Page 16 of Lycan Prince's Secret Baby

My heart squeezed at the sound of my mother’s name. I was so unused to it being said these days.

Maria continued, “The way you’ve thrown yourself behind these reforms for the Blood Moons is inspiring. She would be so proud if she could see how much change you’ve brought about in only a couple of months of being back with us.”

A warm glow filled my chest at her words, but it only served to remind me of the emotional whiplash I had just experienced. I turned my gaze away from Maria. The threat of my throat tightening was telling me that everything had been too much lately.

Goddess, I miss you, Mom.

Feeling like I had my emotions under wraps again, I said, “I miss her,Tlaak’w,” I said, using the old pack word for Auntie. The ancient words for family were one of the few remembered in the goddess’s language, passed down in ancient texts, the oldest of which were held by the Silver Moon University. My mother had encouraged me to use the term of endearment with Maria when I was growing up.

“Me too,Irniq.” My heart squeezed. She used the word for son, not nephew, perhaps knowing how much I missed being called it. For a moment, it felt as if we were back before, before the war, before we’d lost my mother, and Maria had lost her best friend.

Maria’s voice drifted wistfully. “Tamara really was one of the most talented leaders, you know—one of those rare individuals that only come around once in a blue moon,” she said, a smile tugging at her lips. “She led with a drive that was more Alpha than Luna. Your father doesn’t have that kind of initiative. Our pack is worse off today without her, both in prosperity and power.”

Memories came back to me. Mark had been catching me up on pack politics last month, detailing how Maria had been a fervent advocate for increasing female representation on the council. Out of ten elders, there were only two women, herself included, in a world that had grown increasingly rigid. Mark told me thatmy father had butted heads with Maria about this on more than a few occasions in the last year.

Her hazel eyes focused on me with determination. “The reforms you’ve already instigated in the Blood Moon Pack—those are just the beginning. I believe you can be as great a leader as your mother, Kyle, and elevate our pack to true greatness.”

Astonishment wound through me. To have Elder Maria, my strong, determined motherly figure, say that she saw a reflection of my mother inmesent a rush of exhilaration through my veins. I had been yearning to live up to my mother’s legacy for so long. Receiving this praise filled something of the hole I’d felt ever since my mother passed.

“But Kyle,” she continued, the gravity of her expression deepening, “I don’t want you to forget that the Blood Moon Pack took Tamara’s life. I don’t want to see you bind your future with one of them.” The weight of her warning filled the space between us, heavy and unavoidable. The knowing look she cast over Leah’s frail form made me acutely aware of the undertow of my conflicting emotions.

Shame cascaded through me. The last thing I wanted was to confirm my burgeoning feelings for a Blood Moon—a direct contradiction of everything I had been taught. Admitting such a truth felt akin to tearing apart my mother’s memory. I also knew the elders disapproved of my attempts to change tradition. How much more vehemently would they oppose me if they learned I was involved with a member of the Blood Moon Pack? And what of Leah? If our connection was unveiled, how much hatred would be directed her way from my pack? As I looked at myTlaak’w, I refused to admit such a thing.

“Absolutely not,” I swore vehemently, my voice sharp in my own ears. “I promise that when Leah wakes up, I’ll send her back to her original duties. I don’t need her any longer. She’s no threat. I don’t need to monitor her, and her presence is more of a hindrance than a help.” I swallowed hard, forcing down the betrayal of my wolf, who howled in protest, angry and defiant against the words pouring out of my mouth.

The weight of my own lies pressed heavily on my chest, suffocating and oppressive. I could feel Maria’s keen gaze challenging the authenticity of my words.

“I’m pleased to hear it, Kyle,” she said simply, but her tone only deepened the pit forming in my stomach.

But I had brought Leah into my house because it was my duty to ensure the moon goddess’s justice was served by us council members. The circumstances of Leah’s thievery had been suspect. I’d kept her close in case she posed a threat to my pack. I tried to ignore the rumble in the back of my mind that told me Leah had never truly been a threat, and I’d always known that.

“Then, I think you can get going, Kyle. I’ll let you know when she’s discharged so she can retrieve her belongings from yours,” Maria said, sounding like her usual brusque self.

I nodded, forcing an air of nonchalance that felt painfully hollow. “Of course. It’s no skin off my nose.” Yet my heart knew better, beating erratically with each pulse of longing. I forced my feet to move, leaving Leah in Maria’s care.

She wasn’t my responsibility anymore, I told myself. She should never have been. But my wolf knew I was lying. Leah was more than a responsibility. She was everything I had been molded todespise and everything I found myself desperately wanting to embrace.

Chapter 9

Leah

I lay on the infirmary bed, feigning sleep as my heart squeezed painfully in my chest, listening to Kyle’s footsteps fading into the distance. I’d heard everything he’d said.

Everything.

His words seared like hot coals in my chest. Each syllable burned more of me away.“I don’t need her any longer.”

We’d just shared a passionate moment, but he’d denied caring about me at all. Devastation crashed through me. My wolf cried out, yearning to howl in sorrow, to sprint into the night and run until exhaustion silenced her pain. Instead, I remained trapped in this bed, Kyle’s words haunting and hollowing me,“I don’t need her any longer.”

He’d said he would be sending me away once I was discharged from the infirmary. I imagined I would be going back to the kitchens. I pictured myself returning to my duties in the kitchens, scrubbing grimy pots and pans, the scents of grease and burning food clinging to the walls. Yet, the thought of drudgery didn’t darken my mood, it was the possibility that I’d never look into Kyle’s vibrant green eyes again.

Will I ever see him again?The pack compounds were large enough that in the month since he’d returned from university, our paths hadn’t crossed until the night I’d been dragged into the council chamber. Would it be another month or longer? The thought weighed me down, making it difficult to breathe.

“So, you’ve been eavesdropping, have you?” Healer Maria’s voice cut through the silence.

The tremor in my breath or my madly thumping heart must have given me away to the healer. I muffled a groan as I blinked my eyes open. They felt leaden, my head foggy. Yet, as I focused, I found Healer Maria looming over me.

Defiance flickered within me. She’d been talking about me. After all, my well-being was my business, too. “Yeah, I heard,” I replied, my voice sharper than intended. “Seems like you’re not my biggest fan.”

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