Chapter 124

Selene's POV

After a long pause, the host slowly looked around the hall again. His eyes moved from elder to elder, then to the warriors, and finally back to Victor.

“Very well,” he said at last, this time with more strength in his voice. “If there are no further objections or information to be shared, we will proceed with the vote.”

I straightened in my seat, trying to control my breathing as the host continued, “One by one, you will all step forward to cast your vote.”

The room buzzed with activity as the council members began to rise and make their way to the silver ballot box at the center of the hall. I watched every single one of them. Some kept their eyes down. Others looked straight ahead, their faces giving away nothing.

I wanted to believe that they had listened. That they had read the reports with open minds. That my voice had mattered.

Victor didn’t speak. He just stood tall beside me with his arms folded. His expression was blank, but his energy was… controlled and Alpha-