Eero’s perspective
“The realm is for no men to rule.” No matter how hard I tried to forget about the words of the old woman, I couldn't seem to be able to.
I sighed heavily.
“What's with the long face, Luna Eero?” Cielo asked. I stopped musing. I nearly forgot that she was sitting in the passenger seat next to me.
“Nothing. I just can't get my mind off something that I shouldn't be making a big deal in the first place.”
“You can tell me what's bothering you,” she began.
I glanced at the delta, who seemed to be minding his own business.
“Claudius, you basically raised him, right? And he was from the realm? The Regulus pack…" I trailed. With those words, I didn't even bring about my questions.
“Where are his parents? I know that they are not with us in Blood Moon. Why did you have to raise him by yourself?” I stared at her anxiously. “Is he an orphan? Do his parents not want him for some reason?”
Cielo held my hand and that made me stop from talking.
“I am sorry. I was just curious. I won't ask again.”
Cielo chuckled softly, which brought my gazes back to her.
“It's been months since you started doing all the Luna's duty, but every so often you still act like you're still a breeder with no right to get to know the Alpha.”
My eyes widened a bit, hoping that she would tell me a thing or two about Claudius.
“I am sorry. I just don't know where to begin.” Cielo breathed out and smiled.
“It's okay. We are still far from getting home. You have plenty of time to tell me.”
“The Regulus pack is the most powerful one among all the four kingdoms. And even when the other three kingdoms have an Alpha King of their own, they submit to whoever is leading the realm—to the Xerxes,” she finally started.
“Oh, wow. I had heard tales about Regulus, and wonder if they are true. It turns out that they are.”
“Twenty-eight years ago. On the very same day when Alpha Claudius' father, Luzeres, was declared heir to the then Alpha King Asael Xerxes, Codrus, his most trusted right hand and beta, decided to betrayed him.” Pain was shimmering in Cielo's eyes as she told me about Regulus. She remembered all about it as if they happened not too long ago.
“When I saw what's happening in the high court at that time, I ran to save the 13-week old Claudius from cradle.” She stopped talking for a moment and looked at me.
“For I knew what will happen. Even if Claudius was just a baby back then, that won't stop Codrus from killing him,” she said.
My jaw dropped at Cielo’s words.
In time with her finishing her story, we finally arrived at the main village of the territory.
My eyes spot the Alpha standing on the common ground, talking to Captain Logan. I got off the car and ran straight to his arms.
“If this was your way of telling me that you missed me, I’m not going to complain,” he said in a low voice.
“I am glad that you are alive,” I said to him, snaking my arm around his nape even more.
I always thought that my life was the hardest. It turned out that someone else had it worse. At least no one dared to murder me when I was just a baby.
Claudius placed his arm against my waist.
“I will talk to you about it later, Logan,” he said, dismissing the captain of his deltas.
“Of course I’m alive. Why would I be dead?” He asked in confusion. I pulled away from his hold slowly.
“Why do you need an heir before we go to Regulus?” I asked, which obviously caught him off-guard. His eyes drift to Cielo.
“I insist that Cielo told me about Regulus. I've heard about how Codrus planned to kill you too.”
Claudius remained silent. He was just staring at me, while my heart thumped heavily.
“Your father was killed by him, as well as your grandfather, Alpha King Asael. You were stripped of your birth right.” As I was speaking to him, the words of the old woman flashed back in my mind.
She had told me that Claudius was born with no such right. She must be really speaking nonsense.
“But you got me now. I will help you claim your throne back with my special power.”
“Hold on, my little wolf. Now you're way determined than I’m to claim Regulus?” he said, half-smiling.
Claudius placed his hands against my cheeks.
“I need an heir before we do that because I need to secure my lineage, to make sure that even if I die in that great war, someone from my line would still inherit that right—”
“I won't let you die,” I cut him off.
“I know. You've already proven that, a thousand times. But aside from heirs, I need thousands of deltas and warriors.”
“Is that why you are conquering packs? Not because you're greedy, but because you actually need them?” I stared into his eyes, trying to read what was running in his head.
“But you know they won't help you. So you decide to conquer them with blood and violence…?” I trialed.
“Yes, and I’m going to do that again.”
“Huh? Which pack this time?”
The Alpha didn’t answer my question. Within just a second, I figured out that it was Moon River.
“I am going with you,” I said to him.
Claudius shook his head.
“I would like it better if you stay here and wait for me back.”
“No. Everyone in the Moon River owes me a debt. I have to go with you.” I was determined to join this war.