Chapter 44 Buried Secrets
Kane’s mother stood frozen in the doorway. The coffee mug in her hands slipped, shattering against the stone steps as dark liquid spread across the welcome mat.
“Kane?” The word came out sounding more surprised than glad. “What are you doing here?”
“Believe me, I’m not glad to be here either. But we need your help.” Kane looked down at the broken ceramic. “Are you going to invite us in, or should we have this conversation on your doorstep for all your neighbors to see?”
She hesitated for a second, then stepped aside.
The house smelled like vanilla candles and fresh laundry. Everything was precise. From the cream walls to the hardwood floors and abstract art that revealed nothing about the owner’s personality.
“Who’s your friend?” she asked.
“This is Luna.” Kane’s voice was flat. “Luna, this is my mother, Celeste.”
Luna stretched out her hand to shake, but Celeste just looked at her and kept walking. She quickly lowered her arm. Celeste led them to the living room, gesturing at a beige couch. “Sit. I’ll clean up the mess outside.”
Luna barely knew Kane’s mother. She’d met the woman only a handful of times years ago, and each encounter had been frigid. Celeste had made it clear she thought Kane’s interest in her was beneath him. An Alpha heir entangled with a nobody omega.
Through the window, Luna watched Celeste sweep up the ceramic shards with careful precision. When she returned, she sat down and folded her hands, not offering them drinks or food.
“Why are you here?”
“Moon fever is back,” Kane said.
Her face went pale, the color draining so fast Luna thought she might faint. “Alexander.”
Kane and Luna exchanged knowing looks.
“I was hoping you would know something.”
“I know more than enough.” She looked away. “If anyone is greedy enough to bring back moon fever, it’s him. After all these years, I can’t believe he hasn’t given up.”
“Given up what exactly?” Luna asked.
“I haven’t spoken about this in years.” Celeste’s expression shifted. She stood and walked to what looked like a framed painting on the wall. Her fingers found a hidden latch. The frame swung open, revealing a small safe.
She pulled out a faded research journal, its leather binding cracked with age.
“Your father and Alexander were business partners,” she began, looking directly at Kane as she sat back down. “They were working on something. A serum. Richard kept most details private, but I knew enough to know it was dangerous.”
“RP-1989,” Luna said.
“Yes. It was meant to make wolves stronger. Faster healing. Better combat abilities.” She opened the journal, revealing pages of formulas. “Richard Pierce 1989.”
Kane went still. “So he really is to blame for all this?”
“No. Not at all. You see, Richard and Alexander were partners in developing it,” Celeste said quietly.
“Alexander joined the partnership when your father saw he could be useful in providing certain ingredients for the serum. They worked well together. And eventually, the serum worked. It gave wolves enhanced strength, speed, and healing. Everything they’d hoped for.” Her expression darkened. “For about a few weeks. Then the test subjects started deteriorating. Losing their humanity completely.”
“They started going feral,” Kane concluded.
“Yes. They lost their minds.” Celeste turned the pages, her attention fixed on finding something specific. She pulled out a photograph tucked between the pages. “That’s when Richard brought in someone special. Helena Sterling.”
Luna’s breath caught, but she kept her expression neutral.
“She was a moon healer. Richard had known her since childhood.” Celeste’s eyes grew distant. “He synthesized and extracted moon healer properties from her blood to complete the serum. And it worked. Her blood stabilized the wolves. No more feral deterioration. It was a breakthrough.”
“And Alexander?” Kane prompted.
“Alexander wanted more. He saw what the serum could do and stopped thinking about medicine. He wanted power.” Celeste’s voice dropped. “He took the serum himself. Started building an army of enhanced wolves and attacked the weaker ones. Seven packs fell under his control in a few months.”
“So you mean it was through the serum that Alexander was able to take over the seven territories?”
“Of course. You didn’t think he managed that on his own strength, did you?” Celeste’s tone was bitter. “Your father was far stronger than Alexander ever was. Without the serum, he wouldn’t have stood a chance.”
Luna’s hands trembled. Seven packs. That kind of power was unheard of.
“Richard wanted to stop Alexander. He tried to end the partnership, but Alexander wouldn’t let him walk away. He threatened to destroy everything. Our pack, our family, our son.”
Kane’s hand tightened on the armrest.
Celeste glanced at her watch suddenly, panic flashing across her face. “Oh goddess, look at the time. They’ll be home soon. You need to leave.”
“We’re not finished,” Kane said.
“Yes, you are.” Celeste was already moving toward the door. “My husband will be here any second. With my daughter.”
“Your daughter?” Kane’s voice went flat.
“They don’t know about my past. About you.” She scribbled an address on a piece of paper and shoved it at Kane. “Riverside Park. Tomorrow at noon. The old oak tree. I’ll tell you the rest then.”
She pulled the door open. “Please, Kane. If they see you, if they learn about my other life…”
Kane took the paper. His jaw was tight enough that Luna could see the muscle jumping.
They got in the car. Kane started the engine and pulled away from the curb. Neither of them spoke for a few minutes.
“Can you believe her?” Kane’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel. “She hasn’t seen me in years and all she cares about is hiding me from her new family.”
Luna reached into her bag and pulled out a photograph. The picture she’d found hidden in the box at the haven. The same one Celeste had shown them.
“She erased me,” Kane said. “Started over like I never existed. I have a sister now, and I’ll never meet her.”
He glanced over. “You’re quiet.”
Luna’s grip on the photograph had turned her knuckles white.
Kane pulled over. “What’s wrong?”
“The woman in this photo.” Luna’s voice came out barely above a whisper. “Helena Sterling.”
She looked up at him.
“She’s my mother.”
Kane stared at her. “What?”
“The healer who worked with your father and Alexander.” Luna’s hands were shaking now. “That’s my mother.”