The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power (by Emily Reed) novel Chapter 132

Chapter 132 King Ryken’s True Aim

Chapter 132 King Ryken’s True Aim

James’s POV:

I locked the door and slid down against it.

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The room was dark. I did not turn on the light. The shadows felt heavy, like water closing over my head.

Just moments ago, I had hidden the most important truth from my family.

King Ryken didn’t push me aside because I lost the battle.

Morton had met me in secret yesterday. He hinted that the Royal Court already held solid proof. Proof that Evelyn had slaughtered innocent villagers in Evernight Gorge to steal credit for a victory. Proof that she had even tortured and killed a vampire prince.

“Alpha Nolan,” Morton had said, his cold stare still haunting me, “His Majesty spares you out of respect for your old man. This crime will not be made public. It is the last bit of mercy left for your pack. But for the next three to five years, you must disappear from King Ryken’s sight. If you don’t, no one will be able to save you.”

Only then did I understand what I had truly traded away for Evelyn.

I gave up a Luna who could fight beside me. A woman who was brave, sharp-minded, and loyal to me to the end. I gave up Cindy.

And in return, I chose Evelyn. Selfish. Violent. Unstable. A gamma who was antisocial.

“If only…”

I hid my face with my hands. Tears slipped through my fingers.

If only I had not lost my mind back then. If I had not been fooled by Evelyn’s talk of true love and freedom. Then the ones standing in the light today, honored by the people, would have been Cindy and

But life has no second chances.

Cindy’s POV:

I had just seen Viola, Skinny, and the others off.

Gaylord, the old werewolf in charge of military training, came to send them away as well. He watched the young soldiers leave, sighing again and again.

bf half the noble youths had this kind of fire, those vampires would never dare

“What a shame,” he sighed. bare their fangs. Your Grace, are you sure you don’t want them to stay in the army?”

1/3 “Let them return to the academy,” I said with a smile. “They need time to settle their mind. Getting pulled

Chapter 132 King Ryken’s True Aim

into royal politics too early would break their wolf spirits.”

After the guests left, I returned to my study.

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Tom was already there. He had no combat power, but he was over 200 years old and sharp as ever. Wearing reading glasses, he was studying the unofficial “three-month royal decree.”

“Ms. Cindy,” he said, closing the journal, his cloudy eyes glowing with insight. “This is interesting. King Ryken is playing a forced-pairing game.”

“You mean he doesn’t truly want me to marry Prince Niall?” I asked. Diana stirred in my mind, ears standing straight up.

“Of course not,” Tom said with a chuckle. “Prince Niall is famously useless. If His Majesty really planted you in that mud, he’d be tearing down his defenses. Prince Niall is just a scarecrow. The real goal is to force you to choose between him and one specific person.”

“One specific person?” Prince Adam’s young but steady face rose in my mind. “Prince Adam?”

“Who else?” Tom replied. “You are now Duchess Protector of the Realm, commanding real military strength. Politically, the crown only feels safe if you’re tied to the royal line. As for bloodlines, Silverpeak Pack does need fresh blood. His Majesty is choosing a mate for you and giving Prince Adam a push at the same time.”

A deep weariness settled over me.

Prince Adam was, by every measure, an excellent match. By rank. By character.

There was no love between us, only the bond of comrades.

And once feelings mix with politics, they lose their meaning.

“I don’t want to bond, Tom,” I said softly, staring at the moonlight outside the window. “I don’t want an heir either. I’m fine as I am. The pack’s honor, sometimes it’s too heavy.”

“I understand,” Tom sighed, pouring me a cup of hot tea. “But you were born into this position. Some duties can’t be escaped. Still, don’t worry too much. Since King Ryken gave us three months, we’ll stall. Let’s see what other tricks he has.”

“Then we wait,” I nodded.

Just then, a gate guard rushed in, panic written all over his face.

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