CHAPTER 113: _FAMILY FALLING APART

Kyren’s POV

*****

After sending Estella back to Lunarian soil, he realised something. He could use all of this to his advantage and suggest an early meeting with the Alpha King.

And he did just that by reporting to the man that Estella and Magnus had run into the dark lands, but that he drove Estella back.

Yes, yes... He’d actually gotten them kidnapped from Lunaria. But so what? People like those two didn’t deserve to be covered by an ounce of truth from his lips, especially after what they did to his mate.

Estella was lucky to have come out of it alive.

Anyway, not only had the Alpha King apologised profusely for everything, but he also invited him to the royal palace.

Talk about killing two birds with one stone! Now he had early access to the palace and could finally meet his mate physically.

Also, he now had the chance to go on uncovering a mystery that had subtly troubled him since it happened:

Who destroyed the charms Farrell placed within the Lunarian palace?

The first step to finding that out would be watching everyone in the palace closely and picking out anything odd.

"Pardon Elian, lord Kyren." The Alpha king said with a light chuckle after Elian stormed out of the dining room. "I guess it’s all... Overwhelming for him. Especially since the eastern wolves demand that Lucian get married soon."

Kyren’s eyes lit up while Alpha Prince Lucian nearly choked on his drink, coughing profusely and placing his right hand on his chest.

Lucian flicked his eyes to his mother who had an awkward expression.

"You told him, mother?" Lucian queried with disbelief.

The Luna Queen let out a small sigh. "He’s your father, Lucian. He deserved to know, not to mention he would’ve found out by himself eventually."

Lucian clicked his tongue, his fingers twitching with agitation.

’Well, well, well. The prince has daddy issues. Noted.’ Kyren thought to himself, watching silently as he sipped his wine.

It was fresh and all but was barely alcoholic.

Did the Alpha king have a war against depravity?

"And now that you know, father. What next?" Lucian asked with pure sarcasm. "You’ll use it as a political stunt? Preach to me on how traditional it is and I should get married to further the bloodline?"

The Alpha king was stoic. "You’re being irritational, Lucian. All your mother and I want is what’s best for you."

"Nah, you mean what’s best for the crown!" Lucian banged his fist on the table, his chair scraping behind him as he got on his feet.

His sister gasped. "Lucian? What’s wrong with you?"

"Stay out of this, Aurora." Lucian sneered, shaking his head. "You don’t know what it feels like to constantly have your father’s shadow looming over you all your life. Judging your behaviour, your dressing, your choice of sexual partners... All of it for the last twenty-two years of—"

"You’ve got no right, Lucian!" Aurora snapped, banging her palm on the table and getting to her feet. Her voice was shaky but firm, her silver eyes locked on Lucian. "You have no freaking right to tell me I don’t know what all that feels like."

Lucian seemed stunned by his sister’s reaction but she was far from done.

"For all my life, I’ve only been known as the ’Alpha prince’s sister.’ I found out Magnus was my mate and instead of taking things slow, I was constantly monitored like a hawk by mom, who wanted to make sure I knew how to ’keep’ my man." Aurora whipped her head to the Luna Queen who parted her lips.

Kyren couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

The family scuffle was getting boring...

"You two are embarrassing us in front of our guest." The Alpha King growled coldly, glancing at both his children. "Sit down or—"

"Oh, I’ll do you one better." Aurora eyed her old man one last time before stepping away from the dining table, walking away.

"Aurora!" The Luna Queen called out, but Aurora didn’t respond, walking past Kyren, who arched an eyebrow, his amused smirk still present.

"You give everyone the illusion that you’re both the best parents in Lunaria." Lucian smiled bitterly, staring at his parents. "But you’re toxic. The only happiness you ever wanted for us was the one you could control."

And with that said, the Alpha Prince strutted out of the dining room, his eyes flicking to Kyren with a cold glare before he left.

The rogue was unbothered, his eyes going to Beta Axel, who had an awkward expression as he chewed on the steak in front of him.

"I’m... Sorry you had to see that, lord Kyren." The Alpha king smiled apologetically, bringing his gaze to Kyren. "My children—"

"Oh, it’s fine, Alpha king. I totally get it." Kyren waved dismissively, his smile widening.

His eyes lingered on Beta Axel for a moment, watching as the man got increasingly uncomfortable under his not-so-subtle scrutiny.

Eventually, the Beta cleared his throat. "This is good steak..."

But the Alpha king and Luna Queen remained silent, eating and pretending like their family wasn’t falling apart.

Poor things...

.

.

After that disaster of a breakfast, Kyren walked out of the palace alongside the Alpha king, who was clearly trying to do damage control.

They walked through the palace’s garden maze, Kyren taking in the fresh breeze, beautiful hedges and clear skies.

It was nice having a change of scenery from the red skies and ashen clouds back in the Dark Lands.

"So, now that you know Elian is your mate, what do you plan to do with him?" The Alpha King asked after they talked a bit about boring politics.

Kyren arched an eyebrow, surprised by the question. He glanced at the man briefly before speaking.

"I’m supposed to ask you and your son that question. It didn’t seem like Lucian was too keen on the idea of marriage."

The Alpha King scoffed. "Lucian has always had a commitment issue and thinks the marriage would be another political stunt. He’ll come around eventually... This is his mate after all."

Kyren chuckled, a dry, humourless sound.

The Alpha king paused just then, causing Kyren to walk a few more steps before pausing as well.

"Is something funny?" The Alpha king asked with a calm tone, but his silver eyes flickered with something sharp.

How exciting!

"Nothing’s funny. That’s the point." Kyren spoke low, turning to face him fully. "This is my mate we’re talking about. He might have two others, including your son, but he’s still MINE. I accepted him before we even met physically."

The Alpha king parted his lips but Kyren wasn’t done.

"If for a second I feel like Lucian or that saint of a Beta hesitates to claim him... I’ll take him to the Dark Lands."

He and the Alpha king locked gazes, the latter’s silver eyes glinting with an unreadable light.

But then—

A familiar sweet scent wafted into his nose, causing every other thought to leave his head like smoke.

Well, well...

"K–Kyren?" Elian’s shy voice echoed behind him, forcing him to turn around with a slow, deliberate smirk.

"We need to talk..."