เข้าสู่ระบบEMILY'S POVThe hallway stretched before me, long and endless, lined with portraits of Cortez ancestors who had ruled before me. I felt like their eyes were following and judging me as I walked.I kept my head high, my steps steady and my hands still, but I still heard them. Whispers trailed behind me like smoke, curling around the corners, seeping through the cracks of the grand estate. The walls had ears, and the ears had mouths, and the mouths would not stop talking.“She should focus on producing an heir.” The words drifted from the sitting room as I passed. Elder Selena's voice was low but clear.“Stability comes through legacy,” another voice added, it was Elder Moretti. “A strong husband should lead during pregnancy, It's only natural.”“Of course.” Selena agreed. “The Othon line is powerful, an heir would solidify everything. The alliance, the future and even her place.”The word her place made me stop walking. I pressed my hands flat against the cold stone wall. My heart poun
EMILY'S POVThe council chamber felt smaller than usual. I sat at the head of the table, Ralph beside me, his hand resting lightly on my knee. The elders surrounded us, their faces old and serious, their eyes weighing every breath I took.Elder Moretti cleared his throat. "Alpha, there is something we must discuss."I kept my face calm. "Speak." I ordered coldly.He slid a document across the table, it was old paper with an official seal and the Cortez crest pressed into wax. "A clause in our pack laws." He said. "One that has existed for centuries it’s rarely invoked, but present."I looked at the document but didn't touch it. "What clause?"Elder Selena spoke, her voice softer than Moretti's. "It's a protection, Emily. For the Alpha and for the pack.""A protection." I repeated."If an Alpha shows signs of instability……fatigue, confusion, emotional volatility…..power may be temporarily delegated to their bonded mate." She paused. "Until clarity returns."The words hung in the air li
EMILY'S POVThe sitting room smelled like lavender and old paper. My mother sat across from me, with a teacup in her hand, her posture perfect, her expression carefully neutral. She'd requested a private meeting between the both of us, just us.That should have been my first warning. "I've been watching you, Emily." She set down her cup. "These past weeks. You seem... different.""I'm fine, Mother." I kept my voice steady. "Just tired. The summit…..""It is in five days." She cut me off. "I know. But this isn't about the summit."I waited and kept quiet. She leaned forward, her eyes sharp. "The elders came to me, they're concerned.""Concerned about what mom?" I asked, although I already knew the reason."About you." She paused. "About your state of mind, they are concerned whether you're fit to lead the pack right now."The words hit me like a slap. "I'm fit mom." My voice came out sharper than I intended. "Mom, I've led this pack for years, I protected it, even as a teen mom, I foug
EMILY'S POVThe council chamber was too warm, I sat at the head of the long oak table, listening to Elder Moretti drone on about summit seating arrangements. His voice blurred at the edges, words sliding into each other like watercolors left in the rain."......and the Volpe delegation has requested additional representatives, which would shift the entire west wing allocation unless we….""Then tell them no." I yelled, the words came out sharper than I intended. Everyone looked at me.Moretti blinked. "Alpha? What are you saying?" She asked, looking shocked."Tell them no." I set down my pen. "The west wing is already at capacity, they can only have two representatives like everyone else, or they can stay home."Silence filled the council chamber, that even a pindrop could be heard. Elder Selena cleared her throat. "Emily, the Volpes are sensitive about status, perhaps we could……""I don't care about their status." My voice rose. "I care about security, I care about logistics and I ca
EMILY'S POVThe morning sun was too bright filling the room through the window, I squeezed my eyes against it, turning away from the window, but the damage was done. Another hour of sleep lost, another hour of staring at the ceiling, listening to the house breathe, wondering which of its sounds were real and which were devices hidden in the walls.I gave up at six, my study was cold when I walked in. I wrapped my robe tighter and settled behind my desk, where a fresh stack of reports waited…..summit logistics, security protocols…..budget approvals and so on. The usual mountain of paper that never seemed to shrink.I reached for the first file and began to read, a few hours later, my eyes burned. I'd merely made it through half the stack, but my hand cramped from signing. My head throbbed with that familiar dull ache that coffee couldn't touch.I picked up the next file, it was the summit catering contract, filled with dozens pages of vendor agreements, menu selections, delivery schedu
EMILY'S POVThe morning sun was bright, mocking me with its warmth. The family doctor, Dr Fuzzy, a grumpy old wolf ....told me last night after reviving me ... .that if I don't less stress…I would be six feet below before the summit day.But here I stood at my window, watching the gardens come to life, trying to remember the last time I'd felt anything close to peace. Months? Years? The weight of everything pressed down on my shoulders….the lies, the fear, the USB that now belonged to Kest.Ralph was already at breakfast when I came down. He stood when I walked in, pulled out my chair and kissed my cheek. The same routine, every morning like we were actors in a play that never ended."Good morning, beautiful." He poured my coffee. "You look tired.""Didn't sleep well." I sat. "Just stressed about the summit."He frowned, concern softening his features. "You've been saying that a lot lately, maybe you should take it easy today, remember you are taking meds my princess.""I can't, my lo
EMILY'S POV“Marco? What’s wrong? Where’s my mother?”The phone shook in my hand. Rudy’s argument was forgotten, all I heard was the urgency in Marco's voice..“The family wing now, please Alpha.”I ran hastily, Rudy was a step behind me, his anger vanished, replaced by a grim alertness.The door t
Emily's POVThe teacup sat on my desk, I hadn't slept through out the night, I was just staring at the tea lost in deep thoughts. The jasmine scent had faded, replaced by the memory of wolfsbane and the sterile chill of that clinic room.Kest’s contract arrived at dawn, as promised. It was bound in
Emily's POVMy reply to Rudy, made me feel a bit hurt. But I really don't want to talk about anything with Rudy, my heart was filled with the thoughts of Ralph Othon.The weekend arrived a bright cool Saturday, I chose my outfit with a care I hadn't bothered with in weeks. I choosed a deep emerald
Emily's POVThe rain fell heavily against the bulletproof glass of the town car as though it was mourning elder Jacobs on my behalf. Marco drove to a hidden, private clinic in a quiet quarter of Milan.Elder Jacobs lay on a steel table in a chilled room. He looked peaceful, like he was asleep. But







