Chapter 27

The grand Council Chamber was a towering hall of heavy carved granite and stained-glass arches depicting the ancient battles of the Frostwell wolves. At the head of the long obsidian table sat the twin thrones of the pack sovereigns, carved from solid white oak and draped in dark velvet.

When the massive oak doors swung open at noon, the gathered Elders, senior squad commanders, and noble house representatives rose as one.

Alpha Asher entered first, his towering frame clad in dark formal tunic and leather, his presence radiating an terrifying, absolute authority that demanded obedience. But beside him, holding his hand with graceful poise, stood Luna Lydia. Dressed in a striking dress of frost-silver and dark pine green, her golden mate mark visible at the base of her neck, she looked every bit the powerful, unshakeable sovereign. The raw bond between them hummed softly throughout the chamber, a radiant aura that silenced any lingering doubts about her recovery or her strength.

Asher guided Lydia to her throne, kissing the back of her hand before taking his seat beside her. Across the table sat the high councillors, led by Elder Thomas—an elder wolf with iron-grey hair, sharp silver eyes, and an air of deceptive, pious authority.

“Alpha. Luna,” Elder Thomas spoke, bowing his head respectfully, his tone dripping with smooth, practiced reverence. “The council rejoices to see our Luna restored to health and sitting upon her throne. The traitorous deeds of Cassius and Cindy threatened our very core, but justice was executed swiftly by your hand.”

Asher’s icy blue eyes fixed on Thomas with a dark, inscrutable intensity. Beneath the table, his hand remained wrapped securely around Lydia’s fingers, sending a steady stream of soothing warmth across their bond so she felt completely safe.

“Justice was executed against the pawns, Elder Thomas,” Asher said, his low, resonant voice echoing off the high granite walls. “However, the shadows of treason run deeper than two foolish executed wolves.”

A quiet rustle swept through the chamber. Thomas’s expression remained perfectly composed, though a microscopic flicker of tension tightened around his eyes. “What do you mean, Alpha?”

“Our deep intelligence audit has revealed that Cassius did not act alone,” Asher continued calmly, leaning back into his throne with a cold, terrifying aura of control. “He received funding and classified security routes from a high-ranking asset operating within high command.”

Beside the throne, Gamma Liam stepped forward, holding a sealed black leather dossier. Delta Curtus stood near the doors, his arms crossed, watching every elder’s reaction with hawk-like precision.

“We have seized the financial ledgers and encryption keys left behind in Cassius’s private vault,” Liam announced, his tone sharp as a blade. “Our covert team is currently decrypting the final foreign vault transactions in the capital. Within forty-eight hours, we will have the exact identity and signature of the benefactor.”

Asher watched Elder Thomas carefully. For a fraction of a second, the older wolf’s fingers twitched against his wooden gavel, his pulse spiking slightly—a detail Asher’s sharp Alpha senses caught instantly.

Thomas was taking the bait. He believed the encryption key was still being processed at the central vault, giving him a narrow window of panic to try to scrub his remaining paper trails or contact his foreign allies.

“Until the final name is confirmed,” Asher growled softly, his voice carrying the weight of a death sentence, “all council communication with external territories is suspended. Anyone attempting to clear black-market ledgers or contact foreign brokers will be executed on the spot for high treason without trial.”

Elder Thomas cleared his throat, smoothing down his robes while offering a tight, agreeable nod. “A wise and necessary precaution, Alpha. The council stands united behind you to purge any lingering filth.”

“I am glad to hear it, Thomas,” Asher replied with a chillingly soft smile.

Lydia sat tall at Asher’s side, her emerald eyes meeting Thomas’s with quiet, unyielding power. Through their bond, Asher had subtly shared the truth of Thomas’s involvement with her before the meeting. Rather than fear, her spirit burned with a fierce, noble anger. She was no longer the helpless target in the dark; she was the Luna of Frostwell, and together with her mate, they were laying a trap that would ensnare the snake once and for all.

As the council meeting adjourned and the Elders filed out, Thomas hurried down the corridor toward the administrative wing, his mind undoubtedly racing to destroy his remaining tracks before Liam’s fabricated deadline expired.

Left alone in the high chamber with Liam and Curtus, Asher turned to his Luna, his hard expression instantly softening as he brought her hand to his lips.

“He took the bait,” Asher whispered.

“Liam’s squad is already stationed outside Thomas’s private estate,” Curtus reported with a grim grin. “The moment he attempts to access his hidden cipher cache tonight to warn his foreign contact, we catch him red-handed.”

Lydia looked at Asher, her grip tightening around his broad fingers, a resolute smile touching her lips. “Let him try,” she said softly, her voice carrying the pure authority of a true Luna. “He helped destroy my life once. He won’t survive trying it a second time.”