Page 55 of Lycan Prince's Secret Baby

“It’s me, Leah,” I called into the shadows, catching sight of blurry silhouettes huddled together in the cells.

“Leah?” Mary’s voice shot through the darkness from the second cell, and tears pricked my eyes. A rush of warmth engulfed me. I remembered clutching her carefully crafted key over a year ago. My chest was full with how much I wanted to share: my happy news about Lina, my love for Kyle, about how this fight wasn’t just for my pack and all my Blood Moonanukiandnukai,but for my own little family’s future.

When Roman and Mark joined me in the dark at the bottom of the stairwell, I knew that if they could cut short their reunion afterfourlong years, I could hold it together, too.

I called out, “We Blood Moon warriors are leading a coup with Kyle against Reginald’s rule,” I announced, my fingers trembling as I inserted the cold metal key into the lock of the first cell.

The air crackled with energy as the prisoners’ spirits ignited like torches in the dark.

“Leah—Kyle’s with you?” Healer Maria’s brusque voice reverberated from the front of the cell.

If she intended to lecture me about my bond with Kyle, it was way too late. He was myIlak, the father of my child, and every moment in his presence made me feel more like myself, more like the person I was always meant to be. No one would deny my place alongside him ever again. I would fight anyone with fang and claw who dared to say otherwise. But I pushed aside the defensiveness bristling within, reminding myself that Maria was like an aunt to Kyle, histlaak’wjust as Roman was myanuk.

“Yes, Kyle’s fighting Reginald near the Blood Moon quarters right now,” I said, knowing Maria would share my concern for his safety.

As Maria and the other Moonlight packmates streamed out of the first cell, her voice filled the air. “My MoonlightNukai, the time has come to defy the Alpha who is unfit to lead—one who would deny us females our birthright as fierce wolves and who ended our Luna’s life due to fear of her power.

As my eyes adjusted to the dimness, I noticed that most of the Moonlights were women, their faces taut with purpose and fists clenched with indignation. The atmosphere thrummed with electric energy—a palpable tension swirling in anticipation of the power we’d unleash once we’d made it out.

“For those of you with any sense of justice,” Mark called, his voice strong and unwavering, “rise up tonight! With our Blood Moon allies, we will rid ourselves of the tyrant who has oppressed us for far too long!”

In an exhilarating rush, I flung open the remaining five cell doors. I indulged in a brief moment of solidarity, feelingthe touch of Phoebe, Mary, Lucy, and other packmates. The cacophony of voices lifted the sound of liberation of voices that, as Kyle had said, wouldn’t be silenced any longer. Together, we surged out into the night.

In a swelling tide of red and gray fur, we moved as one through the Moonlight compound, heading toward the Blood Moon quarters, toward the foot of the hill where our warriors still battled. My heart raced, breath catching in my throat as I searched for Kyle. There he was, his gray wolf circling Reginald’s, both panting heavily, breaths filling the air like mist. Determination seared through me. I made to move toward Kyle, eager to help my mate, but suddenly, a pair of Moonlight wolves descended upon me. I immediately recognized Emily from our fight earlier. The other, much larger wolf must be Elder Sam.

Just like Kelly and Emily before, the pair launched themselves in a pincer formation, forcing me into a precarious position. I dodged the bigger wolf, but Emily succeeded, sinking her fangs into my side.

This time, however, I wasn’t alone. Surrounding me were my friends—an army of red and gray wolves rushing to my defense. The scent of sweat and fur mingled with the metallic tang of blood and the earthy aroma of disturbed ground. With ferocity, Emily and Sam lunged at me, their jaws snapping. Their movements were fluid yet aggressive, the muscles in their flanks rippling like taut ropes. I felt resolve coursing through my packmates around me, a fire ignited by our righteous cause.

The first of my allies, a fierce Blood Moon warrior with a coat as vivid as autumn leaves, surged forth, jaws snapping menacingly at Emily. She barely managed to evade the strike, twisting just in time, but the distraction gave another wolf the opening heneeded. A burly red wolf barrelled into her side with the force of a freight train, limbs tangling together in a whirlwind of fur, teeth, and growls that filled the air with primal sounds.

Time slowed, snarls erupting from the pack around me. I felt the determination etched into each one of our movements—the way the Blood Moons and our allied Moonlights charged toward Sam and Emily made it seem as if their fate was already sealed. Igaluk’s half-moon and the starlit sky above seemed to blink down, telling us that the elder and his daughter were doomed.

With a visceral roar, a Blood Moon warrior pinned Emily down, snapping his teeth into her throat. But Elder Sam unleashed a thunderous growl that reverberated through the pack, a chilling reminder of his status and years of battle-earned experience. My heart raced with trepidation as I saw his eyes flash with ferocity.

But there was no stopping the choreography of our united pack. Like a well-oiled machine, we bore down on Sam. Elder Maria’s sinewy gray wolf leaped at Sam’s flank while others attacked from the front.

Sam fought back, his powerful jaws snapping as he tried to shake off the relentless assault. A Moonlight warrior dove in, her agile body slipping under him, nipping at his hind leg to destabilize him. The elder wolf whirled around, fur bristling with indignation, only for another wolf to hurl itself toward him, colliding with the force of a small avalanche. They toppled against the ground, and the earthy musk of damp soil mingled with the adrenaline-driven haze engulfing us all.

As Emily struggled to free herself from her opponent’s grip, another Blood Moon warrior tore into her throat, muscle and flesh opening to release a rush of blood. An agonized snarl brokefrom Sam, reverberating through the night, piercing the chaos as he faltered under our relentless assault. I watched, breath caught in my throat, as the mighty elder wrestled against his fate, desperation etched on his wide face and taut muzzle, but the tide had turned.

In a moment, a sea of fur had surrounded Sam—claws and teeth tearing into his flanks and throat, but not before Sam’s howl had pierced the night. As he went down, torn to pieces by the released prisoners, his howl filled the air, calling the other council members to him.

Those wolves loyal to Reginald who were near launched themselves into the fight with renewed vigor—taking on both the Moonlight Pack females and the red-furred Blood Moon wolves. Every time I got a break from fighting a new gray wolf, I tried to see what was happening between Kyle and Reginald.

The clash between them raged on, an even contest between two titans. Each roar, each snarl reverberated through the air, their skill and strength dancing dangerously close. Kyle’s speed set him apart, but Reginald’s age and experience granted him an edge, his ice-cold eyes calculating every move.

And then it happened—a flicker of realization coursed through me as Reginald feinted, jumping over Kyle’s lithe form. My heart stopped; he was coming for me.

No!

Panic bubbled up inside me as Kyle launched himself after his father, muscles straining, racing toward me in a desperate bid.

Just then, I felt a heavy presence at my side—Roman lunging into action, a protective instinct propelling him to me asReginald reached me. With fierce determination, Roman locked jaws with Reginald, two Alphas crashing together in a wild clash of teeth and fury. Roman held Reginald back, granting Kyle the opening he needed.

My heart raced as the battle unfolded before me—myilakand myanuk, locked in a fierce battle for our freedom. As my partner and friend fought with renewed urgency, it seemed as if everything I prized about my future was still in the brutal control of the Moonlight Alpha.

Chapter 29

---