Page 52 of Lycan Prince's Secret Baby

Chapter 27

Kyle

I stroked the soft strands of Leah’s hair away from her bare shoulder, running my fingers down her arm as she nestled into the crook of my neck. The scent of wildflowers and pine swirled in the air, rich and invigorating, mingling with the musk of our shared intimacy. I savored the lingering sweetness of her on my tongue.

The blissful post-sex smile on Leah’s face was another prize she offered me.

“What are you thinking?” I asked, stroking her jawline as she turned to me.

“That I want to do that again and again, making up for all the time we haven’t been doing that since we met,” Leah said, a saucy smile on her face.

“I’m down with such a rigorous schedule,” I said, my cock already growing semi-hard beneath her thigh draped over me.

The mix of desire and mischief playing in Leah’s gaze was potent. But then, a soft knock sounded on Leah’s bedroom door, pulling us from our blissful haze. Leah quickly pulled herselfout of bed, awarding me with a flash of her beautiful bare body before wrapping the lavender-sprigged robe around her. I hastily pulled on my pair of boxers. She glanced at me, checking I was decent, a smile on her face as she feasted on the sight of me before I covered up. It was a look that had me very much wishing whoever was on the other side of the door was gone already. I pulled the cover up to my waist, needing a few moments for the want my mate had immediately conjured to dissipate.

When Leah opened the door, Roman stood framed in the doorway. I felt none of my usual animosity as his eyes ran over Leah. I delighted in reminding myself that he was her friend and like a brother to her. His brows knitted together. His bright blue eyes were serious as he looked at her. He looked past her, his eyes landing on me. The Alpha’s lips twitched. “Finally.”

A grin spread over my face, suddenly feeling fond of the solemn Alpha. Now that I stopped to think about it, he had been warmer to me since Lina’s ritual. However, no amount of warmth from him would have been enough to make me feel this friendliness toward him if he had been sleeping with my mate.

My wolf growled possessively at the thought. But, other than my beast’s primal need for dominance, I felt only good humor toward the man standing before me. Roman had protected my mate and my daughter when I’d failed to be there for them. I knew that was a debt I could never repay the Blood Moon Alpha for.

Quickly, I swung out of bed and strode toward him and Leah, determined to try to turn over a fresh leaf with Leah’s friend. “Roman, please accept my gratitude for doing all you’ve done for myilakand daughter. I know now that between you and Leah, there’s a bond as close as that of siblinghood, and you’d haveprotected her because of that bond. But I am eternally indebted to you for the care you’ve shown my family anyway. If you ever need anything, no matter how great, just say the word.”

A strange look flickered across Roman’s face as if he were lost in thought. Leah nudged him, and he seemed to snap back to the present, a faint blush creeping into his bronzed cheeks.

“I’m just glad you two worked things out,” Roman said, meeting my eye. “But as it stands, I think I may be calling on your assistance sooner than you thought. Mark sent me word from your pack tonight.”

My heart ricocheted through my chest. Roman brought news about the Moonlight Pack.

Since swearing the blood oath to the Blood Moon Pack, Roman had told me of Mark’s position as the spy within the Moonlight Pack. I knew he’d been the one responsible for helping Roman and the other Blood Moons remain safe and evade my father for so long. Far from being surprised, I’d realized that Mark was perfectly positioned within the pack to be able to get intel. He’d had access to the comings and goings of all the hierarchy of the pack—both when he’d worked for my father and now as my assistant.

For a while on learning the truth about Mark’s knowledge, I’d wished that given how much time we’d spent with each other and how much I’d longed to improve the Blood Moon Pack’s position back home, he’d taken me directly into his confidence. But given how much my father had managed to manipulate me, I couldn’t reproach him for not taking me into his confidence. I’d long since come to be grateful for the part Mark had played in helping keep Leah, my daughter, and her people safe.

“What did he say?” I asked, urgency threading through my voice.

“Your father and Elder Sam have started sabotaging your reform efforts. The traditionalists in the pack have repealed the rights you fought to establish for the female wolves, which has sparked violent conflict between those traditionalists and those loyal to you. Many of the females in your pack have been imprisoned.” Roman’s gaze shifted to Leah. “Mark says that there are Blood Moons who’ve been too outspoken about the council’s revocation of their rights, too, and many of them have been imprisoned as a result.”

My chest hollowed as I thought of all those innocent people imprisoned; I imagined Leah and Romans’ friends languishing in the cells Leah had endured, along with myTlaak’w, Maria, and any other outspoken females in the Moonlight Pack. They were females like my mother, who refused to be subjugated and turn a blind eye as cruelty was inflicted on innocent shifters.

“Reginald’s threatening to execute them if they don’t submit,” Roman went on.

My heart battered against my chest. I gritted my jaw, fighting back the rage against my father that coiled within me.

“We need to act now,” Roman finished.

The urgency of his words sent adrenaline surging through my veins. The time to fight, confront my father, and free the Blood Moons from the tyranny they’d been subjected to was finally here.

“I’ll take Lina to Lyvia,” Leah announced without hesitation.

“I’ll gather the others and see you in the caverns in ten minutes,” Roman said before departing swiftly.

Leah swept past me. I pressed a feather-soft kiss to Lina’s temple, inhaling the comforting scent of baby powder as I promised myself that Leah and I would return for her soon. “You’ll be back in your pack lands soon, my little wolf.”

Leah’s gaze met mine, resolute determination igniting within her stormy eyes. “She’ll grow up where we did, Kyle. Your father’s rule has taken too much from all of us. It’s time for the Moonlight Pack to have a better Alpha—one much more like his mother than his father.”

The faith shimmering in her eyes made my chest swell with hope. In that moment, I knew I could challenge my father and right the wrongs he’d inflicted upon us, all for the sake of our daughter and my beloved mate, as well as our packmates.

Drawing a deep breath, I inhaled the comforting scents of Leah and Lina, encircling myself with what I had discovered here—a family bound by love and unity. “I love you,Ilak,” I murmured, my voice laden with emotion. “I love you, little Lina.”

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