****************
Chapter45
I slamd the door hard enough that the mirror on the opposite wall rattled.
The hem of my dress caught on my heel, but I didn’t stop—I ripped it free and stord deeper into the room, pacing like a caged wolf.
"That bastard," I hissed. "He said she would stand trial. He said she’d be questioned, humiliated, and exposed. Not crowned Luna!"
Behind , the door creaked open again. Elder Mauris stepped in with a grim expression. Mira trailed behind him, silent as ever, her eyes flicking nervously between us.
I rounded on the Elder the mont the door shut. "You promised," I snarled. "You told she’d be removed. That she would never rise above what she is—a cursed outsider with no pack blood. And now you let them marry her?"
Elder Mauris sighed and walked toward one of the leather armchairs, lowering himself with the ease of a man who’d carried power for too long.
"Seraphina, calm yourself. This is still in our favour."
"Favour?" I barked a laugh. "You just handed her everything. With the Luna title, she’ll gain rights, influence and respect. The pack will follow her. And once she has their pup—"
"We won’t let it co to that," he interrupted smoothly, folding his hands over his knee. "That’s the point."
I paused, breathing hard. Mira moved to the drink cart and poured a crystal glass of amber whiskey, holding it out to . I ignored it.
"I don’t understand," I said slowly, my voice shaking with rage. "Why elevate her at all if you are only going to pull her down?"
Mira placed the untouched glass on the side table and spoke for the first ti. "Maybe... maybe the Elder has a strategy. Maybe it’s more calculated than it seems."
I whirled to face her. "Calculated?" My voice dropped to a whisper that bled venom. "That witch has bewitched the Alphas. Five of them! And now she’ll be Luna. You think that’s calculated? Or have you been chard too?"
Mira paled but said nothing. Elder Mauris raised a hand, motioning closer like a father coaxing an errant child.
"Co. Sit, Seraphina. Let explain."
I didn’t want to. Every instinct in scread to throw sothing—break sothing—but I forced my feet to move.
I sat.
"Let them have her," he began calmly. "Let them parade her in front of the pack. Let them believe she’s their salvation."
He leaned forward, eyes gleaming with cold purpose.
"But when the reality sets in—that she doesn’t understand our customs, that she cannot lead, that she crumbles beneath the pressure—the pack will turn on her. They’ll question her legitimacy. They’ll resent the bond, the favoritism. Especially if she fails to produce an heir quickly."
I narrowed my eyes.
"And when that happens?" I asked.
"They’ll beg for soone else," he said, smiling faintly. "Soone pure. Raised among them. Trusted. And that soone will be you, Seraphina. The Elders will propose the Alphas dissolve their union. The people will demand it. And you, you’ll step in as the rightful Luna."
A chill ran down my spine—not because it was a bad plan, but because it sounded almost too easy. Too clean.
I could tell he believed every word.
But I didn’t want to wait for the pack to turn on her. I didn’t want to risk her having a child and securing her place forever.
No, I’d make sure she never got that far.
I smiled slowly and sweetly as I tilted my head. "Of course. Forgive , Elder. I was... upset. You’ve thought this through."
He nodded, satisfied. Mira exhaled.
"Then," I said, standing and walking to the bar, "let’s drink to it. To her downfall."
"To her removal," Elder Mauris added with a chuckle, lifting the glass Mira handed him.
Mira smiled faintly and raised her glass as well.
I raised mine last, keeping my fingers steady and my voice light.
"To the Luna who’ll never last," I whispered.
We drank, but in my mind, I saw it clearly—her blood on the floor, her bond shattered, and the crown finally where it belonged—on .
***************
~Kael’s POV~
The door clicked shut behind us, sealing the five of us inside the general study. No guards, advisors or council mbers.
Just the Alphas.
We needed this space to think, talk, and plan without the weight of formality.
The fire crackled in the corner hearth. A half-empty decanter of aged liquor rested on the table between us, accompanied by a clean glass cup, untouched. No one reached for it.
I leaned against the edge of the table, arms crossed, eyes scanning my brothers.
Lucien, lounging on the leather armchair like it owed him sothing. Riven paced near the far wall while Talon perched stiffly by the window.
Darian stood with his arms folded, tension wrapped around him like a second skin.
"She needs to be marked," Riven said at last, breaking the silence. "Wedded. Claid."
Lucien nodded. "Before sothing like yesterday happens again. Solaris nearly crossed the line. Aiden too. If they had pushed harder—"
"We would’ve torn them apart," Talon cut in sharply.
"Yes," I agreed. "But the fact that they dared? That’s the issue."
The room fell quiet again. We were all thinking the sa thing.
Rhiannon was no longer just our mate. She was a symbol. And symbols attracted danger.
"She agreed to the ceremony," I reminded them. "And in three days, she’ll be ours."
"She agreed to survive," Riven muttered. "Not to surrender."
Then Talon said it. The one question I’d felt circling under every look exchanged between us.
"So... when the ti cos. Who mates her first?"
A brief silence followed before Lucien leaned forward, smirking faintly. "Good question."
Riven arched a brow. "Together. Why not?"
Lucien scoffed. "You’re savage."
"I’m practical," Riven stated.
Talon shook his head. "We’re not doing that to her."
"I agree," Darian murmured. "One of us. First."
I straightened, my jaw tight. "It doesn’t matter."
Lucien glanced up at . "It does."
"Of course he’ll say that. We all know she’ll choose Kael," Talon said, almost too casually.
"She shouldn’t have to choose," Darian added quickly. "That’s pressure."
"So what?" Riven asked. "We just ambush her on our wedding night and fuck her? No or draw lots...?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)