Ivy’s Point of View
The silence that followed Luna Helena’s words was suffocating.
I could feel the tension in the air. The anticipation. Everyone waiting for Alpha Alaric to make his decision.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Seraphina move. Her elbow jabbed into Bastian’s ribs. A sharp, urgent gesture.
‘Say something,’ her eyes screamed at him. ‘Now.’
Bastian stepped forward immediately. He dropped to one knee before his father, head bowed in a show of humility that fooled no one.
"Father," he began. "I know this is a difficult time for our family. For our pack. And I know that no one can ever truly replace Dominic."
‘Liar,’ I thought. ‘You’ve been waiting for this moment since the day he fell.’
"But I want you to know that I am ready." Bastian lifted his head, meeting Alpha Alaric’s eyes. "I have spent years preparing for this. Studying pack law. Learning military strategy. Training alongside our warriors. I have dedicated myself to becoming worthy of leading the Silvermoon Pack."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"If you choose to name me as heir, I swear to you, I will honor Dominic’s legacy. I will protect this pack with my life. I will be the leader our people deserve."
Seraphina dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. Vivienne nodded approvingly. Margot’s smile widened.
A perfect performance. Rehearsed down to the last word.
Alpha Alaric said nothing. His face remained unreadable. But I could see the conflict in his eyes. The weight of the decision pressing down on him.
"Physician Aldric," Alpha Alaric said finally. "I will ask you once more. Is there any possibility that my son will recover?"
Aldric shook his head slowly. "I’m sorry, Alpha. In my professional opinion, the chances of the heir regaining consciousness are almost nonexistent. The damage is simply too severe."
‘Because you’ve been making it worse,’ I wanted to scream. ‘Because you’ve been killing him slowly while pretending to heal him.’
But I stayed silent. Watched. Waited.
Margot seized the moment. "Alpha, please. You cannot keep waiting for a miracle that will never come." Her voice was soft. Sympathetic. The voice of a concerned family member. "I know how much you love Dominic. We all do. But you must think of the pack now."
"Bastian is also your son," Vivienne added gently. "He carries your blood. Your legacy. Passing the heir title to him is not a betrayal of Dominic. It’s simply... practical."
"The pack needs stability," an elder spoke up. "The longer we delay, the more uncertain our position becomes."
"Other packs will see our hesitation as weakness," another agreed. "We cannot afford to appear vulnerable."
"A succession ceremony would reassure our allies," a third added. "And discourage our enemies."
One by one, they piled on. Each voice adding weight to the argument. Each word pushing Alpha Alaric closer to a decision he clearly didn’t want to make.
I looked around the room.
Margot’s face was alight with triumph. Vivienne’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Bastian remained kneeling, the picture of humble devotion. Seraphina clutched her handkerchief, playing the role of concerned wife.
And Luna Helena stood beside me, broken and silent, watching her son’s birthright being stripped away.
No one cares about Dominic.
The realization hit me like a blow to the chest.
Not the elders. Not the physician. Not Margot or Vivienne or Bastian.
To them, Dominic was already dead. A corpse that hadn’t stopped breathing yet. An obstacle to be removed. A problem to be solved.
They didn’t see him as a person. A son. A brother. A man who had sacrificed himself to protect the king.
They only saw the title. The power. The position they could claim once he was gone.
Something hot and bitter rose in my throat.
Before I could stop myself, I turned to Luna Helena and spoke.
"Luna Helena, may I ask a question?"
She looked at me, surprised. "What is it?"
"If the heir position is given to Bastian now..." I kept my voice low, meant only for her ears. "What happens if Dominic wakes up later?"
But the room had gone quiet at exactly the wrong moment.
My words carried. Echoed off the stone walls. Reached every ear in the hall.
Shit.
Everyone turned to stare at me.
Margot’s face twisted with rage. "What did you just say?"
I straightened my spine. "I asked what would happen if Dominic wakes up after the succession ceremony."
"How dare you!" Margot’s voice rose sharply. "This is a serious discussion among pack leaders and elders. What gives a Beta’s daughter the right to speak?"
"I am Dominic’s wife," I replied calmly. "I believe that gives me some right to be concerned about his future."
"His future?" Margot laughed bitterly. "He has no future! Weren’t you listening? The physician just said he will never wake up!"
"The physician said it was unlikely. Not impossible."
"It’s the same thing!"
"No, it isn’t." I met her eyes steadily. "Unlikely means there’s still a chance. Small, perhaps. But a chance nonetheless."
Margot sputtered with fury. "You insolent little—"
"I’m simply asking a logical question." I kept my voice even. Reasonable. "The succession ceremony is a serious matter. Once performed, it cannot be easily undone. So what happens if we transfer the title to Bastian, and then Dominic recovers? Would Bastian be expected to return the position? Would there be two heirs? Or would Dominic be cast aside entirely?"
The elders exchanged uncomfortable glances. It was clear none of them had considered this possibility.
Because none of them believed Dominic would ever wake up.
"This is ridiculous," Margot snapped. "You’re wasting everyone’s time with impossible scenarios."
"Nothing is impossible." I held her gaze. "Miracles happen. Unexpected recoveries occur. Shouldn’t we at least have a plan in place, just in case?"
Margot opened her mouth to retort, but before she could speak, Seraphina grabbed my arm.
"Cousin." Seraphina’s voice was sweet but her grip was painfully tight. "Perhaps we should let the elders handle this matter. It’s not our place to interfere."
I looked at her. At the warning in her eyes. At the false smile plastered on her face.
"I’m not interfering," I said. "I’m asking a question that no one else seems willing to ask."
"And it’s been asked." Seraphina’s nails dug into my skin. "Now let it go. This is a decision for our elders and the Alpha to make. We’re just wives. We should know our place."