Luna. Chapter 129

(Kael's POV)

The Alpha King's palace was exactly as pretentious as I remembered—all marble columns and gold fixtures designed to remind visitors of their place in the supernatural hierarchy. I'd been cooling my heels in this waiting room for over an hour, and my patience was running dangerously thin.

Being summoned to the capital was never good news. Being summoned without explanation was worse. Being summoned while Lyra and Asher were missing was absolutely intolerable.

I'd gotten the call from Magnus three hours ago. Lyra was gone, taken by unknown assailants who had staged an attack on one of their safe houses. Magnus was assembling search teams, calling in favors, mobilizing every resource at his disposal.

And here I was, stuck in bureaucratic purgatory while my family was in danger.

My wolf was pacing restlessly, feeding off my anger and frustration. We should be out there looking for them.

I know. But if I ignore a royal summons, it'll make things worse for everyone.

How could things possibly be worse?

Fair point. My mate and son were missing, possibly in the hands of people who wanted to hurt them. I was struggling to think of a scenario where diplomatic obligations mattered more than finding them.

The massive doors at the far end of the waiting room finally opened, and a figure strode through them with the kind of authority that made lesser wolves instinctively lower their heads.

General Cassius. The Alpha King's right hand, chief enforcer, and personal pain in the ass for anyone who questioned royal authority. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with graying hair and cold blue eyes that had seen too much violence over too many decades.

"Alpha Blackwood." His voice carried the tone of someone accustomed to immediate obedience. "His Majesty will see you now."

"About time," I muttered, standing from the uncomfortable chair where I'd been waiting.

Cassius's expression darkened. "I'd suggest adjusting your attitude before entering the throne room. His Majesty is not in a mood for insubordination."

"And I'm not in a mood for royal games while my family is missing."

"Your family situation is exactly why you're here."

That stopped me cold. "What do you mean?"

"All will be explained. Follow me."

The throne room was even more ostentatious than I remembered—a vast space with vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows depicting supernatural history, and enough gold leaf to fund a small country. At the far end, on a throne that looked like it had been carved from a single massive gemstone, sat the Alpha King himself.

King Aldric was ancient by werewolf standards, somewhere north of three hundred years old, with silver hair and eyes that held the weight of centuries. He ruled the supernatural community through a combination of political cunning, supernatural power, and the kind of ruthless pragmatism that kept various factions from tearing each other apart.

I'd met him a handful of times over the years, usually at ceremonial functions where my presence was required but not particularly welcome. We'd never had what anyone would call a warm relationship.

"Alpha Blackwood," the King said, his voice echoing in the vast space. "Thank you for coming."

"Did I have a choice?"

General Cassius stepped forward, his hand moving instinctively toward the weapon at his hip. "You will show proper respect when addressing His Majesty."

"It's fine, Cassius." The King waved his general back. "Alpha Blackwood has always been... direct in his communications."

"Your Majesty," I said, making a minimal bow that technically qualified as respectful without actually conveying much respect. "I assume this has something to do with my family's disappearance?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes."

"Then perhaps we could skip the pleasantries and get to the point? Every minute we waste here is another minute they're in danger."

The King leaned forward slightly, studying me with those ancient eyes.

"Tell me, Alpha Blackwood, what do you know about your son's recent... manifestations?"

Ice ran down my spine. "What manifestations?"

"The creation magic. The reality manipulation. The uncontrolled emotional outbursts that flash-freeze entire buildings."

I kept my expression carefully neutral, but inside, my wolf was snarling. How the hell did the Alpha King know about abilities that Asher had only just started displaying?

"My son is three years old. He's still learning to control normal werewolf abilities, let alone anything more exotic."

"Don't lie to me, Kael." The informality of using my first name was somehow more threatening than any formal declaration. "I have reports from multiple sources about the child's supernatural capabilities."

"What sources?"

General Cassius answered instead of the King. "Sources that understand the threat your son represents to supernatural stability."

"Threat?" The word came out harder than I intended. "He's a toddler."

"He's a weapon," Cassius snapped. "A celestial wolf-alpha hybrid with power levels that exceed anything in recorded history. He's already causing uncontrolled magical phenomena, and he hasn't even reached school age."

"So what? You want to eliminate him because he's powerful?"

"We want to neutralize the threat he represents before it becomes uncontainable."

The King held up his hand, silencing his general. "What General Cassius means is that we need to ensure your son receives proper guidance and training."

"From who? You?"

"From people qualified to handle supernatural abilities of his magnitude."

I was starting to understand where this conversation was headed, and I didn't like it one bit.

"You want to take my son."

"We want to provide him with the education and support he needs to use his abilities responsibly."

"Under royal supervision."

"Under proper supervision, yes."

My wolf was fully alert now, every instinct screaming danger. The political implications were staggering. If the Alpha King decided that Asher was a threat to be contained, there were very few forces in the supernatural world that could oppose him.

"And if I refuse?"

General Cassius smiled, and it was the kind of expression that promised violence.

"Then we implement alternative solutions."

The threat was clear enough. Cooperate or face the consequences.

But they'd made one crucial mistake. They assumed I was the kind of Alpha who would roll over and submit when faced with superior political power.

They were about to learn otherwise.