Chapter 71 She’s Gone

Chapter 71 She’s Gone
REIKA'S POV

Father had told me Apollo wouldn’t wake quickly. The antidote needed time, days, perhaps, to burn through the poison coursing in his veins. I wanted to stay by his side, to hold his hand until he opened his eyes again, but Father’s words weighed heavily on me.

“My little moonlight,” he said, his voice firm but gentle, “your mate will live. Trust me. But while he rests, we cannot delay any longer. The
Shadow Claw pack awaits us, and Martin.”

The name alone made my stomach twist. I turned my gaze back to Apollo, brushing his hair from his pale brow, as though my touch could tether him to this world. My heart screamed at me not to leave, but I knew Father was right. Apollo had Orion at his side; I could trust him to guard what I loved most. Slowly, with great reluctance, I nodded. “Then Orion will stay with him. I trust him.”

The journey to Shadow Claw felt heavy with silence. The land itself seemed broken, shadows clinging to the once-proud pack territory like scars. This was no longer their domain. Thunder Howl had claimed it in victory, and now Father came to claim justice. I walked beside him, every step making my pulse quicken, because I knew what awaited me.

At the gates, Father’s presence alone was enough to send the guards to their knees. His aura rolled over the territory like a storm, commanding obedience with every breath.

“Bring Alpha Martin from the dungeon,” Father ordered, his tone cold and unyielding.

The guards obeyed instantly, scurrying away, leaving me to clutch my hands together so tightly. My chest rose and fell in shallow breaths. After so many years of wondering, of hating, of questioning, I will face the man who had stolen my entire life and confront him.

The sound of chains echoed before I saw him. The guards returned, dragging Martin between them. His wrists were shackled, his head lowered. He looked smaller than I remembered, though still dangerous in his own way. But when his eyes finally lifted and fell upon my father standing tall beside me, he froze. It was as though he had seen a ghost.

His face drained of color, his lips parted, but no words came out. His body trembled despite the iron shackles holding him firm. His eyes flickered to me then, widening further, recognition flashing across his expression like lightning.

“Y-Your Majesty…” he stammered at last, his voice cracked and uncertain.

Father stepped forward, his aura pressing down so heavily that even I felt the weight of it. “You never thought this day would come, did you, Martin?” Father’s voice cut through the air. “You never thought I would find my daughter… alive.”

I could hardly breathe as I watched Martin’s face pale further, fear etched into every line. For years, I had pictured this moment, confronting the man who ruined my life. And now, here he was, trembling before us as though he already stood at death’s door.

Martin’s eyes flickered from me to my father, wide and frantic. I could see the fear pooling there, like a cornered wolf who knew his time was running out. His lips trembled as he stammered, “W-What are you doing here, Your Majesty?”

Father’s presence filled the dungeon like a storm breaking through stone walls. His posture was regal, towering, and immovable. “I am here to talk to you,” he said, his voice cold as steel. “We have so much to talk about.”

Martin forced a shaky smile, though it failed to hide the tremor in his hands. “My King, it’s a pleasure to see you here. I… I am no longer the Alpha in this pack. Alpha Apollo took it from me.” His eyes darted to mine briefly before returning to my father. “But I did help your child. I adopted Reika into my pack when I found her in the forest. I rescued her… and treated her like my own.”

My blood boiled so fiercely I thought my skin might burn. His words slithered through the air like poison, tainting the truth I carried in my heart. My chest rose and fell rapidly, fury clawing at my throat until I could no longer stay silent.

“Liar!” I shouted, my voice cracking but strong enough to echo through the chamber. My whole body shook with rage. “I was never treated like your child in this pack! Yes, you were kind to me in some moments, but don’t twist the truth. The bullying, the insults, the humiliation, those never stopped! You stood by while they treated me like dirt, while they told me I was nothing but a weak Omega who didn’t belong.”

Martin’s mouth opened as though to argue, to spin another web of lies, but Father’s roar cut through before he could utter a word.

“Don’t you dare argue with my child, Martin!” Father’s voice thundered, reverberating in the cold stone walls, so powerful it felt as though the earth itself shuddered. His aura spilled into the room, crushing and suffocating, pressing against every soul present. His golden eyes burned like molten fire, sharp and merciless.

Martin flinched, his face paling even more as he lowered his gaze, unable to withstand Father’s fury. His hands trembled against the chains that bound him, and for once, the man who had loomed over my childhood looked small, pathetic even, under the weight of the Lycan King’s wrath.

Father stepped closer, his expression dark, carved with years of pain and betrayal. “I know you too well, Martin,” he hissed. “Do not think you can deceive me with pretty words. You stole what was mine. You destroyed my family. Do not stand here and paint yourself as a savior.”

Martin swallowed hard, his silence heavy and uneasy as his eyes darted nervously between Father and me.

Then Father leaned forward, his tone cold and final. “I want to know where the servant is, the one you commanded to kidnap Reika.”

My heart pounded faster, every breath sharp and shallow. I had waited my whole life to hear Martin answer for his crimes, and now, finally, he was trapped, cornered by truth and power he could no longer escape.

Martin’s lips parted, desperation flashing in his eyes. “My King, I—”

“Silence.” Father’s voice cracked like thunder, the word alone heavy enough to make Martin stumble back a step, even though the chains bound him. His entire frame trembled beneath Father’s aura.

But Martin was a coward who could never endure silence. He tried again, words spilling out like a leaking dam. “The servant… the one who took Reika… she betrayed us both. She wanted too much. She would have exposed everything.”

My chest tightened. Betrayed us both? No. She betrayed me. She betrayed my family. She was nothing but a pawn in Martin’s cruel schemes.

Father’s gaze hardened, his eyes glowing faintly gold. “Where is she?” he asked, voice low but edged with lethal promise.

Martin hesitated, his jaw clenching, his shoulders sagging. He looked like a man carrying the weight of his lies too long, and now they crushed him.

“She’s… she’s gone,” he whispered, his voice breaking.