The grand corridors of the royal estate were eerily quiet as Liana navigated her way toward the council chambers. The faint echoes of her footsteps bounced off the polished marble floors, heightening her sense of anticipation. She was no stranger to the intricacies of palace politics, and tonight, she had positioned herself exactly where she needed to be.
The selection had been her opportunity to reclaim her lost standing. To correct what she considered a grievous wrong: Mira’s place as Kaelan’s mate. Liana knew that the council wielded as much influence as Alpha Kaelan, if not more, when it came to decisions affecting the pack’s future.
Positioning herself outside the slightly ajar chamber door, Liana leaned in, straining to hear the discussion unfolding within. The council’s voices were low but urgent, their words carrying the weight of authority and calculation.
“She’s an impressive candidate,” one council member remarked. His tone held a note of reluctant admiration.
“True,” another voice chimed in. “Her family name carries weight, and her demeanor is certainly befitting of a Luna. She’s poised, educated, and ambitious.”
Liana’s lips curled into a faint smile. Of course I am, she thought smugly. She could almost see herself standing beside Kaelan, her rightful place finally restored.
“But there’s the matter of her relation to Mira,” a third voice interjected, sharp and skeptical. “The pack already questions Mira’s place as Kaelan’s mate. Choosing her blood relative as Luna would only amplify the controversy.”
Liana’s smug smile vanished in an instant. Her heartbeat quickened as the words settled over her like a suffocating fog.
“It would destabilize the pack further,” the first voice added grimly. “We need unity, not whispers of favoritism or nepotism. The optics of choosing Liana are too dangerous, no matter her qualifications.”
Liana clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. The sting of their dismissal cut deeper than she could have anticipated. She stepped back from the door, her thoughts racing. They won’t choose me because of Mira? That pathetic, wolfless weakling?
The humiliation burned through her, fueling a deep well of anger. How could she, Liana—the strong, capable one—be cast aside because of a sister who had done nothing but undermine her? It was an injustice she couldn’t ignore.
She turned to leave, her mind already working on a new strategy. But before she could retreat, the sound of heavy footsteps approached the chamber. She froze, pressing herself against the wall as Alpha Kaelan’s commanding voice echoed down the corridor.
“Enough!” Kaelan barked as he pushed the door open, his presence immediately silencing the room.
Liana peered around the corner, her breath hitching as she watched him stride into the chamber. His expression was one of barely contained fury, his sharp gaze sweeping over the council members like a predator assessing its prey.
“Alpha Kaelan,” one of the council members began cautiously, rising from his seat. “We were merely discussing—”
Kaelan raised a hand to cut him off, his tone brooking no argument. “I don’t want to hear it. This selection was orchestrated behind my back, and it ends now.”
The council exchanged uneasy glances, their authority suddenly overshadowed by Kaelan’s commanding presence.
“Alpha,” one of them ventured, his voice hesitant but firm, “this is for the good of the pack. A strong Luna is essential for—”
Kaelan’s glare silenced him mid-sentence. “I decide what is good for this pack. Not you. Disperse the candidates immediately and make it clear that there will be no Luna chosen today—or anytime soon.”
The room fell into a tense silence as the weight of Kaelan’s words settled over the council. Though reluctant, they nodded, their expressions tight with displeasure. One by one, they began to rise, gathering their notes and shuffling toward the exit.
Liana pressed herself further into the shadows as the council members filed out, her mind spinning with disbelief. He’s shutting it down? she thought. The realization stung almost as much as the council’s rejection. Not only was she being dismissed as a candidate, but Kaelan was effectively dismantling the very ceremony she had pinned her hopes on.
As Kaelan turned to leave, Liana slipped away, her steps swift and silent. Her fury and humiliation threatened to overwhelm her, but she forced herself to remain composed. She needed to regroup, to rethink her strategy.
***
Liana returned to her quarters, her mind a whirlwind of schemes and possibilities. She paced the room, her anger simmering beneath the surface. Every moment of rejection replayed in her mind, each one adding fuel to the fire of her determination.
“They won’t choose me because of Mira,” she muttered bitterly, her voice trembling with rage. “And Kaelan… Kaelan would rather burn it all down than let anyone else take her place.”
She paused, her reflection in the mirror catching her attention. For a moment, she studied herself, her golden hair framing a face flushed with anger. She straightened her spine.
“If the council won’t choose me,” she said to her reflection, her voice low and dangerous, “then I’ll make them. If Kaelan won’t see reason, I’ll force him to.”
Her thoughts turned to Gareth, her ever-present ally in manipulation. He would know what to do.