The Weight Of The Crown

Chapter Eighteen: The Weight of the Crown

Selene’s POV

The hall was silent when I walked in. Silent, but heavy. The air felt strange, like something foul was hiding beneath perfume.

Sasha was already seated at the long council table—where my father once sat, where I now sat.

Her fingers tapped against the polished wood, and her lips curled into that same poisonous smile.

“Selene,” she said sweetly. “You look tired. The crown doesn’t sit lightly, does it?”

I didn’t answer. I wouldn’t give her the pleasure.

But inside, my chest was already tightening.

Ever since I came back from Kael’s prison, I’d been trying to hold myself together. I hadn’t seen Ronan much since the rescue… and even when I did, it felt like there were still pieces missing between us.

I sat at the head of the table. My place. The rightful Alpha’s place. My birthright.

Sasha leaned forward. “I wanted to talk to you, woman to woman. Luna to Luna.”

I raised a brow. “I’m not your Luna.”

Her smile deepened. “Not yet, maybe.”

She stood slowly, like a predator circling its prey.

“You know,” she continued, “when I died, I didn’t die for myself. I died for Ronan. I gave up my life to protect him.”

My fists clenched under the table.

“And now… I see him with you.” She gave a soft laugh. “You think he loves you.”

I stood up slowly. “He does.”

“Does he?” Her voice turned cold. “Or does he love what you are?”

“What are you talking about?”

Sasha walked around the table until she was beside me.

“You’re the Alpha’s daughter. The only heir. No brothers. No sons. And what happens when an Alpha heir mates?”

I froze.

My heart beat faster.

“No,” I whispered. “You’re lying.”

“Am I?” she whispered, so close I could feel her breath. “Ronan wants power. He’s not from an Alpha line. He has no claim on this pack. But if he mates you… then he becomes Alpha. Just like that.”

“No.” My voice cracked. “He’s not like that.”

“He is.” Her voice was calm, certain. “He didn’t fall for you. He calculated. He picked the right girl. The broken one. The desperate one. The heir.”

Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them back.

“He stood by me,” I said. “He fought for me.”

“He fought for the title,” she said. “And now, he has you wrapped around his finger.”

“You’re just angry because he doesn’t love you anymore.”

Sasha paused.

Then she smiled… but it wasn’t a soft smile.

It was a smile full of pity.

“Oh, sweet girl. He never stopped loving me. You were just the next best thing. The warm body. The easy replacement.”

My throat burned.

“You’re lying,” I choked.

Sasha turned back to the table. “Maybe. But you’ll never know, will you? Because even if he says he loves you… that seed of doubt will never leave you.”

She glanced over her shoulder.

“Give me the pack, Selene. Step aside. Let me lead.”

My wolf growled inside me. No.

But my human heart?

It was bleeding.

“I’m not giving you anything,” I said, my voice shaking. “This pack is mine.”

“Then you better be ready to fight for it.”

She turned and walked out of the hall, her heels clicking, her scent trailing like smoke.

And I… I collapsed in the chair.

My breath hitched.

The tears I held in burst free.

I pressed my palm to my chest, trying to keep my heart from falling apart.

Was it true?

Did Ronan choose me… or my position?

I remembered the way he looked at me before Sasha came back. The softness. The fire.

But then I remembered how he froze when she kissed him.

How he didn’t run after me.

How he stood there—torn.

And suddenly, I wasn’t sure anymore.

My wolf whimpered inside me.

I curled in the chair, hugging myself.

“I don’t want to be strong anymore,” I whispered.

But I had no choice.

Because the war wasn’t coming.

It had already begun.