Two

Chapter Two: The Chief Magistrate

Kora's POV

I heard he was back.

The news spread quickly through the pack. The Chief Magistrate had returned after spending several weeks away, and he was expected to receive visitors at his residence.

The moment I heard, I knew I had to see him.

He was the only person who could help me stop Axton before things went any further.

I quickly changed my clothes, picked up the documents I had gathered, and left the pack house.

When I arrived at his residence, two guards stood at the entrance. "Good morning. I want to see the Chief Magistrate."

One of them looked at me. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No, but I really need to speak with him. It's important."

"Then you should make an appointment."

"Please, it's urgent. I won't take much of his time."

"Madam, you can't enter without an appointment."

I tried explaining again, but neither of them seemed interested, they  simply turned away from me.

I stood there for a moment, wondering what else I could do.

I couldn't leave, nor when this was the only chance I had.

I waited outside, hoping he would eventually come out.

A few minutes later, a black car drove into the compound.

The guards immediately straightened their backs.

I knew who it was.

The Chief Magistrate had arrived.

A man stepped out of the car, dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit. He looked calm and confident, with an expression that made it difficult to approach him.

The guards greeted him respectfully.

He barely acknowledged them before walking towards the entrance.

I quickly moved forward. "Please! Chief Magistrate!"

He didn't stop.

I hurried after him, but the guards stepped in front of me. "Madam, stay back!"

"Please, I just want to speak with him. Just one second!"

One of the guards grabbed my arm, trying to pull me away. "Take her out."

"Please!" I cried, struggling to free myself. "I beg you. Just give me a second. I need his help!"

The Chief Magistrate finally stopped.

The Chief Magistrate finally stopped.

He turned around and looked at me.

For a moment, his eyes remained on my face before he spoke.

“Leave her.”

The guards immediately released me.

He turned and walked towards the entrance of the building. I quickly followed him, holding tightly to the documents in my hand.

We entered a well-furnished office. It was spacious, with a large desk in the middle and several shelves filled with books and documents.

He walked behind his desk and loosened his jacket before looking at the guards. “Give us a moment.”

They bowed and stepped out, closing the door behind them.

Then he turned his attention to me. “Who are you, and what do you want?”

I swallowed. “I am Kora, the wife of the newly selected Alpha.”

“I see.” He adjusted his cufflinks. “What are you doing here? Are you here to ask me to hasten the day I present the Alpha seal?”

“No.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Then?”

I quickly opened my bag and brought out the documents. "I came to show you something."

He looked at the papers in my hands but made no attempt to collect them. "What is it?"

"It's about my husband. He didn't become Alpha the way everyone thinks he did."

His expression remained unchanged.

I took a breath and continued. "Axton used my money to buy support from influential people in the pack. He paid them with my card, without my permission. He used my mother's inheritance to secure his position."

I handed him the documents. "The records are here. Every transaction, every payment. I have the bank statements, the names of the people he paid, and the dates the money was transferred."

He finally collected the papers.

He glanced through them briefly before looking at me again. "Why are you showing me this?"

"Because I want justice. My husband cheated his way into becoming Alpha."

He returned his attention to the documents.

For a few seconds, he said nothing.

Then he closed the file. "Well, everyone finds their way. Let the real cheater win."

I stared at him.

Was he serious?

"Really?"

He looked at me. "Is there a problem?"

"Of course, there is!" I exclaimed. "Is this how our pack is supposed to be governed? Is this how things are going to work from now on?"

He watched me quietly.

"What happens when people who want power discover that they can simply buy their way into leadership? What happens to the werewolves who trust their leaders? What happens to the people who work hard and support their Alphas, only to discover that the position was obtained through cheating?"

I took another step towards him.

"An Alpha is supposed to protect his people. He is supposed to lead them, not deceive them. If someone can buy his way into such an important position, how can we expect him to rule fairly? What kind of future are we building for our people?"

He remained silent for a moment.

Then a small smile appeared on his face. "Oh..." He tilted his head slightly. "I like your bravery."

I didn't know what to say.

He placed the documents on a nearby table. "However, I think you misunderstand my position. The elders have already selected your husband. My responsibility is to present the Alpha seal. I am not the one who chooses the Alpha."

"But you can do something!"

"Can I?"

"Yes! You can investigate this. You can stop the presentation until the truth comes out. The elders respect you. They will listen to you."

He let out a quiet laugh. "You're asking for quite a lot."

"Because I need your help."

He studied me for a moment. "Don't tell me you're doing this for personal reasons. Are you?"

I hesitated. "What do you mean?"

"Are you here because you suddenly care about how the pack is governed, or because your husband has wronged you?"

I looked away briefly, he  wasn't entirely wrong.

I wanted justice, but I also wanted revenge.

Axton had betrayed me. He had used my money, planned to take my inheritance, and intended to replace me with my stepsister.

I wanted him to lose everything but that didn't mean what he had done was right.

"Even if I am doing this for personal reasons, does that make what he did right?"

He smiled faintly. "Interesting answer. But I still have one question."

I looked at him. "What?"

"What do I gain by helping you?"

My heart sank.

I had expected him to ask questions about the documents, perhaps even demand more evidence. I hadn't expected him to ask that.

"I can.."

I stopped.

What could I offer him?

He was the Chief Magistrate. He had wealth, influence, and power beyond anything I could imagine.

I couldn't offer him money, I couldn't offer him a position, I had nothing he needed.

My eyes moved over his face as I tried to think of something.

Then a desperate thought crossed my mind, perhaps  this was what he wanted, perhaps he was one of those men who expected something personal in return for their help.

I looked down at my dress.

My hands trembled as I slowly began to unfasten it.

He watched me without saying a word. I took another step towards him, hoping he would understand what I was offering but  before I could do anything else, he moved closer.

He leaned towards my ear and whispered. "Interesting. The Kora I know isn't like this. Put your clothes back on."

I froze.

My fingers stopped moving.

The Kora he knew?

I quickly pulled my dress back into place, my face burning with embarrassment.

I looked at him in confusion. "Wait..."

He straightened and looked at me. 

"Have we met before?"

His expression gave nothing away.

I swallowed. "How do you know me?"