Rejected And Reborn As The Alpha King's Luna

Chapter 53: Until Dawn Breaks

POV: Theo

By the time I made it back to Silver Moon pack, the entire territory was in chaos. News of Finn's attempted prison break had spread like wildfire. Pack members gathered in angry clusters, their voices rising in accusation.

"She corrupted the Alpha's son."

"Dark magic must have influenced the boy."

"Finn was always so obedient. This proves she's dangerous."

I pushed through the crowd toward the main hall where the Council was staying. I had to find Xavier, and had to explain what his brother had tried to do.

I found him outside the building where Thelma was imprisoned, staring at a barred window on the second floor. He stood perfectly still, his expression troubled and confused.

"Xavier," I called.

He turned, and for a moment I saw something flicker in his eyes. Recognition maybe, or the ghost of friendship we'd been building before everything fell apart.

"Theo," he said. "They told me about Finn. About what he did."

"He's just a kid trying to help someone who saved his life."

Xavier nodded slowly. "I know. I remember that part, at least. I remember Thelma rescued seventeen children from Morgana. Finn talks about her constantly, about how brave she was. But when I try to remember more, there's just nothing. It's like someone cut a hole in my mind."

"Someone did," I said quietly. "The Oracle removed your memories of Thelma to save your life."

Xavier's eyes widened. "What? Why would my memories be dangerous?"

I hesitated. The Oracle had said not to tell him about the death imprint. Knowing might trigger it somehow, or make the eventual restoration harder.

"It's complicated," I said finally. "But trust me, there was a good reason. You and Thelma, you were mates. You loved her more than anything."

Pain crossed Xavier's face, sharp and immediate. He pressed a hand to his chest like something hurt there.

"I keep having these dreams," he admitted. "About a woman with golden eyes. I wake up and my face is wet with tears, but I don't know why. I've been drawing her." He pulled a folded paper from his pocket, showing me a sketch. "Is this her? Is this Thelma?"

The drawing was rough but unmistakable. He'd captured Thelma's fierce expression, the stubborn set of her jaw, the sadness in her eyes.

"Yes," I said. "That's my sister."

Xavier stared at the drawing like it held answers he desperately needed. "Why would someone take those memories? Why would they take something that obviously meant everything to me?"

"To protect you. And to protect her."

Before Xavier could respond, the main hall doors burst open. Alpha Damien strode out, his face thunderous. Behind him came several Council members including a man I didn't recognize, tall and severe with cold blue eyes.

"Xavier," Damien called. "Inside. Now."

"What's happening?" Xavier asked.

"Your brother attempted to free a prisoner awaiting trial for murder and conspiracy. That's treason. The Council is deciding his punishment."

Xavier's entire body went rigid. "Finn is twelve years old. He's a child."

"Old enough to know right from wrong," the unfamiliar Council member said. His voice was like gravel, hard and unforgiving. "I am Elder Thorne, Xavier. I've been judging criminals for forty years. Age doesn't excuse treason."

"He wasn't committing treason," Xavier argued, his Alpha authority rising. "He was trying to help someone he believes is innocent. That's loyalty, not betrayal."

"Loyalty to a murderer," Damien said coldly.

"You don't know that she's guilty," Xavier shot back. "The trial hasn't even started."

Something passed between Damien and Xavier then, something painful and complicated. A father and son who'd never quite understood each other.

"She's corrupted you too," Damien said quietly. "Even without your memories, she's gotten under your skin. This is exactly why she's dangerous."

"The only thing dangerous here is rushing to judgment," Xavier replied. "I may not remember this woman, but I know my brother. If Finn believes in her innocence that strongly, maybe we should listen."

Elder Thorne laughed, a harsh sound without humor. "The naivety of youth. Come, Alpha Damien. Let's settle the boy's punishment inside. The actual trial begins at dawn."

They went in, and Xavier followed after giving me one last troubled look. The doors closed, leaving me standing outside with a sinking feeling in my gut. I turned back to the Oracle, who'd followed silently and now stood at the edge of the crowd.

"They're going to punish Finn to make an example," I said. "To show that anyone who helps Thelma will suffer."

"Yes," Cassandra agreed. "But watch Xavier. Even without his memories, his soul knows who Thelma is. He'll fight for what's right."

"Will it be enough?"

"That remains to be seen."

Cassandra moved closer, her blind eyes somehow finding mine. "Theo, there's something else. Something I discovered when I removed Xavier's memories. I saw deep into his mind, saw things even he doesn't know."

Dread coiled in my stomach. "What things?"

"Xavier isn't Damien's biological son."

The world seemed to tilt sideways. "What?"

"His real father is someone else. Someone sitting on the Wolf Council right now, judging your sister. I don't know which one, I only caught a glimpse. But Xavier's blood connects him to someone in that room, someone who has power over Thelma's fate."

My mind raced through the five Council Alphas. Celeste, the ancient truth seer. Elder Thorne, the harsh judge. Three others I'd barely met.

"Does Damien know?"

"I can't say for certain. But this secret, if revealed, would change everything. For Xavier, for the trial, for the entire power structure of the Wolf Council."

"Should I tell him? Should I tell Thelma?"

Cassandra's expression was grave. "That depends. Are you prepared for the consequences? Because once that truth comes out, there's no putting it back. Xavier's entire identity will shatter. And whoever his real father is, they'll either claim him or destroy him to protect their secret."

I looked up at the barred window where Thelma was imprisoned. My sister, who'd sacrificed everything. Xavier, who'd lost everything. Finn, who was about to be punished for simple loyalty.

And somewhere in that building, a man sat in judgment, not knowing he was deciding the fate of his own son's mate.

"What do I do?" I asked the Oracle.

She turned away, her voice drifting back to me like smoke. "What you've always done, Theo. Protect your family. But remember, sometimes the truth is more dangerous than any lie. And sometimes, the only way forward is through the fire."

She disappeared into the darkness, leaving me alone with impossible choices. Inside the building, decisions were being made that would change everything. And I had until dawn to figure out how to save them all.