Oops Alpha, Wrong Luna-Chapter 83

Kael’s POV.

I stormed through the pack house, my boots thumping against the polished wooden floor. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meat and pine from the lunar festival downstairs, but it did nothing to calm the fire burning in my chest.

My hands clenched into fists, my knuckles white. I’d just caught Celeste and Alpha Nicholas in the garden, whispering and kissing a knife to my pack.

My pack, my Shadow Claw Pack, was in danger, and I couldn’t shake the image of their sneaky faces from my mind. I needed to see Aria, my Luna, to feel something solid, something real. And I knew she had almost been caught.

As I turned a corner toward her room, Beta Brian jogged up to me, his face flushed and sweaty. His brown hair stuck to his forehead, and his eyes darted nervously. "Alpha Kael," he said, his voice shaky, "the other Alphas are waiting for you in the council hall. They’re getting impatient."

I stopped dead in my tracks, my jaw tight. The hall was alive with music and laughter from the festival, but it felt far away, like a dream I couldn’t touch.

I glared at Brian, my eyes narrowing. "I’m not going," I snapped, my voice low and sharp. "I need to see my Luna first."

Brian’s mouth opened, like he wanted to argue. He took a step closer, his hand reaching out as if to stop me. "But, Alpha, the Alphas..."

I spun around so fast he stumbled back. My blood boiled, and I could feel the heat rising in my face. "Why didn’t you do what I told you?" I yelled, my voice echoing down the hall.

I stepped toward him, my chest heaving. "I ordered you to personally take my Luna to her room. But what did you do, Brian? Where were you?"

His face paled, and his eyes dropped to the floor. He knew I’d caught him. He shuffled his feet, the toes of his boots scuffing the wood. "I... I’m sorry, Alpha," he mumbled, bowing his head low. "I got caught up with the festival activities. I thought she’d gone to the room on her own." he lied.

I snorted, my lips curling in disgust. "I don’t need your sorry," I said coldly, turning away. "I need to see my Luna." I started walking again, my steps heavy, each one shaking the floor beneath me.

I heard Brian’s boots scuffing behind me, following like a shadow. I didn’t look back. My heart was racing, my mind tangled with worry.

Aria was supposed to be safe in her room, but I had a bad feeling, a twist in my gut that told me something was wrong.

The hallway to Aria’s room was quiet, the flickering torches casting long shadows on the stone walls.

My hand hovered over the door handle, cold metal under my fingers. I took a deep breath, trying to push down the anger bubbling inside me.

I needed to be calm for her, but my chest felt tight, like a rope was squeezing it. I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The room was dim, lit only by a single candle on the bedside table. Its flame danced, throwing soft light across the bed where Aria lay.

Her dark hair spilled over the pillow, and her chest rose and fell slowly, like she was asleep. But something felt off. Her breathing was too steady, too perfect.

I crossed the room, my boots creaking on the floorboards, and stood over her. My shadow fell across her face, but she didn’t stir.

"Luna," I said, my voice firm but quiet. "Wake up."

She didn’t move. Her eyelashes didn’t even flutter. My stomach twisted tighter. I knew her too well, she wasn’t sleeping.

I leaned closer, my hands gripping the edge of the bed frame. "I know you’re faking it," I said, my tone sharper now. "Open your eyes."

Her eyelids twitched, just a little, and then they fluttered open. She blinked up at me, her green eyes wide and innocent, like she’d just woken from a deep dream.

She stretched her arms, yawning dramatically, and sat up slowly. "Alpha Kael?" she said, her voice soft and sleepy. "What’s wrong? I was sleeping."

I stared at her, my jaw tight. The candlelight flickered in her eyes, but I could see the lie hiding there. My hands clenched, and I fought to keep my voice steady.

"Why didn’t you go to your room earlier?" I asked, my words slow and heavy. "Why were you out in the garden, listening to Alpha Nicholas and Aria, your twin sister?"

Her face froze, her lips parting slightly. She blinked again, faster this time, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "What are you talking about?" she said, her voice high and shaky. She pulled the blanket closer, her fingers twisting in the fabric. "I was here, Kael. I didn’t go anywhere."

My eyes narrowed, and I felt a coldness settle over me, like ice spreading through my veins. I stepped closer, towering over her. "Don’t lie to me, Luna," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "I hate lies. You were there. I heard the gasp. I know it was you."

Her face crumpled, and she looked away, her hands trembling in her lap. She bit her lip, and for a moment, I thought she’d keep pretending. But then she stood, her bare feet soft against the floor, and looked up at me with wide, guilty eyes.

"I’m sorry, Kael," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I... I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to know what was happening. I heard voices in the garden, and I got curious. I didn’t think..."

"You didn’t think?" I cut her off, my voice sharp enough to make her flinch. I turned away, my hands running through my hair.

My heart pounded, and I could feel the anger rising again, hot and heavy. "You didn’t think that sneaking around, spying on them, could put you in danger? That it could ruin everything we’re trying to protect?"

She stepped toward me, her hand reaching out. "Kael, please," she said, her voice soft and pleading. "I didn’t mean to make you mad. I just... I wanted to help."

I spun around, ready to snap again, but then she rushed forward and threw her arms around me from behind.

Her cheek pressed against my back, her arms tight around my waist. "I’m so sorry," she whispered, her voice muffled against my shirt. "Please don’t be angry. I love you, Kael. I didn’t mean to mess things up."

Her warmth seeped into me, and for a moment, my heart softened. I wanted to turn around, to hold her and tell her it was okay.

But the image of Celeste and Nicholas in the garden flashed in my mind.

I reached down and gently pried her hands off me, stepping out of her embrace. Her arms fell to her sides, and I could hear her sharp intake of breath, like I’d hurt her.

I kept my back to her, my voice cold and flat. "Go to sleep, Luna," I said, each word cold. "We’ll talk about this later."

I walked toward the door, my boots loud in the quiet room. Her soft sob followed me, but I didn’t look back.

My hand gripped the door handle, and I stepped into the hallway, letting the door click shut behind me.

The weight in my chest didn’t lift, and the hall felt colder than before. I had a pack to protect, and now, more than ever, I wasn’t sure who I could trust.

Beta Brian stood waiting, his head bowed low, his hands clasped in front of him. The air smelled of smoke and flowers from the lunar festival downstairs, but it did nothing to ease the tightness in my throat.

I was still angry, angry at Aria for lying, angry at Celeste and Nicholas, angry at myself for feeling so lost.

Brian lifted his head, his eyes soft but worried. "Alpha Kael," he said, his voice quiet, like he was afraid to speak. "I heard your Luna begging you. She sounded so sad. Maybe... maybe you were a bit too harsh with her."

My jaw clenched, and I felt a spark of fury ignite in my chest. I stopped walking and turned to face him, my eyes narrowing.

My hands balled into fists, and I stepped closer, towering over him. "Don’t ever tell me what to do, Brian," I growled, my voice low and sharp, like a blade. "You don’t get to judge how I handle my Luna."

His face paled, and he bowed his head again, his shoulders slumping. "I’m sorry, Alpha," he mumbled, staring at the floor. "I didn’t mean to overstep."

I stared at him for a moment, my chest heaving, then turned away. "Stay out of it," I said coldly, and started walking again.

My boots thudded down the hall, each step carrying me toward the throne chamber. The other Alphas were waiting, and I couldn’t keep them any longer.

But my mind was a storm, thoughts of Aria’s tears, Nicholas’s smug face, swirled together, making my head ache.

The throne chamber doors loomed ahead, tall and carved with wolves howling at the moon. I pushed them open, the creak loud in the quiet room.

The Alphas sat around a long table, their faces lit by the glow of candles. The air smelled of wax and old wood, and the chatter stopped as I entered.

I walked to my seat at the head of the table, my cloak brushing the floor, and sat down heavily. My fingers gripped the arms of the chair, the wood cool under my palms.

Alpha Marcus, a burly man with a gray beard, spoke first. "The festival was a success, Kael," he said, his voice warm. "Your Luna did a fine job organizing it. The pack is happy."

I nodded, forcing a tight smile, but my stomach twisted. Aria had worked hard, but now I knew she’d been sneaking around too. "Good," I said, my voice flat. "I’m glad it went well."

Alpha Nicholas leaned forward, his dark eyes glinting like a snake’s. He sat across from me, his hands folded, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Speaking of your Luna," he said, his voice smooth and sharp, "wasn’t she supposed to stay until the festival ended? Why did she leave so suddenly?"

My fingers tightened on the chair, the wood creaking under my grip. I could feel the anger rising again, hot and sharp in my chest.

I leaned forward, my eyes locking onto his. "She had other things to do," I said coldly. "Like resting after nearly drowning."

Nicholas’s smirk grew, and he tilted his head, like he was mocking me. "Drowning wasn’t our fault, Young Alpha," he said, his voice dripping with scorn. "In fact, she might’ve faked it to skip her duties."

The room went silent. My blood boiled, and my vision blurred with rage. I slammed my fist on the table, the bang echoing like thunder.

Plates rattled, and the other Alphas froze, their eyes wide. I stood, leaning over the table, my voice a low growl. "You dare disrespect my Luna?" I snarled, pointing at Nicholas. "You and your Fang Pack are done. No more trading with Shadow Claw. You’re cut off for insulting the Shadow pack’s Luna."

Nicholas’s smirk faded, his face paling. The other Alphas shifted in their seats, their whispers filling the air.

I straightened, my chest heaving, my eyes burning into Nicholas. "If there’s nothing else to talk about," I said, my voice hard as stone, "this meeting ends here."

The room stayed quiet, the weight of my words hanging heavy. I turned, my cloak swirling, and stormed toward the door, my heart pounding with anger and hurt.