Chapter 139 Solving the puzzle

Chapter 139 Solving the puzzle
Third Person

When Ronald’s mourners were lowering his body into the ground at the cemetery, a snowstorm picked up again, they had to rush with the rest of the ceremony and bury him, by the time they were done, 70% of the guests had fled. Some reporters wanted to know why Dalton was absent from his uncle’s funeral. 

“We know they were at war, but Ronald buried his later brother and even honored him with his presence, why can’t Dalton do the same?”
Edmund was baffled by how quickly the media had forgotten what Ronald had put Dalton through, and by how they expected him to be the bigger person. How could they witness everything and still forget just because Ronald is no longer alive, the same person who rejoiced over Dalton’s death?

“Dalton is not at the burial because he has other pressing things to attend to,” Edmund bluntly replied, hoping they would disappear but they didn’t seem bothered by his unwelcoming posture. 

“What could be more important than attending the funeral of his father’s brother? We know the rivalry between the two Alphas was a deadly one but we also know that Ronald would have been at Dalton’s funeral to say his last goodbye like all alphas do for a departed alpha. That’s why we’re trying to find out what happened.”

Edmund was wondering which part of the story they had forgotten. Ronald annihilated Dalton’s family, unapologetically started dating his mate, and even tried to kill Dalton himself, if Dalton didn’t want to be here, it made perfect sense but that wasn’t even why Dalton hadn’t shown up.

“Dalton held the funeral at his residence, he was present, he couldn’t accompany us to the burial site because…” he paused when he noticed he hadn’t asked for Dalton’s permission to break the news. 
“Dalton?” He quickly connected with him via mindlink.

“Ed?” Dalton quickly replied.
“Can I break the news about the soon-to-be-born heir?”

“Mmm, I think it’s about time. I was afraid Lucy was going to expose Sparkle’s identity, that’s why I kept this a secret, but she seems to have come to terms with it, so I guess Sparkle is safe now.” Dalton replied.

“So I can, right?” 
“Yes, you can.” 

Edmund smiled and faced the reporters, “The luna of this pack is in labor, and her partner has to be by her side, in case you’re wondering why Dalton isn’t here.” 

After that response the energy changed, the reporters were excited and wanted to know more but that was when Edmund decided to leave, the wind was gathering momentum and soon it would hit again he didn’t want to be caught in it, so he took quick steps back to his car and fled before he could be bombarded with more questions.

James was back home from searching the whole neighborhood for Sparkle, he roared angrily at his guards for sleeping on duty and letting her slip away but they insisted that they never saw her leaving. Sparkle’s last seen was in the living room the previous night. No one could explain what had happened, even the cameras didn’t have the details, and that made James feel even more frustrated.

He was planning on even reporting Sparkle’s disappearance to the police but he knew clearly that Sparkle had escaped his clutches and nothing would bring her back if he didn't find a way to bring her back himself. He sat in one of his armchairs with a thud, scrolling through his phone, hoping she would appear in someone’s videos. Scrolling however led him somewhere else; news items about the impending birth of an heir to the Roux estates. It said that the pregnant partner of Dalton Roux was in labour. 

James sat up with a start, wondering if Sparkle was the partner they were talking about. He frantically surfed the net for any information on who that partner was referring to but deep down he already knew it was Sparkle.
As he watched leaked photos and videos of the private mating ceremony between Sparkle and Dalton he wondered how Sparkle found her way back to Dalton with no money, or means of contacting anyone.

He burst out of his house to retrace her steps, he needed to find out where he went wrong so he wouldn’t make that mistake again, as he walked down the neighborhood sidewalk he tried to catch Sparkle’s scent and determine if she had used that route. He kept walking until he came upon a condo. He stopped there because he saw a familiar car parked in the driveway. He walked past the car and headed for the front door, before he could knock, the door flung open.

“What…” Lucy charged but stopped in her tracks when she saw James standing at the end of the door. “Oh, it’s you.” She frowned and folded her arms, “Do you live around?”

“I do… sometimes.”
“I see. I’ve never had the time to properly observe you and commit your scent to memory… if I may ask, why are you here?” She asked again,

“Dalton… do you know he claimed Sparkle…”
“Oh yeah, I’ve come to terms with it. Our bond broke and I don’t think it will ever be recovered again.” Lucy responded defeatedly.

“Are you sure this is what you want? I know you grew up with Dalton, you love him in every way possible, he’s your life!”

“Stop it James, I see what you’re doing, but it won’t work, I’ve learnt from all this chaos to just let go of what’s not mine. It doesn’t matter how hard I fight it, it just won’t happen.” Lucy resolutely replied. James’ heart sank into his stomach as he listened to Lucy, deep down he knew she was right, he just couldn’t bring himself to accept the truth.

“Thanks for the warm session, I will be returning home now,” he said dejectedly as he turned around to leave, Lucy hit him with the last one,
“Do you know how I was able to confirm that I had finally let go of Dalton?” She said, James turned around with curiosity dancing in his eyes, eager to hear more.

“Tell me,”
“Sparkle was here, at dawn, she needed help to get back to Dalton as they got separated during the insurgency and I helped her with no hard feelings.” She informed James whose eyes went wide with realization. So that was how Sparkle ended up in the Rouge Moon Pack? Wow! How could he have lost guard? She must’ve monitored the cameras and observed the blind spot just so she could get away unnoticed. How smart!

“Thank you, thanks for everything just now. See you maybe.. later.” He said and briskly walked away, he had discovered all the answers now he needed to get back home where he could coil into his shell and accept defeat.

But at the pack house at Rouge Moon, the troubles were far from over. Sparkle was in labour but the pup had still not shown its head. A few more hours and she would be 16 hours in labor yet there was no glimmer of hope. Dalton feared that again, he might lose someone dear to him.