Lunar Fracture

Chapter 4

Zarek followed Luna Kaida into his father's chamber. The sight of his father lying still on the bed, his face gaunt and pale, made his heart ache. Zarek walked slowly to his father's bedside, a solemn look on his face.

He gently grasped his father's hand, his grip firm yet tender. "Father," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

How had that strong and bold man that he so much respected and looked up to become so frail?

"Father," he whispered again. No response came, and Zarek felt a sudden surge of anger and despair. He needed answers, and he needed them now.

He turned to Luna Kaida, his eyes desperate. "Mother," Zarek began, his tone urgent. "I must speak to the pack doctor immediately. I need to know everything about father's condition."

Luna Kaida nodded, her own worry etched across her features. "Of course, Zarek," she said, her voice trembling. "I will summon them at once."

Making her way swiftly out of the room, she instructed the wolves standing guard at the door to fetch the pack doctor. On arrival back into the room, she came to stand on the other side of the bed, grabbing her husband's other hand and squeezing them between hers.

There was silence in the room, each person lost in their own thoughts. Their heads snapped to the door when a knock sounded on it and the pack doctor walked swiftly into the room, his expression grim.

" Alpha," he greeted, bowing his head towards Zarek. " Luna," he bowed toward Luna Kaida as well.

" Doctor, what is wrong with my father? What are his chances of survival?" Zarek bombarded him with questions, never leaving his father's side all the while.

The doctor was quiet for a while. " He has only 20% chance of survival, and even that is uncertain," he divulged.

Zarek froze. " What? I don't... How? I want to know everything," he demanded, his eyes blazing with determination.

The doctor explained the progression of the illness, how the cause was still largely unknown and that he was only really trying to extend the time he had to live. Zarek listened to the tale of how his father's sickness had kept going from bad to worse, his heart aching all the while.

Once he was done answering Zarek's questions, the doctor checked on Alpha Thane and then took his leave. Zarek couldn't quite believe what was happening; he had unanswered questions, ones that went beyond the realm of medicine.

"Why was I not informed of this sooner?" Zarek asked, his voice hard and accusing. He turned to his mother, his eyes red rimmed.

Luna Kaida's face crumpled. "I... I did not want to distract you from your training. I knew how important that was for the future of our pack."

Zarek shook his head in disbelief. "You think I wouldn't have dropped everything to come home for my father?" he asked, his voice a low sound. "You've kept me in the dark, when I should have been by his side, helping to protect him."

Luna Kaida's shoulders drooped, her gaze falling to the floor. "You're right, Zarek. I should have told you. I really wanted to but your father, he... he wouldn't hear of it."

Zarek shut his eyes, taking a deep breath. "Well, with what I have learned during my time away, it's a good thing that I'm back now; a lot of things are going to change around here."

Noticing the look of confusion and wonder that his mother was giving him, Zarek went on to elaborate. "I have learned about the true history between our pack and the Shadows pack," he continued, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity. "I know what they did to our ancestors. I know how they tricked us and stole our power. I know how they reduced us to subservience."

Luna Kaida gasped, her eyes wide with shock. "That's not... How did you...?"

"It doesn't matter how I know," Zarek snapped. "What matters is that I am now the Alpha of this pack, and I will see justice done. Who is to say they are not responsible for the situation my father is in right now."

And then that assassination attempt on his way back.

"I will take back our power and our pride," Zarek vowed, his voice ringing with conviction. "And I will start by severing any ties between our pack and the Shadows. I will have nothing to do with their daughters or any of their kind. I will have nothing to do with anyone that is not my fated mate!"

Luna Kaida's face twisted with worry. "Zarek, you cannot throw away the alliances we have worked so hard to build. It could be disastrous for our pack..."

"No!" Zarek insisted. "It won't be! I have put plans in place, they won't be expecting the magnitude with which I will come at them with. The time for compromise is over. The title of Alpha of Alphas belongs to Wolfsguard pack, and I will see to it that it's that way again!"

As Luna Kaida's and Zarek's argument was about to escalate, the door to the chamber opened, and Kael stepped inside. His expression was grave, his skin bristling with tension.

"My apologies for interrupting, Alpha, Luna," Kael said, bowing low to Zarek and Luna Kaida. "But I have news that cannot wait."

Zarek turned to Kael, his gaze piercing. "Speak, Kael. What news?"

Kael leaned in, whispering his words into Zarek's ear. Luna Kaida watched them, her brows furrowing in worry, marring her face.

Zarek's expression changed, a hint of a predatory smile curling his lips. "Showing their true colors, are they?" he said, his voice low and dangerous.

"Well, well. I think it's high time we paid them a surprise visit, don't you agree?"

Kael hummed in response, a hint of a faint smile on his lips when he saw the worried look on Luna Kaida's face. He turned to Zarek with a grim look.

" What's your plan?"