His Missing Luna

CHAPTER 86

NATHAN

DECISIONS

The moon hangs low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the land. Shadows stretch long and distorted around the trees and the few scattered buildings near the temporary tent my men have set up on the outskirts of Kizziah’s territory. The night is still, but the tension is electric, crackling through the air like a live wire.

My warriors are on high alert, patrolling the perimeter with the intensity of wolves sensing a coming storm. We’ve seized control of Kizziah’s pack, but the danger is far from over. Any moment, his allies could launch an attack, especially if the Council has caught wind of our actions.

I’d love to see them try.

Tyler approaches with his phone in hand, his face set in grim lines. He nods at Alex, who stands beside me, then fixes his eyes on mine. “Nate, I’ve got the information you asked for, but it’s... complicated.”

“Go on,” I urge, the need for answers gnawing at me like a beast that won’t be tamed.

Tyler glances around, ensuring we’re out of earshot of the others before he speaks. “My contacts managed to dig up some intel. There’s been talk—whispers, really—of a hidden and powerful pack within the werewolf kingdom. Something the Council has been keeping under wraps for centuries.”

“A hidden pack?” Alex echoes, his brow furrowing. “You mean like another werewolf pack, but one that’s been kept secret?”

Tyler nods. “An ancient one, tied closely to the goddess. They’ve stayed in the shadows, governed by a king. This king is...can be said to be our king.”

My gaze remains fixed on the dark line of trees ahead, processing Tyler’s words.

“This king,” Tyler continues, “whoever he is, has been pulling strings from the shadows. Even the Council bends to his will. My contact says he’s written as a myth in the Council’s record—supposed to have died out with the first wolves. But it seems he’s very much alive and possibly more powerful than anyone realizes.”

“So, why doesn’t anyone know about him?” Alex asks, the skepticism clear in his voice.

“That’s the thing,” Tyler says, his tone cautious. “The Council doesn’t want anyone to know. They’ve buried his existence so deep that even high-ranking alphas like you wouldn’t have heard of him unless you were looking for it. Anyone who’s questioned his existence has been shut down, hard. The Council uses blackmail—threats to expose any shady dealings—to keep people in line and keep this secret buried.”

I clench my fists, feeling the weight of this revelation settle into the pit of my stomach like a lead weight. If only my father was here. As a former Council worker before his disappearance, he must know something about this. “So, no one outside the Council knows why this king is hidden?”

“Not that I could find,” Tyler admits. “But we could try talking to De Santos. He might know more.”

“He would’ve told me if he wanted me to know,” I say, dismissing the thought with a shake of my head.

My mind races, trying to grasp the full implications of what Tyler uncovered. If this king is as powerful as he sounds, and Kizziah went to him for help, then Jessica is caught in something far bigger than a mere struggle for dominance between packs. She’s a pawn in a game we barely understand.

“So, what do we do now?” Alex asks, his eyes flicking between Tyler and me. “We can’t just sit on this information. If the Council’s hiding the truth, we need to get to it. But how?”

“We have a few options,” Tyler says cautiously, clearly aware of the risks. “But none of them are without significant danger.”

I turn my attention to the map spread out on the table before us, detailing the territories of the various packs of the elders and the Council building. “We could kidnap the elders,” I say, my voice low and cold. “They know what we need. With the right pressure, one of them will crack.”

The idea sits uneasily in my gut, knowing the potential fallout. Alpha De Santos would see it as a betrayal, but I’m running out of time. I need to know who this king is, why Kizziah sought his help, and why Jessica is so important to him.

Alex nods slowly, considering the option. “It’s risky, but it could work. The elders are influential. If we grab the right one, the Council would have no choice but to respond.”

“But if we’re wrong,” Tyler warns, “and the Council catches wind that we’re onto this king, who knows what they might do to us. The elders are well-respected. Kidnapping one would put us on the Council’s radar, and every pack loyal to them would come down on us hard—especially our enemies.”

“Then we attack,” I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them. “If the Council wants to play games, we’ll storm their packs and drag the truth out of them, one by one. We have the men, the power. We could take the fight to them.”

Alex, ever the strategist, tilts his head in thought. “A direct assault on the Council would send a clear message. It’d shake the foundations of the werewolf world. But it would also mean war—not just with the Council, but with every pack loyal to them.”

Tyler’s expression darkens. “It’s not just war, Nate. It’s suicide. The Council controls everything—the flow of information, the alliances, the laws. If we go in without a plan, we won’t just lose—we’ll be wiped out.”

The room falls silent, the gravity of Tyler’s words pressing down on us like a suffocating blanket. My mind churns with the possibilities, each one darker and more dangerous than the last.

“Or,” Tyler continues, his voice steady, “we could play it smarter. We know Kizziah went to this king for help. If we figure out why, we might be able to use that information to our advantage. Gather intelligence, find out who this king is, and leverage it against the Council. It’s slower, but safer. We need to tread carefully here, Nate.”

I look at Alex, then at Tyler. Both of them are right in their own ways. But I’m tired of waiting, tired of feeling helpless. Every moment Jessica is out there, in danger, is another moment that tears at my sanity.

Declan stirs restlessly in my mind, his growl echoing my own frustration. He wants blood, vengeance, and so do I.

But Tyler’s caution isn’t born of fear. He’s thinking of the pack, of the lives that could be lost if we act recklessly. My duty as Alpha isn’t just to Jessica, but to every wolf who follows me. I have to weigh the cost of every decision, even if it means delaying the fight I so desperately crave.

The decision feels like a noose tightening around my neck, the pressure building with every passing second. But I know what has to be done.

I take a deep breath and speak, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. “I’ll go to the Council and demand answers.”

Both Alex and Tyler nod, though Tyler’s unease lingers in the air.

“But make no mistake,” I continue, my voice hardening. “If they refuse to give me what I want, we’ll move to Plan B. We’ll be smart, but I’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth.”

Alex’s eyes flash with approval, while Tyler exhales slowly, the tension in his shoulders returning.

“I don’t care how powerful this king is or how deep the Council’s secrets go. I’ll tear down anyone who stands between me and Jessica.”

Declan surges within me, his agreement fierce and unwavering. The decision is made. We’ll be cautious, for now. But when the time comes, we’ll unleash hell.