He Wanted Me As His Second Mate But I’m The Alpha King’s Luna Chapter 05
The Old Alpha’s Truth
The next dawn, Alpha King Elian wants me back. Now.
Mating day breaks bright.
Damon rides up to the Northern Pack gate on a warhorse, banners snapping, drummers pounding, a full mating procession trailing behind him — grander than the one he used for Vera.
The circles under his eyes are the color of bruises. He looks like he hasn’t slept in a week.
But the second my father cracks the gate, Damon plasters on that easy smile.
“Pack Alpha, sir. Your son-in-law comes for his mate. The blessed hour is here — send Fern out.”
My father just got back from a visit to the old family plot. He has no idea what this circus is about. His voice comes out flat.
“She’s gone back to the Alpha King’s court.”
Damon’s smile freezes on his face.
“Back — back where?”
His tone turns sharp.
“She ran off to the Moon Shrine again? To get me another blessing? I told her today’s our mating ceremony. “
“She does this every year. I’ve got more of those little charms than I know what to do with. And she picks today to disappear?”
He shakes his head, playing the long-suffering mate.
“Alpha, how long ago? I’ll ride out and grab her. If we hustle, we can still hit the ceremony window.”
My father looks at him like he’s watching a pup try to eat a rock.
“Fern’s gone back to the Moon Palace. What Moon Shrine?”
His mouth twists.
“You really think my daughter still brings Moon-blessed gifts to a male like you?”
Two years ago, Damon ditched me and marked a rogue she-wolf from a pleasure house. It wrecked my father’s standing at the Alpha Council.
My father is not exactly a forgiving male. Seeing Damon Ashford at his gate again, his tongue slips right off the leash.
“So — nephew. This whole parade is for my Fern, is it?”
“Two years at the Border Wars must’ve dried up whatever brains you had left. That head of yours — you still want it, or you shopping for a new one?”
Damon’s color drains. Then something clicks behind his eyes. He swings off the horse and rushes up.
“You — you sent Fern into the Moon Palace as a *pack servant?*”
He can’t seem to swallow the thought.
“She’d never survive it! That mouth of hers — she wouldn’t last three days waiting on some Luna before someone tore her throat out—”
“And even if she made it out, her best mating years are gone! Who’d take her then?”
“Alpha! Just tell me which Luna’s wing they put her in. I’ve got connections. I’ll get her out today!”
My father stares at him like he’s grown a second head.
Even stuck at the border, this idiot must have heard something about the Alpha King choosing me. He’s been back in town three days. Has nobody said a word to him?
No. He just decided, all on his own, that Fern is his forever. So every clue in the world can walk past his face, and he won’t see it.
My father is done.
“Wing. Off you go.”
“And one last warning—if this gets your throat torn out, don’t come howling back to me.”
Damon draws himself up and actually shakes his head.
“I’ve got my ways in. Extracting one servant is child’s play.”
My father is out of patience with fools. Let the idiot die. Not his problem.
The gate slams shut.
Damon doesn’t stop to think. He wheels his horse straight for the old temple where his father has retired to serve the Moon Goddess.
“Father! Fern’s pack Alpha sold her into palace service! Please — pull whatever strings you’ve got. Today was supposed to be our mating day, and that senile old wolf—”
“*You brainless whelp!*”
The old Alpha nearly loses his breath.
“Two years ago I warned you — you marked that rogue she-wolf, you leave the Northern Pack Alpha’s daughter alone! And you swore off ever making her your Second Chosen Mate!”
“You gave me your oath on the Moon Goddess herself! You’ve been back in the capital three days and you’ve already lit the whole pack on fire!”
Damon blinks. “Father, what are you—”
The old Alpha’s boot catches him square in the chest.
“She is the Alpha King’s Fated Mate. His Luna Queen. The mother of his firstborn heir pup. The most powerful female in the entire wolf realm!”
“You just tried to steal the Alpha King’s Luna, boy. You want the whole Ashford bloodline gutted for you?!”
Damon coughs up a mouthful of blood. Somehow, he lifts his head.
“Luna Queen? She — she can’t be—”
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