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Hit Me Again. I’m Still Standing.” — The Alpha King Walked Into the Ring and Knelt Before the Woman His Own Council Had Tried to Break / Chapter 8 / 10

Chapter 8 - VESPER’S BETRAYAL

Aldric was on his feet in a heartbeat, his fists clenched as his eyes flashed amber. "Vesper. You traitorous bitch. What have you done with the chalice?"

Vesper laughed, a cold, melodic sound that grated against the nerves. "I didn't steal it, My King—I simply reclaimed it for the true rulers of Ithinar. The council knew all along that a human could never be Luna. We orchestrated Mard’s downfall so I could step into his place and cleanse the pack of this human plague!"

The two guards flanking Vesper drew their silver broadswords, stepping forward to block the doorway.

Senna slowly pushed herself up from the bed, ignoring the blinding pain tearing through her chest. The fever was burning hotter now, making her vision swim, but her mind remained razor-sharp.

"You think killing me will save your precious pack?" Senna taunted, her voice raspy but steady as she slid her shortsword from its sheath. "You're just another coward hiding behind ancient traditions because you're terrified of change."

Vesper sneered. "Kill the human first. Let the Alpha watch her burn from the inside out."

The guards lunged forward.

Aldric moved like lightning, intercepting the first guard with a devastating punch that shattered the man's breastplate. But as he turned to strike the second, Vesper’s hand flashed out, releasing a hidden blowpipe.

A tiny, envenomed dart buried itself deep into Aldric’s shoulder.

The Alpha King staggered backward, his eyes widening in shock as his limbs instantly turned to dead weight. The paralytic toxin hit his bloodstream with terrifying speed, dropping him heavily to his knees.

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"Aldric!" Senna screamed, rushing toward him.

Vesper stepped over Aldric’s immobilized body, drawing her own silver blade and pointing it directly at Senna’s throat. "And now, little clerk... your shift is over."

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