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The meeting hall buzzed with conversation, agitation in the air as the cardinal alphas and the elite students gathered in their exclusive space.

Unlike the rest of the school, which had already dispersed, the real power brokers of Lunaris Academy remained to decide the fate of Violet Purple and her friends after the chaos they had ignited.

And it was not surprising that Elsie Lancaster was at the center of it all. She

stood first, saying with righteous indignation.

"Violet Purple and her friends rejected our ways, our laws, and our protection.

A rogue has no place in our hierarchy. I demand that Violet Purple be removed from the rankings immediately!"

Murmurs rippled through the room with some students nodding in agreement, while the others thought the opposite, uncertainty written across their faces. This was the first of its kind, at least since their rise to power, it didn’t mean their predecessors didn’t have a sensitive case like this.

"You’re right," Amanda chimed in smoothly, siding with Elsie like a vulture smelling blood."Allowing a rogue to remain on the rankings undermines the authority of the houses. We can’t have a rogue queen. That would be devastating."

A scoff pierced followed her words.

"For a harmless human, you seem awfully eager to rip her down," Natalie remarked, her arms crossed, and her razor-sharp gaze brimming with mockery. "Do you have that much of an inferiority complex, Amanda Raynes?"

Amanda’s mouth opened in fury, but before she could spit out a retort, Asher’s stare landed on her, and she snapped it shut. There were certain lines even she wouldn’t dare cross especially when the west house Alpha looked at her that way. Cold and deadly. She quickly realized her place.

Natalie took advantage of the silence to say."Last time I checked, rogues are werewolves. Violet and her friends are human. Their decision makes them outcasts, not something as offensive as going rogue. It’s not the same thing."

"Last time I checked," Roman interjected, lifting a brow, "You’re human too, and yet you live under the protection of his pack."He tilted his chin towards Griffin, making his point loud and clear.

"Because I have no choice," Natalie shot back. "If I did, I’d be on my own and perhaps, be branded a rogue." She challenged him.

Roman clicked his tongue, as if in sympathy.

"And there lies the problem," he mused. "Violet is a natural-born leader.

If she gains followers, she could rally other misfits, the weak, the outcasts, and lead a rebellion against us.

It would be first of its kind, the war between Rogues and the Cardinal Houses. "

A murmur rippled through the student council. The idea was absurd, yet... plausible.

Natalie scoffed. "You’re being dramatic. Violet is human. What could a human possibly do?"

"A lot," Asher’s words carried heavy meaning. He wasn’t condemning Violet but indirectly reminding them all of the war that nearly brought them all to ruin.

Griffin, who had remained largely impartial, finally spoke. "Violet earned her place. Stripping her of her ranking because she chose independence would be unjust."

"Her independence is a threat to our conformity," Roman countered, "And let’s not pretend she truly earned that spot. Asher’s pack backed her from day one. He was her patron."

The room stilled when the secret was out. It was something everyone had suspected, but none had dared to voice aloud because they feared Asher.

Eyes turned to Asher. If he was rattled, he didn’t show it. He remained composed, unnervingly calm. But the look he gave Roman was pure venom. Their friendship had clearly been in the past because now, it was clear that Asher Nightshade despised him

"So much for making history," Sharon muttered bitterly.

At that statement, a harsh chuckle rumbled from the far side of the room.

Alaric Storm.

His laughter was bitter, condescending, and reeking of resentment. Everyone watched as he tilted back the dark amber liquid in his glass, swallowing it in one smooth gulp before slamming it down on the table.

"Tell me," Alaric began, his voice heavy with sarcasm, "which one of you climbed the ranks without spreading your legs for one or all of us? Without wrapping yourselves around an Alpha’s arm like a trophy to be paraded? Without riding the wave of public opinion and social climbing thanks to us?"

He said with mockery. "Go on. Raise your hand. I’d love to see."

The entire room was dead still and not one person raised a hand.

Asher huffed out a laugh. "Well, well. How fascinating."

Elsie, visibly irritated at losing control of the conversation, shoved the discussion forward.

"The point is," she snapped, "Violet and her little band of misfits have no pack. No rank. She made her choice. She doesn’t deserve to remain among us."

Her voice hardened. "What happens when others follow her lead? What then?"

"You mean to say the humans?" Natalie said, clearly having fun rattling her.

Elsie slammed her palm down on the table. "Violet Purple will be removed from the rankings. She can’t be an elite and a rogue. Does anyone object to that?"

None of them said a word, but that didn’t mean they agreed with it either.

She turned her gaze toward Alaric, her expression gleaming with malice.

"And next on the table is your relationship with the Rogue Queen." she mocked.

Alaric’s jaw ticked. "My love life is none of your concern."

"Oh, but it is," Elsie pressed, savoring every second. "She rejected the houses. She doesn’t get to reject the system and still keep her Alpha boyfriend. You don’t get to keep her."

"If that’s the case, you already have your answer. Both of us are over. So let her be."

"But not everyone knows that. The same way you claimed her publicly, a public break up should be able to pass the message." Elsie said with a wicked curl of her lips.

Natalie clicked her tongue. "Tsk. Tsk. Elsie Lancaster, you are having a field day, aren’t you?"

"I’m sorry? I’m just doing what everyone with a backbone would do, restoring order in this school." She claimed.

"Hmmm," Natalie said unconvinced, "Let’s hope you’re able to accept the same measure when it gets to your turn one day."

"Until the day comes." Elsie smiled at her without warmth, their disdain for each other so apparent at that moment.

Roman said, "If Violet’s so independent, let her stand on her own without the help of the Alphas. A public break up would do the trick."

Alaric’s anger flashed like a live wire.

"You can’t tell me how to break up with her."

"They’re right, Alaric," Asher said, surprisingly siding with them.

His tone was controlled, his words thoughtful, although there was something cold beneath it.

"It’s not just about you anymore. This is about setting an example. If we let her slide, others will think they can defy us too."

Alaric let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head as he stared at the near-empty bottle in his grasp. Then, slowly, he tilted it back, draining the rest of it before slamming it onto the table so hard the glass cracked.

"Fine." His voice was hoarse and thick with emotion. "I’ll do it. I’ll break up with her, publicly. Make a show of it. I’ll humiliate her, whatever that makes you all sleep better."