Estelle’s POV

I looked up at Vivian with a calm expression. Her red hair was styled in perfect waves, and she wore a smug smile that I wanted to wipe right off her face.

“I didn’t sneak around,” I said simply.

Vivian’s laugh was sharp and mocking. “Oh, please. Plenty of people saw you leaving the Lycan King’s private wing this morning. You have to be sneaking around; otherwise, why would you be in a wing completely different from the other guests?”

The conversations around us grew quieter. I could feel more eyes turning in our direction. The whispers started almost immediately.

“She does have a point,” someone murmured from a nearby table.

“I heard she’s been missing from the Blackmoon Pack for years. Her upbringing is questionable.”

“This wouldn’t be an issue if Helena or Benedict had come to represent the pack instead.”

“Her behavior reflects that of the Blackmoon Pack. How inappropriate.”

I kept my expression neutral, though anger simmered beneath the surface. These people knew nothing about my situation, yet they were quick to judge based on gossip and assumptions.

Vivian’s smirk widened as she heard the rumors spreading. She was clearly enjoying every second of this public humiliation.

“Excuse me,” Vivian called out sweetly to a passing servant. “The rooms for guests are all in the same wing, correct?”

The staff member nodded nervously. “Yes, Miss Hart. All guest accommodations are located in the same wing.”

“Thank you.” Vivian turned back to me with mock concern. “So tell me, Estelle, if you weren’t sneaking around, how exactly did you end up in the complete opposite wing of the palace?”

The whispers grew louder. I could hear fragments of conversations from multiple tables now.

“She can’t even find her own room.”

“How is she supposed to lead a pack as powerful as Blackmoon?”

“Maybe she should step down. Alpha James might’ve made a mistake naming her as his heir.”

Vivian heard every word, and her smile grew even more triumphant.

“Honestly, Estelle, if you can’t even navigate a simple palace layout, how do you expect to handle the complexities of leading the Blackmoon Pack? A pack of that size and reputation requires competent leadership.”

I remained composed, though my jaw tightened slightly. “My room assignment was changed due to issues with the original accommodations.”

“Issues?” Vivian laughed again. “What kind of issues could there possibly be? The Lycan Palace is known for its hospitality. Unless, of course, you’re just making excuses for your inappropriate behavior.”

More murmurs rippled through the dining hall. I could see some she-wolves shaking their heads disapprovingly in my direction.

“Perhaps it would be better for everyone if you stepped down,” Vivian continued, her voice carrying just far enough for nearby tables to hear. “Give the Alpha position back to Benedict. He’s been trained for leadership his entire life, after all. He wouldn’t embarrass the pack like this.”

Caleb shifted uncomfortably in his seat, clearly wanting to defend me but unsure how to do so without making the situation worse.

I took a slow breath, maintaining my calm exterior despite the rage building inside me. Vivian was deliberately trying to humiliate me in front of influential pack members.

“I didn’t realize that having a different guest bedroom would deem me incapable of leading a pack,” I said evenly.

Vivian’s eyes glittered with malice. “No, but how can you be so sure you’re fit to become the Blackmoon Pack’s Luna? Leadership is about making good decisions under pressure and maintaining dignity and propriety. You need to earn respect through actions, not through... questionable overnight arrangements.”

The implication in her words was clear. Several she-wolves gasped softly, and the whispers turned more scandalized.

“She’s suggesting...”

“With the Lycan King?”

“How shameless.”

If looks could kill, I would already be six feet under.

The majority of young women present here today attended in hopes that they would be selected as the new Lycan Queen. If they thought I tried to get an edge above them, they would naturally gather together and think I was their common enemy.

Vivian was simply happily fanning the fire as well.

“You seem very interested in my sleeping arrangements,” I said, my voice gaining a slight edge. “Perhaps you should focus on your own prospects instead of speculating about mine.”

Vivian’s smile faltered for just a moment before returning full force. “I’m simply concerned about the reputation of our packs. After all, we’re all representing our families here. Some of us take that responsibility more seriously than others.”

The crowd around us had grown larger. Pack members from various territories were now openly watching our confrontation. This was exactly what Vivian wanted, a public spectacle that would make me look defensive and inappropriate.

I was about to respond when a new voice cut through the tension.

“The rooms are garbage. No wonder she had to find a different one.”

I turned to see Lena Hart approaching our table. Her long black hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail, and her blue eyes held a cold, irritated expression. She looked directly at her half-sister with obvious disdain.

Vivian’s confident smile wavered as she faced her older sister. “Lena, this doesn’t concern you.”

“Doesn’t it?” Lena’s voice was flat and unimpressed. “You’re making a scene in the middle of breakfast, involving our pack’s reputation. I’d say it concerns me plenty.”