Chapter 124: Unwanted Guests 3

Chapter 124: Unwanted Guests 3

Lucian’s POV

My wolf was beyond furious, and for the first time, I didn’t try to hold him back. His anger mirrored my own, his hatred for these people spilling into the room. “Everything that happened—everything—was your fault, Tasha. If you think we’ll throw away the gift the Moon gave us because of your petty, poisonous hatred, then you’re unfit to sit on this council!” My voice thundered, silencing any attempts at rebuttal.

I took a deep breath, my chest heaving with the effort to keep my anger in check. “Let me remind you—this council holds no power over us. Our Valkin parents may have installed you, but we can just as easily dismantle your office and rid the North of this so-called Elder Council.” My words hung heavy in the room, and not a single elder dared to speak.

Tasha’s face twisted with rage, but I didn’t care. My voice softened, but the pain in it was unmistakable. “Your actions caused a ripple effect of devastation—one I wish I could erase.

You ruined our perfect life with your hatred, and for what? Because you despise the man who brought peace to this world? The man who stopped our parents from their greedy conquests, who ensured that people could live without fear of being overtaken?”

Clay’s voice joined mine, filled with an intensity that matched my own. “Have you even seen what’s happening now, Tasha? Go to the West. Look at the chaos. Look at the packs that are falling apart now that Nikolay is gone. The man you hate so much—the reason you hate Scarlett—was the one who brought stability to our world. And you destroyed all of it.”

The silence that followed was suffocating. The weight of Clay’s words, of my words, pressed down on everyone in the room. Even Tasha seemed to falter, her defiance giving way to something resembling fear.

I leaned closer, my voice softer but no less firm. “Scarlett Vladislav is our Luna. Your Luna. From this moment forward, you will treat her with respect. Speak about her with respect. And as of now, all authority this council once held is transferred to her. That is what a Luna does. We no longer need your services.”

Tasha let out a low growl, her rage bubbling to the surface, but I didn’t flinch. I stood firm, meeting her anger with unwavering resolve. She could growl all she wanted. It didn’t matter anymore. The council’s reign was over, and Scarlett’s rightful place was secure.

“You dare speak to me like that, Lucian? That woman would abuse any power given to her!”

Tasha’s voice was sharp and defiant, her anger boiling over.

“Like you have?” I shot back without hesitation. My words hit their mark, silencing her. The tension in the room thickened as everyone waited for her response, but none came.

Her lips twisted into a sneer, and she tried again. “You can’t possibly think a woman who ran away to be with another man is fit to be Luna in the North. She’s been unfaithful!”

I laughed—cold and deliberate, the sound reverberating around the room. “Unfaithful?” I said mockingly. “Well, you don’t see us complaining, do you? In fact,” I added with an exaggerated shrug, “we wouldn’t mind her having as many lovers as she wants if that’s what it takes to atone for the crimes the North has committed against her. So be it.”

That wasn’t true, of course. Just the thought of Scarlett with someone else made my wolf growl possessively inside me, but I wasn’t about to give Tasha the satisfaction of knowing that. My words were meant to provoke, and from the way her face darkened, they’d done their job.

“How disgraceful,” Timothy muttered, his tone dripping with contempt.

I smirked at him, leaning forward slightly. “Disgraceful, is it? Let me tell you something, Timothy. We went to the West and begged Scarlett to come back. She was going to be Keith’s Luna, you know. At least the West saw her value. They treated her with the respect she deserved—something the North could never do. She would’ve been better off without us, no question. But do you know why she returned?”

Tasha narrowed her eyes, and I leaned in closer, letting my words cut deeper. “She didn’t come back for us to save face. She came back to help us. To help you. She risked everything to deal with Garland. And I’ll be damned if I let you hurt her again, Tasha.” My voice was steady, but my wolf rumbled in agreement, ready to tear apart anyone who dared to defy me.

Tasha pushed back from the table and stood abruptly, her defiance flaring. “Then we’ll hold a trial,” she declared, her voice cold and commanding. “We’ll let the people decide.”

Elder James shook his head, his face a mixture of exhaustion and disgust. “I’m heading back to Highland,” he said simply. “I don’t want any part of this nonsense. You’ve done enough damage, Tasha.” Elisabeth nodded in agreement, rising from her seat as well.

“And Elder Keith?” I asked, even though he wasn’t present. I didn’t need to wait long for my answer. Word would inevitably reach him, and I doubted he’d side with Tasha.

“Timothy?” Tasha asked, her voice faltering slightly as she turned to him, searching for an ally.

Timothy crossed his arms and sighed. “I’m not leaving,” he said with a smirk. “We’ll have that trial whether you like it or not. A vote must be carried out by the pack members for our removal or the dissolution of the Elder Council. Those are the rules your parents put in place, and until the people decide otherwise, we’ll continue to exercise our rights.” He chuckled softly, as if amused by his own words.

I didn’t share his amusement. “You won’t be so smug when you’re dead, now, will you, Uncle?” I said coldly, watching as his eyes widened in shock. The room went utterly silent, the weight of my threat hanging in the air.

“What do you think?” I continued, my tone low and dangerous. “Do you honestly believe anyone will stop us from finishing you off? The only reason you and Tasha are still alive is because of our ties and the respect we owe to our parents.” That was a lie, of course. Their fates were already sealed, but I wasn’t about to give them the comfort of knowing how or when it would happen.

I leaned in, my voice dropping to a growl. “Push us, and even that shred of life you’re clinging to will blur into nothingness.”

Without waiting for a response, I stood and turned to leave. Clay and Maxwell rose as well, their silence a testament to the unified resolve we shared. Together, we walked out of that suffocating room, leaving the elders to stew in their own dread.

Back at the apartment, the tension still simmered beneath my skin, but it eased slightly when I learned Scarlett was training with Keith and Alison. William, my Beta, was quick to inform me of Tasha and Timothy’s next move. “They’re staying,” he said grimly. “They’re already planning to rally support from pack members and officials to remove Scarlett from the North.”

I smiled coldly at that. “Let them try,” I said, my voice carrying the quiet confidence of a man who already knew the outcome. “I’d love to see them try.” The fire in my chest burned brighter, fueled by the certainty that this fight was far from over—and the resolve that Scarlett, my Luna, would emerge victorious.