Rejected Luna Returns with Secret Twins (Lysandra) novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76

My mother’s words hung in the air between us, each syllable another nail in my composure,

I stared at my father’s sleeping form, his chest rising and falling in the steady rhythm of healing. The machines around him beeped softly, measuring a heart that–unlike mine–seemed at peace.

“And you just let them leave?” I kept my voice low, dangerous.

Mom gave me that look–the one that made even Alphas think twice. “Let them? She’s not our prisoner, Tristan.”

“She was injured in my territory-”

“And now she’s gone. What’s this really about?” She studied my face with uncomfortable intensity. “You’ve made it perfectly clear for five years that you want nothing to do with her.”

I turned away, unwilling to give her the satisfaction of seeing whatever emotion might betray me.

“Alpha Alaric has no right to enter my territory and take what belongs to-” I caught myself. “He’s

overstepped.”

“I’ve known Alpha Caspian and Luna Aurelia for years,” she said, the unexpected shift making me

turn back. “They’re noble wolves.”

My eyebrows shot up. “You know the Ravencrofts?”

“Your father and I both do.” She adjusted my father’s blanket absently. “Years ago, your father

wanted to form an alliance with Moonshade Pack. They agreed. But do you know what happened?

They never showed up.”

I scoffed. “Was it an accident, or were they too arrogant to come to our territory? Or did they pretend to agree when they never intended to ally with us in the first place?”

“No.” Her silver eyes clouded with memory. “Later, we learned the truth.”

“Which was?”

“Their newborn daughter died.”

The revelation hit me unexpectedly. “They had a daughter?”

“There were rumors their infant daughter perished in an accident.” Mom’s voice softened. “Afterward, pack members stopped mentioning her, as it only deepened the Alpha couple’s grief.”

I turned to look out the window, trying to process this information. So the mighty Moonshade Pack had experienced loss too.

1/4

Chapter 76

Since then, all of Moonshade’s hopes rested on their son, Alaric,‘ she continued. “They gave everything to their only child, raising him with love and responsibility. They were terrified of losing him too. But they never forgot to teach him his mission as pack leader. He’s an Alpha with tremendous potential. If you wanted, you could consider an alliance with him.”

I kept my eyes fixed on the city skyline. “Mom, whatever that family went through, I can express my condolences. But that doesn’t mean I need to ally with their son.”

Especially not after seeing that security footage, I thought bitterly.

I needed answers. The idea of Alaric having some claim of “family” over Lysandra gnawed at me like an open wound. After leaving my parents‘ room, I headed straight for the administrative wing, determined to see exactly how she’d been discharged from my territory without my knowledge.

“Alpha Wolfbane,” she stammered, rising from her chair. “How may I assist you?”

“Show me Lysandra Wolfbane’s discharge papers.”

Her fingers trembled on the key Lysandra Wolfbane?” She frowned at her screen. “I don’t see

anyone by that name registered in our system.”

“Check again.” My voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.

More frantic typing. “Um…perhaps…” Her eyes widened slightly. “Oh, yes, here. Lysandra Smith.” Her

voice quivered on the surname.

Smith. Of course. Five years and I still wrote her name as Wolfbane on the admission papers when I took her to the hospital. She wasn’t my wife anymore. Wasn’t my anything.

“She was discharged today,” the receptionist continued, sliding a tablet toward me. “These are the

documents.”

I snatched it from her, scanning the electronic forms. My jaw clenched when I reached the signature at the bottom: Alaric Ravencroft. His name appeared under “Relation to Patient” with a single word:

Family.

Family? My throat tightened. How the fuck was he her family? Husband? Lover? Kieran’s unfaithful

friend?

***

I left the hospital with rage burning through my veins. Her deception, Alaric’s interference, the lost business deal–it all twisted inside me like a knife. I couldn’t return to the office, couldn’t face Varian’s knowing looks or my secretary’s nervous tiptoeing. What I needed was to drown these

2/4

Chapter 76

thoughts, to burn away the image of Lysandra in Alaric’s arms. Alcohol seemed like the only

solution.

I claimed the farthest corner of the bar, away from curious eyes and wagging tongues. The bartender approached cautiously, respect and fear battling in his expression.

“Your strongest whiskey. Neat. The whole bottle.”

He hesitated, eyeing me warily. “Alpha, this is 140 proof. Even for werewolves, it’s quite-”

“Did I fucking stutter?”

The bartender placed a crystal tumbler before me, then set down an amber bottle with trembling hands. I poured four fingers and downed it in one burning swallow.

With each drink, my thoughts grew darker. Her soft body in my arms the night of the accident. The way she’d flinched when I touched her in the hospital. Those fucking photos of her with Alaric. Her bastard children who looked nothing like their father–whoever the hell he was.

And the Eastern territories merger–how convenient that it collapsed the same day Alaric visited

Silverblood.

The alcohol burned a path to my gut, spreading liquid heat through my veins. I poured another glass. Then another.

“Alpha? Would you like some company tonight?”

I looked up to find a blonde Beta leaning against my table, her tight dress leaving little to the imagination. Her perfume–something cheap and floral–assaulted my senses.

“Fuck off.”

She didn’t take the hint, sliding closer. “They say you like strong women, Alpha. I can be—”

My hand shot out, fingers circling her wrist. I applied just enough pressure to make her gasp. “Whoever ‘they‘ are, they’re wrong. I don’t like anyone. Now, if you want to keep this hand functional, get the hell away from me.”

She scurried off, clutching her wrist to her chest. Around me, the bar had emptied considerably. Even the bartender kept his distance, only approaching to replace my empty bottle when summoned.

I don’t know how long I sat there, drinking and brooding. Time blurred like headlights in rain. At some point, I smashed a glass against the wall, then another. No one dared intervene.

“Tristan?”