Page 301

Just when it seemed Elsie had been backed into a corner, she burst into laughter. It was a clever and polished move like any trained hostess defusing tension.

"Why so serious, Alpha Irene?" she said mid-laugh, "This event is meant to be relaxing, not stiff with nerves."

The comment drew soft murmurs of agreement and a few approving nods. And just like that, Elsie suddenly had the people on her side. Honestly, Violet was impressed. Elsie was every bit the smooth and shrewd hostess.

"We didn’t intentionally brand the humans as rogues," Elsie continued. "They chose it themselves. The title was bestowed naturally as this is a werewolf academy, after all. And, if I may remind you, your son Griffin was part of it."

And just like that, Elsie ruined it.

Violet winced internally. Why would you throw her son under the bus like that? She wept inwardly for Elsie.

Irene’s voice was cold and hard as glacial ice when she said, "So, because my son made a foolish decision, you decided to follow along like some clueless bimbo without a spine?"

Elsie stood frozen, caught off guard, but quickly recovered. "With all due respect, Alpha Irene, your son is an Alpha and one of the reigning kings of Lunaris Academy. I’m just an ordinary wolf blessed with the Alpha King’s favor. There was no way I could challenge him and the others—"

"So in simpler terms, I might be getting a coward for a daughter-in-law?"

A gasp swept through the Luncheon.

Irene was known for her fierce demeanor, but no one had expected her to turn that intensity on Elsie, the presumed future Luna — if Griffin wins the title of Alpha king. Yet here she was tearing into her like any other.

"What’s the point of a Luna who can’t stand her ground against her Alpha? If she folds at the first sign of tension, is the future of our pack not already compromised?"

Face flushed with humiliation, Elsie tried to salvage what little pride she had left. "Alpha Irene—"

"The East are not made of soft wills and fragile egos," Irene snapped. "If I wanted a docile, obedient daughter-in-law, I’d know exactly where to find one, and it certainly wouldn’t be in the East. I’d marry my son into the West pack if that were the case."

That jab landed hard.

Several members of the West House looked visibly offended, but none dared speak. Their Alpha wasn’t present to defend them, and worst still, their new Luna perfectly fit Irene’s pointed critique.

"You’re the Queen Bee, Elsie. You’re meant to lead, to set the standard. And yet, the moment students question the system, you shut them down?"

"We did it to preserve order, Alpha Irene," Elsie hissed, her perfect facade starting to crack. "Lunaris Academy has followed these traditions for years. We can’t just let outsiders stroll in and destroy everything. That’s a recipe for chaos.

They made their choices. They should live with the consequences, not cry to you and try to sway your allegiance! "

And just like that, Elsie’s composure slipped, and the people watched in stunned silence as the Queen Bee finally bared her fangs.

It dawned on Elsie in the silence that followed that she had just fucked up. Everyone was staring at her now, their eyes narrowed and judgmental, as if seeing the real her for the first time. Her throat tightened and she wished the ground would just open up and swallow her whole.

So she instinctively took a step back, ready to bolt, only for a pair of arms to slide around her shoulders and keep her in place.

Caroline had arrived.

"Apologies, Alpha Irene," Caroline said with a calm, elegant smile.

"My dear Elsie..." she turned to her daughter with a look so tender it might have fooled anyone who didn’t know better, "has been under a lot of stress lately.

She poured her heart into planning this Luncheon. Please forgive her emotional outburst."

Alpha Irene gave a dismissive wave, looking entirely unbothered. From her reactions alone, it was clear that she was so done with the event and wanted to be anywhere else.

But Caroline wasn’t finished.

"However, Elsie’s concerns about the girls seated at the table are legitimate. Do you know that the one with the purple hair is the daughter of a whore?"

At once, a sharp gasp rippled through the Luncheon and just like that, attention ricocheted away from Elsie and landed squarely on Violet, who now sat ramrod straight in her seat.

Violet had predicted Elsie would eventually use her background against her, but she hadn’t expected the blow to come from Caroline herself. Now, it all made sense where Elsie inherited her vileness. The apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree.

Still, Violet didn’t flinch nor shrink under the intensity of those judgmental stares or the growing whispers. Instead, she locked her gaze on Alpha Irene, reading her expression, waiting for her reaction.

But Irene didn’t even blink. "So?"

"She’s been hovering around your son, Griffin. And Elsie’s potential husband." Caroline’s tone was intentional, her words holding calculated meaning.

One that Irene obviously understood.

"Asher Nightshade, Alaric Storm, and Roman Draven are also Elsie’s potential husbands," Irene replied coolly.

"Only one will take the throne, and according to the Alpha King, only one will marry her. So what of the others? Do they not deserve the freedom to choose? A second option, perhaps? Your daughter’s future is secured, Caroline. Should the rest be left with nothing?"

Caroline’s mouth twitched with irritation but she masked it well. Clearly, this wasn’t the reaction she had hoped for. But no matter, she would find a way to repair this bridge her daughter had so eagerly set on fire.

Violet intentionally remained silent even though the subtext was clear that she was the backup plan. And though the thought churned her stomach, she couldn’t deny it made a twisted sort of sense.

She understood what was at risk here which was why she didn’t make any full commitments to Griffin yet for a reason.

But how could she explain to Irene that this was all still a test run?

That she was still trying to understand not one, but four emotionally complex, dangerously powerful boys?

There was no safe way to word that, so Violet held her tongue and waited.

Now she had her attention, Caroline said confidently, "Trust me, Alpha Irene, you wouldn’t want this one as your son’s second option. Not when she’s after all the heirs and I have solid evidence to prove that."

At that, Violet’s heart slammed into her ribs. Her eyes widened.

No.

It couldn’t be.

But it was exactly what she feared.