Chapter 2 - Whispers in the Dark
Dawn broke over Silver Crest Territory, painting the frost-covered peaks of the northern mountains in streaks of bruised purple and gold. But inside the main manor, the atmosphere was thick with paranoia and venomous whispers.
Elder Rothschild paced the length of the grand council chamber, his silver-trimmed robes swishing angrily against the polished floorboards. Seated around the mahogany table were the heads of the four most powerful noble families—families who had spent decades positioning their daughters to sit beside Alpha Kieran.
"A servant," Rothschild spat, slamming his fist onto the table. "An unregistered, half-shifted orphan girl from the scullery. She makes a mockery of our laws, our bloodlines, and everything the Silver Crest pack stands for!"
Lady Vane, a sharp-featured matriarch with eyes like polished obsidian, leaned forward, her lips thinning into a dangerous line. "The throne hasn't chosen a Luna in three centuries, Rothschild. If the commoners and the lower packs believe a scullery maid holds divine right, our authority crumbles. The hierarchy depends on purity of blood. If we let her live, we invite chaos."
"Who said anything about letting her live?" a cold voice murmured from the dark corner of the room.
All eyes turned to Commander Vance, the head of the pack’s elite guard. He crossed his arms, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. "Accidents happen during training. A stray wolf, an unfortunate slip in the courtyard. The throne reacted once, but magic fades when the vessel is broken. We remove the girl quietly, and we tell Kieran she fled out of guilt."
Suddenly, the heavy oak doors of the council chamber blew open with a deafening crash.
The hinges splintered as they hit the stone walls. Standing in the doorway was Alpha Kieran. He wasn't wearing his formal Alpha attire; he wore heavy leather combat gear, and beside him trotted his massive, silver-gray dire wolf, its golden eyes glowing with predatory fury.
"Try it, Vance," Kieran’s voice dropped into a low, terrifying alpha snarl that rattled the crystal chandeliers above. "And I will feed your entire family to the hounds before the sun reaches its zenith."
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Rothschild paled, clutching his ceremonial staff. "Alpha Kieran! You are letting emotion override pack law! That girl is a threat to—"
"That girl is your future Luna," Kieran interrupted, stepping fully into the room, his presence choking the air out of the chamber. "And the next person who whispers of assassination within my walls will face execution for high treason. Meeting adjourned."
