novelraw Chapter 138: Questioning Her
Chapter 138: Questioning Her
Leon’s POV
Two days had passed since the explosion in Leo’s room, and the air in the Full Moon Pack had become toxic. We had spent every waking second of those forty-eight hours playing a dangerous game. We spent our nights tearing through our fathers’ offices, turning over every rug and picking every lock, but we found nothing. Not a single file. Not a single letter. It was as if someone who knew we would look into it had scrubbed the history clean with bleach.
Jameson and Jane were too far away in San Francisco to be of any help, and honestly, they were still kids—our fathers wouldn’t have trusted them with a secret this heavy. That left only one person.
Lana.
We couldn’t summon her to us without our fathers growing suspicious, so we took matters into our own hands. We told the pack we were heading out for a "territory inspection" and boarded the private jet. Two hours later, we touched down in Germany.
The cold, crisp air of the Black Forest hit me as we stepped off the plane. Alpha Ryan, Lana’s mate, had already sent a fleet of black SUVs to meet us. We were driven straight to the Silver Moon Packhouse, a fortress of glass and stone that looked far more peaceful than the prison we called home.
Ryan was waiting for us at the entrance. "The Triple Alphas," he said, offering a respectful nod. "I wasn’t expecting a visit so soon after the anniversary, but you’re always welcome."
"We wanted to surprise our sister," Liam said, though his voice was tight.
"She’s in her rooms," Ryan started, but he didn’t even get to finish.
The heavy oak doors burst open, and Lana came flying out. Being a werewolf had its disadvantages when it came to surprises; she had probably scented us the moment we crossed the border. Even though she’d been a married woman for almost a year, she threw herself at us like an excited little girl, her laughter echoing against the stone walls.
But as I caught her in a hug, I froze. A sweet, new scent hit my nose—distinct and milky. I pulled back, looking down at her midsection, and my eyes widened.
"Lana," I breathed.
She was pregnant. Her belly was just beginning to show under her heavy sweater, and she blushed a deep crimson.
"Lana! You didn’t tell us!" Liam exclaimed, his protective brotherly instincts kicking in.
"It was supposed to be a surprise for the Memorial Day visit," she said, her eyes shining.
I turned to Ryan and gave him a firm handshake of congratulations. "You’ve been busy, I see."
"It’s triplets," Lana whispered, her smile turning a bit nervous. "Three girls."
I laughed, though the sound felt hollow in my chest given why we were really there. "Your hands are going to be full, little sister. Three of you? Ryan, I pray for your sanity."
Ryan scoffed, pulling Lana into his side. "She is my life, Leon. I couldn’t be happier."
For a brief moment, watching the way he looked at her, I felt a genuine flash of happiness. At least one of us had escaped the curse of unhappiness. At least my sister was getting the life we were denied.
But then I caught Leo’s eye. He was running out of patience. We didn’t have much time.
"Lana," I said, my voice dropping the playful tone. "Can we talk? Privately?"
Her smile faltered just a fraction. She looked between the three of us, sensing the heavy Alpha energy we were trying—and failing—to suppress. "Of course, brothers. Come with me."
She led us into the massive library, a room filled with the scent of old parchment and woodsmoke. Servants brought refreshments, but we waited until the heavy doors were clicked shut and we were completely alone.
Lana sat on a velvet sofa, her hands instinctively resting on her stomach. "What’s wrong? Is it your wives?"
I exchanged a glance with Leo and Liam. We had agreed on the flight that Liam should be the one to start. He was always the one she felt closest to. I nodded to him, signaling him to speak.
Liam leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. He didn’t use his Alpha voice—he didn’t have to. The weight of his gaze was enough.
"Lana," he said, his voice soft but trembling with an intensity that made the air in the library intense. "A year ago, you asked for our forgiveness. At the time, we thought you were just sad for us. But we know now. We know there is a shadow hanging over this family, and we know you’re standing right in it. Tell us, Lana. What is the family keeping from us?"
Lana swallowed hard, her throat bobbing as she looked away. Her fingers dug into the velvet of the sofa. "I... I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just being emotional because of the wedding—"
"Don’t lie to us," I snapped, the frustration of the last forty-eight hours boiling over. "We’ve searched our fathers’ offices. We’ve seen the way they look at each other. There is a secret rotting the foundation of the Full Moon Pack, and it’s tied to our marriages. What is it that we don’t know?"
Lana’s breath hitched, and she looked at us with eyes that were suddenly swimming in tears. "It’s not my place to say. I made an oath... we all did. If I speak, I—"
"An oath to whom?" Leo demanded, stepping closer. "To the fathers who forced us to marry those witches? To a treaty built on lies? Lana, please. We are your brothers. We are drowning in that house."
Lana shook her head frantically, her hands trembling over her stomach. "I can’t. But... I will tell you this. On the Memorial Day of Mother, everything will be revealed. The truth will be out."
"What truth?" Liam urged, reaching out to take her hand. "Is it about Scarlett? Lana, look at me. Is Scarlett still alive?"
The mention of the name made Lana let out a small, broken sob. She squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to look at us.
"Is she alive?!" Leo roared, his patience finally snapping. "Is she out there?"
"Please... please don’t ask me this," Lana cried, her scent turning sharp with pure panic.
We pressed in closer, the three of us surrounding her, our desperate need for the truth clouding our judgment. "Lana, we need to know! If she’s alive, every second we spend in that packhouse is a betrayal! Tell us!"
Suddenly, the library doors flew open with a bang.
"That is enough!"