Chapter Op
Chapter One Hundred Forty Seven
Clas
“And how about Vanessa? Diana asked quietly, her gaze shifting from the bleeding Rafe to the she-wolf standing beside him. The entire hall fell silent once more. Every eye turned toward Vanessa. She stood frozen, tears staining her cheeks, her hands trembling at her sides. Still… There was defiance in her eyes.
“What about me?” Vanessa demanded, her voice cracking.
“You’ve already ruined my mating ceremony.”
She glared at Diana.
“What else do you want?”
Diana sighed softly.
There was no triumph in her expression. Only disappointment.
“Vanessa…”
She took a slow step forward.
“Let’s make one thing perfectly clear.”
Her voice remained calm, steady, carrying through the entire hall.
“I did not ruin your ceremony.”
She spread one hand toward the decorated hall.
“You invited us. The invitation clearly stated that the Alpha King and Luna Queen were invited to witness your Alpha and Luna Ascension Ceremony.” She paused. “So we came.”
Another step.
“How were we supposed to know… that you didn’t understand the very laws surrounding the ceremony you
invited us to attend?”
Vanessa clenched her fists.
“You keep saying I don’t know the laws!”
“Because you don’t.” Diana answered immediately.
There wasn’t even anger in her voice anymore. Only fact.
“You are the Alpha heir. You should have known that if the Alpha title is given to an outsider… whether he is your mate or not… the Elder Council must investigate
She looked toward the four Elders.
“They don’t do this because of us. They do it because it is the law.”
She looked back at Vanessa.
Chapter Opened Forty Sever
And especially…
Her voice softened.
“…when both your parents died under questionable circumstances.”
Vanessa shook her head violently
“My parents died peacefully! They died in their sleep!”
She almost screamed the words. Diana didn’t respond. Instead-Talon stepped forward. His golden eyes rested on Vanessa with something that almost resembled pity.
“Do you truly believe that?”
His voice echoed heavily throughout the hall. Vanessa stared back at him.
“My parents-
Talon raised one hand, stopping her.
“Your father… Alpha Charles. One of the strongest Alphas among our allied packs.”
He continued before she could interrupt.
“Your mother. Luna Carla. A warrior in her own right. A Luna respected by every pack represented in this
hall.”
He slowly looked around the gathering.
“I knew them.”
His voice carried genuine respect.
“We fought beside one another. We negotiated treaties together. They protected their pack. They protected each other. They protected themselves.”
He looked back at Vanessa.
“And you expect me to believe… that two perfectly healthy wolves… simply went to sleep… and never woke up?”
Silence.
“They weren’t sick. They weren’t elderly. They weren’t weakened.”
His Alpha King’s aura slowly filled the room once more.
“And yet… They both died. On the same night. The same way.”
The silence became suffocating. Talon’s eyes never left Vanessa.
“Did you ask questions?”
“No…” He answered for her.
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Chapter Queaked Forty Seve
“Did you request an investigation?”
Again- “No.”
“Did you demand your heaters determine their true cause of death?”
“No.”
His voice grew colder.
“You simply accepted what you were told.”
Vanessa’s breathing became uneven.
“And then…”
Talon continued.
Clam
“You allowed your parents’ bodies to be cremated. So quickly… that any remaining evidence disappeared forever.”
Several Elders exchanged grim looks. Vanessa wiped at her tears angrily.
“Rafe said…”
Her voice trembled.
“…that we should respect the Moon Goddess’ will.”
She looked toward Talon desperately.
“He told me… that the Goddess took them together because they loved each other too much to live apart.”
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Do you really think I wasn’t hurting?”
She pressed both hands against her chest.
“You think losing both my parents didn’t destroy me?”
Her voice broke completely.
“I was alone. I had nobody.”
She looked toward Rafe.
“He was all I had left.”
A heavy silence settled over the room. This time- No one interrupted. Not even Diana.
Eventually Diana spoke. Very softly.
“So… You allowed your mate to make every decision for you.”
Vanessa lowered her head.
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Chapter One+fondied Forty Sem
Clam
“You were raised to become Alpha.”
Diana continued gently
“You attended Alpha School. You were taught the succession laws. You were taught emergency protocols. You were taught how to protect your pack after an Alpha dies.”
Her voice became firmer.
“But instead… You followed Rafe. You stopped asking questions. You stopped thinking.”
She stepped even closer.
“What did he promise you?”
Vanessa refused to answer. Diana waited.
“What did Rafe promise… that made you trust him without question?”
Before Vanessa could respond-
“Don’t say anything!”
Rafe suddenly roared. His eyes blazed with panic.
“Shut your mouth! You mutt.”
Talon’s voice cut across the hall like thunder.
“You say another word…”
His claws extended.
“…and I’ll make sure you never speak again.”
Rafe immediately fell silent. Diana turned back toward Vanessa.
“Don’t listen to him.”
Her voice softened again.
“Look at me.”
Slowly… Very slowly… Vanessa lifted her eyes.
“I know you’re grieving. I know you’re confused. And I know you’ve made terrible decisions.”
A pause.
“But… There may still be time to save you.”
Another pause.
“And more importantly… to save your pack.”
Chapter Opened Forty Seve
Vanessa’s breathing hitched.
“Tell us. What really happened? What did Rafe tell you?”
The room waited. No one moved. No one-breathed. Vanessa looked toward Rafe.
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