His Abandoned Luna Chapter 116

|| Lilac’s POV ||

“We heard you disapproved of the council’s decision to investigate further. Is that true?” the interviewer pressed.

Kael’s jaw tightened, but he kept his tone even. “Yes, I don’t want to drag Coco into this any more than she already has been.”

The camera panned to Coco, who dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.

“We know you’ve had a hard time. Would you like to share anything?” the interviewer asked her.

Coco’s voice trembled as she spoke. “I only wish no one has to suffer what I’ve been through. Not even my enemies.”

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Then Madeline spoke, her voice soft but carrying. “Oh, poor Coco…”

The interviewer turned to her, his interest piqued. “Do you sympathize with her? What do you have to say about this matter as the future Luna Queen?”

Madeline hesitated, her expression thoughtful. “I completely understand why Kael doesn’t want to go for the investigation any further. If all of Coco’s memories were to be displayed bare, that might cause them more problems.”

“More problems? What do you mean by that?” the interviewer asked, leaning forward.

Kael’s eyes narrowed, his voice sharp. “Are you accusing me of hiding things?”

Madeline shook her head, her tone calm but firm. “Of course not. Coco has been tortured. Every memory of hers will open her wounds once again. Besides… we don’t even know what kind of assaults the kidnappers used on her. It would never be wise to showcase, let alone discuss, her… situations in front of the entire Alpha Council, where the media will be present as well.”

The room erupted in murmurs, the implications of her words sinking in. The interviewer’s eyes widened. “Are you implying they did more to her than just torturing?”

Kael shot to his feet, his face red with anger. “That’s slandering! How do you know what she’s been through?”

Madeline stood as well, her expression one of genuine concern. “You’ve misunderstood me, Kael. As a Luna and a she-wolf, I understand how humiliating this could be. I also understand how difficult it is for you to accept the truth about your fated mate. Don’t be worried, Coco. You’re not alone. As a Luna, I will always stand by you.”

Kael’s control snapped.

“How dare you?” he roared, slamming his fist on the table with such force that it split in two. “You bitch!”

He lunged toward Madeline, his claws extended, but Alexander moved faster, pulling her out of harm’s way.

“Enough, Kael!” he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Madeline clung to Alexander, her face pale and her hands trembling. “I… I only wanted to support her. Why would you attack me? I thought we could have been allies… but this…”

She buried her face in Alexander’s chest, her sobs echoing through the room. Alexander held her tightly, his eyes blazing as he turned to the reporter. “I’m sorry, but my Luna doesn’t feel safe here. We have to leave.”

The reporter nodded, his expression one of shock and sympathy. “We completely understand, and we’re very sorry for the situation.”

The other contenders exchanged uneasy glances, their voices rising in outrage. “This is unacceptable. Attacking one’s Luna in broad daylight? You probably should just step down,” one of them said, his tone laced with disgust.

“We’re leaving too,” another pair declared, standing up and walking out.

I watched the interview unfold on television, a small smile playing on my lips. Alaric had done his part, forcing Kael to withdraw the case. And Madeline had pushed them just enough to tarnish Coco’s reputation without outright accusing her of anything. I hadn’t anticipated Kael’s wild reaction, though. His attack on Madeline was an unexpected bonus, one that would keep him busy for the next few days as he tried to salvage his own reputation.

For now, Alaric was safe. And that was all that mattered.

As I turned off the TV, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. The game was far from over, but we had won this round. Though I didn’t know the future any more, I knew I wasn't alone.

The house was quiet, the kind of quiet that made my footsteps echo as I tiptoed into my father’s study. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a reminder of the risk I was taking. The book I had borrowed— no, stolen— from his collection felt heavy in my hands, its ancient pages filled with secrets about the Nightshades. I placed it back on the shelf, my fingers trembling as I tried to align it perfectly with the other books.

“So, you did help him,” a voice said, cutting through the silence like a knife.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. Slowly, I turned to see my father standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I tried to walk past him, but he stepped into the room, blocking my path.

“Hang on,” he said, his eyes narrowing as they met mine. “Was this your idea?”

I hesitated, my mind racing for an excuse, but there was no point in lying. Not to him. “He saved us,” I said finally, my voice steady despite the fear coiling in my stomach. “I had to do something.”

My father studied me for a moment, his gaze piercing. Then, to my surprise, a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

“Good job, pup,” he said, his voice soft but filled with pride.

I blinked, caught off guard by his reaction. Before I could respond, he stepped aside, allowing me to pass. I walked out of the room, my heart still racing, but a small smile played on my lips. Maybe, just maybe, he understood.