Rise Of The Fallen Luna

Chapter 5

••• Reinald’s POV •••

I was in a hurry to find my brother and didn’t watch where I was going. I crashed into someone—someone smaller, delicate.

“s**t,” I cursed softly, steadying her before she could fall.

I looked down just as she looked up, and my breath caught.

Those blue eyes that used to flash with joy were dim now, like they’d been carrying the weight of a world I hadn’t been here to help lift. Her golden hair, once short, now cascaded down her back in waves.

She looked more mature. Stronger. Stunning.

How long had it been? Five years? Yes. Five damn years since my stupid brother sent me off to the war zone.

Every night, I dreamt of her. And my heart broke a year ago when I heard her mother had married her off.

I swallowed hard. My grip tightened unconsciously on her arms—she winced, and I snapped out of it.

Quickly, I stepped back. Though what I really wanted to do was pull her into my arms and never let go.

“I’m sorry,” we said at the same time.

She gave me a faint smile. “I’m sorry for bumping into you.”

I stared at her. There was no sign of recognition in her eyes. Had she forgotten about me?

I just nodded, afraid my voice would crack if I spoke. She walked past, and I turned to watch her get into a royal car.

“Alpha Prince, you are back.” The royal Beta, Beta Noah’s voice, jolted me.

I cleared my throat. “Yeah. Is my brother around?”

“He is.” Beta Noah smiled. “Still in a meeting, but will finish shortly.”

I nodded and headed straight to the throne room, flopping onto one of the couches. The Omegas brought tea, and a few minutes later, the doors opened.

And there he was—Thyrius, Alpha King of the werewolf community… lounging on his throne like a smug bastard.

“Really?” I glowered at him. Couldn’t he sit on the couch with me?

He smirked, dusting imaginary lint from his sleeve. “Still the Alpha King, baby brother.”

My eye twitched. This brother of mine needed punching—but unfortunately, my sister-in-law would actually kill me if I tried.

“Reinald,” Kathreena greeted warmly.

I smiled at her, charming as ever, but she frowned. “Did you not have time to bathe or shave before coming here?”

See? She didn’t miss a thing.

Sure, I had only thrown on a button-down and slacks after the battlefield, but damn—cut me some slack.

“I missed you both so much, I came here immediately,” I said, winking.

Before they could scold me again, I changed the subject. “Was that Leicia I saw earlier?”

Thyrius sighed. “You’re right. That was her.”

“What happened? She looked… pale.”

“You know Alpha Matthew and Warrior Lydia?” Katreena asked.

“Of course,” I said flatly. “They’re the reason I came straight here.”

Thyrius leaned forward. “Why?”

I hesitated. “Something’s not right about the treaty. We tried for five years. And then they show up and get a deal signed in weeks?”

“Exactly what I thought,” Kathreena muttered. “Probably got it by spreading her legs.”

My jaw dropped, and Thyrius burst out laughing.

“Now, now,” he grinned, kissing her hand. “Don’t scare Reinald off. He’s still a virgin, after all.”

I glared at him, but then sighed inwardly. He wasn’t wrong, though. I was saving myself—for Leicia.

Before Thyrius sent me to war, I went to see Leicia’s mother and promised her that when I returned victorious, I would ask for her hand in marriage. Officially. I had even asked her father and brothers when I met them at the battlefield, and they all agreed with happiness.

But then they all died, and she married that bastard Matthew. Then I heard all her other family members and packs were annihilated.

I wanted to return and console her, but I knew duty came first. And even if I returned, what could I do? She was already married. She was already someone else’s Luna. I had no right to comfort her.

“That Alpha Matthew and Warrior Lydia made me furious.” Katreena sounded pissed off and it somehow piqued my interest because even I could feel her fury rolling off her body.

“What happened?”

With her lips tight, she replied, “They had an affair. On the battlefield.”

“What the—” I bit my tongue when she narrowed her eyes at me. ‘f**k,’ I continued in my mind, and my wolf, Blade, laughed at me.

Yeah, yeah, I was scared of my sister-in-law even though she was two years younger than me, so sue me.

“And…?” I asked, my heart thumping in my chest.

“She divorced him,” Kathreena said. “She rejected him. Right here in the throne room.”

“She’s strong,” Thyrius added. “But she has no one now. Literally a rogue. She’s going back to the Dawn Guardians Pack. With her Omega and Kyle.”

I clenched my fists.

I remembered when I heard how she found her mother’s severed head… her family’s slaughtered bodies… her entire pack wiped out.

She shouldn’t go back to that place—especially not without anyone protecting her.

“We should find her a new mate,” Thyrius muttered. “Someone powerful. Someone who can protect her.”

“What about Alphas from the Werewolf Council?” Kathreena suggested. “They are all loyal, righteous, and powerful. They wouldn’t dare to cheat on her.”

A growl tore from my chest, making them both stare at me.

Thyrius raised an eyebrow, amused. “Why are you growling like Alpha Matthew before the rejection?”

I just glared at him. He knew I had always loved Leicia. Thyrius, I, and Leicia grew up together because Leicia’s father had always been the royal’s tactician.

She was like a sister… until she wasn’t. By the time she turned eighteen, I knew.

I wanted her. I still want her.

Thyrius was twenty-four that year, and I was twenty-one. Somehow, my feelings started to change with each passing time we spent together after she turned into an adult.

Now she was twenty-five, and I was thirty-two. Thyrius was thirty-five, and Kathreena was thirty.

She had always been calm, brave, strong, thanks to her father and seven brothers. Just like them, she was a great warrior and tactician.

I bet she has become even better now.

I had always wanted to marry her, and now…Now I had the chance again.

“How about Alpha—”

“No!” I snarled at Thyrius, but quickly apologized to Kathreena. I didn’t care what Thyrius thought. We were close. He loved to tease me. But I was surprised to see a faint smile on her lips instead of the scolding I was expecting.

“What are you going to do then? Marry her?” Thyrius gave me a once-over and sneered. “You are delusional if you think she will want you. I bet she didn’t even recognize you. You look like a beggar.”

I opened my mouth to retort, but then closed it. Ah, so that was why she didn’t recognise me. Because I hadn’t shaved and my hair was greasy. Way to go, Reinald. It was the first time meeting her after five years, and you looked like a beggar.

“Pathetic, aren’t you?” Blade snickered in my head.

“Oh, shut up.” I shoved him to the back of my mind.

“I know what to do,” I told Thyrius. I was determined to marry her this time.

Thyrius snorted. “Yeah. Clean up. And come up with a plan. You’ll need it.”

It relieved me that they both agreed with my decision to marry her.

I knew the first thing to do was to make myself presentable, and then came the hard part because I had no damn idea how to make Leicia agreed after just ending a marriage.

“Are you sure about the treaty being dodgy?” Thyrius asked suddenly.

“Yes,” I replied firmly. “The treaty is real, but how they got it was the dodgy part.”

Thyrius rubbed his jaw. “I’ll keep our spies working on it.”

“I’ll do it too,” I said. I had my own informants. Thyrius knew it.

He leaned back on his throne, his fingers laced together. “So you are really planning to marry Leicia?”

I rolled my eyes. Did he really need to ask?

He frowned and offered me some advice that shocked me.

“You know, Reinald, if you can convince her to marry you, I’ll appoint you Alpha of her pack. Under her agreement. Since she is so adamant about staying there. I’ll send loyal warriors and pack members to join you.”

I looked at him incredulously. If he did all that, then the Dawn Guardians Pack would be revived again.

“You would do that for me?”

He waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m doing this for Leicia.”

My eyes twitched again, and my hands itched to punch him.

“And you sure you’ll give me loyal warriors?” I asked with folded hands. If he wanted to keep teasing me, then I’d challenge him. “Aren’t you scared I’ll rebel against you?”

Thyrius smirked. “Try it and see what Leicia will do to you.”

I grimaced. Yeah… Not even going to try that.

“Well, it’s been a pleasure, Thyrius, Kathreena.” I stood up. “But I have some planning to do.”

Thyrius waved his hand, dismissing me.

“Good luck,” Kathreena said softly. “And Reinald…”

I paused at the door.

“Don’t forget to take revenge on Alpha Matthew and Warrior Lydia.”

I didn’t look back. Just lifted a hand in salute.

I bared my teeth. Oh, I was already planning on it without even them asking.