b132 /bFather bAnd /bbSons /b

bLucian /b

“We’ve moved out, Father,” I said inly. “And we’re noting back.”

My father blinked. His surprise was immediate–and deep. I didn’t give him time to recover before continuing.

“I bought the house we’re living in. I want to raise my family away from this ce–away from the tensionb, /bbthe /bpolitics… and especially from Martha. Mara deserves a peaceful life. Our child deserves it too.”

He opened his mouth. “How could-”

“I’ll tell you how,” I cut in. “I’d bet good coin the constant tension in this house was part of why Mara didn’t conceive during herst heat. I’m not risking another mistake like that. I won’t keep her in a space that could harm her or the baby.”

My father looked stunned–less from the words, more from the defiance behind them.

“Martha told me you moved out,” he muttered. “I didn’t believe her. I told her you would’ve said something if

that were true.”

I met his gaze without flinching. “You didn’t think it was true because you still expect loyalty from people byou /b

don’t offer it to. You made this house unlivable. The forced family breakfasts. Your blind devotion to a

maniptive woman. You think Darian’s going to stay here when things with Tiffany settle down? This ce

doesn’t feel like home, Father. It feels like duty. And that’s not how I want to live.”

Anger shed in his eyes. “You’ll be the first Nighthorn to abandon this mansion. This bis /byour heritage, Lucian. As Alpha of Mooncrest, you should live here. You should use this office.”

“No,” I said simply. “I want peace. I want it for me, for Mara, and for our children.“,

He leaned back, jaw tightening. “And what about Tina? You dumped her, and now she’s our responsibility?”

I gave him a measured look. “Technically, I still iam /icaring for her. I pay for this house, its staff, her meals, her doctor’s visits. If you want her gone, you’re free to act. I’m not stopping you.”

“She’s seeing someone else, Father,” I added. “Has been for a while–even while we were together.”

Darian’s eyes widened. “Wait… so the baby might not even be yours?b” /b

I shook my head. “Oh, it’s mine. I’d bet anything on it. Tina’s a lot of things, but she’s not dumb. If that baby wasn’t mine, she’d be gone by now–probably living off Joey. He’s stable. He’s not broke. But she knows where the power is. She knows I love Mara. She knows she can’t have me, so she’s ying the long game.”

Darian looked genuinely sorry for me, but I didn’t need pity. I needed rity.

“What happens when she gives birth?” he asked. “That’s two months from now.”

“I’ve talked about it with Mara. If Father still wants to im the child and raise it here, fine Put Mara is willing to help care for the child as her own.”

Darian’s expression twisted with concern. “Don’t do that to her, Lucian. Not Mara. Tina’s poisonb, /bband /bbyou /bknow it. She got pregnant to secure your money, not your love. If you let Mara get dragged into bTina’s /bdrama while she’s carrying your child, it’ll destroy her peace. You know what Tina’s capable of.”

132 Father And Sons

My father cleared his throat, but I didn’t take my eyes off Darian.

i“/iiI /iido /iknow,” I said. “That’s why I’m handling it. Mara won’t suffer for my past.”

“Martha and I are willing to care for the child,” my father said, cutting in. “We’re just waiting for her bto /bbgive /bbirth so we can take the baby and kick her out. If you threaten to cut her off the mark, she’ll walk quietlyb.” /b

Typical. His way was always to forcepliance instead of earning trust.

“No, Father,” I said calmly, but firmly. “I don’t need to threaten Tina. All I have to do is offer bthe /bbare minimum for the child or hint that I’ll abandon the baby altogether. She’ll fold. The only reason she’s holding on is because she thinks the baby’s a paycheck.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but I didn’t let him. “I have ess to her email, Fatheri. /iShe’s balready /bbtold /bJoey she’ll give up the child and return to him once it’s born. That’s how I know it’s mine–because bif /bit weren’t,

she’d be long gone.”

My father exhaled deeply, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Enough about Tina. I’m just d our Luna is carrying. Mara’s child will be your heir. That much is clear.”

He didn’t need to say it, but I nodded anyway. Mara’s baby was everything. That child was wanted, loved, nned. Tina’s? A miscalction I would undo if I could.

Then I shifted the conversation.

“I need to talk to you about Alpha Chase.”

His shoulders stiffened as Iid everything out–the interrogation, the suicides, the threatsb, /bthe revtion about my mother. Darian sat frozen.

“When were you going to tell me,” I said, voice low and controlled, “that my mother was Natasha Redlockb? /bThe Alpha of Driftwake?”

Darian’s eyes snapped to me. i“/iiThe /iRedlocks? As in-”

“Yes,” I cut in. “That Redlock family.”

My father’s silence said more than any words.

i“/iShe had an Alpha mark, Father. Just like you. The Redlocks owned Driftwake. Not the Nighthorns. That means even if you’d handed Mooncrest to Darian, Driftwake was mine by blood. But you didn’t tell me. Instead, you tried to hand both packs to Darian.”

He looked like I’d punched him. I didn’t stop.

“What did you take from those people, Father? Because whoever Alpha Chase is, he isn’t bluffing. His people are fanatics. Loyal to the death. You may think this is between you and him, but I promise you, if ites to war, it won’t stop with you. Mara and 1–we won’t be spared. Our child won’t be spared.”

I stepped forward, anger sharp in my throat. “Start talking.”

His face crumpled, and for a moment, I saw real confusion behind his eyes.

“I never stole from anyone, Lucian,” he said, voice hoarse. “Yes, your mother was the Alpha bof /bDriftwake. I should’ve handed it over when you came of age. I admit that. I didn’t. But I didn’t take banything/bb. /bI swear on her grave. I don’t know who this Alpha Chase is. I don’t know what he wants.”

1 studied him carefully. He looked lost–searching his memories like he’d missed something huge and had no

132 Father And Sons

idea how

“You better figure it out,” I said quietly. “Because I don’t think this man is finished. And if Mara or our child gets caught in the crossfire, I won’t forgive you. Not this time.”

He bowed his head, silent.

I wanted to believe him. I needed to. But too many lies had alreadye from this house. He’d turned a blind eye for too long–especially where Martha was involved.

And now his ghosts wereing back to burn everything down.

b4 /b

H

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