Alpha's Hidden Precious Luna-Chapter 122

Lily POV

When we settled inside again, my uncle pulled me int for another hug as if he still couldn’t believe I was here in person.

When he finally pulled back from the hug, tears were streaming down his face. His hands trembled as they clasped mine, and the raw emotion in his eyes made my throat tight. I could feel and see the sincerity in his eyes. This was all so alien to me. The fact that someone could cry just from finding it was so difficult to believe.

"I’m so sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I’m so—so sorry, Lily."

I bit the insides of my mouth to stop myself from crying. “So sorry it took me this long to find you. Harriet would never have forgiven me. I’ve failed you. I’ve failed my sister. I—" He let out a sharp breath, his fingers tightening around mine. "She entrusted me with everything, and I—" He let out a bitter chuckle, shaking his head. "I’ve betrayed her memory.”

“M-Mom is dead?” I felt the hope I had held onto until this moment – hope that my mom could still be alive fizzle away.

But I wasn’t pained. I didn’t expect she would still be. The question must have evoked memories to my uncle because he shook his head severally before managing.

“She’s dead, Lily. A long time ago. You didn’t even meet her.”

The pain on his face was so real that I could feel it. I didn’t know how to respond, how to ease the suffering etched so deeply into his face.

"You—" His voice was hoarse. "How have you survived all these years? Who took care of you?" His eyes searched mine desperately, as though looking for all the missing years, all the suffering, all the stories.

I hesitated, unsure how to answer. I didn’t know if I should recount all the sob stories about my time at Golden Moon Pack and everything I had gone through in the hands of my father and sister.

But come to think of it, he didn’t know that I lived with them. That would mean there was a high chance the people I thought were my real family, weren’t really. If I told him everything, it would only worsen his pain and make him feel more guilty. Perhaps later, I would, but not now.

“I – I just did,” I said quietly.

"Alone?" His expression darkened. "No one was there for you?"

I didn’t respond. I didn’t know how to explain the situation with Alpha Gregory and Vanessa and maybe I could withhold that information to see if he was not fraud. I will keep that to myself.

His grip on my hands tightened. "I should have been there."

"You didn’t know," I murmured.

He let out a shaky exhale. "But I should have known. I should have found you sooner." He lowered his head, his voice nearly a whisper. "I should have protected you, just like I promised your mother I would."

Something cracked in my chest. A promise... to my mother?

I barely had time to process those words when the front door opened, and Celeste’s grandparents entered the house. They had warm smiles on their faces but paused when they saw us. The expression on their faces immediately flattened and became cautious as their gaze strayed from my uncle to me and to Celeste who stood nearby like my personal bodyguard.

Grandpa Marcus narrowed his eyes. "And who might you be?"

I quickly stood up, wiping my hands against my jeans, still shaken. "This is—" I turned to my uncle, who was already regaining his composure. "This is my uncle," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "He’s been looking for me for years."

Grandma Elena gasped, her face easing into pity and relief at the same time. "Oh, you poor thing!" she said, stepping forward to clasp his hands warmly. "What a reunion this must be!"

“I was surprised too,” I murmured, managing a smile. “He says I look a lot like my mother. It’s so much to process. I’m sorry this had to happen here and...”

“Don’t be silly, Lily,” Grandpa Marcus cut me short, stepping forward to shake my uncle. “You’re as good as our child. I’m more than glad it happened here. What if he was a kidnapper or something worse?”

My uncle chuckled. “I’m so glad, Lily has been in safe hands, it makes me feel less guilt.” He clasped Grandpa Marcus’s hand firmly and just when he was about to move back, I saw Grandpa Marcus’s hand hold on to his for a second, he was looking at something on my Uncle’s sleeve.

My uncle quickly retrieved his hand, adjusting his sleeve to cover whatever Grandpa Marcus had seen. Grandpa Marcus continued to stare at him with an odd expression and continued studying him.

I looked at my uncle’s hand again, wishing I could see what was disturbing Grandpa Marcus so much.

Suddenly, Grandpa Marcus looked up, his brows were furrowed deeply. “You’re from the Nightbane Bloodline, aren’t you?”

The atmosphere changed instantly.

My uncle’s body went rigid. His grip on my hand loosened as he turned sharply toward Celeste’s grandfather, his expression no longer grief-stricken but suddenly... guarded.

Almost hostile.

"And if I am?" he asked, his tone cold, clipped.

Celeste’s grandfather raised his hands in a calming gesture. "Relax, son. I mean no harm."

My uncle didn’t relax. If anything, he seemed more on edge.

“That marking,” Grandpa Marcus pointed at his hand. “I’ve seen it before, in the old texts and all my lifetime, I’ve only met one person from your bloodline. The Nightbane are one of the most powerful werewolf families in history. Their pack, their military ruling and all is still being used to teach young warriors these days. I just find it curious. It’s been a long time since I’ve met or heard someone from your bloodline. Your kind rarely shows themselves anymore.”

My uncle exhaled sharply but didn’t say anything. Instead, he stepped back, his shoulders tense. "I don’t see how that’s relevant," he muttered.

"No offense meant," Grandpa Marcus raised his hands placatingly. "Just curious. We don’t often see members of ancient families in these parts."

My uncle didn’t respond, signalling an end to whatever this conversation was. Grandpa Marcus nodded thoughtfully but didn’t push further. The tension in the room heightened. I was just wondering if everything Grandpa Marcus said was true.

From my uncle’s reaction, I guess it would be.

After a while, Grandma Elena clapped her hands together. "Well! Since we have a guest, we must have dinner together." She smiled at my uncle. "Please, you must stay."

He hesitated. "I don’t want to impose."

"Of course not," Celeste assured him. "You’re Lily’s family."

With some reluctance, he agreed.

The dinner was filled with forced conversations and lingering glances between my uncle and Grandpa Marcus. He remained quiet for the most part, answering only when asked, but I could see the gears turning in his mind. He was hiding something.

After dinner, he stood up. "I should go look for a hotel room for the night," he said.

Celeste rolled her eyes. "You do realize you need a special pass to even book a hotel in this pack, right?" She crossed her arms. "You should stay here. We have extra rooms."

He looked like he wanted to refuse, but eventually nodded. "Fine."

I let out a breath, exhaustion creeping in. I had so many questions, but right now, my body begged for rest. I turned to my uncle and offered him a small smile. "Goodnight."

He nodded. "Goodnight, Lily."

I retreated to my room, closing the door softly behind me. My mind swirled with everything that had happened, but as soon as I laid my head on the bed, I fell into an exhausted sleep almost immediately.

It was dark.And I was awakened and in my semi-conscious state

A voice echoed in my head. “Lily.”

It was Hazel.

“Get up”.

I stirred slightly, too tired to fully register what she was saying. “Go back to sleep,” I muttered through our bond.

Lily, wake up.

A slight annoyance flickered through me. “Hazel, it’s the middle of the night—"

“GET UP NOW!”

Her third warning came with a flash of images in my mind’s eyes – more like a vision. The ceiling above me cracking. Splintering and then collapsing on me.

It felt so real that panic seized my chest and I jerked awake, scrambling out of bed. For a split second, I stood there feeling foolish.

Then the roof caved in.

The sound was deafening – wood splintering, plaster crumbling. The entire ceiling above my bed caved in, crashing down exactly where I’d been lying seconds before. Dust filled the air as debris scattered across the room.

For a moment, all I could do was stare, then I let out a piercing shout. The noise from the roof must have woken the entire house because I heard footsteps thundering down the hallway. A second later, the door burst open, revealing my uncle, Celeste and her grandparents. They all froze at the sight.

Me—sitting against the corner of the room, knees drawn up to my chest.

The remains of my bed—destroyed.