Second Chance Luna
Chapter 80

Prince Nolan scowled as he entered his bedroom to see a female lying in his bed. With a growl he seized her by the hair and kicked her out with a snarl as a maid brought him some tea. Keeping her eyes downcast she arranged it on his table preparing a cup. Nolan's nose wrinkled in disgust. Would his father never stop meddling? He waited until the maid had left before pouring the tea down the drain.

For years his father had been obsessed with having several heirs to carry on the glory of the royal line. When his first mate couldn't provide more than one he moved on to a new one. Nolan had no idea how his mother tolerated him but after what he did to her first mate perhaps she felt she had no choice. She never said as much but Nolan had serious doubts the king was his biological father yet he had enough sense of self-preservation not to ask.

Achan was the elder prince and Selena the princess. Between them there was more than enough drama to keep anyone busy. As long as Nolan kept his head down the king was content to ignore him. All that changed after Selena shifted. Suddenly his father had a vested interested in his love life.

Nolan wasn't sure why. Something seemed to be gnawing at the king. He was distracted during meetings asking strange questions. At least they seemed strange at the time. Silver wolves, he always wanted to know about silver wolves. Had any been seen? Were there rumors about unusual happenings?

Nolan couldn't decide what was stranger, his father's preoccupation with some mythical wolf or his complete lack of attention toward Selena. Ever since she was born he catered to her, spoiled her...until the day she shifted and revealed herself. White wolves were a rare spectacle but the king hadn't been delighted in the slightest. In fact he flew into a rage. Afterwards he started his unusual inquiries.

Silver wolves.

Why silver wolves?

Nolan thought he was crazy until he saw her: an actual silver wolf. She wasn't anything like he imagined.

The petite werewolf in Jason's arms hadn't really attracted his notice. She seemed pleasant enough but that hardly mattered in a room full of harpies. It was lucky she was in Jason's company or else she would not have an easy time. But why was she in his company? Nolan certainly wasn't prepared for Jason's announcement. He had found his fated mate and the petite she-wolf was it. They could practically hear a pin drop the same time Selena's mouth did. She pursued him for so long only for this strangely pale she-wolf to snatch him away. Selena walked away only to fume as she danced staring at the petite, unassuming she-wolf with such a coveted spot.

Nolan, on the other hand, was secretly happy for Jason. He knew how long the latter searched for his fated mate. Watching Jason as he escorted his Luna it was clear how much he cherished her but that meant nothing to Selena who had been raised to never accept anything less than she deserved. The problem was she thought she deserved things she didn't.

To tell the truth, Nolan always felt sorry for Jason once his sister set his sights on him. If the Alpha ever accepted the princess for a mate he was certain to regret it. Luckily Jason's disinterest couldn't have been more apparent. And his love for his Luna even more so. Nolan thought his sister would finally admit Jason was out of reach but of course she couldn't, but even he didn't expect her to actually challenge the other for her Luna title.

When Jason's Luna shifted into a silver wolf, Nolan thought he was dreaming. By the look on Jason's face it was clear he hadn't expected it either. She was gorgeous and practically glowed in the moonlight. Seeing an actual silver wolf Nolan wondered why others made such a big deal about white wolves. His sister was nothing in comparison and Jason's Luna quickly proved it by tossing her like a ragdoll.

Nolan sighed as he stepped out of the shower. The look on his father's face was definitely something to behold: surprise, outrage, disgust, hatred...pure hatred. He shivered just thinking about it.

He never saw his father like that before. Nolan had actually been afraid. His father's hatred was second only to Jason's absolute dominance and protectiveness. Jason swooped in and carried his Luna away without hesitation daring the king to try and stop him. His father wilted and didn't dare stand in his way. As soon as Jason's aura withdrew the king's rage was uncontainable. He ordered everyone out and stormed off. Selena was a whimpering mess but Nolan could hardly bother with her. He was far more worried about his father who was unpredictable when he was enraged.

Achan thought it was hilarious but then he thought everything was funny. Nolan was nervous. He didn't know what to expect. Mercifully their father backed down from Jason's challenge and left the party quietly. Nolan briefly thought it would blow over. Then he learned the delta warriors had been sent out to recon Blue Moon's estate. It seemed his father wasn't planning to simply let her go after all.

Jason; however, was prepared. The spotters were dealt with decisively and the delta teams wasted the entire night chasing decoys while Jason and his Luna quietly slipped away. Nolan couldn't help but admire Jason's foresight. They still didn't know exactly where the pair had gone but Nolan was ready to put money down they managed to return to their pack's territory. Blue Moon could play defense knowing full well the royal pack didn't have the strength to attack them and no pack would dare set themselves against Blue Moon.

Nolan sighed stepping out of the shower and tying a towel around his waist. There were too many unknowns and he didn't know how any of this would play out. The king was getting more neurotic and unpredictable. Meanwhile Nolan's siblings played their little games and he had no answers as to why a silver wolf was so important. But somehow he knew she was. Stepping into his bedroom he found a she-wolf once again lounging on his bed. She smiled displaying her assets prominently beckoning him closer. Nolan slowly approached reaching the edge of the bed where her legs draped tantalizingly over and displayed her most intimate anatomy. Lazily she sat up to stroke his chest.

"I know that tea would help you relax," she smiled.

"It would have...if I drank it," Nolan answered before seizing her neck and cutting off her air.

She gasped in surprise, clawing at his hand but she was defenseless as he gripped tighter until she finally went limp. Releasing her he watched her crumple like a marionette whose strings were cut. Would his father never stop? "Everything all right?" the voice of his Beta intruded.

"Sure. Except my father is playing his games again."

"I'll be right up."

A few minutes later there was a knock at the door and his beta entered. Corwin was the son of their father's Beta and they had grown up together. When his father declared he and Achan should have assistants as well Corwin was a natural choice. It also made it easier to keep him close and off his father's radar.

"So, special tea and playmate," Corwin said surveying the bed.

"Yeah."

Nolan rubbed his temple fending off a headache that was ever present when his father played his games. With a gentle smile Corwin moved closer cupping his face before kissing him deeply. Nolan moaned as their tongues fought for dominance in an erotic dance he wished they could complete but it was too much of a risk. If his father ever found out... but how he longed to claim what was rightfully his.

"Better?" Corwin smiled.

"No," Nolan shook his head. "This is all wrong. My brother spends his time torturing she-wolves for kicks, my sister either pines for what doesn't belong to her or she's zonked out of her mind on wolfsbane, my father is raging after some mythical wolf that happens to be real and I can't claim what is mine."

"It's all sorts of wrong," Corwin nodded reluctantly moving away to wrap the dead she-wolf in the sheets like a burrito to mask her form as best he could and dispose of her without drawing attention. "Did you replace anything?"

"Aside from that rumor about your great-great-grandfather consulting with a witch? No."

"No clue why?"

"No. There is no official record," Corwin shook his head, "just a flight manifest and mention of a trip. Obviously, he didn't want to leave any evidence." "You pass on that information?"

"Yeah. Hopefully they can make better use of it than I can."

Nolan nodded sitting down at his small breakfast table. Corwin hefted the rolled up bedding onto his shoulder and headed for the door.

"Sorry for making you clean this up."

"I'm your Beta, it's my job. Don't worry. This can't go on forever."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Nolan grimaced watching his mate leave. With a sigh he stood and headed back to the bathroom.

In moments the maids would enter to remake his bed and he could finally get some much needed sleep. Or so he hoped. He couldn't help but think the end was coming and he had no idea how it would fall out.