RETURN OF THE BANISHED LUNA

7

HARRY'S POV

I stood stunned for several seconds.

It had been five agonizing years of searching for her, and now she was standing in front of me.

It had to be a fever dream.

Her beautiful, long hair was gone. Worse, she had dyed it blonde. She used to hate that color, and now she wore it proudly. Her clothes and appearance were more human than werewolf.

And that child.

That child seemed more human, too.

No matter how she disguised herself, I would recognize her anywhere.

What I couldn't understand was how she had survived and built all of this.

"Can we speak privately?" I choked out in a rough voice.

Her brows dipped.

"Why?"

"Daph, please—"

"My name is Director Kate," she interrupted, crossing her arms. Then she gestured vaguely toward the armed guards beside her. "You came here seeking the settlement's help. Anything important regarding your pack's security can be discussed right here in front of everyone."

"I need to speak to the Director alone," I insisted, stepping closer and desperately searching for the girl who had loved me five years ago.

"Private consultations with the Director cost extra," she informed me, her voice completely flat. "My time is extremely limited, sir. If you want a closed-door meeting, it will cost you a premium fee."

I didn't care if she asked for everything I owned.

I needed to speak to her alone.

"Name it. I'll pay whatever you want."

"Two thousand dollars per hour."

That was human currency, and a ridiculous amount of money.

I agreed anyway.

"Done."

She turned to a middle-aged woman standing near the porch steps.

"Sarah, would you mind watching Lily for a little while? Take her to the kitchen for some juice."

The little girl let out a happy chirp, wrapping her tiny arms around Daphne's leg in a tight hug.

"Yay!"

The word Mommy sliced into my gut like a serrated knife, but I forced my expression to remain neutral.

Lily let go and happily skipped away, slipping her small hand into Sarah's as they disappeared around the corner of the building.

Daphne stood to her full height, adjusting the lapels of her jacket. She didn't look at me as she turned toward the main entrance.

"Follow me."

Soon, we reached her office, and she shut the door behind us.

For several seconds, we stood there in silence, staring at each other.

I couldn't believe she was standing only a few feet away from me.

I wanted to hold her.

I wanted to pull her into my arms and never let go.

But I no longer knew if I had that right.

"What happened?" I finally breathed. "Where have you been, Daph? How did you survive that night? I thought... everyone thought you were dead."

She ignored the question.

Instead, she rested her fingertips on the wooden desk and looked up at me, her eyes completely lifeless.

"We are here strictly for business, Alpha. If you wish to discuss the rogue problem threatening your borders, I am prepared to listen. If not, I have a mountain of paperwork and a settlement to run."

I shook my head and took a step toward her desk.

"No. You can't deny me answers, Daphne."

Her jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, but she remained silent.

"The second those gates closed five years ago, I knew I had made the worst mistake of my life," I confessed, my voice cracking. "I sent our best warriors into neighboring territories. I personally led tracking parties into the deepest rogue lands. But you had simply vanished without a trace."

I swallowed hard.

"I never stopped looking for you, Daph. I just... I needed to find you. I needed to apologize."

She scoffed and folded her arms.

"Look, I've already moved on, and you should move on too."

A bitter laugh escaped me.

"You always were a terrible liar, Daph."

I closed the remaining distance, leaving the desk as the only barrier between us.

Her eyes flashed with rage as her composure finally cracked.

She slammed both hands against the desk and leaned toward me.

"Yet you couldn't recognize the truth when I was being framed!" she spat.

"Because you're wrong!" I snapped, raising my voice.

I had suffered for five years.

Barely functioning.

Barely surviving.

"I never truly believed you were capable of what they accused you of! I was a prince with the elders threatening to tear the pack apart if I didn't act."

My chest tightened.

"The moment you disappeared; I secretly investigated the case myself. I didn't trust the council's report. I reopened every piece of evidence. I personally reviewed the camera footage."

I looked directly into her eyes.

"I did everything I could for you."

Some of the tension left her face.

"I followed every lead," I whispered, finally exposing the truth I had buried for years. "And eventually, everything pointed toward the Hargrove family."

She froze.

"Celeste desperately wanted to become Luna. She was involved somehow. Before I could uncover the full truth and bring everyone responsible to justice, she died in a car accident."

Silence hung between us and she stood still, glaring at me.

She opened her mouth as though she wanted to speak, but no words came out.

Then—

A knock sounded at the door.

I turned toward the entrance, my brows furrowing.

The door opened slightly before either of us could react.

"Alpha Harry," a guard announced. "Luna Thelma has just arrived and is asking for you."