Chapter 4

Leo's POV

The election campaign had been running for three weeks, and I was losing.

I stood by the window in my office, my speech notes clutched in my hand.

I was supposed to deliver them at the Council Inspection Ball tonight, but I couldn’t concentrate.

My thoughts kept drifting back to my newest rival.

Alpha Derek Thompson.

He had entered the race only recently, yet he was already topping every campaign chart.

I snapped the folder shut and turned to my Beta.

“This Derek Thompson, or whatever his stupid name is, who does he think he is? I want you to pay him a visit. Tell him to step down. I’ll pay him whatever he wants. He’s a newcomer to the game. I’m sure he’ll accept.”

“I’m afraid we can’t pull a move like that, Alpha. It’ll be obvious we’re trying to sabotage him, and that will look very bad for you. I think we should just wait…”

“Wait?” I cut in sharply.

“Did I just hear you say wait? You want me to sit here and watch someone take my position while I do nothing? That’s impossible.”

I tossed the folder onto the desk.

“We’re going to copy his campaign strategy. If he thinks he’s smart, I’ll show him I’m smarter.”

My gaze moved around the room.

“Where’s Freya? Isn’t she supposed to be here by now?”

“The servant said she was unwell this morning,” the Beta replied. “Apparently she felt sick during breakfast.”

Again?

This was the third time this week Freya had been reported sick, and I was starting to get concerned.

Not because of her, but because I couldn’t afford anything jeopardizing my election plans.

“Have the kitchen send something light to her room,”

“She needs to be downstairs in twenty minutes. I have to make an impression on the council inspection team tonight.”

Aldric nodded and moved to relay the message.

After my meeting with Aldric, I went downstairs to inspect the banquet hall.

What I saw made me stop in the doorway.

The decorations were wrong.

Freya had personally selected ivory centerpieces for the banquet, but the tables in front of me were covered in bright white arrangements instead.

The cake was completely different.

Before I could even process that disaster, I heard Caroline’s voice echo across the hall.

“What is this? I told you the frosting should be strawberry cream! Why is it still vanilla?”

One of the kitchen maids stood stiffly beside the table.

“Miss Caroline, Luna Freya specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare vanilla because…”

“And I specifically instructed you to change it!” Caroline snapped.

“Leo hates overly sweet desserts. I’m not letting him eat something he doesn’t like.”

I walked further into the room, my irritation rising.

Another servant hurried past with a tray, only for Caroline to stop him with a sharp wave of her hand.

“No, no, no. Move those flowers to the side table. They look cheap there.”

I rubbed a hand over my face.

Freya had spent two weeks planning this event, and in the space of one morning, Caroline had turned it into a complete mess.

I walked toward her.

“Caroline.”

She spun around immediately.

“Leo!” she said brightly, stepping forward with a smile. “You’re here earlier than I thought.”

She reached for my arm.

I pushed her hand away and lowered my voice.

“Keep it down,” I said quietly. “They’re watching us.”

She blinked.

“Who?”

“The council members,” I muttered. “And remember, Freya is still my Luna.”

Caroline’s smile faded instantly, her lips pushing into an irritated pout.

“And so what?” she said.

“You know how much I love PDA. And I already told you how much I hate being treated like some dirty little secret.”

Her voice rose slightly.

“Leo, I’m carrying your child. I should be the one standing beside you tonight, not her.”

I ignored the comment.

“Why did you change the decorations?”

She blinked at me like the answer was obvious.

“Because you don't like ivory. White is your favorite color and it's more sophisticated, I was trying to help…”

"Freya chose ivory to complement the gold fixtures…

"Well, I think it looks better now…”

"And the menu. What happened to the menu?"

"I replaced it. You don't even like half the things that were on there”

I closed my eyes for a moment.

“Caroline,” I said slowly, “everything on that menu is for the guests.”

She frowned.

“This ball isn’t for me,” I continued. “It’s for the council inspection committee. I have people I need to impress tonight.”

Her expression shifted into confusion.

“I didn’t know that,” she said. You don't have to speak to me like I'm stupid…”

“Then stop doing stupid things tonight of all nights…”

She crossed her arms.

“Excuse me? I was trying to help you! Well then call your maid Luna,” she added sharply. “I’m sure she can fix it.”

I stared at her for a second before my eyes moved over her outfit from head to toe.

“What,” I asked carefully, “are you wearing?”

Her face brightened again.

She turned in a slow circle.

“Do you like it?”

The dress was red, tight and backless. The neckline plunged low enough that her cleavage was practically on display.

I felt a headache forming.

“It’s… nice,” I said finally. “But it’s not suitable for this kind of event.”

She frowned.

“You’re dressed like you’re going to a nightclub,” I continued. “Your cleavage is on full display, your makeup is…”

Her eyes flashed.

“Are you comparing me to Freya right now?”

Before I could respond, one of the servants approached nervously.

“Miss Caroline, the florist is asking if Luna's original arrangements should…”

Caroline turned and slapped her.

The sound echoed across the hall.

The girl staggered back, clutching her cheek in shock.

“What did you just do that for?” I snapped.

Caroline folded her arms stubbornly.

“She was being annoying.”

I turned to Aldric immediately.

“Take her upstairs.”

Caroline blinked.

“What?”

“Take her to the guest room,” I said flatly. “And lock the door until the banquet is over.”

Aldric stepped forward.

Caroline’s voice rose in disbelief.

“Leo, you can’t be serious…”

“I have a council inspection in thirty minutes," I said coldly. “And right now, you’re making it worse.”

Aldric gently but firmly guided her toward the staircase

She pulled her arm away from Aldric before he could touch it, lifted her chin, and walked out.

I pulled out my phone and sent a single message to Freya.

The decorations and menu are wrong. Fix it.

Already handled. I’ll be down in thirty.

Exactly as I suspected she was already ahead of me.

Thirty minutes later, she walked in.

Every movement from her exuded Luna energy.

I fell into step beside her, hand at the small of her back. She stiffened slightly, then relaxed, not pulling away.

Freya didn’t just know the people in the room, she knew their names, roles, even personal details.

She approached Councillor Hargreaves, second-in-command of the election committee, notorious for being unimpressable.

She handed him a bottle of wine, spoke a few words, and within minutes, they were laughing like old friends.

Then he showed her his phone and gave her his personal contact.

Only five people in the eastern territory had it and she did too.

I was still processing that when I saw her move toward the far corner of the room.

Alpha Claire of the Valdis Pack stood near the window.

The most powerful Alpha in the room, controlling the largest independent trade route in the northern pack.

I had tried twice to meet her in the past year and failed both times.

Freya walked straight to her.

"Alpha Claire. Bonsoir. C'est un honneur de vous avoir parmi nous ce soir.”

Claire froze, then slowly smiled, a mixture of surprise and delight.

“You speak French?”

“French, German, Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, and enough Russian to survive a tough negotiation. My husband believes real relationships start with speaking the language people actually think in.”

Eight languages? And I didn’t know?

Claire stepped closer. “I’ve had three meetings with Ironveil’s reps. None spoke French. None mentioned the northern route proposal.”

Freya smiled. “I read it last week. Section four’s being misread. Valdis keeps full control of the route, Ironveil gets access without losing authority. Everyone wins.”

Claire’s brow furrowed. “Not how your intermediaries presented it.”

“They negotiated from the wrong angle. Leo has full authority to sign tonight if we can agree. Let me show you it won’t take long.”

Forty minutes later, Claire shook my hand before the committee.

A billion-dollar resource-sharing agreement effective immediately.

She glanced at me. “You’re a lucky Alpha. Your Luna is…different. I hope you know that.”

Freya went to the sofa to rest. I started moving toward her when the door swung open and Derek Thompson walked in laughing.

“Who invited this lunatic?” I barked to my beta through the mind-link.

I want him out of here immediately!”

My beta was about to speak when I saw his eyes move across the room and landed on Freya.

Freya noticed someone staring at her, she looked up and her whole face changed.

“Derek!  Oh my God. It's you!”

What's going on here?

She was on her feet before she finished saying his name.

“Freya Ashveil. I absolutely cannot believe it.”

“Where have you been? I haven't seen you since graduation!  you just disappeared”

“Long story! I had no idea you're Luna here, I…”

“Move away from my wife, Derek Thompson!”

My legs were already moving towards them before I could stop myself.

I didn't know where the jealousy sprung out from, but I couldn't just stand there and watch another man put his hands all over her, she was still mine.

“Oh, nice to see you, Alpha Leonard. How’s the campaign going?”

“I don’t discuss personal matters with strangers. Step away from my wife.”

“Your wife’s a good friend of mine. I’d like one dance for old times’ sake. If you don’t mind.”

“I mind. My Luna’s unwell. If anyone dances with her tonight, it’s me.”

Derek held my gaze a beat too long, then smirked.

“Understood. But fair warning… you might want to pay a little more attention before someone else notices exactly what you’ve got.”