Ronan’s hands trembled as he stared at the parchment in front of him–crushed, creased, anc smudged with dirt from how tightly he’d gripped it. His wolf paced frantically within him, snarling, agitated. How had this happened? When?
How hadn’t he known? The parchment bore a healer’s seal from the Moonstone Pack and clear confirmation: Lunara was pregnant. With his pup.
Ronan Staggered back, his back hitting the cold stone wall of his Alpha quarters. He couldn’t breathe. A low growl tore from his throat as he ran a shaky hand through his hair. Goddess, she had been pregnant… and he had almost killed her. –
His mind spiraled back to that night–the rogue ambush, the chaos, the gunshot. He’d meant to shoot a traitor… but Lunara had been there. Wrong place. Wrong time. His hand had wavered The bullet had hit her. And now… she’d been carrying his child all along?
Pain, raw and hot, blazed through his chest.She had needed him. She had been vulnerable, frightened… and he had failed her.
And now she was with Killian–the bastard who was acting like Alpha and protector. That mutt had no right. That wasn’t his pup in Lunara’s belly.
It was Ronan’s. She belonged to him. His fists clenched at his sides, claws pushing out instinctively. He couldn’t sit here, trapped in this stone manor like some rabid omega under lock. The Council had placed him under territory arrest, his Alpha status stripped temporarily after the ‘incident.” Only his father’s influence had kept him from the dungeons–or exile.
But now, none of that mattered. Lunara was carrying his pup. And he was going to her.
Ronan stormed into his chamber, flinging drawers open, tossing aside armor, scrolls, packs, anc hunting gear. He found his black cloak, a satchel, some wolfsbane salves, gold coins, and a few enchanted items for safe travel. He’d slip through the Eastern pass by nightfall. No one would
notice until dawn.
He threw everything into the bag and moved toward the door. But the heavy oak creaked open
before he could reach it.
Ronan Froze.Silas Thorne, his father–the feared former Alpha King of the Iron Fang Pack–stood n the doorway. His grey eyes bore down on Ronan, arms folded, thick with disapproval. The old volf’s power pulsed through the room like thunderclouds rolling in.
Going somewhere, pup?” he asked, voice low and sharp.
Ronan’s throat tightened. “I have to go. Lunara–she was pregnant. With my pup. I need to see
1er.”
Silas’s face didn’t shift. His expression only darkened.
She didn’t tell me,” Ronan continued, forcing the words out. “She was carrying my child. She was
lone. And I wasn’t there. I have to-”
CRACK.Ronan’s head whipped sideways as his father’s hand struck him hard across the face. The sound echoed through the chamber. For a moment, all he could hear was the roaring in his
cars.
hapter Twenty Cour
0159
He hadn’t been hit like that since his initiation trial at seventeen. He looked back at his father, stunned
“You selfish, blind fool,” Silas growled, stepping forward with fire in his gaze. “After everything you’ve done–after nearly killing your mate and jeopardizing our bloodline–you still think you can fix this?”
Ronan’s lip curled. “I didn’t know she was pregnant-
“And you think that would’ve made it right?” Silas spat. “You think she’d welcome you back with open arms? That she’d hand over the child after what you did?”
Roman didn’t answer. He didn’t have to.
“You lost control,” Silas snapped, voice thundering now. “You let your rage cloud your judgment shot your Luna, exposed us to the Council, cost us allies. We’re hanging by a thread, boy. Our warriors are questioning your right to lead. And I spent every last favor, every drop of my legacy, keeping you from execution.”
Ronanlooked away, jaw tight. He hadn’t realized how bad it had gotten.
Silas stepped closer. “And now you want to run off and chase some fantasy of redemption? I should’ve let the Elders have you. You’ve become nothing but a disgrace to this bloodline.”
The words out deeper than claws.
Disgrace Failure Regret. Something inside Ronan Cracked. Years of pressure, shame, expectations… it all boiled over.
I’m not staying here,” Ronan growled lowly, his wolf rising to the surface. “I’m not your prisoner. Not anymore.”
Silas raised a brow. “Is that a challenge?”
But before he could react, Ronan lunged.
The force sent Siles stumbling back, eyes wide in shock. Ronan’s arms locked around his throat, squeezing with the raw fury of a broken wolf. Silas thrashed, snarling, claws trying to dig into Ronan’s skin. But Ronan didn’t let go.
“You should’ve let them kill me?” he hissed into Silas’s ear. “You regret saving your son? Fine. Then die knowing this: I’m not your puppet. I am the Alpha now.”
Silas clawed at Ronan’s arms, gasping for breath. His foot scraped against the ground, reaching for his blade–but Ronan kicked it away, then slammed him against the wall, tightening his grip.
Silas’s struggles slowed. Then stopped.
And finally… his body went limp.Ronan Held on a moment longer, breathing heavily, until he was
sure
He let go, and Silas–once the most feared Alpha in the region–crashed to the ground, lifeless..
Ronan stared down at the body. His hands trembled. But slowly… a dark, grim smile crept across his face.
For the first time, he felt free. No leash. No father’s shadow looming over him. No one to control
him
“Look who’s the Alpha now,” he whispered.
2450
4:44 am GDDD
He stepped over the body, grabbed his bag, and walked out the door. He was going to find Lunara And claim what was his.
4:45 am GDDD
