Estelle’s POV
I walked straight to where Benedict was seated, standing there as I looked down at him. He shivered slightly, removing his legs from the table as I approached.
The silence in the room was thick. Benedict’s green eyes darted nervously between and the other council mbers. His earlier smugness had evaporated completely under my steady gaze.
“That’s my seat,” I said quietly.
Benedict’s face flushed red. He knew exactly what I ant. The head of the table wasn’t his place anymore, no matter how much he wanted it to be.
He awkwardly straightened in the chair, his hands gripping the armrests. For a mont, I thought he might actually refuse to move. The defiance flickered in his eyes briefly before my cold stare crushed it.
Finally, Benedict stood up abruptly. He made a show of patting the seat clean, as if I were so honored guest rather than his rightful superior. With an exaggerated gesture, he swept his arm toward the chair.
“Please,” he said with fake politeness.
I moved to the chair but didn’t sit. Instead, I pushed it out of the way and remained standing. The position gave a clear view of everyone in the room and let them know I ant business.
“Good morning, everyone,” I said, my voice carrying easily through the chamber.
My eyes swept across each face. Killian gave a subtle nod of support from his corner. Walter Frank looked uncomfortable but resigned. Ernest Jones had his arms crossed, clearly preparing for a fight.
Three empty chairs glared back at . This was the ssage they were trying to send. They didn’t support , but at the sa ti, they couldn’t outright lie and deny that I had brought results and completed their tasks ahead of ti. So, instead of showing up to participate in a fruitless fight, they had probably decided to not show up at all.
Or... I t Killian’s eyes across the room. He shook his head.
I let out a cold, knowing laugh that made Benedict flinch.
“Interesting turnout,” I comnted.
Ernest cleared his throat importantly. “Actually, Luna Estelle, this eting has been cancelled.”
He stood up, straightening his jacket like he was delivering so grand proclamation.
“We’re missing half the council mbers,” Ernest continued. “There’s no point in proceeding without proper representation. This eting regarding your succession can be delayed until we have better attendance.”
As he spoke, his gaze was shifty. He refused eye contact.
Before I could respond, Caleb slamd his palm against the table. The sharp crack echoed through the chamber.
“There’s nothing to discuss about succession,” Caleb said firmly. “Alpha Jas Harper himself declared Estelle would be Luna of the Blackmoon Pack. Her authority isn’t up for debate.”
Ernest’s face reddened. “The pack requires stability. If the people aren’t supportive, then the previous Alpha’s wishes don’t carry much weight. It’s about what the pack needs.” He gestured toward the empty chairs. “The absent council mbers speak volus.”
I stepped closer to the table, placing my hands flat on its surface.
“Are you saying that as long as the council mbers show up today, then everyone present would be in my support?” I asked.
Ernest sputtered. “That’s not what I ant—”
“But that’s what you implied,” I cut him off smoothly. “If absent mbers show opposition, then present mbers show support.”
Killian nodded from his corner. “She’s right, Ernest.”
Ernest’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. He’d backed himself into a corner with his own argunt.
“I suppose... yes, that would be the implication,” he said reluctantly.
I could see the calculation in his eyes. He was probably thinking the missing mbers would never show up anyway, so agreeing to this logic seed safe.
Just then, a firm knock echoed through the chamber.
I smiled.
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
“Co in,” I called out.
Noah opened the door from outside, and three figures filed into the room. The missing council mbers had arrived, looking slightly out of breath.
Ernest’s face went completely pale. His confident smirk crumbled as he realized his trap had just snapped shut on himself.
Benedict lost his relaxed posture entirely. He gripped the back of his new chair, his knuckles white with tension. The lazy grin that he wore dropped imdiately when he realized that the missing council mbers were here.
The three council mbers took their seats without a word. Each of them nodded at in acknowledgnt before taking their seats.
“Our apologies, Luna Estelle,” one of the council mbers, Winona, said. She glared hotly at Ernest before adjusting herself on the chair. “We weren’t inford of this eting.”
“Please pardon our delay,” another council mber, Geoffrey, said. Likewise, he didn’t seem too pleased with Ernest.
Ernest sat down heavily, looking like he’d swallowed sothing sour.
I smiled and nodded. It was like I had guessed. I wasn’t too sure of it yet, but Killian’s expression told everything I needed to know. Benedict and Ernest probably kept the eting from everyone. My guess was that Walter had chanced upon the eting, and Ernest probably had no choice but to let him join.
However, to Ernest’s horror, it wasn’t just the three missing council mbers who had arrived.
The leaders of the various divisions in Blackmoon were gathered here as well, including Juliet and Edmund. I spotted many familiar faces—even Harold and Nelson, the previous leaders of the agricultural division, were present. There were now so many people present that several younger folk had to stand.
“Well,” I said, looking around the now-full room. My voice carried a note of satisfaction that I didn’t bother to hide.
The power dynamic had shifted completely in the span of thirty seconds. Benedict was no longer lounging at the head of the table. Ernest’s attempt to undermine my authority had backfired spectacularly. The absent council mbers were present and accounted for.
By Ernest’s own logic, this ant the entire council supported my leadership.
I straightened up with a confident smile.
“Now that everyone is here,” I said, letting my gaze linger on Ernest’s pale face before moving to Benedict’s tense form, “let’s begin, shall we?”
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