CHAPTER 69: YOU WEREN’T MY LUNA

Leia returned to the mansion earlier than expected. A file was tucked under her arm as stepped through the grand entrance, only to find a tense scene unfolding before her.

"What’s going on?" she asked in low voice, turning to Greta, who stood stiffly in the corner of the living room.

Greta leaned in and whispered the events of the morning till now.

Leia clicked her tongue. "Tsk. Lucien and that hot temper of his," she muttered under her breath.

"I advise you not to get involved, Miss Leia," Greta warned gently. "Alpha is in no mood to be reasoned with."

At the center of the room, Lucien rose to his feet like a storm was about to break. His gaze bore down on Benjamin, who stood with his head bowed in shame.

"Mr. Harty," Lucien said coldly, "make your daughter understand the gravity of her actions. The only way she walks out of this alive is through banishment. That is my final word."

Just then, his eyes caught movement near the pillar. Leia stood there, watching silently, a servant at her side.

"I accept the punishment—" Benjamin began, but his words were abruptly cut off.

"Wait," Leia’s voice rang out clearly across the room. She quickly stepped toward them and glanced at Benjamin’s weary expression.

"Did you banish your grandmother too?" Leia questioned in a pointed tone.

"She’ll never set foot in this mansion again," Lucien replied coldly. "She’s been sent to live with my aunt."

"But that’s not banishment," Leia countered, her eyes narrowing slightly. She shifted her gaze to Elsa, who sat trembling, her face streaked with tears.

"Miss Harty’s punishment shouldn’t be so severe," Leia continued. "It was your grandmother who chose to send Elsa to the cottage. And you yourself said Mr. Harty was a trusted friend of your father. Don’t punish a father by tearing his daughter away from him."

Elsa looked at Leia in stunned disbelief. Of all people, she had never imagined Leia would speak on her behalf.

"Caleb, take away Leia and lock her in the room," Lucien said.

"What?" Leia widened her eyes. "Why am I being locked?" she questioned.

"To speak at a very wrong time," Lucien stated. Caleb held Leia’s arm and dragged her to the room.

Once she was gone, Lucien gazed at Benjamin. "Your daughter can live among the humans, but she has no place in this pack. I respect you and for that sake, I’m even giving you right to meet your daughter frequently. Else, you’re aware of the banishment rules," Lucien stated with a dark gaze.

"I’m thankful for that, Alpha. If there were another Alpha at your place, I know my daughter would have been punished severely for forcing herself on the pack’s alpha," Benjamin said, looking at his daughter, who was on the floor.

~~~~

"Why does Lucien act like this?" Leia muttered with a frustrated chuckle. "I didn’t say anything wrong. Why separate a daughter from her father?"

"Leia," Caleb said firmly, stepping closer, "you can’t interfere in the Alpha’s decisions. His word is final."

"I know," Leia said, letting out a sigh as she sank onto the edge of the bed. "But he didn’t treat his grandmother the same way. I just don’t understand why there’s such a wide gap in how punishments are handed out."

"Leia," Caleb replied, "if Lucien wanted, he could’ve sentenced Elsa to death. You shouldn’t speak ill of him."

Just then, the door flung open and Lucien walked in.

"Caleb, give us some privacy," Lucien said curtly.

Once his Beta exited, Lucien turned and locked the door from the inside.

"Alpha, I understand your decision is for the good of the pack, but you must know—" Leia’s words caught in her throat as Lucien suddenly pinned her down on the mattress, silencing her with a finger pressed firmly against her lips.

"You said you weren’t my Luna," he growled in an intense gaze. "So why do you keep interfering in matters where I make the final call?"

Leia rolled her eyes, her body shifting in defiance beneath him.

Lucien watched her struggle. He slowly lowered his finger from her lips, but his grip on her wrists above her head remained tight.

"You could’ve said this by remain standing," Leia said.

"But you don’t get my words when I say them from this close," Lucien affirmed.

"I get it now, so move away," Leia said, turning her gaze aside.

Lucien released her wrists and slowly straightened. Leia sat up, running her fingers through her hair to regain her composure. His eyes flicked to the file lying on the bed, he reached for it and unfolded the pages.

"I brought the records," Leia said, watching him. "Documentation of incidents where omegas have been mistreated. By the way... what happened to Delia? You seem completely fine now, so I assume you’re ready to tell me what you plan to do about her."

Lucien kept his focus on the pages. "Why?" he asked dryly. "Are you planning to save her too?"

"No," Leia replied calmly. "But I do want to find out the truth about my father. Delia said she sought revenge, on me and the wolves, because of something related to him."

Lucien slowly lowered the file and met her gaze.

"I’ll help you," he said. "To find out about your father. Whatever Delia believes, even she doesn’t know the full story. She acted based on what someone told her."

"So, you’re not going to let me see her," Leia said quietly.

"No," Lucien replied without hesitation. "I won’t."

Leia took a deep breath, then looked up at him with a softer expression. "Then... will you take me to the place? I want to bring back my mother’s belongings," she asked, her voice tinged with hope.

Lucien’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, studying the sincerity in her eyes.

"Sure. When do you want to go there?" Lucien asked.

"What about tomorrow?" Leia asked.

Lucien agreed for it promptly. "I’ll take you to your place."