The Cursed Alpha's Fifth Luna

Seven swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to the floor. Rodrigo’s words made his chest warm, and a small, genuine smile broke across his face.

“That was quite touching, Rodrigo,” Seven said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn’t realize you trusted me this much.”

Rodrigo chuckled lightly, dropping his hand from Seven’s shoulder. “You’ve proven yourself to me, time and again. There is no reason for me not to trust you, and I can’t do this on my own.”

Seven’s smile widened. “Thank you,” he said softly. “I will always have your back.”

An awkward silence settled between them after that. They both stood staring at the ancient relics lining the shelves, the air heavy with dust.

Eager to break the silence, Seven cleared his throat.

“So, how are we going to find the Vothraki among all of these?” he asked, nodding toward the towering rows of old books.

“My father would have hidden the location of the Vothraki with a spell, knowing how much his enemies wanted it,” Rodrigo said, trailing his fingers over the leather spines. “We would need a seer. But I cannot trust any of them. I don’t know whose side they are on, and I will not put the future of the pack at risk.”

“So we do nothing?”

For a moment, the only sound in the large room was the faint echo of their footsteps.

Rodrigo stopped walking. “Nina says she could help.”

Seven turned to him, his brows drawing together. “The Luna?” His voice was sharp. “What does she know about magic and the Vothraki?”

He made no effort to hide his disapproval.

Rodrigo’s brow twitched as he saw Seven’s reaction. He turned to face him fully, his expression flat.

“You do not need to worry about the Luna,” Rodrigo said flatly. “And as for her mother being a witch—she told me about it herself before I could even ask.”

Seven stayed silent, watching his Alpha’s face.

Rodrigo picked up a dusty book and opened it, scanning the yellowed pages. “I do not think she is lying. She has no reason to.”

Seven stared at him, genuinely surprised.

Rodrigo had always been cautious and calculated when it came to pack matters. Yet now he was willing to hand one of the most dangerous secrets in lycan history to a woman they barely knew, simply because he loved her.

Seven closed his eyes for a brief second, took a breath, and stepped closer.

“Alpha,” Seven said, crossing his arms over his chest. His voice was quieter now.

Rodrigo did not look up from the book, but his brow arched. “What is it, Seven?”

“Do you not think this is a bit too convenient?”

A faint crease appeared between Rodrigo’s eyes. “What do you mean?”

“It is strangely convenient that the moment you discover the location of the Vothraki, the Luna tells you her mother was a witch and claims she can help you find it.” Seven held his gaze firm. “The same Vothraki that can undo the witches’ curse. Do you not see that it does not add up?”

Rodrigo’s forehead creased into a deep frown. “So what are you implying?”

Seven realized how harsh he sounded and quickly shook his head. “I am not accusing her of anything,” he said. “I am just saying you should not trust her with something this important until we are sure she has nothing to hide.”

“But I trusted you.”

Rodrigo’s voice was completely flat. He wiped the dust off his hands onto his trousers, his eyes fixed on Seven.

Seven froze.

“I trusted you without a single doubt,” Rodrigo continued, taking a step toward him. “So why would I not do the same for her?”

“Rodrigo, that is completely different—”

“Is it?” Rodrigo snapped the heavy book shut. The sound echoed off the stone walls. “Your father sits on the council. Can you look me in the eye right now and swear that if he asked you to betray me, you wouldn’t?”

The Vault went silent. Seven stiffened, his hands curling into tight fists at his sides.

“I would never betray you, Rodrigo,” Seven said, his voice steady. “Not even with a knife at my throat.”

Rodrigo blinked, taken aback by the conviction in Seven’s voice. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly, his posture relaxing as he looked away toward the far corner of the room.

“She has done nothing to warrant your suspicion,” Rodrigo said quietly. “Nina has never given me a single reason to doubt her.” He paused, his voice turning gentler. “Compared to seers we do not know, she is the only one I trust.”

Neither of them spoke for a long moment.

Seven looked up at the high stone ceiling, weighing Rodrigo’s words. Nina had not betrayed them. She had done nothing wrong, and suspicion alone was not proof.

Seven let out a breath and looked back at his Alpha. “You are right.”

Rodrigo studied him for a second, then gave a firm nod. “Good.”

Seven hesitated. He knew he should drop it, but the concern in his mind remained.

“But… what will you do if you are wrong?” Seven asked softly. “What if she really is not who you think she is?”

Rodrigo’s face darkened instantly, his gaze locking onto Seven.

Then, unexpectedly, Rodrigo chuckled.

The dark look left his face, replaced by a slight smirk.

Seven blinked, confused.

“You should channel that energy into telling Ruri how you feel,” Rodrigo said smoothly.

Seven’s jaw dropped. The color left his face instantly. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Rodrigo let out a short breath through his nose. “If you are just going to stand by and watch the woman you love marry someone else, you are hardly in a position to give me advice about mine.”

Seven stood there completely silent as the reality settled in—his feelings for Ruri had never been a secret to Rodrigo.

Rodrigo turned on his heel and began walking toward the heavy iron doors.

“This topic is over,” Rodrigo said. “Let’s get out of here.”