mont

ll; the heat was too strong, b

until they turned pale. Those who gathered around me were the most powerful a

tsteps echoed. She was nearly a hundred years old, yet every pack in the

filled the room. "To judge th

t on it. I didn't need to look at him to feel h

we were finally here. And we both

pack members on purpose, breaking pack l

selves. Some had known Karl was evil, b

As the alpha of the mountain clans, he towered ove

d, alpha of the Northern

eath

e air like a storm front, and before I realized

tention, and I couldn't look awa

commander who'd never been defeated. His presence alone made other alpha

"Tell us, wh

etly, but anger

, Prince Kael

he old rules required, just me, my parent

t. Even the fire se

temple on Moonfall Ridge." Mar

mily for hours before killing them." "He said it wa

asped ar

had happened to the Thronfield, but Kael had lied t

e. He said. "This is what happened to Alpha, who disobeyed him.

urvive?" Elena

e days." His voice dropped.

ence fel

d me a fairy tale. Who also promi

od, his f

." I only did what I had to do to keep peace. You hur

hold him back as he

cent people duri

Kael yelled. "Only the m

en avoiding

he blood of kings," he spat, shoulders squared, daring anyone to contradic

hand. "Bring in t

of the prison and never return. Pack members were torment

. All along, Kael sat with the same evil smile, watching as if it were

n territories. Tears shadowed in her eyes, and marks of b

happened whe

." Elena as

ha and that I should be grateful he noticed me." "

time," so

h cried hard. Then he said he would kill all t

jumped up, shouting. Beta called fo

ng; his evil sm

oug

voice silenc

g pack law, betraying sacred oaths, and act

owd. For a second, I saw that he could

of the throne by blood

ur answer?"

le have forgotten their place. A true k

"When I am king, such w

len

icy. Even his royals s

im nod. "So bit. The

ence as the world's most powerful leader determine

was only one option left. And that is me. The

"Crown Prince Kael is found guilty.

nd us. "You have no right." "The

m Al

voice quiet but unshaken. "And mons

ho?" He sneered. "There is no one e

suddenly, I felt the future pre

g clear, "by bloodright and council law, you

went deat

An o

e looked horrified; others were calculating

, furious. "She is

eavy. This chan

annot rule

he murmur. "A kind omega rul

"But ancient law demands one thing: first, an omega qu

se a mate. If she fails, the crown

Roderick Blackfang; he is e

ear to find an alpha who'll treat a pathetic omega as an equal." Kael l

like a wolf pack. But his cruel words stayed

or breeding stock. The idea of one ruling as an equal. It wasn't j

s a

Northern throne waited for me. If I could find

He was even more imposing, a mountain of muscl

ect, he bowed, deep and pro

the right choice. Your brother

orry about your family. What Kael did, there are no words.

irmly, "his crimes ar

oice turned to ice, "justice w

ft, letting the threat

mean for Marcus? And what

one that would soon be mine, my throat tight, my chest heavy as if all the stone walls

lled me

e. The kingdom would

o

mega rises. I stood tall, smoothed my dre

aim my throne, and protect everythi

to my chambers, unaware that the answer would arri

r, on the battlef

her plans f

for