Chapter 4

Isla POV

"She lacks the proper etiquette of a noble Luna, but her military merits-" Bertha stammered, before abruptly clearing her throat. She forced her posture upright against the mountain of pillows, trying to project an authority she no longer possessed.

"The Alpha King himself issued a Royal Decree, Isla," Bertha continued, her tone shifting from fake sympathy to a thinly veiled command. "You cannot fight the King's will. Justin and Brenna will be Co-Lunas. There is no hierarchy between you two. You will continue to manage the Pack's internal affairs and finances, while she handles the military. It is a perfect balance."

*Manage the finances?* She meant *fund* the Pack with my ten-million-dollar dowry.

Deep within my soul, my White Wolf let out a vicious, mocking snarl. A mate-bond was sacred, forged by the Moon Goddess herself. There was no such thing as sharing an Alpha. They were trying to dress up Justin's betrayal as a noble sacrifice, all while keeping their greedy claws buried deep in my pockets.

"A perfect balance," I repeated, my voice devoid of any warmth. I stood perfectly still in the fading evening light, my eyes locking onto Bertha's. "If Gamma Brenna is to be Luna, then she and Justin can bear the full weight of this Pack. Tomorrow morning, I will hand over the Pack's ledger and the estate keys to Amanda."

Amanda, standing quietly by the wall, gasped loudly. Her timid Omega wolf shrank, and her bitter coptis scent spiked with sheer terror.

"M-Me? No, Isla, I can't!" Amanda panicked, her eyes darting wildly between me and Bertha. "The vault... there isn't even a hundred thousand dollars in there! How will we pay the Warriors? How will we afford Mother's Lycanthrope Elixirs?"

Bertha's face twisted into an ugly, dark sneer. The illusion of the loving mother-in-law vanished completely. "You selfish, narrow-minded girl!" she hissed, pointing a trembling, skeletal finger at me. "Is this how a true Luna acts? Jealous and petty? You are unworthy of an Alpha's mate-bond!"

The exertion was too much for her failing heart. Bertha hunched over, hacking violently, her chest heaving as she gasped for air.

"Don't you dare speak to my mother like that!"

Kaci marched forward, her round face flushed a violent red. Having just experienced her first Shift, she reeked of sour, unripe fruit. She puffed out her chest, trying to project her newly awakened Inner Wolf's dominance to intimidate me.

"You're just a wolfless orphan!" Kaci spat, her eyes glaring with unearned arrogance. "The Silvermoon Pack is dead! You should be begging us to let you stay. When Justin gets back, he's going to Reject you and throw you out to the Rogues!"

I slowly turned my gaze to the sixteen-year-old girl. I didn't yell. I didn't Shift. But deep within my core, I let a fraction of my ancient, dormant White Wolf aura slip through my icy stare.

Kaci's eyes widened. She instinctively took a step back, her fragile new wolf whimpering in sudden, inexplicable terror beneath her skin.

"Throw me out?" I tilted my head, my eyes raking over her trembling form. "Before you threaten me with the Rogues, Kaci, I suggest you take off that apricot-yellow couture gown."

Kaci blinked, entirely thrown off balance. "W-What?"

"And the pearl necklace," I continued, my voice ringing with absolute, razor-sharp authority. "And the diamond earrings. Every thread on your back, every jewel on your skin, was paid for by my dowry. Take them off. Return them to my quarters by tonight."

"You can't do that!" Kaci shrieked, her face burning with profound humiliation.

"I just did," I replied coldly. "I will not have my family's wealth draped over an ungrateful pup."

Kaci trembled with rage, tears of fury welling in her eyes. "Fine! I'll throw them at your face!" she screamed, though she didn't dare step any closer to me.

The room descended into a suffocating, tense silence. Brent stared at the floor, Amanda was practically shaking, and Bertha was still coughing weakly against her pillows.

Only Elder Alda, sitting quietly in the corner, allowed a faint, mocking smile to touch her lips. Her cold mint scent remained entirely undisturbed as she watched the main branch's pathetic facade crumble to dust.