Asher
What the hell is Ally doing at Gaita’s place? That Witch has never seen anything but doom and destruction.
What could she possibly tell her that might affect us? Worse, I can’t seem to get a grip on things between us, and now I don’t know if Gaita is about to plant a seed of discord.
Frustrated, I rake my fingers through my hair, staring at the old journal on my desk. The pages blur together, and no matter how many times I read them, everything seems to repeat itself.
“You’ve been ignoring the journal about your father, haven’t you?” Kaidos speaks up, his voice unusually calm. He’s never this calm, and it puts me on edge.
“What difference does it make, Kaidos?” I snap, gripping the book tighter. “He left me when I needed him the most, and you know how much that hurt me.”
“You’re still hurting,” he says, unbothered by my outburst. “That’s understandable. But what if there’s something you’re not expecting in there?”
I don’t answer him. My mind is too consumed with the chaos spinning in my head.
Then suddenly, a scent drifts through the air, and just like that, the tension in my chest eases. The tightness in my jaw loosens, and the storm in my mind settles. I hear a soft knock at the door, and I can sense that someone else is with him.
“Come in,” I say, my voice softer now.
The door swings open, and before I can react, a small body barrels into me at full speed.
“Daddy!” My son’s voice is full of excitement as he flings himself at me.
I barely have time to brace myself before catching him, holding him close as his little arms wrap tightly around my neck.
“Daddy, you look worried. Are you okay?”
My heart skips a beat at my son’s words. He noticed. I quickly put on a bright smile, not wanting him to see that he was right.
“Daddy’s fine, son. Just got some work that’s a little tough.”
His little face lights up. “Really, Daddy? Can I help you?”
I chuckle, ruffling his soft hair. “Oh, my clever boy, nothing to worry about. Your brainy head over dad has already taken care of it.”
I get so caught up in talking to Declan that I almost forget the person who brought him here.
“Amelia, thanks for taking care of Deck.”
“It’s not a bother, Alpha,” she replies with a polite nod. “He was asking for Ally, and I haven’t seen her either. He thought she might be with you, so I brought him here. Sorry for interrupting your work.”
“No, no, it’s not a bother at all, Amelia. Thanks for bringing him. Ally just stepped out into town to see someone. Liam’s with her.”
The moment I say that Amelia tenses slightly. My instincts immediately kick in.
“Something wrong?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.
“N-no, nothing, Alpha. It’s just that…” She hesitates, then quickly shakes her head. “Never mind, don’t worry about it. I’ll get going now. Is it alright to leave Declan here? Selena and Kayla seem to be out of sight.”
“It’s not a problem,” I assure her, placing Declan onto a seat.
Amelia nods, then leaves.
I stare at my son, a little unsure. I’ve never had to take care of a child before, and now I’m left alone with him. What should I say? What should I do?
I clear my throat. “Now, son, you sit here while we both work.” I point to a book. “You read this while I read this,” I add, motioning to the old journal on my desk.
Declan furrows his brows, holding up the book. “But, Dad, I can’t read.”
Shit. I nearly let the curse slip but caught myself just in time. He’s only three.
“Okay, wait here,” I say, hurrying to my library.
I remember picking up some children’s books after I returned from Tarship-after discovering I had a son. Most of them are filled with illustrations. I scan the shelves until my eyes land on my favorite one.
Grabbing it, I rush back to Declan. “Here you go,” I say, handing it to him.
“Thanks, Dad!” His little fingers flip through the pages, his eyes widening as the colorful pictures catch his attention.
I let out a breath of relief. At least he likes it.
Now, I can finally get back to work.
On the cover of the journal, bold letters spell out Alpha Nox Stephen Knight and Luna Lana Christine Knight.
I sigh heavily, running my fingers over the worn leather. “Loving father and mother to Asher and Kayla Knight, and the most dedicated Alpha during their tenure.”
I almost snort at the eulogy. The words paint them as noble leaders, but reality never seems to match the stories. Still, I hold back, mostly because Declan is here, and I don’t want to invite questions I’m not ready to answer.
I glance up to check on him. He’s completely engrossed in his book, his little fingers tracing over the illustrations.
With a deep breath, I refocus on the journal, flipping past the usual formalities until I find something that catches my interest.
“Reason for quitting the pack.”
I already know what it’ll say-or at least, I think I do. He marked my mother, then couldn’t hold himself together, so he left. Typical.
But as I keep reading, my hands suddenly feel clammy.
“Alpha Nox was diagnosed with a rare illness.”
My breath hitches. He was sick? My father had been battling something all along, and I never knew. I had blamed him for leaving me.
“He was diagnosed with a rare, mysterious illness caused by corrupted lunar energy, which slowly weakened his Alpha strength, making him vulnerable to enemy attacks.”
Lunar poisoning. I’ve heard of it before, but no one really understands its origins.
I swallow hard and keep reading.
“Despite his condition, he remained deeply connected to his role as pack leader. However, he suffered from Moonlight Fever, a supernatural illness that made him highly sensitive to moonlight. It forced him to avoid lunar gatherings, and due to the high moonlight exposure in Redwood Pack, he had no choice but to leave for Cuba with his Luna.”
The words blur for a moment as I slump back in my seat.
All these years, I thought he had abandoned us. I cursed his name, carried the resentment, convinced he had been selfish.
But he had been sick. He had been fighting.
And I had never known.
That only means one thing-my father didn’t leave because he marked my mother. He left because he was suffering.
The realization hits me hard, like a punch to the gut. All these years, I’ve believed he abandoned us, that he chose to walk away. But the truth is so much worse. He had no choice.
I shake off the thoughts. I don’t have time to dwell on the past.
If corrupted lunar energy could weaken an Alpha to the point of exile, then I can’t afford to make the same mistake. I need to act fast. I need to mark Ally before the Blue Moon.
Liam is with her. I need to convince him to bring her home now.
I reach out through the pack link. “Liam.”
Silence.
A slow, uneasy feeling creeps into my chest. I will try again.
“Liam, answer me.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
His voice finally comes through, but something is off.
I push to my feet, pacing back and forth. The tension coils in my muscles, a restless energy I can’t contain. Then I remember-Declan.
I stop in my tracks and turn toward him. He’s curled up in the chair, his tiny chest rising and falling with steady breaths. He’s asleep.
I adjust him gently, making sure he’s comfortable before linking Liam again.
“Bring Ally home. Now.”
There’s a pause, and then Liam speaks again.
And what he says rips my heart in two.
A low growl rumbles in my chest as I shake my head in disbelief.
“No. This can’t be happening.”