping to earn a seat among the First Houses. He knew these roads. He knew the gate guards by name.

Which was precisely why the guards at the outer wall waved him through without hesitation, like they’d always done.

Kael stormed into the pack, hands clenched into tight fists. The entire ride to the pack had been a blur; his mind had been stuck on the unfortunate news he’d received.

He wanted nothing more than to crush Damon right in his hands and watch Evelyn squirm till she fell to her knees, begging to be spared.

Kael reached the Alpha’s wing of the pack and proceeded toward Lucien’s office, only to hear someone call out his name, making him pause.

His brows furrowed as he turned back, only to find a woman behind him, her hair pulled into a tight bun, wearing a spotless uniform of the pack. She bowed curtly.

"Alpha Kael."

Kael raised a brow. "What’s this?" he asked, but the maid pretended not to hear.

"Might I ask the purpose of your visit, Alpha?"

Kael stared at her, disbelief warring with irritation. "The purpose of my visit is to see the Supreme Alpha. Now step aside."

The maid didn’t move. "I’m afraid that’s not possible, Alpha. Alpha Lucien sees pack leaders by appointment now. Unless yours was scheduled in advance, I’m not permitted to let you through."

Kael’s jaw tightened. "I’ve never needed an appointment before."

"Yes, Alpha. When Silver Creek was under consideration for the First Houses." She folded her hands in front of her, unbothered by the darkening look on his face. "Circumstances change."

The words landed like a slap, and Kael understood in that instant that she knew exactly what she was saying. That she’d likely been told to say it, in exactly this way, should he ever show up unannounced again.

"I need five minutes," he said, his voice tightening. "This concerns a matter of significant importance. One tied directly to the Supreme Alpha’s own decree."

"I’m certain it does, Alpha Kael. Every visitor believes their matter is significant." She gestured toward a bench along the far wall. "If you’d like to wait in the antechamber, I can see if the Supreme Alpha has a free moment later this evening."

"Later this evening?" Kael’s face went red. "You expect me to wait—"

"Or you can schedule an appointment for tomorrow, Alpha. The choice is yours."

Kael’s jaw tightened, his fists clenched hard. He wanted to argue. He wanted to demand. He wanted to push past her and storm straight to Lucien’s study.

But he couldn’t. Because if he did, he would be thrown out. And then he would have nothing.

"The antechamber," he said through gritted teeth. "I’ll wait."

---

Kael had been waiting for an hour when the doors to Lucien’s study finally opened.

The Supreme Alpha stepped out, and beside him walked Alpha Garrick of Moonbeam. Garrick’s expression was relaxed, almost smug, as if he’d just concluded a particularly satisfying conversation.

"Thank you for your wise words, Supreme Alpha. I will certainly put them to good use."

He caught sight of Kael before Lucien did, and something like delight crossed his face.

"Well," Garrick said, stopping several paces away. "If it isn’t Alpha Kael of Silver Creek. Waiting on a bench like the rest of us common folk."

"Garrick." Kael’s voice came out flatter than he intended.

Kael rose from his seat, his face still tight with barely controlled anger. He stepped forward and bowed curtly to the Supreme Alpha. "Alpha."

"How long have you been waiting out here?" Lucien asked, and just then, the maid who’d stopped Kael came forth.

"He’s been here for an hour, Alpha. He demanded to see you, but as per tradition, Alphas whose packs aren’t part of the First Houses nor have been considered shall book an appointment before seeing you."

Garrick chuckled. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen, Alpha Kael." He tsked. "We have all heard the news. It’s unbeatable you have come to the Alpha for help, haven’t you? Your pack must be sinking fast after what your Luna—" He cleared his throat. "Ex-Luna has now done to your pack."

"Taking half of the pack’s wealth..." He shook his head.

Kael’s jaw hardened. "I suggest you keep your words to yourself, Alpha Garrick. We have all witnessed your own dirty laundry."

Garrick merely scoffed. "I understand it’s the pain speaking, but really, Alpha Kael. How could you let go of the woman responsible for the growth of your pack?"

The more he spoke, the more Kael’s face reddened with anger.

"You know, I saw her at the auction. Pretty little feisty thing," Garrick continued, ignoring the storm gathering on Kael’s face. "I offered her a place at Moonbeam, you know. Told her my gates were always open." He smiled sinisterly. "She turned me down flat, but I confess, I admired the nerve of it. A woman who speaks to Alphas the way she spoke to you and me both, and somehow still walks away with thirty-eight percent of a trading empire in her pocket." He shook his head, almost wistful. "You really should have kept better track of your own wife, Kael."

"That’s enough, Garrick." Lucien’s voice was quiet, but it cut through the hall cleanly enough that even Garrick’s smile faltered.

"Of course, my Lord." Garrick inclined his head, though the amusement never fully left his eyes. He gave Kael one last look, something almost pitying in it now. "Another time, then, Alpha Kael."

He left without waiting for a response. Lucien turned to Kael. "You weren’t on my schedule."

"My Lord." Kael bowed his head, forcing the words out evenly despite everything still burning under his skin. "Forgive the intrusion. I wouldn’t have come without cause."

"You have five minutes," Lucien said, already turning back toward his study. "Walk with me."

Kael followed him inside, the doors closing behind them.

"Evelyn Valemont has entered a partnership with Alpha Damon of Bloodmoon." Kael didn’t wait to be invited to speak. "To build her healing house. He announced it to his own pack. Openly." The words tasted bitter even as he said them. "He’s offering her trade routes, resources, his influence—everything you forbade anyone in the realm from giving her."

Lucien said nothing, moving to stand behind his desk, his expression giving away nothing at all.

"He’s defying your decree, my Lord. In full view of half the realm." Kael pressed the parchment forward, the one Aldric had brought him that morning. "If word spreads that Damon suffered no consequence for it, others may follow his example. I only thought you should know."

For a long moment, Lucien simply studied the parchment without touching it, and Kael couldn’t quite read what was behind that gaze of his.

"You’ve told me," Lucien said finally. "Now go home, Kael. Build your pack back up from whatever’s left of it. Leave the rest to me."

Kael blinked, taken aback. He’d expected more—something else—but this... He wanted to speak more, to instigate further, but he thought better of it. He couldn’t afford to anger the Supreme Alpha.

And so he took a step back and bowed. "Excuse me, Alpha."

---

Lucien remained standing behind his desk long after the doors had shut, the parchment still lying where Kael had left it. It was news of Damon and Evelyn’s supposed partnership.

His jaw was tight enough to ache. This wasn’t his fight—he knew it—but now it was personal. It wasn’t only about Evelyn but also Damon.

"My Lord?" His Beta stepped in from the adjoining room, having clearly been waiting for the study to empty. "Should I have the appointment ledger updated? In case Alpha Kael returns."

"Send for the trade ledgers." Lucien’s voice was low, and his Beta went still. "Every merchant, every guild, every pack currently doing business with Bloodmoon."

The Beta hesitated. "My Lord, Bloodmoon isn’t some minor pack. Alpha Damon commands—"

"I’m aware of what Alpha Damon commands."

"Cutting off the pack’s trade access isn’t a decree, my Lord. It’s a war," the Beta argued.

Lucien’s eyes finally lifted from the parchment, and whatever the Beta saw there made him fall silent.

"Then it’s a war," Lucien said. "Relay the order. Every trading partner doing business with Bloodmoon is to be informed—continue, and they lose access to every route under my influence. I want it done by morning."

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