Chapter 83: Flicker of Hope

Chapter 83: Flicker of Hope
Thaddeus
The door burst open with a gust of urgency as Theodore stormed into the chamber, his breath uneven, eyes wide with the same fear that gripped my chest. Whatever had severed my connection to Kasumi, it had struck him too.
He didn't waste a second. "Uncle Cretheus isn't here," he said, voice clipped, strained. "He and the others moved to the western border when the rogues broke through the defense."
His gaze shifted to Alpha King Azarius. "Your Majesty, word from the front says the grand crosses are engaging the rogues now. Per your command, five platoons from the royal military have been deployed."
But Azarius didn't reply. His attention was fixed on the map table, unmoving. His fingers tapped once against the edge, then curled into a fist.
"This isn't coincidence," he murmured, eyes narrowing. A smirk, thin and cold, tugged at the corner of his lips. He glanced sideways at Claudian and Rachelle, whose faces had grown grave. "A breach at the western border... not something easily done."
Then he turned to us, his voice low but biting. "And now, just as Lady Kasumi disappears? Timing couldn't be more precise." He gave a dry, humorless chuckle. "So... they've decided to play their hand. Treason it is."
Claudian arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You sound disturbingly entertained, Azarius."
Rachelle's voice cut in, sharp with worry. "Shouldn't you be more concerned?"
His Majesty chuckled. "Not really. I am really waiting for them to take a step." 
"You are crazy." She shook her head and turned her gaze toward me and Theodore. "You're sure she isn't in her mentor's study?"
I gave a grim nod. "We checked. Her scent was strongest there... but it trailed off toward the rear palace gardens." I hesitated, jaw tightening. "Then it vanished."
My fists tightened at my sides, nails biting into my palms. The agitation bubbling in my chest had been mounting ever since I failed to find any trace of Kasumi in her usual workspace. My wolf had been pacing restlessly within me, a low growl rumbling beneath my skin as I scoured the area, her scent growing fainter with every turn.
I'd nearly torn the place apart in frustration. Only Azarius' warning—keep it quiet, don't cause alarm—kept me from unleashing the storm brewing in my veins.
It took everything in me not to bolt for the four clans then and there. But I couldn't risk it. If Kasumi was in danger, charging in blind could only make things worse.
"I see," Rachelle said, her voice measured. She turned to my twin. "And you must be Theodore de Rosa. A pleasure to meet you." A pause, then a smile. "Have I mentioned that I'm Kasumi's sister? The first daughter of the Moon Goddess?"
Theodore blinked, clearly trying to keep his composure. "An honor, Your Majesty."
She waved a hand dismissively. "No need for titles. You're my brothers-in-law now, aren't you?" Her gaze flicked to Claudian with a playful grin. "That goes for you too, Claude."
Theodore and I exchanged a glance, unsure how to respond. The title sister of Kasumi still echoed in my head, hard to believe even after everything. Despite Kasumi's confession, despite the proof she'd given me... part of me was still trying to grasp the truth.
Daughters of the Moon Goddess weren't just myths anymore. One of them was our mate.
And from the moment Kasumi entrusted me with that truth, I knew I'd never be able to walk away from her again.
I should've stopped the wedding. I should've said something before Severin slipped that ring onto her finger. The guilt clung to me like a second skin, heavier with every passing day. Watching them together had been a torment I learned to swallow, but deep down, I was always watching for signs. A glance. A smile. Anything that said she felt something real for him.
But Kasumi never did. She kept her distance from Severin, her eyes never softening the way they did with me. That unspoken boundary between them... it was the only thing that kept me from breaking apart.
Still, the peace between us didn't last.
There was a drift between Kasumi and I as soon as I learned that she didn't tell me that my twin brother, Theodore, was also her mate. I felt betrayed that I had been honest with her and had been preparing for a divorce with Madeline, but in the end, I had come to accept that I had to share my beloved mate with my twin brother.
The sting of betrayal was sharper than I expected.
Our father had always joked that Theo and I might end up sharing everything, including a mate. I used to laugh it off. Not anymore. It had become my reality, and no matter how much it hurt, I found myself learning to accept it. Even if the acceptance came with a bitter taste.
Then fate twisted the knife.
Uncle Cretheus.
My father's brother. My uncle. Another bond, another mate, tied to my sunshine, Kasumi.
It was laughable in a cruel sort of way.
I tried to fight it, to push the thought away. But it was there. In the way Kasumi looked at him when she thought no one was watching. In the silence between them that hummed with something primal and undeniable.
Her wolf wanted him, too.
I could barely breathe as the realization sank in.
In the end, I surrendered. Theodore surrendered. Not because we wanted to, but because it was useless to fight a connection that ran deeper than anything we could control.
Kasumi wasn't just ours.
And that truth was something my twin brother and I would carry with us, whether we liked it or not.
A flicker of something, hope, maybe, stirred in me the moment Severin finally spoke about divorcing Kasumi. He'd pulled me aside a few weeks ago, his expression guarded but firm, the weight of something long-held pressing on his shoulders.
I had left him the responsibility of overseeing the pack, hoping that in my absence, his time with Madeline would mean something. Maybe their bond would strengthen. Maybe it would grow into something real, something he could choose for himself.
Still, when he finally told me, I schooled my face into practiced neutrality, feigning surprise.
"What happened?" I asked, even though part of me already knew.
Severin lowered his eyes for a moment before lifting them again, his voice steady, too steady. "I should've been honest with you sooner, Father. Madeline and I... we've been together." His throat bobbed as he swallowed. "Physically. Emotionally. She's my mate."
He drew in a breath. "I want to be with her. I've made up my mind. Please let me claim her. I know Mother would be happy to see me finally choosing my mate."
His words landed like a quiet ripple in a still pond, one that would change the shape of everything.
The mention of his mother stirred nothing in me. She and I had never shared more than duty. She gave me Severin, my heir, that was the extent of our bond. Whatever Severin believed she might have wanted, it didn't matter. Not to me. It never had.
But I didn't say that.
I merely nodded, keeping my expression unreadable. "I'll give it some thought," I told him, the words measured, controlled.
He looked relieved. That was enough for now.
Inside, though, a quiet triumph flared. This was the opening I'd been waiting for. Severin stepping aside, willingly, was more than I expected.
Later, when I shared the news with Kasumi, her reaction said everything. She kissed me with a kind of hunger I hadn't felt from her in weeks. No hesitation, no restraint. Just pure, unspoken joy.
And in that moment, I knew Severin's decision had changed everything.
And now, she was in danger. We wouldn't be able to fulfill our dreams if Kasumi was not with us.
I faced Alpha King Azarius, my voice firm despite the tension knotting in my chest. "Your Majesty, grant us permission to investigate the four clans. We have to find Kasumi."
Azarius shifted his gaze to Rachelle, arching a brow. "Can't you just ask the Moon Goddess where your sister is? Wouldn't that save us the trouble?"
Rachelle let out a breath, her shoulders sagging slightly. "If only it were that simple," she muttered. "You can try forcing Mother, but all you'll get is some vague riddle about fate and the laws of nature."
Theodore suddenly stepped forward, desperation raw in his voice. "Please. We can't just sit around debating this," he said, his fists clenched at his sides. "Kasumi's in danger, and if one of the four clans has her, who knows what they're doing to her right now."
I glanced at him, our shared worry reflecting in each other's eyes, then turned back to the monarch. "Your Majesty," I said, my voice tightening, "let us speak to the Moon Goddess. Let us try before it's too late." I bowed before her. "Or at least, speak to Her. Please let Her know that one of Her daughters is in danger."
Rachelle stared at us before turning to Claudian who placed his hand on her shoulder. "Ray..." 
She lowered her gaze. "Mother wouldn't say anything..." She closed her eyes before opening it as she raised her hand, opening her palm. "But it is worth a try. We will go to the celestial realm right away."