Kian secured the silver coin—the crescent moon seal of the ancient Crescent Pack—in a sealed pouch, his hand steady but his mind a whirlwind of cold fury. Ronan’s job was simple, dangerous, and immediate: manage the public lie.
"Ronan, you are now the scapegoat," Kian ordered, his voice low, commanding, and without compromise. "The official report is that Zoran Vane, upon seeing the end of his rebellion, suffered a seizure that led to him fatally striking his head. The paralytic residue was administered by your order to prevent him from escaping or causing harm to staff. You will accept public censure for the security failure of the escaped custodian, Theodora. She is now reported as a desperate, lone traitor who panicked and fled."
"Understood, Your Majesty. I will take the fall," Ronan said, though the sweat on his brow showed the cost of that loyalty.
Amelia stepped in, ensuring the private mission was clear. "The public believes Vane is dead by accident, and Theodora is gone. The private truth is that the assassin took Theodora. She is pregnant, vulnerable, and the leverage Marcus intends to use. Use your most trusted, most invisible network. Find a trace of Theodora. Do not alert the Royal Guard."
Leaving Ronan to face the official investigation that was now pouring into the Citadel Dungeon, Kian and Amelia took the fastest route back to the Royal Castle's secure command center. The crisis demanded immediate, precise command.
The Castle's main War Room was too exposed. Instead, they settled into Kian’s private office, the high-tech communication array activated. Within moments, the screens flickered to life, showing the concerned faces of Myra and Gareth, currently operating from the Nightshade Pack headquarters many miles away.
"Report, quickly," Kian commanded, his voice devoid of unnecessary inflection.
"We heard the official report, but Amelia's prior call prepared us," Gareth, the Master of the Nightshade Guard, reported. "We've tightened perimeter security here. The Pack is ready to move, but without orders, we are holding position. What is the real danger?"
Kian placed the silver coin on the desk and positioned a camera to show the two advisors the chilling artifact.
"This was found near Zoran's body," Amelia said, her voice steadying the raw edge of Kian's rage. "It is the ancient seal of the Crescent Pack. The true identity of Zoran Vane's assassin—and the architect of the entire coup—is Marcus."
The revelation caused a visible jolt even through the digital feed. Myra covered her mouth, her eyes wide with fear and disbelief.
"Marcus? But he—" Myra began, unable to finish the thought.
"He murdered my father," Kian finished for her, the raw fact slicing through the silence. "He didn't die after that attack. He has been manipulating events from the shadows. The coup, Vane's betrayal, the targeting of the Morvane Kingdom—it was all his design."
Kian pounded the table, not with fury, but with the frustration of fighting a ghost. "He is not my ancestor, Gareth. He is a rival Alpha who believed the crown belonged to the Crescent Pack. He killed my father, and now he has killed his own son to make his entrance. He took Theodora because she was the weak link, the most vulnerable asset, and now he has leverage over us."
Amelia outlined the immediate action plan, addressing the geographical separation. "We must operate on two distinct, vital fronts. Myra, your mission is to manage the narrative and the Council. Ronan is the official fall guy, but you must ensure the Council accepts the 'suicide' story immediately. We cannot risk panic or suspicion of a higher conspiracy. Use the Nightshade Pack's influence to stabilize the political fallout."
Myra nodded firmly. "I will manage the chatter and the Council, Luna. No one suspects Marcus is alive."
Kian looked at Gareth. "Gareth, your priority is the external threat and the search for Theodora. You command the largest fighting force, and you are far from Citadel City. You must establish a quiet, unsanctioned search grid, focusing on the borders and known historical Crescent Pack safe houses. Marcus does not need the child's power; he needs the bait. He wants to draw me out. Theodora and the pup are merely a tool to lure the King into the dark."
Gareth’s face was grim. "If he wants a war, he will have it. I will mobilize the Nightshade scouts immediately. We will look for anything that suggests a high-risk pregnancy was moved swiftly—a vehicle, a forced shift. We will find her."
Kian leaned back, resting his chin on his steepled fingers. The urgency of the search was overwhelming, but the scope of the enemy was even more terrifying. Marcus was calculated, cruel, and personally responsible for the deepest trauma in Kian’s life.
"He wants me to chase him," Kian stated, looking at Amelia. "He wants me to make a mistake based on personal rage. He wants a repetition of the past."
"Then we won't give him one," Amelia said, her hand reaching out to firmly cover Kian’s. "This time, the King has a Luna, and the battle will be fought with strategy, not just strength. We will use the lie that Ronan sold. Marcus will be waiting for us to panic and rush into Citadel City. Instead, we move covertly through the Nightshade territory, gathering strength and information on him while publicly mourning Vane's convenient death."
Kian looked at the two figures on the screen, then at his Luna. He was surrounded by loyalty, but the battle ahead was against a darkness he hadn't faced since he was a pup.
"The rules of this fight are different now," Kian concluded, his eyes shining gold with lethal clarity. "He killed my father and vanished. He's back, and he wants the crown. We will give him a show, and we will find Theodora. But above all, we will not allow the killer of the old King to become the bane of the new one."