LOGINBeatrice pov I forced myself to breathe, to unclench my fists."These accusations are serious," Lady Morgana said. "Lady Beatrice, how do you respond?""I respond that Selene is a liar," I said, keeping my voice low level. "She tormented me for years, made my life miserable. And now that I've escaped, now that I've proven my bloodline and power, she's desperate to tear me down.""By telling the truth," Selene said sweetly. "I'm sorry, Beatrice. I know this is hard to hear. But you need help, not a position of power.""You tried to poison me," I said, my voice rising despite my efforts. "You hired assassins, you have been plotting against me since the moment my brothers found me.""I've been trying to protect people from you," Selene corrected. "You're dangerous, everyone can see it. Look at you right now. Your eyes are glowing, your power is barely contained. You're proving my point."She was right. I could feel it. My power was responding to my rage. The Council members were watchin
Beatrice POVI woke to pounding on our door. Darius was up instantly, pulling on pants. I grabbed a robe, tying it as he opened the door.Kaelen stood there, breathing hard. "We have a problem. Selene's here."My stomach dropped. "Here? At the Council Hall?""Showed up an hour ago with a delegation," Kaelen said, stepping inside. "She's requesting an emergency hearing, claiming she has evidence against you.""What kind of evidence?" Darius asked, his voice hard."She won't say until the hearing," Kaelen said. "But she's brought witnesses. Five of them all Silvermist pack members."I felt cold. "When's the hearing?""In two hours," Kaelen said grimly. "Theron's trying to delay it, but the Council is insisting. They want to hear what she has to say.""Of course they do," I muttered, moving to the wardrobe. Pulling out a dress. "Drama is more interesting than facts.""Beatrice," Darius said carefully. "Whatever she claims, we'll prove her wrong. Like we did with everything else.""She's
Darius pov "Shields," Beatrice said next.A dome of light formed around her.m. She gestured, and the shield expanded. Growing until it enclosed the entire platform. Then bigger towards the whole chamber."Test it," she said calmly. "Anyone, try to break through."Several wolves tried. Throwing magic, physical strikes. Nothing penetrated because the shield held firm."Enough," she said, and the shield dissolved. "What else do you need to see?""Your offensive capabilities," Alpha Damon's voice came from the back. He'd returned, standing in the doorway. "All you've shown is parlor tricks. Can you actually fight?""Damon," the High Councilor warned. "She's demonstrated""She's demonstrated control," Damon interrupted, moving into the chamber. "But can she hurt someone? Can she kill if necessary? Or is she too soft? Too kind?"Beatrice's eyes narrowed, i felt her anger spike through the bond. "You want to see offensive power?" she asked quietly."I do," Damon said, stopping at the platfo
Darius POVThe bloodrite had taken everything out of Beatrice. I could feel it through the bond. Her exhaustion, her pain. The way she was running on pure determination.But the Council wasn't done with her yet."Lady Beatrice," the High Councilor said after order was restored. "The bloodrite has confirmed your heritage. However, there remains the question of your capabilities and powers.""What about them?" Beatrice asked warily. She was still leaning against me, drawing strength through the bond."We need to see them," Lady Morgana said, standing. "For the record. A formal demonstration of your abilities. So the Council can assess your potential as a leader.""You just saw her power," Theron said sharply. "The light-wolf. Did you miss that?""We saw a display," Morgana acknowledged. "But we need more. A comprehensive demonstration, to document her abilities properly.""This is harassment," Silas said, standing now. His lawyer voice cold and precise. "She's proven her bloodline, she
Beatrice pov "Deal," I said, stopping inches from him. Close enough to see the grey in his eyes, the lines on his face. The certainty that he was right. He was wrong but he didn't know it yet."High Councilor," Damon said, not breaking eye contact with me. "I formally request bloodrite verification. Do you grant it?"The High Councilor looked pained. Torn between protocol and common sense. "This is highly irregular, the Council has already accepted the evidence""But the law allows it," Damon interrupted. "Any wolf can request bloodrite if they have legitimate doubts. I am an Alpha, a Council member. And I have doubts so the law is clear.""He's right," Lady Morgana said from her seat, she didn't look happy about it. "Unfortunately, the law does allow bloodrite challenges. If Alpha Damon formally requests it, we cannot refuse.""This is ridiculous," Silas said, his lawyer's mind working. "Bloodrite is meant for extreme cases, not political games.""Is it a game?" Damon asked, looki
Beatrice POVThe Council Chamber was a cathedral of power. Circular, with tiered seating rising up the walls. Every seat was filled with wolves who'd come to judge me.I stood in the center, on a raised platform. A spotlight for everyone to examine. My brothers sat in the front row, Darius beside Theron. All of them tense, ready to move if needed.The high Councilor stood at the podium, reading from official documents. My bloodline, history, the proof of my identity.His voice echoed off stone walls. "And so, based on the evidence presented, the Council recognizes Beatrice Wynter as legitimate daughter of""I object." The voice cut through the chamber.Every head turned. Alpha Damon stood in the third tier, imposing in dark formal robes, his hair caught the light."Alpha Damon," the High Councilor said, irritation clear in his voice. "You will wait your turn to speak.""I will not." Damon descended the steps, moving toward the center. Toward me. "Not when this Council is about to legi







