Alpha's search for his Luna

Chapter : Cloaked Truth

Tanishq's POV

The hot water cascaded down my body as I stood under the showerhead, letting the steam envelop me like a comforting blanket. I scrubbed my skin, the warmth easing the tension in my muscles, but my mind was elsewhere. Priyal. I couldn't shake her from my thoughts. Why would rogues specifically target her? She was a fierce Alpha, but even the strongest could be vulnerable.

The impending meeting with the Alpha of the Rinnay pack loomed over me like a dark cloud. I hoped he would be cooperative, but trust was a fragile thing in our world. The stakes were high, and I felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on me.

The shower timer beeped, jolting me from my thoughts. I turned off the water and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around my waist before stepping into my bedroom. My phone rang just as I emerged, and I picked it up, noting it was my manager from the Mussoorie resort.

“Hello?” I answered, rubbing the droplets of water from my hair.

“Alpha Tanishq, I have good news. Our resort has been selected for the upcoming investors' summit to be held in Mussoorie,” he announced, excitement tinging his voice.

A wave of relief washed over me. This could be a significant boost for our pack’s finances. “That’s excellent. Prepare the staff and ensure everything is in order. I want our resort to stand out.”

“Yes, Alpha. I’ll get right on it,” he replied before hanging up.

As I set my phone down, my eyes fell on the rumpled bedsheets. I grimaced. I’d have to ask Misha or Kaya to get them changed; I preferred the linens in my room to the ones currently in the guest room. They were a reminder of the chaos that had surrounded Priyal's arrival.

A knock broke my concentration, and Arav entered, looking serious. “We have news,” he said.

Samar followed closely behind, adding, “Four of the mated females in our pack have started their heat.”

My brow furrowed. “All unranked?”

“Obviously,” I thought. The ranked couples only experienced heat when the Luna was either pregnant or had recently given birth.

“This heat means you’ve found a Luna,” Arav continued, though his expression was tense.

“Why do you think that’s a problem?” I asked.

“The heat means you have found a Luna, and the news will reach the council of elders.” Arav’s words hung heavy in the air.

He was right. The council of elders generally stayed away from daily decisions, but appointing a Luna was a matter they cared about deeply.

“And how would we present a Luna who refuses to acknowledge the bond?” Arav continued.

Samar added, “And on top of that, we still don’t know about her current pack.”

“That won’t look good,” Arav concluded.

I let the implications wash over me, the council would pressure me to officially mate with Priyal. The pack needed a Luna, and they wouldn't appreciate any delay in the mating.

“For now, we must hide the news,” I instructed. Aunt Ira and Aunt Shayla were part of the council, but I doubted they would let the news slip. Still, I wasn’t sure if they would support a forceful mating for the pack’s sake.

I glanced back at the linens, a reminder of the chaotic state of my life. “Ask someone to change these,” I told Arav, who exchanged a glance with Samar before leaving the room.

Impatience churned in my stomach as I paced. I was looking forward to meeting the Alpha of the Rinnay pack tomorrow, hoping for honesty this time. We needed answers, not just for me, but for Priyal and the future of our pack.