The guards moved before anyone breathed.

Dominic’s chair scraped violently across the ground as they hauled him to his feet.

"How dare you—"

One caught his wrist, twisting it behind his back before the sentence finished, another gripping his shoulder as he struggled against them, fury flushing his face red.

Radeon did not resist when they reached him. He was old, so he just let them takie him as he glared at the Alpha with fury.

Eloise did not look at either of them.

She looked at her grandson.

Rodrigo sat with one hand flat against the table, eyes closed, his expression empty of any emotion.

Her chest tightened as her fingers folded together until her knuckles whitened.

"You cannot do this—" one of the councilmen shouted down the table.

"This concerns the stability of the pack, Alpha!"

Dominic twisted violently in the guards’ grip. "Let me go this instant!" His gaze snapped toward Rodrigo. "What’s the plan, brother? You kill everyone?"

Rodrigo did not open his eyes.

Charlotte’s hands stilled around her teacup as she watched her son being dragged away. Her jaw tightened once, and then she turned toward the head of the table with careful calm.

"The council," she said quietly, "holds the authority to impeach an Alpha found incapable of producing an heir."

Her words stopped everyone in their tracks, all eyes turned to her.

Rodrigo’s eyes opened.

Just barely. A slow blink, his gaze unfocused.

The teacup made a soft sound as she placed it down, her head inclined toward him. "Four Lunas are dead," she continued, her tone even. "For unknown causes. How many more must die before we accept the truth glaring at our faces?"

No one spoke.

"Abdicate," she said softly. "Let your brother lead while this pack still has some peace left."

A faint curve touched Rodrigo’s lips.

"I am kind enough," he murmured, voice calm and unhurried, "to keep mother and son together."

Charlotte’s frown tightened at the edges. She turned instead to Eloise.

"I suppose you intend to sacrifice every woman in this pack just to find your favorite grandson a wife."

Her words settled heavily across the table. Several elders shifted uncomfortably.

"Fine," she added with a small scoff. "Let us see how long the people’s loyalty survives when more daughters die."

She drew a steady breath, her eyes not leaving Eloise.

"You have always known what must be done. You simply refuse to see it... because he is Gwen’s son."

The name struck like a stone dropped into water. The hall went utterly still.

Rodrigo’s jaw ticked once.

Charlotte leaned forward slightly. "Is Dominic not your grandson as well? If one carries a curse, the other does not."

Her gaze hardened.

"When the girl dies, mothers will flee with their daughters. You will either let them run... or slaughter your own people to sustain this madness."

Eloise’s gaze narrowed on her. Charlotte smiled.

"You must choose, Matriarch. Save one... or save the pack."

Eloise felt her jaw tighten until the ache reached her temples. Her fingers pressed into her palm as she turned toward Rodrigo.

He met her gaze.

Something moved behind his eyes—quiet, unreadable, gone before she could grasp it—and she looked away first.

The waiting stretched.

Every council member watched her.

Slowly, she unfolded her hands.

"The matter will be put to a vote," she said, hearing how dry her voice sounded. "Those who support impeachment should the girl die... raise their hands."

Murmurs rippled around the table.

Charlotte smiled faintly.

Eloise glanced toward Rodrigo. "Alpha," she said softly, almost pleading, "release them."

Rodrigo tapped one finger against the table as if considering something trivial. After a moment he lifted his gaze toward the guards.

They released Dominic and Radeon immediately.

Dominic jerked free, straightening his clothes before dropping back into his chair with a sharp laugh.

Eloise steadied herself.

"Raise your hands."

Dominic’s hand went up first.

Radeon followed.

Charlotte lifted hers carefully.

One after another, hands rose around the table.

Eloise’s face paled.

Sixteen in total. None of them looked at her as they raised their hands.

Her eyes studied them silently, her nails pressing into her palm.

Sixteen of twenty-four.

Charlotte sat with her hands folded neatly again, chin lifted, satisfaction barely concealed.

This was her plan all along.

Eloise couldn’t hold back the dread coursing through her. When had she gathered the councilmen to her side?

Dominic lowered his hand and leaned back, already smiling. "Well then," he said lightly, "that settles it. Grandmother, the girl is as good as dead. We may as well prepare for the transition." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Eloise held his gaze until the smile faded from his face. He looked away from her, straightening.

She dragged her eyes back to the table, looking at each one of them.

"The council has agreed," she said. "If the girl dies... Dominic Vermont will become Alpha of the Vermont Pack."

Only then did she force herself to look at Rodrigo.

Nothing had changed.

He had not reacted to the vote, nor what she just said. His hand rested loosely on the table, his expression calm, almost bored.

Something was wrong.

She knew him.

His rage she understood.

But whenever he was silent like this...

"Do you agree to this, Alpha?" she asked.

Every eye turned toward Rodrigo.

Rodrigo was quiet. There was no reaction or change in his expression.

Her heart picked up beat.

Dominic pushed himself upright. "Why do we need his agreement?" he said, glancing at the wall clock.

It was a few minutes past ten o’clock. "The council has already decided and it is final."

He turned toward the guard who had restrained him earlier and studied the man with cold amusement.

"Your head will be the first thing I claim once I take the throne."

The guard paled.

"Go," Dominic ordered. "Check if the girl is dead. Return only with news."

The guard bowed and hurried out.

The doors closed behind him with a heavy thud.

Charlotte lifted her cup and began humming softly under her breath, a tuneless sound that crawled beneath Eloise’s skin.

Eloise watched her carefully.

The public should never have known about the dead Lunas. She’d paid the families handsomely to keep it secret. Unless...

Someone had spread the rumors.

Her gaze lingered on Charlotte’s satisfied expression.

Of course.

She’d been too busy getting a Luna she had not paid attention to what she was up to.

Her eyes drifted across the table to Dominic. His fingers drummed on the table, a grin on his face.

A sheer replica of his mother—the same relentless desire for what belonged to someone else.

Eloise gritted her teeth.

How did she let this happen?

Her eyes moved through the councilmen.

And stopped at Rodrigo.

Eloise could not tell whether he was indifferent... or waiting for something.

She feared the second more.

The clock ticked loudly above his head.

And she looked up.

Eleven O’clock.

Charlotte set her cup aside and rested back comfortably, lips curved faintly as she watched the clock tick.

Eloise looked down at her hands.

Her nails had broken skin without her noticing. A thin sting followed as she pressed her palms flat against her skirt.

What would she do when the girl died?

She had opted for a vote because she didn’t think they would have agreed. They were loyal to Gordon. When did that change?

Would she truly hand the pack to Dominic?

The clock moved.

Eleven Thirty.

No one spoke now. Even Dominic’s tapping slowed.

Her heartbeat grew louder as she watched the time crawl by.

They waited. Quietly. Eloise’s eyes glanced at the door. Yet no one was coming.

Eleven fifty eight.

Eloise shut her eyes. Sweat formed on her forehead. The guard would be here with news anytime now.

She could hear the sound of her heart beating loudly in her ears.

A loud shriek sounded in the hall as the clock hands ticked to twelve.

It was The twelfth day.

The doors opened immediately.

Every head turned at once.

Dominic rose slowly, a smile spreading across his face.

"Alpha—" the guard began.

Rodrigo did not open his eyes.

Eloise clasped her hands together and closed her eyes as she waited for the news.

"Speak,’’Dominic ordered, his voice expectant.

The guard’s voice hesitated,

"The Luna—"

Eloise felt the air leave her lungs.

"—is alive."