The Rejected Luna’s Prince By Aurora Archer
Chapter 70 – Stripped Bare
(Willa)
Nolan’s mouth hung open, but his shock was quickly replaced by anger.
“So that’s really why you’re here?” He spat, his fiery eyes turned to Caspien, “To get revenge for Willa?” He laughed once it was dry and grating.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes, but I was sure Cali didn’t.
“Answer the question, Nolan.” Caspien sounded bored.
“It doesn’t matter-”
“For the line of succession, it does.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“The truth.” Caspien pinned him with a hard stare, “From your mouth, You Coward.”
Nolan swallowed, crossing his arms, his lips in a hard line.
“Did you reject Willa knowing she was pregnant with a potential heir?” Caspien asked again.
Isaac and Jack were looking at Nolan now, I wasn’t sure how much they even knew, even after Jack and I talked I knew how Nolan could spin things.
“It doesn’t matter, Camilla was pregnant, and I took her as my chosen mate. Theo is my heir.” His voice was firm but his face gave away his emotions.
“But you rejected Willa knowing she was pregnant?” Griffen asked, clearly bored of the encounter.
“I was going to before that; the pregnancy didn’t matter,” Nolan muttered.
I knew that was true, even though in the past I had a hard time wrapping my mind around it.
I thought that if the situation was different, if he found out about my pregnancy first or if I had gotten pregnant months before, everything would be different.
If he never had that conference where he must have re-connected with Camilla if we took over as Alpha and Luna sooner. A million possibilities used to keep me up at night.
But I realized, that no matter the situation, no matter what I could have done differently, Nolan was still the same person.
I couldn’t blame myself for anything I did or didn’t do; those were his actions, his choices, and nothing that I could have done changed who he was or the choices that he made.
I chose to forgive my past self, and that freed me.
“The line of succession does,” Caspien faced the crowd, “Nolan fathered a child with his mate and rejected her after finding out she was pregnant.”
“I gave up my rights,” Nolan hissed.
“Emmett, Willa’s, and my son is the rightful heir of Blue Ridge,” Caspien started ignoring him.
The crowd was silent for a long moment.
“However, he is heir to Crescent Moon and,” Caspien looked back to the pack house, “I think he is destined for much more than this. Emmett Balfour is my heir,” Caspien said.
“So where does that leave us?” Jack asked.
“Theo can be heir here if he chooses. There will be rules and regulations, and you will sign a new treaty with us.” Caspien went on.
“Like h*ell we will.” Nolan cut in, and Jack put his arm out stopping him from going further.
“Your Luna, ex Luna,” Caspien corrected himself, and Nolan’s eyes shot to him, “Has gone against the Alpha and Luna’s decision of this territory.” Caspien turned to the crowd that seemed to have almost doubled yet again.
“Camilla went to Alpha Jasper the Alpha that took a hit out with an a*s*sa*s*sin on my son,” The crowd collectively gasped, “Camilla informed him about the challenge that we decided I could go forward with at the conference here.”
“Who cares?” Nolan said.
“Alpha Jasper had time to prepare a special kind of poison he used against me in the challenge. It wasn’t a fair fight, thanks to Camilla, and she betrayed the packs in our territory.”
“So you killed her,” Nolan was shaking.
“No,” Caspien shrugged, “I left it up to my Luna to decide, I would have gutted her on the spot, but Willa is the more rational one.”
Nolans’s eyes turned to me.
“She’s here,” I said, “She will be stripped of her title,” I informed him, my voice unwavering.
“No,” Nolan said.
He wasn’t happy to have her back? How was that his first thought? Anger over her title being stripped instead of relief that she was alive and well? Well, and well as she would let herself be, I was past feeling guilty for the choices of others.
“The other packs have been informed,” Caspien said, “She will not hold any weight at this pack, and we will have regular check-ins.”
“Then what’s the point?” Issac asked.
“Of her?” Caspien shrugged, “I’ve been wondering that for a while.”
“She can be a mate and a mother, with no official duties or titles. That will be upheld.” I told Nolan.
The only reason that I let her live was because of her son. I couldn’t do that to him, even though I was warring with the decision and the potential impact it could have on my family.
“She will take a blood oath not to harm any members of my pack,” Caspien said.
“No. she won’t.” Holden tried to lunge at us, but Jack held him back.
“She already has,” Caspien replied, glancing at the slight cut on his palm that was already almost faded from this morning.
Nolan’s face paled. He violently shook his head, taking a step back.
“What the f*uc*k am I supposed to do without a Luna?” Nolan shouted, thrashing against Jack’s hold.
“Hire a party planner,” I murmured, and Caspien smiled at me, but I tried to keep my face impassive.
“We came here to tell your pack the truth, so they know what you are capable of,” Caspien said, “The decisions you make as an Alpha have an effect on your entire pack.” He glanced back at Nolan briefly.
“You could have lost everything if Willa was vindictive.” Caspien went on, “Lucky for you she doesn’t give a single s*hi*t about you anymore.”
That was true, Goddess that felt good that that was true.
“I know there have been a lot of rumors, and talk swirling around.” I addressed the pack. Lola told me that a lot of the pack members pieced it together about my son, but some of them still thought that I ran without telling Nolan.
“I just wanted to set the record straight. I grew up here, and for many years, this was home. I was, at one point, your future Luna,” A lifetime ago, “I just wanted you to be informed.”
“We want you to be able to make an informed decision,” Caspien said, placing a hand on the small of my back.
“Decision?” Jack said, but he didn’t look away from Rachel, who was fidgeting and tugging on her hair.
You okay? I linked her looking back to where she stood.
Her wide eyes met mine, and she nodded imperceptibly.
“If they want to stay here under his leadership,” Caspien said.
“What other option do they have?” Jack asked.
“They can leave, relocate to a pack with better leadership.” Even Isaac snarled at that.
“Crescent Moon is open to anyone. We have a packhouse in the city and in the forest, also apartments around the city and suburbs that are open to pack members,” Caspien announced, his voice booming.
“It’s just an option but one I wanted to open up to my first pack, the first place I knew as home,” I said, not sounding as confident as I would have liked.
There was talk amongst the crowd.
“I’m coming,” Lola walked to the front of the pack with her parents behind her.
“So are we if you’ll have us.” Her dad said.
“Of course, I would love nothing more.” My heart swelled. Lola bounced up and down and tucked her short blonde hair behind her ear.
‘Talk later’? She mouthed, and I nodded, smiling.
“Decisions don’t have to be made now; it’s an open invitation, even if in a few years you decide to move,” Griffen said, quieting the group.
“You will not take any of my pack members.” Nolan bellowed.
“They have free will, or don’t they?” Caspien countered, his aura expanding.
“You know the truth about your Alpha and former Luna. We came here to return her to you. Any questions after will be addressed by my Beta and Gamma.” Caspien said.
“Where is she?” Nolan said, his face red.
Caspien’s eyes clouded over, and a few seconds later, Camilla was brought out the front of the packhouse. Her hair was tangled, and even though she was wearing fresh clothes, she looked in complete disarray.
Her wild eyes scanned the crowd, and she rushed up to Nolan, who held her at arm’s length, looking her over.
“What did they do to you?” He snarled, “See what they do to a Luna in their territory? How do you think they would treat you?” Nolan addressed his pack, his voice loud.
“Ex-Luna,” Cali corrected, crossing her arms and jutting her chin at Nolan. Cool yet firey as ever. She was my rock.
Nolan opened his mouth to say something but Caspien cut him off.
“She was given good food, water, and a comfortable cell. Willa made sure that she had clean clothes and basic amenities.” Caspien’s voice was hard, “Something I did not think she deserved,” He added.
“It was my Luna’s call, and she was treated better than any prisoner I have ever taken alive.” Caspine’s voice left no room for further questions.
“Now, let’s get it over with. This has taken enough of my time already.” Caspien said, walking towards Nolan and Camilla.
“Camilla Wright, you are stripped from your title as Luna of Blue Ridge by my authority as Alpha of The Crescent City Pack.”
Caspien’s royal aura expanded, and his command whipped through the crowd.
Camilla fell to her knees, clutching at her stomach and head. Silent sobs wracked her body, I wondered if this felt similar to being rejected, but I didn’t think anything could compare to that gut-wrenching pain.
Nolan stared down at his chosen mate in shock and what might have been disgust.
“You will honor the blood oath and focus on raising your son, which is the only reason you’re alive,” Caspien added, growling.
We would have people checking in, not just to make sure that Camilla didn’t try to act as Luna but to make sure that Theo was well taken care of. I knew that despite his grandparent’s misdeeds, they loved him and would protect him, but I needed to know that he was well taken care of.
Nolan seethed, his hands in fists and his whole body shaking.
“You b*itc*h.” He growled at me as if this was all my fault.
I raised an eyebrow, not suppressing the amused smile that crept onto my face. Caspien growled louder than Nolan, and everyone in the crowd took a step back under his ancient power.
“Try again,” Cali said, her voice cool yet fiery.
“I would watch your mouth when talking to your Princess,” Caspien took a step forward, towering over Nolan, “Stop blaming these consequences on others. That isn’t the mark of a leader, but then again, I wouldn’t expect you to know how to act like one.”
“Ohhhh, s*hi*t.” Cali said, and I tried not to smile, she was doing really well, not cutting in, but I knew she must have been dying to say something.
Nolan shut his mouth, but his shaking didn’t stop.
“Thank you for letting us intrude on your time,” I said to the crowd, trying to diffuse the situation, “I hate that we had to come back under such negative circumstances, but I hope you understand to some extent why we did.” I shrugged.
Caspien turned to the crowd after taking his place next to me and grabbing my hand, “You are welcome at Crescent Moon. Anytime.”
With that, the conversation ended.
I let out a deep breath.
“Well done,” I murmured to Cali.
“She was linking me her commentary the entire time, the only thing that s.hut her up,” Holden said, taking his mate lovingly into his arms.
The crowd didn’t disperse. Instead, loud chatter filled the area until one word cut through it all.
“Mate,” Jack yelled as if he were gasping for air.
Rachel ran into his open arms, wrapping her legs around him and burying her face into his neck.