ALPHA KING JASON'S POV
As the guards scramble to obey my orders, I turn to the head housemaid Tina.
"Bring me everything we have on Doctor Lorry Springstone's background. I want to know every detail of her life before she came here." I demand with a firm tone.
Tina nods and hurries off, leaving me alone with the guards who are transforming the palace into a hive of frantic activity. Every room, corridor, and hidden passageway is searched meticulously. The security at the gates is doubled, with strict orders to let no one in or out without the my express permission.
After watching for a while how the guards track down the possible escape path of Doctor Lorry, I decide to return in my study. As I step in, my mind race with unanswered questions.
How could she have disappeared so completely? And how did she find that secret passage? Did she receive any help from one or many of my subjects? If so, who could it be?
...
HEAD HOUSEMAID TINA'S POV
I hurry to gather all of Doctor Springstone's personal belongings left behind in the guest room. As I sort through her medical bag and clothing, my hand brushes against something small and metallic. Curious, I pull out a delicate golden medallion.
My breath catches in my throat as I examine the piece of jewelry. It's unmistakable - the intricate design, the royal crest engraved on one side. This seems to be the medallion I helped the former Luna, Kelly Thompson, fasten around her neck on the day of the coronation ceremony of the Alpha King Jason.
"By the Moon Goddess," I then shout in disbelief, my hands shaking. "It can't be..." Memories flooding back - "the shy, beautiful Kelly."
I thus begin remembering how she was so nervous on that historical day which was also making her Luna of the great South pack. I recall helping her prepare, her eyes filled with true love for our now Alpha King.
And then, just one week later, it was the heartbreak and devastation when she was expelled from the palace and banned from the pack's land, leaving everything behind, including her only child Eden - taking with her just a few souvenirs like this royal medallion.
My body begins trembling as I connect the dots.
Doctor Lorry Springstone's immediate bond with Eden, her evident knowledge of the palace, her mysterious healing abilities - are strong evidences that she's in reality our ex-Luna Queen Kelly Thompson.
But why has she returned in disguise? I interrogate inwardly, my heart pounding as I clutch the medallion.
If my suspicions are correct, this changes everything. I must tell the Alpha King immediately, I decide.
I hence rush frantically through the palace corridors, the medallion clasped tightly in my hand and burst into the Alpha King Jason's study without knocking. My face is flushed with excitement for my discovery and fear I may have vexed the ruler for such an audacious entrance.
"Your Majesty!" I exclaim breathlessly. "I've found something you need to see."
He looks up from the maps spread across his desk, his eyes sharp with interest.
"What is it, Tina?" He then asks, his hoarse voice resonating in the study.
With trembling hands, I hold out the medallion to him.
"Your Majesty, I found this among Doctor Springstone's belongings. I... I believe I know who she really is." I then declare while stammering.
The Alpha King Jason takes the medallion, his brow furrowed in confusion. As he probes it, his eyes widen in shock and disbelief. He recognizes the golden jewel instantly - the royal crest, the intricate design.
"This is the medallion I had given to Kelly on the eve of our coronation ceremony, the one she wore as Luna." He asserts unwaveringly.
"But how come Doctor Springstone has held it with her? No, it can be that she is in fact…. That's simply impossible," he whispers, his voice not confident.
I nods, her eyes wide.
"I thought so too at first, Your Majesty. But it explains so much - her immediate bond with Eden, her knowledge of the palace, even her healing abilities. Doctor Lorry Springstone is Kelly Thompson, your former Luna." I assert boldly, my voice now filled with certainty.
The South pack's ruler staggers back, his face pale with shock. He collapses into his chair, staring at the medallion in disbelief.
"Kelly..." he whispers, his voice filled with a mix of emotions - anger, confusion, longing.
"All this time, she was right here under our noses?" He realizes.
I nod solemnly.
"It appears so, Your Majesty. I can't believe I didn't recognize her sooner. She must have used some kind of magic to disguise herself."
The Alpha King Jason stays quiet for a moment as he replays in his mind every interaction he's had with the so called "Doctor Springstone" over the past few days. The familiarity he felt, the inexplicable trust - it then all begin to make sense to him.
"And Eden," he says to me as he breaks the heavy silence, "He called her 'mommy' in the cave. The kid must have sensed it somehow. I just pretended I didn't hear anything but the truth is that I was stunned."
"What do we do now, Your Majesty?" I therefore ask hesitantly, watching the myriad of emotions play across his face.
He stands abruptly, his jaw set with determination and declares: "We find her. Immediately. Double the search efforts. I want every inch of this palace and the surrounding lands combed. And prepare a team to search beyond our borders if necessary."