Chapter 8 Wolfsbane

|| Lilac's POV ||

The meeting room was a stark contrast to the bustling auditorium outside. It was smaller, more intimate, yet the air inside felt heavier, charged with power and unspoken expectations. Dark mahogany walls enclosed us, the flickering light from the chandelier casting long shadows across the polished table. The scent of expensive cologne mingled with the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee, creating an atmosphere of refined dominance.

I stood beside Kael as he took his rightful place at the head of the table, his every movement exuding confidence, his presence commanding the room with effortless authority. The nobles and alphas seated around us watched him with keen eyes, their expressions filled with admiration, ambition, and barely concealed greed.

The Miracle Pill.

It was already more than just a product, it was a symbol of power, of innovation, of Kael's dominance not only as the future Alpha King but as a visionary leader. These men and women weren't just interested; they were captivated, eager to be part of what would undoubtedly become a new era.

I forced a smile, my lips curving in quiet deference, my hands neatly clasped in front of me as I played my role, the devoted future Luna, the unwavering pillar of support by her Alpha's side. But beneath the polished surface of my act, my pulse hammered in my chest. The document I had planted in the press room had done its job. Now, all I could do was wait. Wait and watch. See if the seeds of doubt I had sown would take root and spread before it was too late.

The meeting proceeded smoothly at first.

Pages rustled as documents were passed around, each noble and alpha scrutinizing the fine print, nodding in approval as they traced the numbers and projections. The murmurs of conversation carried an air of certainty, their voices tinged with excitement and anticipation.

Pens clicked open.

One by one, hands moved to sign.

A bead of sweat gathered at the nape of my neck, but I remained poised, still, my nails digging into the soft flesh of my palm beneath the table.

And then,

A voice cut through the steady hum of agreement, slicing through the tension like a blade.

Firm. Unwavering.

"This is incredible work you have done, but I don't think I can approve of this."

His words echoed in the silent room like a crack of thunder.

My gaze snapped toward him, watching as he leaned forward, his piercing blue eyes scanning the room with the sharpness of a predator scenting blood. Asher was no ordinary alpha, he was one of the strongest, the wealthiest, and, most importantly, a man who did not bow to greed or power. When he spoke, people listened. And right now, his words were the spark in a room full of kindling.

"What do you mean, Alpha Asher?" Alpha Sebastian asked, confusion knitting his brows. "This is a good opportunity for us, for all werewolves."

"You can go ahead with this if you want," Asher said, his voice steady, unshaken. "But I will not. First, there have only been two tests done on the side effects. The document suggests that the pill was tested on two rogues... and they both died."

A sharp intake of breath rippled through the room.

The air grew thick, tense, suffocating.

Asher didn't stop. His voice cut through the silence like a blade. "A pill this powerful will come with a price. And I cannot ignore that." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the stunned faces in the room before he delivered the final blow. "On top of that, I can see a slight particle of wolfsbane mixed in it."

A murmur of shock spread through the room. My fingers curled into fists beneath the table as I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my expression unreadable.

While wolfsbane wasn't instantly deadly in small amounts, it was a slow poison, one that would corrode a werewolf's strength, weaken their bond with their wolf, and make them vulnerable over time.

"While it won't harm a werewolf immediately," Asher continued, his gaze locking onto Kael's, "it is dangerous. It is reckless. And I cannot, in good conscience, push my people toward this drug."

Silence.

Heavy. Oppressive.

The only sound was the furious clicking of cameras as the media, who had been granted access for promotional purposes, captured every tense moment. The recording devices continued rolling, ensuring that every word spoken here would be heard far beyond these walls.

Murmurs turned into whispers. Whispers turned into sharp-edged accusations.

"Is this true?" one of the alphas finally asked, his voice laced with concern.

Another noble leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "Why didn't you mention this, Kael?"

The accusation in his tone was impossible to ignore.

Kael exhaled sharply through his nose, his fingers flexing against the table as he forced a tight-lipped smile. But I saw it, the faint crack in his carefully constructed mask.

I glanced down at the document in my hands, my heart hammering in my chest. I had to make this moment count. Swallowing hard, I forced my fingers to tremble slightly as if I were struggling to process what I was reading. I took a shaky breath before lifting my gaze to Kael, my eyes widening in feigned shock.

"Kael," I murmured, my voice soft and uncertain, the perfect imitation of a naïve, devoted mate just now uncovering a terrible truth. "It's all here... this particle in the ingredients, it's wolfsbane."

A single moment of silence stretched between us, thick with anticipation. Then, chaos erupted.

The room exploded into frantic whispers and sharp accusations, the alphas and nobles turning toward Kael with wide eyes and demanding voices. Questions flew across the long table like daggers.

"Is this true?"

"Wolfsbane? How could this have gone unnoticed?"

"You assured us it was completely safe, Kael!"

For the first time, Kael's carefully maintained composure cracked. He pushed up from his chair so abruptly that it scraped against the marble floor with a piercing screech. His palms slammed against the table, the impact echoing through the room like a gunshot.

"Shut the fuck up!" he roared.

The entire room fell deathly silent.

A shiver ran through me, not from fear, but from exhilaration. The mighty Future Alpha King had lost control.

I flinched, curling my shoulders inward as if I had been struck by his rage. My lower lip trembled, and I ducked my head, playing the part of the fragile, pitiful she-wolf who had been scolded for nothing more than speaking the truth. Let them see me as the wounded mate, let them whisper about how their future Luna had been humiliated in front of them all.

Inside, I was smirking.

The game had started, and I was winning.

"Kael." Alpha Asher's voice boomed through the tense air, steady and commanding. "She will be your Luna. Treat her with respect."

The weight of his words settled over the room like a heavy blanket. Every pair of eyes turned to me, some filled with pity, others with suspicion, but all watching. A carefully laid snare, tightening exactly as I had planned.

I kept my head lowered, let my lashes flutter as though I were blinking back unshed tears. I played my part with delicate precision, allowing just enough vulnerability to stir doubt in the minds of the alphas and nobles who had, moments ago, been Kael's staunchest supporters.

Kael took a deep breath through clenched teeth, the muscle in his jaw twitching as he fought to pull himself back together. His rage had betrayed him, but now he was trying to salvage the situation.

"My apologies," he said stiffly, his voice forced into a semblance of calm. "I lost my temper."

He straightened his posture, smoothing the front of his expensive suit, regaining some of the authority that had begun to slip through his fingers. "But I assure you, the wolfsbane is in such a small quantity that it poses no threat. The benefits of the Miracle Pill far outweigh any potential risks."

A bold statement. A desperate one.

But the damage had been done. The alphas and nobles exchanged uneasy glances, their trust in Kael shaken. Alpha Asher leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable but his stance clear. He would not be swayed.

As the meeting continued, I stayed quiet, my mind racing as I plotted my next move. Kael's anger was a double-edged sword, and I needed to be careful not to push him too far. But for now, I had achieved what I set out to do. The alphas were questioning him, the media had captured his outburst, and the truth about the Miracle Pill was beginning to surface.

As the meeting drew to a close, I felt a warm hand on my arm, firm, deliberate. A sharp jolt of awareness shot through me, sending a shiver down my spine before I could steel myself against it. I turned swiftly, my pulse quickening, only to find myself face to face with Alaric.

He stood too close, the scent of pinewoods and something distinctly masculine wrapping around me like a slow, insidious fog. His grey eyes gleamed, not just with amusement, but with something darker, something unreadable. The corners of his lips curled into a knowing smirk, as if he'd unraveled a secret I wasn't even aware I was keeping.

"Well played," he murmured, his voice a rich, teasing rasp that sent heat curling through me despite my best efforts.

I arched a brow, forcing my expression into one of detached indifference, though my pulse betrayed me with its unsteady rhythm. "I don't know what you're talking about," I replied smoothly, but the slight hitch in my breath didn't go unnoticed.

Alaric's smirk deepened. His fingers ghosted over my skin before he let go, but the warmth of his touch lingered far too long. His gaze flickered to my lips for a fraction of a second, just long enough to make me wonder if I had imagined it.

"Of course you don't," he mused, his tone laced with lazy amusement, but there was an edge beneath it, something sharp and knowing. He tilted his head slightly, studying me as if he could strip me bare with just his gaze. "But just so you know, I'm impressed."

A flicker of something dangerous stirred in my chest, something close to satisfaction, which I ruthlessly shoved aside. Praise from Alaric was rare, and somehow, dangerously intoxicating.

I straightened my shoulders, tilting my chin up ever so slightly. "Good," I said, forcing an air of nonchalance. "That means you're paying attention."

His gaze darkened, intrigue sparking in those storm-cloud eyes. "Oh, I always pay attention to you, my dear sister-in-law."

The way he said it, low, deliberate, each syllable rolling off his tongue with sinful ease, made something coil deep in my stomach. A forbidden thrill danced through my veins, and I hated that my body reacted to him, to the dark magnetism he exuded so effortlessly.

I refused to acknowledge it. Instead, I gave him a saccharine smile, one that barely masked the sharpness beneath. "Then try not to fall behind, Alaric. I'd hate to leave you struggling to keep up."

His lips parted slightly, a soft huff of laughter escaping, but his gaze turned molten, like a predator intrigued by the challenge before him.

"Oh, darling," he murmured, his voice lowering just enough to send another treacherous shiver down my spine. "You'd be surprised just how fast I can move when something interests me."

The way he said it, like I was the something, made my stomach tighten.

But I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me falter.

So instead, I leaned in just slightly, just enough that my breath fanned over his cheek, my lips dangerously close to brushing his jaw.

"Then try to keep up," I whispered, before stepping back and walking away, forcing my legs to move with a practiced grace despite the heat simmering beneath my skin.

I didn't have to turn around to know he was watching me.

And gods help me, I liked it.

I turned to leave, feeling his gaze burn into my back as I walked out of the room, my heels clicking against the marble floor. My mind was already racing ahead, strategizing my next move.

The game had begun, and I could not afford to lose.