Chapter 4: I Ruin His Fated Mate

"Some wolves are born to wear a crown, Liora. Others are born to kneel before the woman who deserves it."

Lilith's sharp, high-pitched voice echoed across the open courtyard of the Silver Fang packhouse as she stepped off Aldric's royal carriage.

Aldric stepped out right behind her. He clearly expected to find a panicked, tearful young girl begging for his forgiveness after last night's chaotic public rejection.

Instead, he stopped dead in his tracks as two dozen Silver Fang guards stepped forward, bowing their heads in submission as I approached the stone stairs.

"What is the meaning of this foolish performance, Liora?" Aldric demanded, "You rejected my proposal in front of the entire assembly, and now you parade around your packhouse like a wild rogue who has completely lost her senses. I brought the high council elders here today so you could formally apologize for the chaos you caused and accept your rightful place as my Luna."

"I have no reason to apologize to you or anyone else, Alpha Aldric," I said coldly, walking down the smooth stone steps until I stood directly before him and his entourage. "And I certainly do not need your permission to walk freely within my own territory. You are standing on Silver Fang land, and you will address me with the proper respect as the official Alpha of this pack."

Lilith let out a loud, "Alpha? You? Oh, please do not make me laugh! You were born wolfless and weak, a pathetic little girl who couldn't even shift to save her own life. You think putting on a stern face and playing dress-up in your father's old office makes you worthy of standing beside a powerful, dominant man like Aldric? You will always be nothing more than a useless, fragile child who holds back a real warrior."

I looked at Lilith calmly, tilting my head slightly as I absorbed her venomous words without letting a single flicker of emotion touch my face.

In my past life, her cruel taunts would have deeply wounded my fragile self-esteem, driving me to weep in private while begging Aldric to reassure me of my worth.

Now, looking at her standing there, I felt nothing but a dark, cold satisfaction as I prepared to pull the delicate rug straight out from under her feet.

"You speak so boldly about worthiness and honor, Lilith," I replied smoothly, keeping my voice loud enough for every council representative to hear clearly. "Yet you stand here wearing ceremonial garments that do not belong to you while hiding a disgusting secret that shames the very Moon Goddess you pretend to worship. It is quite convenient that the high council elders are present today, because I was just about to request a formal investigation into a very serious crime committed within our sacred borders."

Aldric narrowed his eyes dangerously, taking a slow step forward, "What kind of foolish game are you playing now, Liora? Stop wasting our time with these nonsensical riddles and speak plainly if you have something to say."

"Last night, during the annual Mating Ceremony, the sacred silver offerings dedicated to the Moon Goddess were stolen directly from our pack's inner shrine," I announced, turning my gaze toward the council elders who immediately gasped in collective shock and horror. "Stealing from the divine altar is a severe transgression that carries the penalty of immediate banishment and public humiliation. And I have every reason to believe that the perpetrator stands right here among us."

Lilith's cruel smile wavered for a split second before she forced another loud, nervous chuckle, "This is completely absurd and pathetic! Are you actually trying to accuse me of stealing your pack's dusty old trinkets, Liora? You have absolutely no proof to back up such an insane lie, and no one here is stupid enough to believe the desperate fabrications of a bitter, rejected female!"

"If you are truly as innocent as you claim to be, then you should have no objection whatsoever to a brief, thorough search of your personal belongings," I countered smoothly, gesturing toward the black travel trunks strapped to the back of Aldric's carriage. "Elders, I ask that you order an immediate search of those trunks to clear this matter once and for all."

The lead council elder, a harsh old wolf named Marcus, stepped forward and raised his staff. "Desecration of the Moon Goddess's altar is a matter that the high council takes extremely seriously. If an accusation has been formally brought forth on pack grounds, we are legally required to verify it immediately. Guards, open those travel trunks at once."

"Aldric, do not let them touch my private things!" Lilith shrieked, her voice cracking as panic finally broke through her composed facade.

She grabbed onto Aldric's sleeve, "Make them stop this right now! She is just doing this to humiliate me because she knows you choose me over her!"

Aldric remained completely silent, his expression turning cold as two council guards stepped forward.

Within seconds, one of the guards reached deep into the bottom of Lilith's bag and pulled out a pouch, untying it to reveal three glowing silver goblets.

"This... this is a frame-up!" Lilith screamed at the top of her lungs, "She planted them in my trunk! I swear on my life I never touched those horrible things! Aldric, please say something! Tell these idiots that I am innocent! You know I would never do something like this!"

"The evidence speaks for itself, female," Elder Marcus declared in a stern voice, "By the authority of the High Council, you are hereby stripped of all ceremonial privileges, and your name shall be struck from the honorable registries. Guards, take her into custody immediately while we determine her final sentence of banishment."

As two guards grabbed Lilith's arms and began dragging her away toward the packhouse holding cells, she thrashed violently against their grips, kicking her legs in sheer desperation.

She turned her head toward Aldric, "You promised me, Aldric!" Lilith shrieked, "You promised me that once Liora was permanently out of the way, you would mark me as your Luna! You said we would rule the united packs together! You can't let them take me away like a dog!"

The shocking revelation hung in the air like a dark, suffocating fog, causing the council elders and surrounding warriors to look between Aldric and Lilith in absolute disbelief.

I stepped closer to Aldric, my hands clenching into tight, trembling fists at my sides as I glared into his eyes. "She just blurted out the dark truth, didn't she, Aldric? You were planning to get rid of me from the very beginning, long before I ever rejected your pathetic proposal."

Aldric didn't flinch, "You have become far more dangerous and cunning than I ever anticipated, Liora," Aldric said softly, his deep voice carrying a low, chilling threat. "I do not know what shifted inside your mind overnight, but if you think a petty political victory over Lilith grants you total freedom, you are severely mistaken."

Before I could reply, Elder Marcus stepped between us, "Alpha Liora of Silver Fang, while the matter regarding the stolen offerings has been resolved, we must now address the immediate future of your pack's political standing."

I frowned, tilting my head slightly as I sensed another trap closing in on me. "What are you talking about?"

"Ancient law dictates that a newly crowned Alpha must secure a recognized, bonded mate within seven days of taking power to ensure pack stability and line of succession," Elder Marcus declared.

"That law is completely outdated and designed solely to force female Alphas into subjugation! You are intentionally setting me up to fail so you can hand my pack directly over to Aldric's control!" My voice filled with disgust as I glanced toward Aldric.

"The law is the law, Alpha Liora," Elder Marcus replied coldly, completely unmoved by my protest. "Seven days, Alpha Liora. Find a mate, or surrender Silver Fang to the council."

The council elders turned and began marching back toward their carriages, leaving Aldric standing alone beside the stone archway.

He took a slow step toward me, leaning down slightly, "Seven days goes by very quickly, Liora. When you realize that no ordinary wolf dares to stand against me, you will come crawling right back to my packhouse on your knees."

I pulled back, holding my head up high as I watched him walk away toward his carriage without offering another word.

I turned my head toward the distant horizon, looking far beyond our pack's borders toward the massive mountains where the grand palace of the Alpha King rested beneath the clouds.

"Then I'll ask the Alpha King himself to change the law."