His Missing Luna

CHAPTER 105

RAKIEL

LIKE FATHER LIKE DAUGHTER

When Amerie snaps the link shut, frustration surges through me. I slam my palms on the table, trying to contain the ache in my chest. Her defiance mirrors her father’s stubbornness, and a reluctant smile tugs at my lips. Like father, like daughter. Both driving me insane.

Malachai is adamant that she remains with the pack. He believes that the best way to secure that is for her to find a suitable mate from the pack, someone we can trust.

And who better than Anselm, the future Beta and her brother’s closest friend?

Anselm showed interest in her from the first day he had seen her. Though, he didn’t approach her respecting our wish for her to remain hidden until the day of her crowning.

We watched to see if Amerie would be attracted to him. And she was, though she masked it well. No doubt because of that alpha she calls her mate.

I understand why Malachai would want her to stay with us. He lost his little girl and wants her where his eyes can reach her. And also to make up for the lost years.

Honestly, I also want her to stay in the pack. She’s my baby and I lost her for over ten years. Having her choose Anselm as her mate, would mean we will get to see her every day.

She would build a family with him here in the pack. We would be there to see and play with our grandkids.

But is it going to be at the detriment of her happiness and joy? Would I sacrifice hers for mine? What if her doubts are real? What if the alpha is innocent?

What if he too is a pawn in someone’s wicked game? Just like Malachai was years ago?

I’m still lost in thought when a knock at the door jolts me back. "Enter," I call, and Mona steps in.

“Let them in,” I nod, expecting another matter of state. Instead, a familiar figure steps through the doorway.

“My queen,” a rich, warm voice greets me, the familiar Spanish accent sharpening each word.

I rise immediately, crossing the room with quick strides. "De Santos?!" I laugh, embracing him.

“The one and only,” he grins.

I pull back, cupping his face. He’s older now, silver decorating his hair at the sides, but the charm is still there. I remember how the girls used to swoon over him decades ago. "Still haven’t lost your charm. It’s good to see you.”

“We can never lose it. It’s part of our heritage,” he chuckles. “It’s good to see you too, my queen.”

"Stop with the ‘queen’ nonsense," I laugh, playfully smacking his shoulder. “I’ll always be Rakiel to you. Tell me how has everyone been?"

“We are good,” he replies as I lead him away from the door. “Where’s the King?”

“Somewhere around,” I answer taking a sit opposite him.

“Still Mr. Grumpy?” he raises a brow, making a funny, scary face.

“Not anymore.”

We both laugh, but then I notice the seriousness creeping into his expression. He adjusts his suit as he sits, the lightness of our reunion fading. “You’re aren’t here to catch up, right?”

"Sadly, yes.”

"Bummer," I tease, trying to keep the mood light. "I thought you came to make up for all those years you hid from us."

De Santos smiles sadly. "You know why I had to stay away."

“I do,” I sigh, waving off the seriousness. “But what brings you here now?”

He hesitates, his gaze shifting. "Before we get into that... How is Amerie?"

I freeze, my smile fading. "How do you know about Amerie?" My voice sharpens. "Who told you she’s back?"

“I knew it,” he mutters to himself. “Anyway, it’s a long story, and you’ll need to stay calm to hear it,” he says, his tone grave. "Please."

My heart stirs with unease, but I nod, trusting him. I know he will never lie to me. "Alright, go on."

He pulls a phone from his pocket. "Before I explain, has Amerie’s mate come forward with any evidence yet?"

My eyes widen. Evidence? "What evidence? Amerie never mentioned anything about evidence." Amerie’s conviction her alpha was innocent, springing to mind.

He exhales sharply, muttering something in Spanish. "I hope nothing’s happened to him," he says, flipping through his phone.

“De Santos, explain. What’s going on?”

“I will tell you, but first—did Amerie tell you about the incident with her mate?”

"She said something... about him kissing another woman. An ex, I think."

De Santos nods, then holds out the phone to me. "Watch this and tell me what you see."

I take the phone from him, my brows furrowed in confusion. I tap the play sign on the screen and a video starts to play.

It’s a ballroom, filled with guests in elegant attire. "This is the last Alpha and Luna Ball," I mutter. Malachai and I stopped attending these after Amerie disappeared.

"Exactly," De Santos says. "Keep watching."

The scene plays out as expected. People are dancing, chatting. Everything seems normal. But then, I see a man—dark hair, sharp green eyes—being dragged onto the dance floor by a woman.

My breath catches in my throat. "That’s Amerie!" I exclaim, clutching the phone tighter. My beautiful girl, laughing, smiling. She looks so happy.

"Yes," De Santos says. "And that’s Nathan Hunt."

His eyes are locked on Amerie as they dance, his expression soft, tender—just like Malachai’s when he looks at me. It’s clear how much he cares for her.

But why would he kiss another woman?

She’s smiling and laughing happily as he twirls her around. The other dancers look at them with a mixture of expressions. From shock to confusion. Especially when he bends his head to kiss her.

I am confused by this.

Nathan Hunt suddenly pulls away, his body tenses, his movements stiff as he pulls away from Amerie.

My heart races as I scan the scene, looking for the source of his distress. But I can’t find anything strange, just the man that’s frozen to the spot looking confused.

Amerie reaches for him, trying to catch his attention, but his focus is elsewhere, his eyes fixed on something—or someone—behind her. The other dancers follow his gaze.

I can see many with open mouths and wide eyes. As if they’ve just seen a ghost.

Amerie reaches for him again, but he steps back, pulling away from her touch.

"What’s happening?" I ask, my voice trembling in anger. My wolf snarls in my head. Is this where he leaves her to go kiss the other woman?

“Watch closely,” De Santos urges.

A loud gasp from the crowd, stops me as something strange starts to happen.

Amerie’s face—no, her entire body—begins to change. Slowly transforming to that of a slim lady with blond hair and dark eyes.

“Goddess above,” I gasp, my hands shaking as I lower the phone. "She was telling the truth. He’s innocent."

“That was what happened the night she disappeared,” De Santos comes forward and peers down at the phone. “That’s Sasha. Her father is the alpha of the Moonstone Pack. I believe she used dark magic to change into Amerie to deceive Nathan Hunt.”

I watch as Nathan Hunt growls at the fake Amerie. “Where is she now?” I ask, my blood boils and my fingers curl into fists. My wolf snarls, rage boiling beneath my skin

“With her father, but we’ll deal with her later.” He looks me in the eye. “This kind of magic… it can only be done by someone from within your own pack. "

The truth crashes down on me, my anger evaporating in an instant. "Someone from here?" Oh no! Only someone with a tainted Shakuna could do that.

De Santos nods. "Has anyone been showing signs?"

“No,” I murmur, my mind racing. Every member of the pack has a power link with Malachai and me. We would have felt the changes in their powers if they were misusing their powers.

Unless…

“Unless they found a way to keep it hidden,” he says, making me turn to him in alarm.

“We’ve been distracted since Amerie appeared,” I whisper, my voice laced with fear. We’ve been so caught up with making up for lost time.

Before either of us can say more, Mona knocks again.

“Enter, Mona.”

“The princess’s assistant is here,” she says.

I frown, and Tamia stumbles into the room, her face pale, her breath labored.

“Tamia, what is it?” I rush to her.

“The princess… she teleported from the garden,” she pants.

My heart lurches. “To where?”

"To find her mate."

“To look for her mate.”