When The Moon Hides Her Crown novel Chapter 219

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIWE

“It’s been three months and you still haven’t found the girl!”

Alpha Darious Nightbane’s roar shook the hall. His Beta cowered beside the other warriors, all of them bowing their heads in shame and submission.

“Every time you return, it’s the same damn thing ‘she’s not here, she’s not there‘. Then where the fuck is Seraphina?! Did she fly into the sky or get swallowed by the earth?”

He slammed his wine glass onto the floor, crimson splashing across the marble like spilled blood.

“Calm down, Darious.”

Alpha Benjamin entered the hall with slow, measured steps. His expression was composed, but his tone carried quiet weight. “Your daughter’s intelligence doesn’t make your warriors incompetent. Seraphina inherited her beauty and wit from her mother. If she’s truly hiding, it won’t be easy to find her.”

Darious‘ jaw clenched so tight it looked as if it might shatter. “Do you expect me to praise her for this audacious act, Benjamin?” he growled, his voice laced with fury. “Yes, she got her beauty and brains from her mother. But the audacity, the rebellion those she learned because I let her learn things that were never meant for girls! And now look, she’s run away and dragged my name through the dirt!”

He waved his hand sharply, dismissing his wolves. They scrambled out of the hall as he sank back into his chair, seething.

Benjamin folded his hands behind his back. “Fortunately, the realm doesn’t yet know of her disappearance. You still have time to find her and quietly contain the damage.”

Darious barked a bitter laugh and grabbed the wine bottle, drinking straight from it. “The realm doesn’t know because the royal family’s reputation is also at stake, Benjamin. When the truth comes out that the Alpha King’s bride ran away before the wedding, what do you think will happen to his reputation? To mine? My pack will be humiliated to the point I will not be able to show my face to anyone. The Royal Pack is not one you can afford to offend, and the King’s Council is already breathing down my neck. They want the king’s bride back under any circumstances.”

He slammed the bottle down, the glass rattling. “That girl has no idea what kind of crime she’s committed.”

Benjamin listened to Darious in silence, his expression unreadable. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm but cutting. “This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t snatched Seraphina’s birthright, her right to become Alpha during the heir selection ceremony, Darious.”

Darious‘ head snapped toward him, his eyes blazing. “Birthright?” he spat. “Women don’t have birthrights in this realm, Benjamin!” His growl rumbled through the hall as he ground his teeth. “Women are born to be the shadows of their mates, to obey, not to lead. This realm belongs to men and always will. You and I both know what happens to a woman who dares to rise among them, she’s eaten alive and destroyed. Capability can never defeat gender. I tried to teach Seraphina that bitter truth, but in the end she turned out to be her mother’s daughter defiant, stubborn, refusing to accept reality.”

Hatred and frustration dripped from every word.

Benjamin sighed quietly, his tone still measured. “I understand, Darious. We’ve been friends for over two decades. Our mates were twin sisters, I knew both women well. Even though Seraphina is your daughter, I also know her strength. What kept her from submitting to you wasn’t rebellion, it was ambition. She wanted that throne. She prepared herself for it. That girl grew up before my eyes and I’ve seen her fire, her capability, her boldness.”

He paused, then added, his voice tightening, “If I were in your place, I wouldn’t have crushed her dream just to marry her off. Announcing her betrothal to the Alpha King without warning, especially after taking away her

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chance to lead, was like handing her the perfect reason to run. You should’ve kept her believing she would be your heir until the King arrived At least then she wouldn’t have fled.”

Darious stared at Benjamin for a long, cold moment before scoffing. “You speak easily because your firstborn is a son.” He grabbed the wine bottle again, tilting it to his lips. “You can talk about ideals when you don’t have a daughter who threatens your throne.”

He drank deeply, then smirked darkly. “Who are you to lecture me, Benjamin? Your own son ran away from your pack when you tried to send him to Lupine Academy. Are you really qualified to preach to me about discipline?”

Benjamin’s expression twisted, rage flickering beneath his calm exterior, but he said nothing.

Darious continued, his voice rising. “If I had known Seraphina would run away after that announcement, I would’ve done things differently. But one of the King’s Council members was present that day, so the declaration had to be made official in his presence! I had no choice. Then before I could even realize what was happening, that girl vanished into thin air.”

He slammed the bottle against the table, the sound echoing through the hall.

That was when-

The doors burst open. A figure stormed into the room, voice trembling with fury.

“What happened to Seraphina?”

Alpha Darious and Alpha Benjamin’s heads snapped toward the doorway, their eyes widening in shock at the familiar face.

“Seth!” Benjamin yelled in disbelief, rushing forward to grab his son by the arms. “You rebellious brat! How dare you run away from home?!”

Seth flinched at his father’s grip but met his glare head–on. “I’m still not coming back, Dad. I’m here because of Seraphina. Where is she? How did she get into an accident?”

Benjamin froze. “Accident?” His voice dropped, tight with confusion. “Are you doing drugs now? Seraphina didn’t have an accident, she ran away from home three months ago!”

“Ran away?” Seth’s eyes widened. His pulse quickened, confusion twisting across his face. “Then why did that man lie to me?”

Benjamin’s brows furrowed. “What man?”

“Silas,” Seth’s fists clenched, anger flashing in his voice. “I met him at a bar last night. Was he your man, Dad? Was this your trick to lure me home? You knew I’d come if I heard Seraphina was hurt!”

Benjamin’s eyes flared red with fury. “Why the hell would I pull such a cheap stunt-”

“Wait a minute.”

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