Chapter 64 I Will Break Your Face

Chapter 64 I Will Break Your Face
KING THEORON'S POV

I paced back and forth in my chambers, the sound of my boots echoing against the stone floor of the Lycan King’s palace. The weight of the crown felt heavier than ever, yet my mind was far from matters of the council or the kingdom. Suddenly, without warning, I froze.

A familiar warmth washed over me, like the first rays of moonlight breaking through a storm. My heart clenched, and my breath caught in my throat. I could feel her again, my moonlight. The bond sparked to life inside me, a thread that had lain dormant for too long, suddenly tugging at my very soul. It was faint, but it was there, and it consumed me.

"My little moonlight!"

Did she shift again? The thought hit me with a rush of confusion and longing. It had been years since I’d been able to truly sense her until the other day, my daughter, my blood, my little moonlight. And now, her presence lingered in me like a whisper from the Moon Goddess herself. My fists tightened at my sides, a mixture of relief and desperation coursing through me.

The frustration of waiting gnawed at me relentlessly. I had endured countless moons, hoping, praying, and searching, while the throne room remained cold without her laughter, without her rightful place at my side. The kingdom could wait for many things, but a father’s heart could not. 
The uncertainty of when she would return, or if she even would, was slowly killing me inside.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, though not from wood or iron. Through the mind-link, I allowed entry, my beta Kalel stepping into my chambers. His tall frame moved quickly, almost too quickly, as though he could hardly contain himself. His face glowed, his expression so bright that I knew before he even spoke.

“They found her,” Kalel said breathlessly, his eyes shining with triumph as he came closer. His voice carried the weight of long-awaited victory.

My chest tightened, a thousand emotions clashing all at once. I turned to him sharply, my own excitement breaking through the stern mask I usually wore as king. 

“Where is my little moonlight?” My voice trembled, the word I spoke not as a king, but as a father who had been robbed of precious time.

Kalel smiled, his tone more careful now, though still tinged with relief. 
“She’s not with our warriors. But they said she’s fine.” His brows furrowed as if weighing his next words. “I think we need to formally get her from the Thunder Howl pack’s territory.”

That name, Thunder Howl, stirred something deep in my memory. I knew every pack within my continent, their lands, their leaders, their strengths, and their weaknesses. But the Thunder Howl pack… yes, I had heard whispers of them. Not much in recent years, only that their Alpha, Apollo Astor, had uprooted his people and transferred his pack elsewhere. A bold move, and bold moves often meant something was being hidden.

And then, there was the shadow of a curse. I remembered it well. The Astor line was tainted by blood, bound to old sins and restless ghosts that never truly faded. That family carried a darkness in their name, one even Lycans did not dismiss lightly. My teeth clenched. If this Apollo Astor or his family had dared to take my daughter, my moonlight, away from me… I would never forgive it. I would see his lands burned, his wolves scattered, and his line ended. No one would live after tonight.

I turned to Kalel, who waited patiently by my side, his expression disciplined yet curious, no doubt sensing the storm in my chest. 

"I know the Thunder Howl pack's Alpha, Apollo Astor. Their family has secrets. I want my daughter back before the crack of dawn."

"I understand, my King," Kalel nodded in agreement. "Now, what's our next move?"

“I want to talk to the warriors,” I said firmly, my voice leaving no room for hesitation.

Kalel inclined his head and led me out, down the long stone hall, and into 
the courtyard where the warriors had assembled. They were weary from travel, their armor and cloaks stained with dust and dirt, but when they saw me approach, every one of them straightened and bowed, fists crossed against their chests in respect. Their loyalty was unwavering, and it filled me with pride.

“Tell me,” I demanded, my eyes sweeping across their ranks before locking onto the lead warrior. “Was it Alpha Apollo who took my daughter?”

Abel, one of my most seasoned men, stepped forward. His expression was grave but respectful as he met my gaze. “My king, the little moonlight is in the Thunder Howl pack.” He hesitated a moment before continuing. 
“But she did not look abused. We did not see signs of mistreatment.”

A low growl escaped my throat despite his words. Not abused? That was not enough to calm me. My daughter did not belong anywhere but here, with me.

Abel continued, carefully. “We cannot yet confirm if it was the same pack that took the Lycan heir years ago. But we were able to find her discreetly. We used the Moonstone Compass, forged with your bloodline’s essence. It pulled us directly to her spirit, binding her aura to its light. 
There was no mistake, my king. The compass only answers to the blood of House Theoron.”

My chest tightened at the mention of my bloodline. That compass had been passed down from my forefathers, a relic tied to the first Lycan King. 
It had only one purpose: to locate those born of my blood. If it had pointed to her, then there was no denying it. My daughter was indeed there.

Now that my daughter had shifted, it was easy to find her. My theory was that after someone stole her from us, she was covered with the witch's power of protection. Even her scent was covered, but when she shifted for the first time, the curse broke.

Abel’s eyes darkened as he continued. “There was also unrest within the pack. We saw a duel fought, Alpha Apollo against his cousin, Jupiter. The cousin challenged him for leadership. It was brutal, and the pack witnessed everything.”

I narrowed my eyes. Internal conflict. A cursed line. And my daughter was caught in the middle of it all. My fury grew sharper, but so did my resolve. 
The Moonstone Compass had given me my answer, and now there would be no turning back.

Thunder Howl had my daughter. And I would claim her back, no matter the cost. "Apollo, I can't wait to see you and break your face."