Chapter 5: I found Her
1041 Words
The Ashford pack territory was smaller than I expected.
Not poor. But not wealthy either. It was just Average.
Exactly the kind of pack that would jump at the chance to have their daughter become Luna Queen.
My convoy pulled up to the packhouse just as the sun was setting. Three black SUVs. My Beta Callum beside me. Guards following.
We didn't need the show of force. Everyone knew who I was. What I could do.
But appearances mattered. Power had to be visible.
Beta Marcus Ashford waited at the entrance. Tall. Graying hair. Fake smile plastered on his face.
"Alpha King." He bowed deeply. "Welcome. It's an honor to have you here."
I nodded. Didn't smile back.
"Beta Marcus."
"Please. Come inside. We've prepared dinner. You must be tired from traveling."
I wasn't tired. The drive had been two hours. But I didn't correct him.
I followed him inside. Callum stayed close. Always watching. Always alert.
The packhouse was nice enough. Clean. Well-maintained. Art on the walls. Expensive furniture.
They were trying to impress me. Show me they were worthy.
I didn't care about any of it.
I was here for one reason. One person.
The Eclipse heir. The last surviving member of the bloodline that could challenge my throne.
My spies had tracked her here. To this pack. To this house.
Hidden. Kept secret. Probably doesn't even know who she really is.
I needed to find her. Confirm it was her. Then decide what to do.
Control her. Marry her. Neutralize the threat.
Simple. Clean. Strategic.
"Your daughter," I said to Marcus as we walked.
"She's here?"
"Yes, Alpha King. Lydia is very excited to meet you. She's been preparing all day."
I nodded. Said nothing.
We entered a large dining room. A table set for twenty people. Crystal lights shining brightly.
They really were trying.
Pack members stood around the edges of the room. Servants mostly. All bowing. All showing respect.
I scanned their faces. Looking. Searching.
Not here. None of them were her.
"Please, sit." Marcus gestured to the head of the table.
I sat. Callum stood behind me. Refusing the offered chair. Always on duty.
Servants brought food. Course after course. Expensive. Well-prepared.
I ate while still scanning the room.
"Alpha King," Marcus said. His voice overly cheerful.
"Allow me to introduce my daughter. Lydia."
A young woman stepped forward. Blonde. Beautiful. Perfectly styled.
She curtsied. Smiled. Her eyes sparkling.
"Alpha King. It's such an honor to meet you."
She was pretty. Trained. Knew exactly how to present herself.
Everything a Luna should be on the surface.
But she wasn't who I was looking for.
I glanced at Callum. Raised an eyebrow slightly.
He leaned down. I whispered so only he could hear.
"Is she the Eclipse?"
Callum shook his head once. No.
I looked back at Lydia. At her perfect smile. Her perfect curtsy.
Not her.
Lydia sat down across from me. Started talking. About the pack. About herself. About how honored she was that I'd come.
I half-listened. Nodded when appropriate. Let her talk.
But my mind was elsewhere.
If the Eclipse heir was in this pack. In this house. Why wasn't she here?
"Beta Marcus," I said. Interrupting Lydia mid-sentence.
Marcus looked up. Startled.
"Yes, Alpha King?"
"Is everyone present? All pack members? All household members?"
His expression flickered. Just for a second. Something like discomfort.
"Yes, of course. Everyone who matters is here."
Everyone who matters.
Interesting choice of words.
"Everyone?" I pressed. My voice going colder.
"No one is absent?"
Marcus's smile tightened.
"Well. The servants are working. Preparing food. Cleaning. But all important pack members are present."
He was lying. I could see it. Smell it.
Someone was missing. Someone he didn't want me to see.
"I see," I said quietly.
Lydia jumped back into conversation. Trying to recapture my attention. Talking about the pack's accomplishments. Her training. Her skills.
I let her talk. Watched Marcus instead.
He was nervous. Kept glancing at his wife. At the servants. At the door.
Hiding something. Or someone.
The dinner dragged on. Course after course. Lydia talking. Marcus smiling.
I endured it. For an hour. Then another.
Finally, I stood.
"Excuse me. I need some air."
"Of course!" Marcus jumped up.
"Would you like someone to show you the gardens? Or perhaps,"
"I'll find my way."
I walked out before he could argue. Callum followed silently.
"She's here," I said quietly once we were in the hallway.
"The Eclipse heir. She's in this house."
"But not at dinner," Callum noted.
"No. Marcus is hiding her. Keeping her away from me."
"Why would he do that?"
"I don't know. But I'm going to find out."
I walked through the hallways. Letting my instincts guide me. Listening. Watching.
The packhouse was quiet. Most people still in the dining room.
I turned down a corridor. Then another.
Then I heard it.
Banging. Loud. Desperate.
Coming from somewhere ahead.
I followed the sound. Down the hallway. To a door at the end.
The banging got louder.
"Please! Someone! Let me out! I've been here for two days! Please!"
A woman's voice. Weak. Scared. Desperate.
I reached for the door handle. It was locked.
I pulled harder. The lock broke easily. The door swung open.
And I saw her.
A girl. On the floor. Collapsed against the wall.
She looked up at me. Her eyes wide. Startled.
And time stopped.
She was beautiful. Though she looked pale, thin, clearly starved and weak.
Her hair was dark. Long. Falling around her shoulders in tangled waves.
Her eyes were gray.
Her skin was too pale. Her body too thin. Her clothes dirty and torn.
But underneath all that.
She was stunning.
Like a goddess who'd fallen from heaven and forgotten her power.
I stared. Couldn't help it.
She stared back. Confused. Scared.
Then she blinked. Focused on me. Seemed to realize I wasn't whoever she'd been expecting.
"I... I'm sorry," she whispered. Her voice hoarse.
"I didn't mean to disturb you. I was just,"
She tried to stand. Her legs gave out.
I moved without thinking. Caught her before she hit the ground.
She was so light. Too light. Like she weighed nothing.
She fell into my arms. Weak. Trembling.
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