The Rejected Luna’s Prince By Aurora Archer
Chapter 24 – Witnesses And Messangers
(Willa)
I woke up after possibly the most comfortable night of sleep in my life. Caspien returned the favor last night and we talked late in each other’s arms by the fire. I don’t think I would ever get sick of talking to him. I wanted to know everything about it and the more I learned the more I liked him.
Emmett was fast asleep when I made it to bed his fever was thankfully almost gone.
Dull gray light pierced through a crack in the dark curtains; I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and stretched out, reaching for my baby boy.
Emmett wasn’t there, and I sat up for a moment, worried. I knew he could take care of himself, mostly. But I didn’t know what he could get into here. There were probably some robot gadgets lying around. A robot butler or something I laughed to myself.
I slipped out of bed and made my way downstairs, following the sound of music and laughter. I relaxed when I heard both of their voices.
Caspien and Emmett were in the kitchen, he was wearing another white shirt and light gray sweatpants, I thought he might be even more attractive in this than in his suits.
Emmett was sitting on the kitchen island trying to squeeze an orange in a juicer, most of the juice getting on the island.
“Mama!” Emmett’s eyes lit up and then a frown crossed his face, “You were supposed to stay in bed, we were going to bring you breakfast.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,”
“To the couch, missy.” Caspien walked towards me, going to place a kiss on my cheek but pulled back and hesitated.
“Missy,” Emmett laughed, “He called you missy. We should call him Ca*s*sy.”
I smiled at him, bursting out laughing at Caspiens frown.
“I’m making orange juice. He said it was good for my sickness,”
“That was a great idea, Ca*s*sy,” I turned to him with a sweet smile on my face.
He raised an eyebrow that promised I would pay for that later and shook his head.
“How are you feeling?” I asked Emmett.
“Better; I’m all better now,” Emmett said confidently.
I reached for his forehead, all trace of his fever gone.
“The doctor will still come to check him over again,” Caspien looked a bit worried.
Maybe it was a fluke, a twenty-four-hour bug, or something that humans got. He was so isolated for years that maybe his immune system is kicking in, I wasn’t sure.
“Go relax on the couch; I’ll bring you some coffee and then a surprise breakfast,” Caspien grabbed my hand, squeezing it gently, it was such an intimate gesture.
Emmett made me close my eyes as Caspein set out bacon, scrambled eggs with extra cheese, Emmett’s request, and pancakes with chocolate chips.
“This looks incredible, it’s such a lovely surprise, thank you,” I turned to both of them, Emmett bounced on his feet, studying my reaction.
“Try the orange juice,” I grabbed the glass that was barely a fourth of the way full and took a little sip, my eyes wide.
“This is the best orange juice I’ve ever had.” Emmett gave me a big smile.
After breakfast, we got ready, Caspien let me borrow a shirt that swallowed me. The bathroom of Emmett’s room was stocked with toiletries.
Emmett’s room, I never thought I would get to have that here. Emmett had a room at Caspien’s place, I knew they would have to meet eventually but it always felt like that would happen in the distant future. I was glad that the two more important parts of my life were separate anymore.
When we came back down, two men in suits and Holden were standing by the entrance.
“I thought we could get the letter out of the way,” Caspien whispered to me when I came to his side.
“What do you need my help with?” Holden asked.
“To entertain the child,” Caspien said matter-of-factly.
“I’ve been reduced to a glorified babysitter,” He threw up his hands.
“I wouldn’t say glorified, but we can see how you do today,” I told him, earning me a smile from Caspien.
“Okay, child, let’s go hang out.” Emmett looked between me and Holden “I bought a lot of toys?” He tried.
“Okay.” Emmett’s eyes lit up and he took his hand from mine.
“Go on, I’ll just be a minute.” I a*s*sured him.
“The toys are in his room, we haven’t opened them yet.” Caspien nodded at Holden.
“And then we can all play?” He looked back up at me and Caspien.
“Of course,” Caspien answered for us and it made my stomach flip.
Caspien led us to the dining room table, he had changed into a suit again. I felt very underdressed in yesterdays jeans and Caspiens oversized shirt. Caspien smiled at me seeming to read my mind.
“You’re perfect,” He whispered before switching to Alpha mode.
“This is my lawyer and a witness who will also personally deliver the message.” The two men nodded at me in greeting.
“The letter is written and you need to look it over and sign it in our presence, and the witnesses will after you, and then they will be on their way.” He turned to me, “A bit of an overkill, honestly, but I will make sure this cannot be contested later if he chooses to give up all rights.”
I swallowed, reading the short letter and signing it.
I was nervous, I didn’t want to know what Nolan would do. I didn’t want contact with him. I knew he didn’t want Emmett, but I was scared that he might claim him for reasons I didn’t think of.
Caspien put his hand over mine, “It will be okay, once this is out of the way, you’ll feel better.”
“But what if-”
He shook his head, “I know, but we will ask for a response today. Whatever happens, we will face it. Together.”
I swallowed and nodded, it did little to quell my anxiety but I knew I had to get this out of the way.
“Alpha Dracos,” The lawyer and messenger took their leave.
“I’ll be back in a few hours,” The messenger added.
“Come directly to me.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
(Alpha Nolan)
I scrubbed my face looking at my desk. Piles of things that I had to do, and so much more had to be done before the conference, even though it was months away.
A sharp knock came at my door, and I debated ignoring it. It would be someone else coming in with another task to add to my endless list. I knew being Alpha would be hard, and I thought I was ready for it, but I felt like I was barely treading water; each year brought more responsibilities.
Paperwork, pack treaties, contracts, housing a*s*signments, it was all so tedious.
The knock came again, louder this time.
“Come in,” I grumbled.
A bulky, serious-looking man I didn’t recognize was led in by my Beta Issac. I sat back, waiting for him to be introduced.
“This is a messenger sent from Crescent Moon,” Issac motioned toward the other guy.
My eyes widened; a message from Cresent Moon, the royal pack? That must be important.
I hadn’t seen the Prince since my Alpha ceremony. He was invited to all of our events after, but he didn’t even bother sending anyone in his place most of the time.
“Go on,” I motioned to the man who looked at my Beta, waiting for him to leave.
Who was a messenger to request the dismissal of a Beta?
“You may leave,” I dismissed him when it was apparent the messenger wouldn’t say anything until he left.
“This is an official document from Wilheminia Balfour,”
My stomach dropped; what could she want?
I was glad that Isaac was gone; I didn’t want anyone else to hear whatever this was.
She disappeared off the face of the earth years ago. Her parents just showed back up, and now she wants something from me? Probably money, but I wouldn’t give it; the kid wasn’t mine, at least not in any way that I would claim.
No one knew about it, not even Camilla.
My heart clenched thinking about Willa, though; I missed her, I missed the fated mate bond, but there was nothing I could do about that. We had no ties anymore and I thought she would be mature enough to leave it behind.
He slid an envelope with the crest of Crescent Moon to the table. I opened it, not waiting for him to leave.
This official document informs Alpha Nolan Hemming of The Blue Ridge Pack that he has a son, Emmett Vincent Balfour, who was born on August 1st, five years ago.
I swallowed; I had another son, my eldest. Who was born almost an entire month before my son with Camilla.
If this kid contested my son’s claim as Alpha of Blue Ridge he had backing.
I thought I could keep the child a secret after Willa left and didn’t tell anyone about the baby. I commanded the doctor not to speak of it to anyone and hand over all the records she kept of Willa’s appointments.
The fact that she had come back now made me nervous.
You have 30 days from the revival of this message to claim the child as yours. Failure to respond will result in complete autonomy to go to the mother, Willheminia Balfour.
That was it?
That was it.
Thank The Goddess.
Did Willa expect me to want to lay claim on her son? Did she think I would change my mind and an official letter would make me want him?
“Do you have a response?” The man asked, his arms crossed.
“I want nothing to do with him,” I said, confusion turning to anger.
“Put it in writing and sign it; we need your pack lawyer and a witness,” He stated. Again, a messenger talking to an Alpha like that was unheard of.
“Can’t you be the witness?”
“I already was,” He pointed to what must have been his signature below Willa’s.
I sighed and linked the lawyer and my mom to come in immediately. I knew my mom wouldn’t ask questions. She was just desperate to be helpful.
“Why did you come here on her behalf?” I asked the man.
Did Willa join Crescent Moon? It didn’t matter; I just didn’t want Camilla to find out about this, she would have a f*uc*king fit.
“I’m not at liberty to discuss that.” He said, his face grave.
Where did they find this guy? We stared at each other until my mom and the lawyer came in.
I scribbled my response and signed it, stating that I wanted no claim to the child. After my lawyer read it over my mom signed it, but I covered what I wrote.
She looked slightly annoyed but thankfully didn’t say anything just like I knew she would.
“You’ll get a copy for your records,” The man said, when my response was in his hand. He turning on his heel and left without waiting for dismissal.
I grabbed the letter from the desk and shoved it into a drawer.
“Who was that?” She asked, motioning to the back of the man already halfway down the hall.
“Just a message from Cresent Moon, nothing important.”
She tilted her head, “Okay, honey.” She didn’t believe me, but I knew she wouldn’t press, she knew that this was an Alpha’s job.
“Do you need help with anything else? Camilla says she has the conference parties covered.” My mom stiffened; I don’t think she liked giving the reigns up.
“Daddy!” Theo came running in, and I let out a sigh; I did not have time for all this bullshit; I needed to process what happened and the potential future implications.
“Camilla,” I called out.
Theo bumped into my mom, who looked down lovingly at him before he climbed onto my lap, knocking about papers, and grabbing at my pen.
“Camilla,” I yelled again.
The tapping of her heels told me she was near. Even though she looked put-together, I knew she was exasperated.
“Get your child out of here; I’m working,” Theo was grabbing at my shirt, and I had to pry his hands off me.
“Our child,” She crossed her arms.
“Whatever,” I placed him on the floor.
“I want to play,” He whined.
“I’m working; go with your mom now,”
“I can take him; you look exhausted, dear” My mom turned to Camilla.
Camilla gave her a tight smile.
They got along so well in the beginning, they always had, especially during her pregnancy. Recently, there has been a bit of a strain. Camilla wanted our space, and my mom was reluctant to give up all of her Luna duties, even though she gave up her title almost five years ago.
I didn’t know what she wanted, and I don’t think she did either. She complained that Willa didn’t like party planning and she had to pick up the slack, and now she complained that Camilla didn’t want her help or opinions.
“I got it,” Camilla reached out to Theo, who was tugging on my mom’s dress.
He was constantly going, and I just wanted him to sit the f*uc*k down for one d.amn minute. We couldn’t have him at pack dinners or anything remotely formal. He was permitted to make an appearance and then had to leave; he embarra*s*sed me too often and I blamed Camilla for her lax parenting.
“Are you sure?” My mom looked down at Theo, patting his hair.
“Fine, you take him; I have things to do,” Camilla huffed, turning on her heel.
My mom rolled her eyes and gave me a sympathetic smile.
“Please take him out,” I said a bit too harshly, rubbing my temples.
I sometimes wondered how different it would have been if Willa was still my mate. She did whatever I asked of her, and would have cared for our children better, probably devoted her life to it. She never cared for keeping up appearances, which would have made her a better mother but a worse Luna.
I don’t think Camilla even liked being a mother after the attention shifted from her to the baby once he was born. It didn’t matter, though, it really didn’t, but I couldn’t help but compare them still in my mind. s*x with Camilla was mind-blowing, but I missed the sparks and warmth from the mate bond that were never as intense with a chosen mate.
I wondered if s*x with Willa would still feel like that. I missed how her incredible green eyes widened when I first entered her, how silky her midnight hair felt tangled in my hands, how innocent she was when I first claimed her and showed her what pleasure was, and more importantly, how to please me.
She learned fast and was eager for me; she craved my touch in a way no one else had. F*uc*k, I could feel myself hardening against my pants. I went to lock the door and put up a mental block.
I would make sure that there was no way in hell that her son would come back and try to claim my pack, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t get off to the memory of her.
I took myself in my hand and thought of her soft skin under my palms, how the curve of her perfectly plump a*s*s felt, the way she writhed under me when I was on top of her.
I could see her perfectly; I had her body memorized, even now. I thought of her full br.easts rising with her shallow breath after an o.rgasm, how her green eyes watered when I f*orc*ed myself into her pouty mouth.
“Nolan,” Camilla banged on my office door, “Why is this locked?”
“Go the f**k away,” I growled.