Rebirth Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 33: But There's A Lady I Like

**Theo's POV**

The following morning in the inn the air was thick with enthusiasm. We had hardly slept all through the night because the thought of meeting my father and not missing him by mistake woke all of us up. I could not imagine if he had passed by and then we did not get to warn him. When we got up it was early morning and the first light peeped through the peepholes in the door. I and a few other guards went out on the watch.

The temperature of the morning was quite fresh; the fog hung over the road slightly. We remained still for some time just standing there looking down, everyone deep in his mind, listening to the awakening of the forest. The first signs of daybreak were breaking through the trees; the birds began to sing; once in a while – the twigs crackled as if some small animals stirred. This was totally opposite to pressure that always loomed large over our heads.

We did not have to wait for long before we saw the king’s carriage coming along the horizon. Accompanied by his guards, it moved slowly on the gravel road, which seemed to be a good omen after the period of unstable events that we experienced. My heart leapt at the sight. I waved to the other and we went closer to the carriage and waved so that they could see us. The driver stopped the horses, and the carriage became stationary.

I walked briskly to the carriage and called out, "Father, it's Theo! We need to speak immediately."

The door of the carriage opened, and my father, the Alpha, stepped out. His presence was commanding as ever, his stern expression softening slightly when he saw me. "Theo, what's going on? Why are you here?"

"Father, there's something urgent you need to know," I said, my voice steady despite the anxiety gnawing at me. "The rogues—we've discovered something terrible about them. They seem to be mutating. Their blood is poisonous, and their wounds heal almost instantly unless decapitated."

My father's eyes narrowed with concern. "Mutating? Poisonous blood?"

"Yes," I confirmed. "Several of our best fighters have been infected. We had to quarantine them. I couldn't risk sending a messenger, so I came myself to warn you."

Realization dawned on my father's face, and he turned to his guards. "How did you manage to get here unharmed?" He asked. "Even if you fought them off...the blood."

"We had on a protective gear when coming. To prevent their blood from touching us."

"That is a wise idea," my father commented.

"We forgot to bring protective gear in our haste." A soldier said, his eyes wide. "We shall have to go back."

The eight soldiers who had accompanied me immediately volunteered to go back and retrieve the necessary equipment. Marcus, one of the braver soldiers, stepped forward. "We'll return with enough gear for everyone, Alpha. And we'll inform the courtiers that you won't be returning today but tomorrow because of the delay."

I nodded, appreciating their willingness to help. "Thank you, Marcus. Make sure they understand the urgency."

The soldiers went in as fast as they could and wore their protective suits, then mounted their horses and sped off, their figures quickly disappearing into the distance. I turned back to my father, who looked pensive.

"What has been done about the situation so far?" He asked.

"We are working on strengthening our defense mechanism and also working with engineers," I informed him.

"Oh?" He asked, prompting me to say more.

"Yeah. We need them to create new defense mechanisms because we can't rely on manpower all the time. Due to the Rash."

"I see," he nodded. "Makes a lot more sense."

"I suppose so," I said. "As of when I left, we have not come up with anything tangible yet."

"Well, it cannot happen overnight," he smiled. "I'm glad you took the initiative. I'm proud of you."

"I'm happy to hear that," I said, smiling at him.

"How about the rash?" He asked.

"Well..." I began. "None of the soothing balms are effective with helping the burning. The physicians are looking into herbs to reduce the sensation and stop the rash," I explained.

"How will they test it though?" He asked.

"They have requested for rogue blood to infect test objects," I said. "Then with whatever they come up with. They will see if it will ease the rash. "

"Lab rats won't work," he said. "It is not an internal thing. Their skins are not like ours.

"We shan't be using them," I smiled. "I figured this was a perfect punishment for the criminals waiting for the death penalty. The first victim will be the man who r*ped and murdered his sister."

"What a wonderful idea," my father grinned. "No punishment is more perfect."

"I suppose. We should go inside the inn and eat," I suggested. "We have much to discuss."

Inside, the warmth and comfort of the inn provided a stark contrast to the tension outside. We took a seat at a corner table, and the innkeeper's daughter promptly served us a hearty breakfast. As we ate, my father seemed to relax slightly, though the worry never completely left his eyes.

"So, Theo," he began, his tone shifting to something more personal, "have you found a mate yet?"

I paused, taken aback by the sudden change in topic. "No, not yet," I replied. "But there's a lady I like. I'm hoping to have her as my mate if the Moon Goddess wills it."

My father's eyebrows rose in interest. "Tell me about this lady."

I smiled, thinking of Tiana. "Her name is Tiana. She's strong, smart, and incredibly kind. She has this way of making everyone around her feel at ease. She's beautiful, too, with the most striking eyes I've ever seen."

My father leaned back, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Tiana, you say? Is she a noble lady or an omega?"

"She's an omega," I replied, watching his reaction closely.

My father nodded slowly. "An omega... Is there something else about her you're not telling me?”