THE ALPHA'S SECRET HEIR

Chapter 4

Luna's POV

"W-What do you mean?"

My voice trembled as I clutched my stomach.

The golden light continued to radiate from within me, growing brighter until it illuminated the entire room.

Every elder in the sanctuary slowly dropped to one knee.

"Holy Moon Goddess..." one of them whispered.

"At last... the Sacred Blood has awakened."

I looked at them in confusion.

"I don't understand."

The elderly healer walked toward me and gently took my hand.

"Luna... the child you're carrying is not merely the heir of an Alpha."

"He is the child chosen by the Moon Goddess to restore balance to our world."

I slowly shook my head.

"No... that's impossible."

"I'm just an ordinary werewolf."

The elderly woman let out a quiet sigh.

"That's what you've been led to believe your entire life."

My eyes widened.

"What?"

"Before you were born, your parents were murdered."

My breath caught in my throat.

"I was told they died during a rogue wolf attack."

"That wasn't the truth."

The room fell silent.

"Your parents died protecting a secret."

"A secret about who you truly are."

My knees nearly gave out beneath me.

"No..."

"You are one of the last descendants of the ancient Guardian Bloodline."

"And when the Moon Goddess chose Kael Blackwood as your fated mate..."

"...the two most powerful bloodlines in history became one."

Tears filled my eyes.

"So... that's why my child..."

"Yes."

"He is the first child born from the union of those two sacred bloodlines in over a thousand years."

Suddenly—

The door burst open.

A young warrior rushed inside, breathing heavily.

"Elder!"

The elderly healer turned to him.

"What is it?"

"There are Alpha Kings outside the sanctuary."

Everyone in the room froze.

"That's impossible."

"No one knows where this sanctuary is."

The young warrior's face turned pale.

"But one of them..."

"It's Alpha King Kael Blackwood."

My heart stopped.

Kael...

Had he found me?

Or...

Was there another reason he had come to the sanctuary?

"Please... don't tell him I'm here." My voice trembled as I fought back my tears. "I don't want to see his face."

I lowered my gaze, wrapping my arms protectively around my stomach.

"The day he rejected me... he also rejected our child."

The room fell silent.

The elders exchanged sympathetic glances, but no one spoke.

After a long moment, the elderly healer stepped forward and gently placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"Luna," she said softly, "we understand your pain."

"You have every right to make your own choice."

She looked into my eyes with kindness and gave me a reassuring smile.

"Very well."

"If that's your decision..."

"We will respect it."

A wave of relief washed over me.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"But if he asks about me..." I paused, taking a shaky breath. "Tell him you haven't seen me."

The elderly healer nodded.

"Your secret is safe with us."

For the first time in days, I closed my eyes, hoping the man who had shattered my heart would never discover that I—and the child he never knew existed—were only a few walls away.

Kael's POV

"Alpha."

I turned to Damon as we stopped before a massive stone gate.

"This is the place."

I studied the towering walls hidden deep within the mountains, as though they had remained untouched for centuries.

There was a strange energy surrounding this place.

Powerful...

Yet peaceful.

"Are you certain the blood trail ended here?" I asked.

Damon nodded.

"Yes, Alpha. This is as far as our wolves could track her scent."

I took a deep breath.

Luna...

Are you here?

Or am I already too late?

The enormous gates slowly creaked open.

An elderly woman with long silver hair stepped outside, followed by several warriors.

"Welcome to the Hidden Sanctuary, Alpha King Kael Blackwood."

I gave her a respectful nod.

"I didn't come here to start a war."

"I'm looking for someone."

The elderly woman remained calm.

"And who might that be?"

"Luna."

My voice trembled as I spoke her name.

"She was injured in the forest a few days ago."

"If she's here..."

I paused, struggling to find the words.

"Please."

"Bring her back to me."

The elders exchanged silent glances.

The sanctuary fell into complete silence.

After a long moment, the elderly woman finally spoke.

"I'm sorry, Alpha."

"We haven't seen anyone named Luna."

A sharp pain tightened around my chest.

"Are you certain?"

"The only people here are the residents of the sanctuary."

I lowered my head.

If she wasn't here...

Then where could she have gone?

At that moment, a cool breeze swept through the sanctuary.

It carried with it the faintest scent.

I froze.

That scent...

It was familiar.

Too familiar.

Luna's scent.

I slowly lifted my gaze toward the sanctuary.

"No..."

I whispered under my breath.

"She's here."

Damon looked at me in confusion.

"Alpha?"

I turned back to the elderly woman.

"I don't know why you're hiding her..."

"But I can feel her presence."

On the other side of the sanctuary...

Unbeknownst to me, Luna stood behind a thick wooden door, covering her mouth to keep herself from sobbing.

She heard...

Every single word I said.