Chapter 45: Chapter 45; The pack is bleeding

Aiden’s POV

"Why haven’t you found her!" I growled, fury burning through every word. "Where is she? Where did he take her!"

My arm swept across the desk in one violent motion, sending papers, books, and glass crashing to the floor. The sound of shattering echoed through the room, but it did nothing to ease the storm raging inside me.

Michael, one of my most trusted warriors, stood frozen near the door, terror flickering in his eyes.

"Alpha Aiden, rest assured we are doing everything to find her," he said, his voice tight with fear. "Lucian’s hiding place isn’t something we can just find... but we will find her."

I clenched my fists until my knuckles ached.

"Go now," I snarled. "Bring her here. And as for Lucian—if you have to take his life, make sure you do it without hesitation."

"Right!" Michael bowed sharply and hurried out of the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

"We will find her. She won’t be gone for long," my wolf rumbled inside my head, his voice spiraling with the same restless anger I felt.

I pushed my hair back roughly, frustration clawing at my chest. How had I let him escape my sight? The mere thought of Lucian anywhere near Alina made my blood boil, hot and violent.

"Fuck!" I roared, slamming my fist against the wall.

"What are you doing, Aiden?" Emily’s voice cut through the air, sharp with annoyance. "You’re losing your mind over that omega."

"Not now, Emily," I snapped, not even turning to look at her. "I don’t have time for this."

"Say that to my face, Aiden."

She grabbed my arm and yanked me around to face her. Her eyes blazed with hurt and fury.

"We haven’t been married for even a month and you’re already treating me like this," she said, her voice trembling with anger. "This isn’t the marriage I was promised, Aiden. Are you in love with Alina?"

"No," I bit out. "I’ve told you—I’m not in love with her. I just don’t want her to be with Lucian."

"Why?" she demanded, stepping closer. "Because you still want to have access to her? You think I don’t notice the way you look at her?"

Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. My gaze flickered at the sight.

"I regret the day I let you marry that woman," she continued, voice breaking. "Because now I’m fighting for your love. I’m fighting just to be seen."

"Emily, please... no," I said, reaching for her. "You don’t get it. I don’t mean any of this. I don’t love Alina. It’s you I love."

"What do you take me for, Aiden?" she screamed, tears streaming faster now. "Do you think I’m that dumb? That stupid? That crazy to believe you?"

Her chest heaved as the tears intensified.

"I have loved you since we were little. You’re the only man I’ve ever loved... ever fucked... ever given my entire soul to. But I let you marry Alina. I let you have a child with her because you told me it was best for the pack—for stability. And now I realize I’ve been fooled this whole time. It was never about the pack. You’ve always secretly been in love with her."

Her words hit like blows, laced with raw pain and burning anger.

"What are you saying, Emily?" I shot back, voice rising in frustration. "I didn’t choose her—the Moon Goddess did! I didn’t even know who the fuck she was until the Moon Goddess brought her to me. How could I have wanted to marry her when I didn’t even know who she was?"

"Excuses, Aiden. All fucked up excuses," Emily spat, pain thick in her voice. "Alina isn’t needed here. You already have the heir—Leo. So what else do you want her for? And don’t tell me it’s because you don’t want Lucian to have her. If you don’t have feelings for her, you wouldn’t care where she is or who the fuck she’s with."

"Emily, please listen—"

"It’s enough, Aiden!" she cut me off, her tone sharp and final. "I have had enough. I won’t be treated like trash. I am the pack’s Luna. I should be the only one in your head, not that woman."

Her eyes blazed with hurt as she stepped back. "If you continue like this, I will be forced to leave you, and I will never return. You will be known as the Alpha who couldn’t keep his Luna."

Before I could get another word out, she turned on her heel and stormed away. I followed quickly behind her.

"Emily, wait! Listen to me!" I called, my footsteps echoing after hers.

She didn’t stop. Just as I was about to reach her, a guard suddenly stepped in front of me, blocking my path.

"Sir, the Moon Goddess is here," he announced.

My steps faltered. "Where is she?"

"Follow me."

I trailed behind the guard, my mind still reeling from Emily’s words. We reached the grand hall where the Moon Goddess stood waiting, her presence filling the room with an overwhelming, ancient power.

"I didn’t know you would be coming," I said, trying to steady my voice. "Why didn’t you inform me so I could prepare?"

"There isn’t time for that, Aiden," she replied, her voice calm but grave. "The pack is in trouble."

My eyes widened slightly, a chill running down my spine.

"What do you mean trouble?" I asked, confusion knotting in my chest.

"I knew this was going to happen," she continued. "I was against you getting married to a woman you aren’t mated to, but you didn’t listen. The stability of the pack has been shattered. If this continues, a mass genocide will happen and your enemies will come after you."

Shock slammed into me, my eyes widening further as her words sank in.

"What?" My voice came out hoarse. "What can be done about this?"

"The Luna," she said firmly. "The old Luna. You need to bring the old Luna back. She is special—she has the ability to bring back stability. You need to bring the rightful owner of this pack."

Her gaze locked onto mine, unyielding.

"You need to bring Alina."

Her words hit like a thunderclap. My eyes widened in shock, the weight of everything crashing down on me at once.