Chapter 236
Ronan protectively pulled Lucien to his chest and let the latter lean against his chest.
Heat emanated from Lucien’s body. He was running a fever.
“All of this talk has caused Lucien extreme mental anguish. He had done nothing wrong. He should not have to put up with this mess!”
“I am okay,” Lucien said in denial, his head dizzy from fever. “I just feel under the weather, that’s it.”
He refused to be seen as weak in front of all these people.
He too was an alpha werewolf, damn it!
If they started treating him like some weak she-wolf, he was going to go berserk.
Conrad Woodland pinned Lucien with a sympathetic gaze.
.....
“I know that Mr. Clearwater is a victim in this situation, but so is my daughter. At least Mr. Clearwater has a place as the pack’s future Luna. What about Lillian? She is having Ronan Silverback’s baby boy. The heir to the Silverback family. Is her contribution in producing the heir to the Alpha line inconsequential?”
Conrad turned to look at Dane Silverback.
“Mr. Silverback, what do you have to say?”
For the first time since they arrived at the meeting, father and son exchanged glances briefly. Both of them averted their eyes at the same time.
“This is Alpha Ronan’s personal matter,” Dane Silverback said coldly. “I expect him to handle it properly.”
Ronan lifted his gaze and shot his father a glare. Dane narrowed his eyes at his son and met his eyes again without hesitation, as if challenging him to speak up.
The onlookers in the room could sense the building heat between the father and son.
The silence was deafening.
“A son cannot survive without his mother,” Lucien spoke up in the end, drawing everyone’s attention at once.
“Lillian Woodland should join the Infinite Eclipse Pack as the mother of the heir.”
Ronan widened his eyes at the person in his embrace.
After saying what he had to say, Lucien kept his head lowered. He refused to look into his mate’s eyes.
Funny how Ronan said that this issue would be settled in five months but they had not even talked about how it should happen.
The boy must stay because he was Ronan’s son.
What about the mother?
She, of course, must also stay.
Because otherwise, that boy was not going to have a father and a mother at the same time.
Ronan already had a bad relationship with his father.
His son must grow up in a better circumstance.
Lucien just needed to focus on that.
“Well, that is a start for sure,” Conrad said, his tone a lot meeker after Lucien provided a solution to his problem. “The Infinite Eclipse Pack is lucky to have such an understanding Luna as Lucien Clearwater.”
Lucien felt numb inside.
The critics from outside were like merciless knives that stabbed into his heart, but praises did nothing to alleviate the pain.
Because in order to get the praises, Lucien had to hurt himself again and again.
He was so tired.
He was so sick of the circus.
Ronan Silverback could barely believe his ears.
Of course he did not plan for Lillian and the baby because, heck, he was not supposed to take care of them at all!
Theoretically, yes, he could make a fake promise to give Lillian the Luna position even, but he could not do that in front of Lucien. It would break Lucien’s heart.
Ronan had been trying to play a political tug-of-war. Delay any decision, and keep feeding the Ironclad Claws Pack candies until the five months were up.
He did not consider Lucien’s mental state during this so-called tug-of-war.
For once, Ronan saw Lucien’s true state of mind.
His mate was exhausted mentally and physically.
He had been hurt so many times because he did not know anything about the deal between Ronan and Lillian.
For once, Ronan doubted his decision.
Was it right to keep Lucien in the dark? Should he not tell his mate what was going on?
‘I told you,’ Beowulf growled in Ronan’s head. ‘I told you to tell Lucien what is going on. It is all your fault, Ronan. You are the one who hurt Lucien. Not Lillian, not the baby. You did.’
Ronan squeezed Lucien’s upper arm.
‘Lulu...’
‘...’
‘Lulu, talk to me ‘
‘...’
‘Lulu, there is something that I have not told you before.’
‘...’
‘The baby is not mine. I have struck a deal with Lillian to uncover the truth about my mother’s death.’
‘...’
‘Lulu...?’
Ronan swallowed hard.
Why did Lucien say nothing in return?
Was he too upset by Ronan’s passiveness that he did not care for Ronan’s reasons anymore?
“Alpha Ronan? I think that what the Luna said just now made sense. Do you agree?” Elder Aaron asked.
“Whatever,” Ronan snapped in displeasure.
“Alpha Conrad? Miss Woodland? Is this good enough?”
“Yes,” Conrad answered hurriedly. “I believe it is sufficient for now. Lillian darling, is there anything that you want to add?”
Lillian’s gaze drifted from Ronan to Lucien who was still tightly pressed against the Alpha’s chest.
“None,” she said in return.
“Alright then,” Dane Silverback looked at everyone around the table. “Case is dismissed.”
After they reached a good conclusion, the tension of the meeting was relieved.
The elders left one by one, followed by Conrad Woodland. Dane Silverback eyed Ronan and Lucien, but he left without a word.
Inside the room, only Ronan and Lucien were left.
“We should go,” Lucien sighed. “Sorry for the abrupt suggestion, but I saw no room for discussion. You can decide on your own what to do later on.”
Lucien rose to his feet. Ronan grabbed his wrist, prompting Lucien to look back.
“Lulu, why did you not answer?” the Alpha asked.
Lucien furrowed his brows.
“Answer what?” he asked, not understanding what Ronan meant.
“My calls...?”
‘Using Mind Link? Lulu?’
“This is the only time you call for me.”
Ronan’s heart went cold.
Lucien could not hear him.
The Mind Link between him and Lucien was broken.
.....