Chapter 158 The Alpha's True Queen

Chapter 158 The Alpha's True Queen
The firm footsteps echoed along the corridor of the ancient castle, scraping away the silence of the night. Rolex, the Alpha of the Silvermoon Clan, strode forward with a heavy sigh. His fur cloak billowed as he pushed open the mahogany wooden door at the end of the room. There, near the warmly glowing fireplace, stood a woman who had graced his dreams for years.

"Sera..." Rolex whispered. His voice trembled, laden with the unbearable weight of longing.

The woman turned around. A faint smile spread across her lips. Without wasting a single second, Rolex charged across the distance between them. He gathered Sera into his arms, holding her tightly as if afraid she would evaporate into dust if he let go.

"You're back, Rolex," Sera whispered softly against his broad chest.

"I'm back, Sera. I will never leave you again. By the moon goddess, I missed you so much," Rolex said in a husky voice. He buried his face in Sera's neck, breathing in the signature vanilla scent of his mate.

However, Rolex froze as his sharp hearing caught the sound of soft breathing coming from a crib in the corner of the room. Rolex slowly loosened his embrace, his eyes widening as he stared at a beautifully carved baby bassinet.

"Sera... what is that?" Rolex asked, stuttering. His gaze shifted back and forth between Sera and the crib.

"Come here," Sera whispered as she guided Rolex's hand.

Inside the crib, a baby boy with black hair just like Rolex's was fast asleep. His tiny fingers moved gently in his sleep.

"He... he is born?" Rolex knelt beside the crib. Warm tears trickled down his cheeks, beyond his control. "You gave birth, Sera?"

"Yes, Rolex. Meet baby Leon. Our son," Sera answered with tearful eyes.

Rolex raised his trembling fingers, gently touching the little baby's cheek. Emotion and happiness swelled in his chest, overwhelming all the exhaustion from the war he had just endured.

"Leon... baby Leon," Rolex murmured, uttering the name with utter devotion. He looked up at Sera. "I never imagined... I thought I had lost this precious moment. I swear, Sera, baby Leon is my own blood. He is the crown prince, my pureblood. I will protect him with my life."

"He was waiting for you, Rolex. We were both waiting for you," Sera replied, kneeling beside him and caressing Rolex's sharp, lightly bearded jaw.

"We will be back together, Sera. The three of us. No more separation, no more hiding. I will take you both back to the main palace as my Queen and Prince," Rolex asserted, then kissed Sera's forehead with deep emotion.

Sera smiled sweetly, returning Rolex's handgrip. "I want that too, Rolex. So very much."

However, the expression on Rolex's face suddenly shifted. His happy smile slowly faded, replaced by deep lines of anxiety. He averted his gaze, staring at the blazing flames of the fireplace with a shadow of guilt.

"What's wrong, Rolex? What's troubling your mind?" Sera asked, noticing the shift in her mate's demeanor.

Rolex exhaled a long breath, squeezing Sera's fingers. "Sera... there is one thing that leaves me confused and stressed. It's about Maya."

"Maya?" Sera repeated in a flat tone, though her eyes radiated a strange composure.

"Yes. You know very well what state I was in when I was dethroned," Rolex said, his voice dropping. "Maya... she was the one who stood by my side during those darkest days. She rallied the northern clan troops and financed this entire war. Without her family's help and influence, I would never have been able to become ruler again."

Rolex looked down, unable to meet Sera's eyes. "The people and the elders view her as a hero. I owe her a debt of gratitude, Sera. If I just toss her aside after reclaiming my throne... I will look like an ungrateful Alpha. But on the other hand, my heart belongs only to you and Leon."

"So, you feel trapped between your guilt toward her and your love for me?" Sera asked with full understanding.

"Exactly. I hate myself for this. How can I resolve this without triggering a new civil war with the clans supporting Maya?" Rolex sighed in frustration, holding his head.

Instead of getting angry or crying, Sera let out a soft chuckle. The crisp sound of her laughter made Rolex look up in astonishment.

"Why are you laughing, Sera? I'm serious. This is a complex political issue," Rolex said, bewildered.

Sera stepped closer to Rolex, draping her arms around the Alpha's neck. A mysterious smile formed beautifully on her lips.

"Rolex, my mighty Alpha... did you really think I just sat idly in this hiding place for months?" Sera asked softly.

Rolex furrowed his brow. "What do you mean, Sera?"

"You're worried about Maya and all her political intrigues, aren't you?" Sera stroked Rolex's chest. "Know this, Rolex... you don't need to stress over how to repay your debt of gratitude or how to remove her from the palace."

"Sera, don't tell me you..." Rolex caught his breath.

"Actually, I've been planning something for Maya for a long time," Sera whispered right into Rolex's ear.

Rolex held both of Sera's shoulders, looking deep into her eyes, searching for clarity. "What plan? Sera, Maya is no ordinary woman. She is clever and dangerous."

"It's precisely because she is clever that she becomes so predictable," Sera replied with utmost confidence. "You think Maya helped you purely out of love and sincerity? You are gravely mistaken, Rolex."

"What do you mean? She risked her fortune and her troops!" Rolex exclaimed in disbelief.

"She gambled for the throne, not for you," Sera cut in quickly. "While you were fighting on the front lines, I wasn't wasting time. I sent my best spies to infiltrate Maya's camp. Do you know where she got most of her war funds?"

Rolex shook his head slowly. "From her family's treasury, right?"

Sera shook her head with a sneer. "No. She smuggled contraband goods and cooperated with traitors from enemy clans. She promised them parts of your territory once you reclaimed the throne."

Rolex's eyes widened, anger beginning to ignite in his irises. "What?! Do you have proof?"

"Of course. The treaty document stamped with her blood seal is in my hands right now. Tomorrow, when the council of elders gathers to celebrate your victory, I will personally present that evidence of treason to the public," Sera said calmly. "She won't be a hero anymore, Rolex. She will be tried as a traitor."

Rolex stared at Sera in awe. The woman he had considered delicate and in need of protection had laid out a perfect checkmate for their political enemy, without Rolex getting his hands dirty at all.

"You... you did all this alone?" Rolex asked, spellbound.

"I did it for us, and for baby Leon's future," Sera answered gently, stroking Rolex's cheek. "Now, are you still confused about how to treat Maya?"

Rolex grinned broadly, the anxiety that had felt like stone in his chest completely vanishing. He pulled Sera back into his warm embrace, kissing her lips with intense passion and gratitude.

"You are incredible, Sera. You are not just my mate, but a true Queen for the Silvermoon Clan," Rolex whispered between kisses.

"And you are my Alpha," Sera replied affectionately.

In the corner of the room, baby Leon stirred softly in his sleep. Rolex held Sera closer, looking at his infant son with renewed conviction. That night, under the moonlight, their paths which had once been pulled apart—were finally woven back together seamlessly.