Alpha Lucien's voice thundered, "Why was a public message posted and a news article published with a picture of Valessia under my name when I never authorized such an order?"
His murderous gaze fixed on Varek, who stood tense near the large obsidian table.
Varek's voice was steady but cautious. "According to my findings… it was Gamma Corvin who gave the instructions."
Lucien's jaw clenched. "Rhode Axen is behind this charade?" he growled, slamming his hand down on the table.
A crack split through the wood with an echoing crack, the surface fracturing in two. Only the central anchor kept it from collapsing entirely.
"The nerve of that old man… interfering with my affairs right under my nose." Lucien sprang to his feet, his expression seething. He turned away, facing the floor-to-ceiling glass panels that overlooked the beautiful scenery of Duskborne territory. His reflection stared back, colder than the real thing.
"I want that general notification deleted immediately. All posts taken down within an hour," he ordered coldly.
"A new headline should be released: 'Alpha Lucien did not marry Valessia Rhode out of pity'." He loosened his necktie and popped open the top two buttons of his black dress shirt, his muscles twitching with restraint.
"Before that, fire the CEO of Crescent Media Company and the Head of the Tower Control. Effective immediately. As for Corvin… punish him under pack law for forgery." His voice dropped to a lethal tone. "Let this be a warning to anyone who thinks my name is theirs to use."
Silence fell. Tension coiled in the air like a storm waiting to break free.
Lucien turned back toward Varek, his expression darkening even further when he noticed the man hadn't moved an inch.
"And why the hell are you still standing there?" He barked.
Varek didn't flinch under the Alpha's glare. "Replacing the CEO and the Head of Control Tower Control will not be a problem. However… deleting the message and removing the posts might create more damage than you intend."
Lucien's eyes narrowed, his breath sharp.
"The pack will be thrown into confusion," Varek continued, his tone respectful but unwavering. "They'll start asking questions. And punishing Gamma Corvin publicly for forgery will only raise suspicions. It's only a matter of time before someone connects the dots."
He clasped his hands behind his back. "If that day comes, Alpha, they'll begin to question your authority. Nothing attracts attention like the scent of internal instability. The other four packs, especially Nightclaw Dominion, will pounce on us. We'll be flanked from all sides, with no clear escape. I doubt that's a risk you're willing to take."
Lucien's fury simmered, his brows tightening with the weight of restraint.
"So what you're telling me… is to let this slide?" he said, his voice sharp with disbelief. "Even though my authority was undermined and my crown exploited?"
"I know you're angry," Varek said calmly. "But consider the bigger picture. Sending a second message clarifying that Ms. Valessia wasn't married out of pity would protect her from public backlash. But that would expose everything. Including your vulnerability. And that, Alpha, is far more dangerous."
Lucien turned away again, silent now, brooding.
Varek's words cut deep, but they rang with truth.
Just two weeks ago, Nightclaw Dominion had attacked two of their border warriors over a petty dispute. Tensions were high. Any sign of weakness would be the excuse those vultures needed to strike. The three remaining packs would follow. And then… war.
After a long pause, Lucien slowly turned, the heat behind his eyes dulled but not extinguished.
"If we can't punish Corvin officially… then make sure he suffers," Lucien said, his voice like steel wrapped in ice. "And make it clear that if he ever breathes a word about those forged orders, he and his entire household will cease to exist."
Varek bowed low. "Consider it done."
Without another word, he turned and left the room, his footsteps echoing behind him.
…
Later that day at the mall, Valessia made her way toward the adult clothing section. She had just finished picking out Seraphine's birthday dress and was searching for something of her own. The brightly lit corridor buzzed with soft music, chatter, and the hum of air conditioning.
As she rounded the corner, she collided with someone. Hard.
BANG.
Shopping bags slipped from the other person's hands and scattered across the floor. Before Valessia could register what had happened, a sharp sting exploded across her right cheek.
She staggered back, one hand flying to her burning cheek as she lifted her gaze only to find a seething Kaya standing in front of her, eyes ablaze, hand raised to strike again.
"Kaya, that is enough," Virema intervened sharply, catching Kaya's wrist mid-air. She stood beside Kaya, with another woman trailing behind her.
"You weren't the one who had to suffer in that stinky dungeon, so you'll never understand even if I spell it out for you," Kaya snapped, yanking her arm free from Virema's grip. Her fury remained locked on Valessia.
"You had the nerve to bump into me, huh?" Kaya sneered, stepping forward, her eyes lit with rage.
Valessia, still holding her stinging cheek with one hand, glared back.
"I'm sure you sensed my presence but deliberately bumped into me just to humiliate me," she muttered, her voice low but defiant.
Kaya laughed bitterly.
"The nerve of you to accuse me when you sensed my presence too... oh wait, I forgot," she sneered, voice laced with mockery. "You're not just an omega… you're a lowly, wolfless weakling. A rank even below the omegas. A worthless piece of garbage."
She didn't care that a small crowd had started to form. The bystanders whispered among themselves, eyes darting between the two women.
Valessia's grip on the shopping bags in her right hand tightened. She clenched her jaw, resisting the urge to punch the smug expression off Kaya's face.
"Kaya," she said, "do you still remember I am your eldest cousin's wife and the mother of his pups? I demand some respect from you."
She didn't realize those words would come back to haunt her.
"The very man whom you cruelly murdered and replaced?" Kaya cut in sharply, her words dripping with disdain. "And while still in mourning and pregnant with his pup?" Kaya snarled, gesturing at her protruding belly.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Murmurs flared instantly, thick with judgment and scandal.
Kaya smirked cruelly.
"Ohh... my bad. I just remembered you didn't replace him. You threw yourself cheaply at the Alpha's feet. Begged him to take you while pregnant for another man," she spat, her words deliberately meant to sting.
Valessia's blood boiled. Her fists trembled at her sides, but she forced herself to stand tall though the weight of humiliation pressed hard against her chest.