The Rejected Luna Rising

”Fine. I will be your witness,” Emmett stated firmly, looking directly at Caroline.

”Really?” Caroline asked, her eyes widening in shock and relief.

”Yes. When will you two go back?” Emmett asked, turning his gaze toward Andrew.

”We are here for another four or five days for our honeymoon. I’ll give you a call—you can give your number to me,” Andrew stated smoothly. Once they exchanged contact details, Andrew added in a serious tone, ”Don’t run away this time. We have been searching for you obsessively.”

”I didn’t know what was happening back there,” Emmett admitted, bowing his head slightly. ”And I never imagined the two of you would end up together. I know I acted selfishly and only looked out for my own family, but it was what I had to do to survive.”

”I understand completely,” Caroline reassured him, her tone soft and forgiving. ”I would have done the exact same thing if I were in your shoes.”

Emmett nodded gratefully, then checked the time on his wristwatch. ”I need to go. My parents will be waiting for me at home.”

”Of course. Thank you, Emmett. You have no idea how much peace it brings me just seeing you alive and willing to help,” Caroline said.

Emmett offered a small, sad smile and stood up. Offering a respectful bow to Andrew, he excused himself and quietly left the lounge.

”I’ll be back in a minute,” Andrew said, pushing back his chair and standing up.

He caught up to Emmett just as the former Beta stepped out into the night air. Placing a hand on his shoulder, Andrew blocked his path completely. ”Don’t ditch us,” he warned, his tone dangerously low.

”I won’t,” Emmett replied, meeting Andrew’s sharp gaze without flinching. ”I want to see Victor punished for his crimes, too. This is the only chance we have, and I don’t intend to miss it.”

”Yet, you ran away in the first place,” Andrew remarked, his jaw tightening. ”Look, I don’t trust people easily. Even at this moment, I could have you arrested and shipped straight back to the capital, but I’m holding off, only because Caroline wouldn’t want that. So when I call you, you come running. Understood?”

Emmett hummed in quiet agreement. Bowing his head respectfully once more, he walked past Andrew and disappeared down the silent pathway.

Andrew walked back to their private table, noticing that Caroline had already placed an order for their meal with a waiter who was just leaving the lounge.

”Andrew, thank you for bringing me here,” Caroline said, her eyes shining with relief. ”I had no idea I would run into Emmett in a place like this! Finally, I’ll be able to prove my innocence. And apparently, Princess Nina knew nothing about the setup.”

”Let’s not celebrate just yet,” Andrew cautioned, sitting down across from her.

Her bright smile faded slightly, but instead of looking discouraged, a faint glint appeared in her eyes. Reaching into her sling bag, she pulled out her phone and set it gently on the table between them.

”I recorded everything Emmett said,” Caroline revealed in a low voice. ”I started it discreetly so he wouldn’t notice. I know you still have your doubts about him, Andrew, and I understand why. I didn’t want to be naive either. I’ve suffered far too much from being a good woman.”

”That was clever, Caroline!” Andrew answered, smiling.

”Yeah. Now, no one can stop Victor from getting punished,” she stated firmly.

~~~~~

Meanwhile, back in the Crystal Moon Pack territory, Levi entered Victor’s private office with a tense expression.

”Alpha, certain logs and timeframes have been completely wiped from our pack’s central control system,” Levi informed him gravely. ”I believe someone within our own ranks helped Emmett and his family escape. As for tracking down where they fled, it’s nearly impossible from here. To access those records, we would need to tap into the National Control Center.”

Victor’s jaw clenched. Without a word, he pulled out his phone and immediately dialed Nina’s private number, praying she would pick up. When the line connected, he sharply gestured for Levi to leave the room. His Beta bowed head and quietly shut the door behind him.

”Hey, I was just about to call you,” Nina’s voice came through the receiver, sounding lighter than usual. ”You seem to miss me a lot these days.” She paused briefly, turning her head toward her attendant and dismissing her with a flick of her hand.

”Can’t we meet?” Victor asked, his voice strained with rising desperation.

”We can’t,” Nina answered, her tone shifting to a frustrated sigh. ”I’m still not allowed to leave the royal estate. I told you, I’m trying to talk my parents around. Once they agree to hear us out, I’m coming straight to you.”

”I’m sorry... I’m just desperate to be by your side,” Victor whispered, rubbing the bridge of his nose as stress gnawed at him.

”I understand,” Nina murmured softly through the receiver.

”My former Beta has gone off the radar. Emmett. You must have seen him around me all the time in the past,” Victor explained, his tone carefully laced with worry. ”He committed a terrible crime within the pack before disappearing. I need to gain access to the National Control Center to trace him. Can you help me with that?” he requested. ”I know asking for a favor right now isn’t ideal, but it’s crucial. If he remains at large, he could pose a serious threat to my pack in the future.”

”All right. I’ll do it,” Nina affirmed, agreeing without a moment’s hesitation.

”I love you so much, Nina,” Victor said promptly, a relieved, triumphant smile creeping onto his face.

”I love you too, Victor. How would you need help?” Nina asked.

”To track where he fled,” Victor replied smoothly, pacing slowly across his office. ”Levi will fly to the capital directly and head to the National Control Center.”

”Sure. Send him,” Nina asserted without hesitation. ”I’ll inform my Beta to assist him the moment he arrives.”