The grand hall of the Moonlight Pack was filled with an unexpected gathering of councils from the top three packs: the Dark Feather Pack, the Black Shadow Pack, and the Blood Moon Pack, the most powerful and prominent of all.
The alliance between these packs was no surprise, given the close friendship between their leaders.
However, the Lycan King, the supreme leader of all werewolves, was notoriously elusive, known only to a select few.
Now, the Alphas from the second and third packs had arrived with their councils and skilled warriors, making the atmosphere tense and anticipatory.
Aldrake's eyes narrowed as he gazed at the gathering, a pang of jealousy stirring within him.
He had long coveted a place among the top-ranking packs, but their current fifth-place standing, a result of their defeat at the hands of the Poisonous Pack last year, made it a distant dream.
Aldrake's ambition burned bright, and he had been secretly plotting to overthrow the Poisonous Pack and claim their throne.
His sights were also set on taking down the Black Shadow Pack, currently ranked third, but he knew his forces weren't yet strong enough.
For now, he would bide his time, gathering strength and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
As Aldrake and Livia stood before their thrones, they welcomed the approaching Alphas, whose powerful auras and dominant presence commanded respect.
For Livia, this was her first encounter with the leaders of the second and third-ranked packs, and she could feel the weight of their strength.
The thought crossed her mind, > "These Alphas are S-class, the most powerful of their kind. While Aldrake, he's far from them. He is just a low-key Alpha." Lilly said with a mocking tone, which seemed to be personified by Livia, shared her sentiment.
As Livia scanned the guests, a sudden thought occurred to her: "I wonder which pack Aldus belongs to and what his ranking might be. Judging by his aura, presence, and authority, I'd say he's definitely in the top 10." This curiosity sparked a mix of intrigue and speculation within her.
> "He is surely in the top 10. But the thing we should think about is, how can we escape here?" Lilly chimed in.
"When the guests are about to leave, I'll excuse myself to go to my room, and that's when we'll make our move." Lilly nodded in agreement, her attention refocusing on the approaching Alphas.
Just then, Aldrake spoke up, his voice dripping with menace, "Don't do anything stupid, Livia, or else...".
Livia shot back, her voice laced with sarcasm, "Don't bother repeating yourself, I'm not deaf. Why don't you focus on plotting to take down the Poisonous Pack from the fourth rank? But let's be real, even with all your might, you'd still be no match for them. You're just a weak werewolf who belongs in a lower rank." Aldrake's anger flared, but before he could react, Lilly's voice chimed in her mind.
> "Go on, Livia, provoke that bastard so the council can see what kind of mate he is to you."
The elders from their pack intervened, warning Aldrake with a stern look and a fake cough, "Don't. The superiors are here."
Aldrake's gaze turned cold as he glared at Livia, but she didn't flinch. Livia's plan was to provoke Aldrake, so if he gets pissed, he will surely order the warriors to take her to her room, where she and Lilly could make their escape.
"Lilly, be ready, okay? Once we get him riled up and he orders the warriors to take us away, you'll shift and run fast, get it?".
Lilly's response was immediate: > "I'll do my best, Livia."
The two Alphas arrived, and Livia and Aldrake bowed, their right hands on their left chests.
The Alpha from the Black Shadow Pack commanded, "Rise," his voice full of power and authority.
They obeyed, and the rest of their pack members followed suit, paying their respects to the visiting Alphas.
"We pay our respects to the Alphas of the Dark Feather Pack and Black Shadow Pack!!"
The atmosphere was formal and respectful, but Livia's mind was already racing with her plan to escape.
Aldrake's smile was warm and respectful as he greeted the Alphas, "We're honored to have you visit our home, Alpha Dominick and Alpha Sebastian."
Livia, however, remained silent, her gaze fixed on the two Alphas, who were watching her expectantly.
Aldrake's annoyance grew, and he cleared his throat to get Livia's attention. When she finally looked at him, he shot her a stern glare, his eyes warning her to behave.
If they had completed their mating bond, Aldrake would have likely used their mind-link to scold or curse her, but for now, he was limited to mere glances and subtle threats.
Alpha Sebastian intervened, clearing his throat to break the tension between the couple. Aldrake's glare at Livia immediately ceased.
"Please excuse my mate's lack of manners and respect. I'm not sure where her parents went wrong in raising her to be like this," Aldrake said, his words causing Livia to raise an eyebrow and turn to him.
He was trying to tarnish her reputation in front of their superiors, but Livia was no stranger to his tactics.
She remained silent, her expression unreadable, until Alpha Dominick of the Black Shadow Pack chuckled softly, his amusement momentarily diffusing the tension.
Alpha Dominick's words left Aldrake taken aback. "Don't worry, we expected as much. Besides, your mate's reputation precedes her," he said, his gaze piercing as he looked at Livia.
"But I'm curious, instead of covering up her behavior, you're highlighting it in front of others. Aren't you her mate? That means it's your duty to protect her reputation. Yet, it seems you're the one judging her first."
Aldrake fell silent, not expecting the Alpha to call him out on his actions. Livia, too, was surprised, not anticipating the Alpha's insight into the dynamics between her and Aldrake.
It was striking how perceptive the Alpha was, noticing the way Aldrake was trying to tarnish her image.
Aldrake cleared his throat, feeling a knot in his stomach. He was nervous and sweating, his apology swift as he bowed before Alpha Dominick.
"Forgive me, Alpha Dominick, that wasn't what I meant to convey. I apologize." His tone was off and insincere.
"Her behavior is well-known throughout the packs, yet instead of addressing it, you're adding fuel to the fire." The Alpha's words cut deep, exposing Aldrake's true intentions.
Aldrake felt his pride shrinking, his posture deflating under the Alpha's scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Livia seemed to be enjoying the spectacle, a hint of satisfaction on her face. Even Lilly, her wolf, was pleased, sensing that someone finally understood the situation.
> "Looks like someone finally gets what's going on, Livia," she thought, a small smile playing on her lips.
"I mean no disrespect, but I'm not trying to tarnish her reputation when she's the one who's doing it to herself. You can ask my pack members about her behavior here and how she treats her sister—" Aldrake's words were cut off, but it was clear he was trying to shift the focus to Livia's actions rather than his own.
His tone was defensive, and his eyes flashed with frustration as he attempted to deflect the attention.
"—and why is her sister being dragged into this conversation when she's not even relevant?". The question is enough to make Aldrake back down.
"Since you already dragged her sister into this, let's include her for our conversation. We've heard rumors that you favor her sister, Amber, over your own mate. Is it true that you still haven't completed your bond with your Luna?" Alpha Sebastian's words hung in the air, challenging Aldrake's actions and reputation as a leader.
The room fell silent, awaiting Aldrake's response, while Livia's expression remained calm, her eyes fixed on Aldrake's reaction.
Aldrake's fists clenched, feeling cornered by the two Alphas. The truth was hard to deny, and he knew he was trapped.
"I'm afraid of the fate of my pack if someone like her becomes Luna. I don't see the potential for leadership in her," he said, his words sparking more questions.
"If that's the case, then why haven't you rejected her as your mate?" Alpha Sebastian's question, creating tension between the three.