LOGINAstrid’s POVPower does not leave quietly.It lingers—like the echo of a scream in a mountain pass, like warmth after a fire has died. Even after the Alpha God was forced back into the threshold, the hall still felt bruised. The stone beneath my feet throbbed faintly, as if remembering what it had almost become.I felt it too.Every breath scraped. Every heartbeat carried a consequence.I was still bleeding, and no one dared offer a cloth.Not because they were cruel.Because they were afraid of touching something that no longer fit neatly into their understanding of the world.Lucian recovered first. He always did.That was his true strength—not dominance, not ritual mastery, not even ambition—but adaptation. He adjusted to reality faster than anyone else in the room, and that made him dangerous.“The conclave will recess,” he said calmly. “This hall is compromised.”Several Alphas nodded immediately, grateful for instruction.“No,” I said.The word was soft.It stopped him anyway.
Astrid’s POV The council hall did not become silent when the god decided to leave. And that is because silence means peace. What followed were the consequences. Stone dust came out from the hall, and settled on the shoulders of Alphas whose shoulders were made heavy by regrets and calculations. The path of invocation stayed cracked beneath my feet. The once living Glyph has now scorched into scars. The atmosphere still hummed faintly. It was as if the world had not yet decided whether it was done listening. Sebastian’s hands were around my waist all along but I was the one who was holding him upright until this moment. Blood dripped from my palm finding its way down onto the floor. The blood was bright and undeniably human. And yet, no Alpha dared look at me. Not even one except Lucian. They have felt and witnessed everything. They realized what they had just witnessed wasn't borrowed power or prophecy. What they have seen just now was Authority. I stepped away from Sebastia
Astrid’s POVThe council hall did not become silent when the god decided to leave. And that is because silence means peace.What followed were the consequences.Stone dust came out from the hall, and settled on the shoulders of Alphas whose shoulders were made heavy by regrets and calculations. The path of invocation stayed cracked beneath my feet. The once living Glyph has now scorched into scars. The atmosphere still hummed faintly. It was as if the world had not yet decided whether it was done listening.Sebastian’s hands were around my waist all along but I was the one who was holding him upright until this moment.Blood dripped from my palm finding its way down onto the floor. The blood was bright and undeniably human. And yet, no Alpha dared look at me. Not even one except Lucian.They have felt and witnessed everything.They realized what they had just witnessed wasn't borrowed power or prophecy. What they have seen just now was Authority.I stepped away from Sebastian and I s
Sebastian’s POV Their Consent is quieter than rebellion. Consent It doesn’t need to shout, neither does it bleed. It only nods. I stayed quiet and watched it happen in real time—one Alpha after another all aligning themselves just enough to be counted. They were not oaths nor declarations. They were Calculations. My Father, Alpha Lucian stood at the center of it all, not triumphant, not in a hurry. He allowed the moment to mature, to settle into inevitability. That was his cruelty—he wanted them to choose him without making it look like they were forced to do so. So they could never claim there was coercion. “The majority has spoken,” Alpha Selene said at last, with her voice steady but eyes sharp. “Let’s proceed with the preparations.” I felt Astrid stiffen beside me. My father, Lucian didn’t respond immediately. He turned instead to the undecided few—those hovering at the edge of the room, caught between fear and foresight. “You are not going to be punished because of you
Sebastian’s POVTheir Consent is quieter than rebellion. Consent It doesn’t need to shout, neither does it bleed.It only nods.I stayed quiet and watched it happen in real time—one Alpha after another all aligning themselves just enough to be counted. They were not oaths nor declarations.They were Calculations.My Father, Alpha Lucian stood at the center of it all, not triumphant, not in a hurry. He allowed the moment to mature, to settle into inevitability. That was his cruelty—he wanted them to choose him without making it look like they were forced to do so.So they could never claim there was coercion.“The majority has spoken,” Alpha Selene said at last, with her voice steady but eyes sharp. “Let’s proceed with the preparations.”I felt Astrid stiffen beside me.My father, Lucian didn’t respond immediately. He turned instead to the undecided few—those hovering at the edge of the room, caught between fear and foresight.“You are not going to be punished because of your hesitati
Astrid’s POVThe council members did not rush to give their answers and that alone alone was enough to make me believe that Lucian had the advantage.Greed is always very cautious when the stakes are high. It pauses, calculates, recalculates, runs the numbers again, again and again until conscience becomes an inefficiency.Lucian already knew this and he has been playing this game perfectly so far.He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, feeling so relaxed, patient like everything was under control and going as per his plans—already counting votes that had not yet been spoken. He didn’t need urgency. He had leverage.“A year,” Alpha Selene with a sigh finally breaking the silence. “A year of uncertainty. Border disputes. Resource shortages. Rebellions.”She turned her head toward Lucian. “You offer resolution now which is certain.”Lucian inclined his head slightly. “I offer finality.”The word sank in like poison wrapped around my tongue.Alpha Korr snorted. “Finality on







