Four

Chapter 4: The Alpha Seal

Kora’s POV

The entire hall was filled with excitement.

Pack members occupied almost every seat, while several important guests from neighbouring territories had also arrived to witness the ceremony.

Today was supposed to be one of the happiest days of my husband’s life.

After the previous Alpha stepped down, the elders had gathered to determine who was worthy of inheriting the Alpha throne. Following several weeks of deliberation, Axton had been chosen as the next candidate.

However, being chosen by the elders was only the beginning.

According to our ancient traditions, no wolf could officially become Alpha without completing the claiming ceremony and receiving the Alpha Seal.

The seal was an ancient relic passed down through generations. It represented the authority of the Alpha and could only be presented by the Chief Magistrate, the guardian of our pack laws.

Axton sat beside me, looking confident in his perfectly tailored black suit. He had barely stopped smiling since we arrived

He leaned closer to me. “Can you believe it? In a few minutes, I’ll officially become the Alpha of this pack.”

I turned towards him. “Congratulations.”

He chuckled. “That’s all you have to say when your husband is about to become the Alpha of a powerful pack?”

I forced a smile. “I’m happy for you, Axton.”

He seemed satisfied with my response and turned his attention towards the stage.

I looked around the hall.

Every wolf were  excited. Some wolf were already whispering about how much the pack would change under Axton’s leadership. Others were discussing the new laws and changes he had promised to introduce.

I lowered my gaze to my hands. I couldn’t share their excitement.

I knew what Axton had done to secure this position. I knew what he was capable of, and I knew what would happen if he officially received the Alpha Seal.

He would become even more difficult to challenge.

I had hoped things would go according to plan, but there was still a part of me that feared they wouldn’t.

What if the evidence wasn’t enough?

What if the Chief Magistrate changed his mind?

What if Axton became Alpha today?

I swallowed and tried to push those thoughts away.

Just then, the doors at the far end of the hall opened.

The conversations gradually died down as everyone turned towards the entrance.

The Chief Magistrate had arrived.

He walked into the hall with two guards following behind him. He was an elderly man with grey hair, a serious expression and an air of authority that demanded respect.

Everyone rose to their feet.

Even Axton stood immediately.

The Chief Magistrate acknowledged the gathering with a slight nod before making his way to the elevated platform.

Behind him, one of his assistants carried a small black case.

I knew what was inside.

The Alpha Seal.

It was an ancient symbol of authority, passed down through generations, and the sacred relic that officially confirmed a person's position as Alpha.

Without it, Axton was still only the chosen successor.

And once the seal was presented, challenging his position would become much more difficult.

“Please, everyone, take your seats.”

The Chief Magistrate waited until everyone had settled before beginning.

“As you all know, the succession of an Alpha is one of the most important traditions of a pack. It is not a position that should be handed to someone because of wealth, family background or personal connections.” He paused, looking around the hall. “An Alpha must be worthy of the position. The elders and members of the pack must recognise the candidate they believe is capable of leading and protecting them.”

A few people nodded in agreement.

“This pack has recently completed its succession process, and the elders have submitted their decision to my office. After reviewing the records, I can confirm that Axton emerged as the chosen successor.”

The  hall erupted into applause.

People began cheering, and several members stood to celebrate.

Axton immediately smiled.

He turned towards me, looking extremely pleased with himself. “Did you hear that?” he whispered. “I told you.”

I forced myself to smile, although my stomach had tightened.

Was this what we planned? Was he really going to let him have it? What about my plan?

The Chief Magistrate raised his hand, asking everyone to settle down. “I would also like to congratulate the chosen successor for securing the recognition of the majority of the pack elders and members.”

Axton adjusted his jacket.

He looked ready to walk onto the stage.

However, the Chief Magistrate wasn’t finished. “Unfortunately, there is something I must address before proceeding with the presentation of the Alpha Seal.”

The applause gradually stopped.

I looked towards the stage.

The Chief Magistrate’s expression had changed.

He no longer looked like someone delivering a congratulatory speech.

He looked troubled.

“During the final review of this succession, certain information came to my attention. Information that I could not ignore, regardless of the decision already made.”

Axton’s smile slowly faded.

“What information?” someone asked from the audience.

The Chief Magistrate looked towards the large screen behind him.

“Information concerning the legitimacy of this succession.”

My heart began beating faster.

This was it. He was going to do it.

I clasped my hands together beneath the table, trying to control my excitement.

“Before presenting the Alpha Seal, I have a responsibility to ensure that the person receiving it earned the position fairly. Unfortunately, after conducting further investigations, I have reasons to believe that the succession was manipulated.”

A wave of whispers swept through the hall.

Axton sat up straighter. “What?”

The Chief Magistrate didn’t respond immediately.

Instead, he turned towards one of his assistants. “Put it up.”

The large screen came alive.

A series of documents appeared.

I recognised some of them immediately.

They were records of payments made to certain members of the pack shortly before the succession ceremony.

The next image showed messages exchanged between Axton and some of his supporters.

I couldn’t read everything from where I sat, but I recognised the names.

Then another set of records appeared.

This time, they contained evidence of threats made against members who had refused to pledge their loyalty to him.

So he had conducted further investigations apart from the information I gave him. Whoa!

The hall became increasingly noisy.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Are those real?”

“Is that Axton’s name?”

I glanced at my husband.

He was staring at the screen, his jaw clenched.

“This is ridiculous!” he suddenly shouted.

The Chief Magistrate looked at him. “Please, allow me to finish.”

“Those documents are fabricated!”

“Are you denying that these payments were made?”

“Of course I am! Anyone can create a document and put my name on it.”

The Chief Magistrate remained calm.

“We did not arrive at this decision based on a single document. These records were investigated and verified. We also received testimonies from several members who admitted to being pressured into pledging their loyalty to your claim.”

Axton rose to his feet.

“Who are these people? Let them come out and say it to my face!”

His voice echoed through the hall.

Nobody answered.

The Chief Magistrate waited until he had finished before speaking again. “Your position as the chosen successor may have been announced, but that does not mean you earned it fairly. The position of Alpha cannot be obtained through intimidation, manipulation or buying the loyalty of pack members.”

I felt Axton’s hand tighten around the armrest.

He was furious.

I had never seen him look so helpless in front of so many people.

The Chief Magistrate closed the folder in his hand. “After reviewing the findings, I have made my decision.”

The entire hall fell silent.

“I will not be presenting the Alpha Seal to Axton.”

For a moment, nobody moved.

Then the hall exploded with shocked voices.

“What?”

“Does that mean his succession has been cancelled?”

“How can this happen?”

Axton looked as though someone had struck him.

He stepped forward. “You cannot do this!”

The Chief Magistrate turned towards him.

“I can, and I have.”

“But I was chosen as the next Alpha!”

“Your claim was secured through manipulation and cannot be recognised as legitimate.”

Axton shook his head.

“This is a setup! Someone is clearly trying to destroy me!”

“Then you will have an opportunity to present your defence through the proper process. But until this matter is resolved, you will not receive the Alpha Seal.”

I lowered my eyes, hiding the small smile threatening to appear on my face.

For the first time in a long while, Axton wasn’t getting what he wanted, and he couldn’t do anything about it.

The Chief Magistrate continued.

“However, I do not intend to leave this pack without an Alpha. The previous succession has been declared invalid. A new succession rite will begin.”

The murmuring gradually stopped.

“This time, the process will follow the ancient traditions of our pack. Anyone who believes they are worthy of leading this pack will have the opportunity to present themselves before the elders.”

The Chief Magistrate gestured towards the screen behind him.

Three ancient trials appeared.

THE TRIAL OF STRENGTH. THE TRIAL OF ANCIENT LAWS. THE FINAL TRIAL.

“The first trial will test the strength of every candidate. Those who seek to wear the Alpha Seal must prove that they possess the strength to defend their pack. Each candidate will face the others in combat, and only those who demonstrate true strength, skill and control over their wolves will advance.”

He paused, allowing his words to settle before continuing.

“The second trial will test their knowledge of our ancestral laws and traditions. Every candidate must stand before the elders and recite the ancient laws of this pack, including the customs passed down by our forefathers. An Alpha must know the traditions he is sworn to protect, and no one who is ignorant of our history and sacred laws can lead this pack.”

Several men in the audience exchanged looks.

“The third and final trial will remain a secret for now. Its nature will be revealed on the day it takes place. I will only say that it is the most important test of all, and only those who survive the first two trials will be permitted to face it.”

He looked around the hall. “Let every wolf who believes they are worthy of the Alpha title come forward. Your names will be recorded, and the trials will begin according to our ancient customs.”

For a few seconds, nobody moved.

Then a man seated towards the right side of the hall stood up.

Another followed, and a few more men began making their way towards the front.

I remained seated, watching them.

Beside me, Axton suddenly stood.

I turned to look at him.

His expression was hard, and his eyes were fixed on the stage.

He straightened his jacket and walked towards the other candidates.

Of course. He wasn’t going to give up. Even after everything that had happened, he still believed the position belonged to him.

I watched him join the other men.

He looked back briefly, perhaps expecting me to be watching him with admiration, but I wasn’t.

I was thinking about everything he had done, the lies, the threats, the inheritance he had tried to take from me and the way he had grabbed my neck simply because I refused to hand over what belonged to me.

My fingers slowly curled into fists.

For so long, I had allowed him to make decisions for both of us. I had watched him take control of things that were never his to begin with.

I had even convinced myself that keeping quiet was the safest thing to do, but I wasn’t done

The Chief Magistrate was about to conclude his announcement when I pushed my chair backwards.

The sound made the person sitting beside me turn.

I ignored them and rose to my feet.

Axton, who had just settled among the candidates, noticed me.

His eyebrows drew together. “Kora?”

I didn’t answer. I took a step forward.

Then another.

People began turning in my direction, and I could hear the whispers starting.

“Isn’t that Axton’s wife?”

“What is she doing?”

“Where is she going?”

I kept walking.

Axton moved away from the candidates and stared at me. “Kora, what are you doing?”

I finally stopped near the front.

The Chief Magistrate looked at me with surprise.

“Madam, is there something you wish to say?”

I lifted my chin. “Yes.”

The hall became completely silent.

I glanced briefly at Axton before turning back to the Chief Magistrate. “I would like to put my name forward as a candidate for Alpha.”

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Then I heard Axton’s voice above the noise. “Kora! Have you lost your mind?”

I didn’t turn around.

For once, I wasn’t interested in what he thought.

I had spent too long sitting beside a man who believed he could decide my future.

Now, I was going to decide it myself.