Chapter 6

Kaelen POV

I strode into my office, the heavy mahogany door clicking shut behind me, cutting off the suffocating politics of the Great Hall. The familiar scent of old leather, expensive whiskey, and my own Siberian cedar and frost did little to cool my irritation. My grandmother, Elder Seraphina, had played a dangerous game at breakfast, handing the household reins to my stepmother, Lady Debbra, while leaving my new Mate with nothing but the pups.

I understood the test. Running a Pack wasn't a game for a pretty face. My mind flashed back to the Royal Pack's Court years ago. Alpha King Theron Blackburn had foolishly let his human mate, Ivy Kent, organize the sacred Blood Moon tribute. Her sheer incompetence had caused absolute chaos, offending allied Alphas and nearly sparking a war. It took the former Royal Luna stepping in, flanked by Lady Kimberli and a formidable female Alpha from a northern pack whose sharp intelligence and unyielding command had salvaged the entire ritual from disaster. I had been a young, newly ascended Alpha then, watching from the sidelines as those powerful women carved order out of chaos with nothing but their iron wills.

That disaster was a permanent reminder: a weak Luna was a deadly liability. And now, looking down at Elara-who knelt in the dirt without a trace of the fear or submission her rank demanded-I felt an unnerving, electric shock of recognition. The same untouchable steel I had glimpsed in that northern Alpha years ago radiated from my wolfless Omega Mate. How was that possible? Where had a discarded, wolf-less girl from a lesser pack learned to wield authority like a reigning queen?

"Marcus," I growled to my Beta, who stood silently by the door. "Open the window."

Marcus unlatched the heavy glass, letting the crisp morning air in. Below, in the sprawling gardens, Elara was kneeling on the grass before Jaxon. Her hands were gently pressing against his small stomach.

"It's just a pup's tummy ache, Luna," Hattie, the senior Omega servant, scoffed. Her tone bordered on insolent, clearly emboldened by my grandmother's earlier dismissal of Elara's authority. "You're fussing over nothing."

I tensed, waiting for Elara to shrink back into her submissive shell. Instead, the air around her seemed to drop ten degrees.

"A tummy ache?" Elara's voice was icy, carrying perfectly up to my office. "He has a severe blockage, Hattie. You've been feeding him too many rich meats and entirely neglecting fiber. Do you have any idea what that does to a young wolf? It stunts the growth of their Inner Wolf."

Hattie paled, her mouth opening and closing like a fish.

Elara stood up, her posture radiating absolute authority. "Is his future strength a risk you are willing to take, Hattie? Because I am not."

"I-I apologize, Luna," Hattie stammered, taking a hasty step back.

"Apologies do not heal my son," Elara snapped, her words slicing through the garden. "For your negligence, half of your stipend is docked for this moon cycle. One more mistake, and you will be permanently removed from serving the pups. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Luna," Hattie whispered, bowing her head in a mix of genuine fear and newfound respect.

The moment Hattie scurried away, Elara dropped back to her knees. The icy Queen vanished, replaced by a woman of profound warmth. Her voice softened to a gentle murmur as she began explaining to Jaxon what foods would make him strong and fast, her hand resting reassuringly on his shoulder.

I stood frozen by the window, utterly stunned. My chest heaved as my Inner Wolf clawed at the surface, his golden eyes flashing in my mind.

'MATE. PROTECTS. OUR. PUP.' he roared, the possessive pride vibrating through my very bones.

My mind reeled. That wasn't the act of a submissive, wolfless Omega. That was the calculated, decisive strike of a true Luna. She had bypassed my grandmother and Lady Debbra entirely, establishing her dominance over a key servant with flawless precision. I stared down at her kneeling in the dappled sunlight, the mystery of Elara Foster deepening into a dangerous obsession. I was caught between my deep-seated suspicion and the undeniable evidence of her capability, wondering if this was a brilliant performance, or if I was finally seeing the woman beneath the mask.