Luna. Chapter 134

(Kael's POV)

I was reviewing the legal documents Adrian had given me when my phone rang. Sally's name appeared on the screen, and my stomach immediately clenched. Sally never called unless something was wrong.

"Sally? What's happening?"

"Kael, thank god. Is Lyra with you?"

"No, she's still in Mountain Cross territory. Why?"

"Because she's in the hospital. Emergency surgery. They said she was attacked."

The world tilted sideways. "What do you mean attacked?"

"I don't know the details. Magnus called me looking for you. She's at Valley Regional Medical Center."

I was already reaching for my car keys. "What's her condition?"

"Stable, but she was hurt badly. Kael, there's something else. Magnus thinks this wasn't random."

"What does he mean?"

"He thinks someone specifically targeted her. Because of what happened at the palace."

My blood turned to ice. The King had said the situation would be resolved one way or another. I'd thought he meant legal pressure, political maneuvering.

I should have known he'd resort to violence.

"I'm on my way to the hospital," I said, already running for my truck.

"Kael, be careful. If they're willing to attack her, they might—"

The line went dead. Not a dropped call. Someone had cut the connection.

My phone immediately rang again. Unknown number.

"Alpha Blackwood," General Cassius's voice was coldly polite. "I trust you've heard about the unfortunate incident involving your ex-wife."

"If you hurt her—"

"We didn't hurt anyone. But we also didn't prevent certain... enthusiastic individuals from expressing their displeasure with celestial wolf activities."

"You bastard."

"Language, Alpha. This is just a friendly reminder that legal protections only extend so far. Your little lawyer friend was very clever yesterday, but documents can't stop zealots."

"What do you want?"

"The same thing we've always wanted. Compliance. Cooperation. A willingness to see reason."

"And if I don't comply?"

"Then more unfortunate incidents might occur. Perhaps involving your pack members. Perhaps involving your son."

The threat was crystal clear. Legal protection meant nothing if they were willing to work through proxies, through extremist groups who could attack without direct royal involvement.

"You're declaring war on my family."

"I'm managing a dangerous situation before it gets out of control." Cassius's voice was matter-of-fact. "Your choice is simple, Alpha. Work with us, or watch everyone you care about suffer the consequences."

"Go to hell."

"I'll take that as a refusal to cooperate. Such a shame. Lyra was just the beginning."

The line went dead.

I drove to the hospital faster than I'd ever driven anything, running red lights and ignoring speed limits. If Lyra was hurt because of my family's supernatural abilities, if she was paying the price for my defiance of royal authority...

I couldn't finish that thought.

At the hospital, Magnus met me in the emergency waiting room. His face was grim, his clothes still stained with blood.

"How is she?" I demanded.

"Surgery went well. Broken ribs, internal bleeding, concussion. She'll recover."

"What happened?"

"Three men attacked her at the pack house. Professional fighters, supernatural abilities. They knew exactly how to hurt her without killing her."

"A message."

"Exactly. They wanted her injured, not dead. They wanted her scared."

I sank into a waiting room chair, the weight of guilt and rage crushing down on me. "This is my fault."

"No, it's not."

"I defied the King. I got legal protection for Asher. They retaliated by going after her."

Magnus sat down beside me. "Kael, they were always going to go after her. This started long before yesterday's throne room drama."

"What do you mean?"

"The attacks on her family. The poisoning attempt on Asher. The systematic targeting of anyone connected to celestial wolf bloodlines." Magnus's voice was angry. "This has been building for months. You just gave them an excuse to escalate."

"Can I see her?"

"She's still unconscious. Doctor says it might be another few hours."

I buried my face in my hands. Every time I tried to protect my family, I seemed to make things worse.

"There's something else," Magnus said quietly. "One of the attackers said something before he left. Something about this being a warning."

"A warning about what?"

"About what happens to people who don't know their place."

My phone buzzed with a text message. Another unknown number.

"This was just a taste. Comply, or next time we won't be so gentle. -C"

General Cassius wasn't even trying to hide his involvement anymore.

I showed the message to Magnus, who cursed under his breath.

"They're not going to stop," he said.

"No. They're not."

"So what do we do?"

I looked at my phone, at the threat that made my blood boil with rage. Then I thought about Lyra lying unconscious in a hospital bed because of her connection to my family.

"We fight back."

"How?"

"I don't know yet. But this ends now. One way or another, this ends now."