Chapter 11
It was impossible, nothing belonging to Alpha Kade should ever be anywhere near their pack, not after the bitter feud between them that had lasted for two decades, a conflict so severe that the Supreme Alpha had blacklisted the Moonwillow Pack entirely. Now, in an attempt to repair that old enmity, they had invited Ember, the future Supreme Luna as a special guest. His future Luna didn’t come with his coat.
So how could a nobody like Viola possibly have his coat?
Ember, who had already come to believe herself the next Supreme Luna, was also baffled. But she refused to let that confusion show. She had worked too hard to earn the crowd’s admiration and respect, especially now that everyone had been informed that Alpha Kade was currently on his way to their pack to wait for her return. She would not allow a nobody to make her look foolish in front of so many eyes.
Straightening her posture, Ember said firmly,
“She stole it from me. Alpha Kade sent it to me as a gift just before I came here. How dare you take something very important to me p>
Her teeth clenched as genuine fury flared through her. Alpha Kade had never given her anything. So how could this useless Hollow be in possession of something that belonged to him?
Viola, still reeling from the realization of who the stranger in the forest truly was, didn’t even have time to process the truth, that Alpha Kade, the Supreme Alpha himself, had been her fated mate and had rejected her, before Ember’s accusation came crashing down on her.
She wasn’t at all surprised Ember accused her of theft.
She understood immediately what this was about.
No wonder he had rejected her the moment he learned where she came from. And even if she hadn’t belonged to Moonwillow, Viola knew the truth deep down, he would never have chosen her as a Supreme Luna. Not when there was a perfect, powerful she‑wolf like Ember to fit that position.
No wonder his silver eyes had felt so familiar.
He was the untouchable Alpha their pack had been desperately trying to regain favor with for over two decades now, ever since the incident that had caused Moonwillow to be blacklisted from the yearly werewolf resources distributed by the Silver Pack and the Council meetings. Alpha Kade was not the forgiving type, and because of that, their pack’s resources had dwindled year after year.
Viola realized then that Ember claiming she had stolen the coat placed her in deep, inescapable trouble. Ember wasn’t just any she‑wolf, she was the future Supreme Luna.
“How did you steal the coat?” Ember questioned, but Viola chose not to say a word, knowing there was no point.
“Beat her until she confesses how she dared to enter the guest room and steal Supreme Luna Ember’s coat!” Alpha Evan barked, pointing at Viola as he gave the order to the Gammas.
Viola wasn’t prepared for the savagery of the beating.
Kicks slammed into her ribs, her stomach, her back. A boot struck her face, snapping her head to the side. She tasted blood almost immediately. Still, she said nothing. What chance did her words have against those of a future Supreme Luna?
She coughed violently, blood spilling from her lips as it felt like her insides were being torn apart piece by piece. The pain was relentless. Her breath came in shallow gasps as blow after blow landed on her, until she could barely feel her limbs anymore.
Just kill me.
The thought flashed bitterly through her mind as agony tore through her entire body from the kicks. She hovered on the edge of consciousness, convinced she would either pass out, or die, when Ember finally raised her hand.
“Stop p>
Her voice was calm, commanding like that of a leader. “That’s enough p>
The Gammas stopped instantly, stepping back. Viola’s body lay unmoving on the ground. She was still conscious, but only barely, her vision swimming before her, turning everyone into a blurry haze.
“You are far too generous, Supreme Luna Ember,” Leni said with a smile, clinging to Alpha Evan’s side. “She stole from you. She deserves more than that. You shouldn’t show mercy to trash like her p>
Ember turned that polished smile on Leni. “This isn’t mercy,” she replied smoothly. “Showing mercy to a thief would set a terrible example to the others to steal as well. And as a future Supreme Luna, I cannot allow that p>
She paused, then continued, her gaze moving briefly to Viola’s broken, blood covered body on the ground.
“What I want is to take her with me. If you would be generous enough to hand her over, I will punish her properly once we reach the North Pack p>
Ember needed answers, answers she couldn’t ask here, where too many people might realize Alpha Kade had never given her that coat. She would take Viola back, pry the truth out of her, and then teach her a lesson she would never forget for daring to have in her possession something of a man that she would marry.
Alpha Evan exchanged a glance with Leni at Ember’s request.
He would have preferred Viola dead, or rotting away in the Hollow quarters forever. She was, after all, the only one who knew the truth about how he had cheated his way into becoming Alpha heir. Not that anyone would ever believe her, even if she spoke. Still, he wanted to eliminate every possible complication.
However, he couldn’t afford to offend the future Supreme Luna, who he wanted to earn her favor for his pack.
Alpha Evan would give anything to make the Supreme Alpha Kade forgive their pack and open the limited resources available to them, and giving Ember what she wanted, even though it was Viola, seemed like the first step to getting there.
“Sure, we don’t have use for such useless people in our pack. You can have her and do whatever you want with her p>
Ember smiled and then added, “I’ll make sure Alpha Kade forgives the Moonwillow Pack in the future p>
Those words brought broad smiles to many of the Moonwillow werewolves, and they cheered for Ember.
Viola was soon chained and placed to the side like a sheep awaiting slaughter. The coat was returned to Ember, who hugged it to her chest, proudly showing everyone how important it was to her.
“He gave the coat to me with so much affection,” she mused.
“I’m sorry you almost lost it,” Leni said, then added with a smile, “I’m so happy for you, Ember, but I can’t help but worry too,” as she stepped closer to stand beside her new best friend.
“Why are you worried?” Ember questioned, glancing at the unconscious Hollow at the side, covered in blood and moaning softly. I will deal with you later, she thought.
“About Alpha Kade. Don’t forget the rumors surrounding him and all the other Lunas who didn’t make it,” Leni whispered.
It wasn’t a secret to anyone that the Supreme Alpha had lost two Lunas, and both had died within a few years of marrying him. The cause of their deaths was never disclosed to the public. Despite that, many she-wolves would still give anything to be his Luna, because why wouldn’t they, when he controlled the entire packs of the world?
Rumors said he was cursed. Not only had he lost his Lunas, but also his twin brother and parents, anyone close to him seemed doomed to die. It made people believe he was cursed despite his immense powers.
“I don’t believe in baseless rumors, Luna Leni. They are just rumors. In my belief, those two she-wolves were not strong enough to be the Supreme Luna and weren’t prepared for the responsibilities that come with the title. I have trained my whole life for this, and the elders of the Silver Pack chose me for a reason. Don’t worry, once we are married, I will first fix the feud and ensure your pack becomes the second strongest,” Ember said, wearing the coat over her torn dress that the useless Hollow had ruined for her.
Though Ember couldn’t help but wonder how such a skinny nobody had made her lose her balance and fall. She would figure that out once she took her back to the North Pack. A wolfless shouldn’t have such strength to knock her down.
Leni smiled at Ember’s words. “I can’t wait. I will be your bridesmaid at your wedding p>
“Sure you will,” Ember promised, and they both laughed, while Viola moaned in agony before finally falling unconscious.