Chapter 194 CHAPTER 194

Chapter 194 CHAPTER 194
Three weeks had passed since the council delivered its verdict.

Little by little, life within the Ashwood Kingdom had begun to settle into a new rhythm. The executions had been carried out, prison sentences had begun, and the fear that had once lingered in every corridor of the palace slowly gave way to cautious hope.

Only one matter remained unresolved.

Cedric still ruled as acting regent.

Although Ariel's coronation was only weeks away, she had yet to announce who would stand beside her as Royal Beta. The silence fueled endless speculation throughout the palace but only two people knew the truth.

For the past three weeks, Ariel and Zack had practically vanished.

From sunrise until late into the night, they remained hidden inside the royal library. Ancient scrolls, faded maps, forgotten treaties and dusty journals became their constant companions. Even Jenna and Andrew rarely managed more than a passing glimpse of them before they disappeared once again among the towering shelves.

Whenever someone asked what they were searching for, Zack simply smiled.

"You'll know soon enough."

The mysterious answer only made everyone more curious.

The morning of the council meeting finally arrived.

Leonard, Daniel, Cassian, Andrew and Jenna were already gathered around the long oak table inside the council chamber. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating the polished wood while quiet anticipation filled the room.

Andrew leaned back in his chair and glanced around.

"Does anyone know why we've been summoned?"

Cassian shook his head.

"Not a clue."

Silence fell in the room for a few minutes before the chamber doors swung open. Ariel entered beside Zack, each carrying a thick leather folder while several attendants followed behind them with towering stacks of records and parchment.

Zack arranged the remaining documents neatly at the center of the table before taking the chair beside Ariel.

Silence settled over the chamber. Everyone waited expectantly.

Ariel looked around the table, meeting each familiar face before speaking.

"I know all of you have spent the last three weeks wondering what Zack and I have been doing."

Ariel's expression grew thoughtful.

"I asked Edwin to give us unrestricted access to the royal archives."

Leonard's eyebrows lifted.

She rested a hand on the folders before her.

"When the council entrusted me with choosing the leaders who would stand beside me after my coronation, I thought the decision would be simple."

A faint smile crossed her lips.

"It wasn't."

"I realized that before deciding how our kingdom should be led... I first needed to understand how it has been led."

She nodded toward Zack.

Without a word, he encouraged everyone to open the folders.

Pages rustled throughout the chamber.

Inside were copies of centuries-old treaties, military records, succession documents and handwritten accounts preserved within the royal archives.

Cassian looked genuinely surprised.

"You compiled all this?"

"We both did," Zack answered. "There wasn't a single night she let me leave the library before midnight."

Andrew flipped through the yellowed pages.

"I've never even seen records this old."

"Neither had I," Ariel admitted.

She rose from her chair and walked toward the large map spread across the center of the table. The faded parchment displayed every forest, village and river within the Ashwood Kingdom. A bold line separated Ashwood from Maplewood.

Ariel rested her fingertips on that border.

"After reading everything the archives had to offer, I reached one conclusion."

Her voice remained calm, but conviction echoed in every word.

"We've been governing this kingdom the wrong way for generations."

No one interrupted.

Daniel simply folded his arms and leaned forward.

"On paper, we're one kingdom." Her finger traced the border. "But in practice, we've always operated as two governments sharing the same land."

She pointed toward Ashwood.

"The Crown governs here."

Then to Maplewood.

"The Alpha governs here."

She looked around the table.

"Both leaders want what's best for our people, but they're still separate authorities."

Daniel frowned thoughtfully.

"That system has worked for centuries."

"It has," Ariel agreed. "But only because the people holding those positions trusted one another."

She picked up a worn document and handed it to Leonard.

"Please read the title."

He adjusted his glasses.

"'The Mooncrest Rebellion.'"

Recognition flashed across Daniel's face.

"I remember studying that."

Ariel nodded.

"The king ordered Maplewood's Alpha to send his warriors to defend the eastern border."

"And the Alpha refused," Daniel finished quietly.

"The king answered by sending the royal army."

She let the words settle before continuing.

"The Alpha rallied his own warriors."

Her gaze swept across the room.

"They were supposed to fight the same enemy."

Instead...

"They fought each other."

Silence fell.

The crackling fire became the only sound inside the chamber.

Ariel allowed the weight of history to settle before speaking again.

"That wasn't an isolated tragedy."

She placed her hands on the table.

"The archives reveal the same pattern over and over. Whenever conflict arose between the Crown and the kingdom's strongest Alpha, both believed they possessed the highest authority."

She looked each of them in the eye.

"We've spent centuries believing we were united."

"The truth is we've always had two governments trying to lead the same people."

Daniel slowly leaned back.

"So what are you proposing?"

Ariel unfolded the map completely across the table.

"One chain of command."

She paused.

"One kingdom, one government, one military."

Then she delivered the final words.

"One Crown."

Daniel remained thoughtful.

"And what becomes of Maplewood?"

"It remains exactly what it has always been," Ariel answered without hesitation. "Its traditions, its identity and its people don't disappear."

She smiled reassuringly.

"You would still lead Maplewood, Alpha Daniel. Your people trust you, and they always will."

"Then what changes?"

"The line of authority."

Ariel reached for Zack's hand, intertwining their fingers.

"When Zack and I ascend the throne, he won't simply inherit Maplewood."

Ariel smiled at Zack before looking back at the others.

"He will become Alpha King."

"The Alpha over every Alpha."

"The protector of every pack within the Ashwood Kingdom."

She glanced down at the centuries-old records spread before them.

"No Alpha will ever stand beside the Crown again."

Her eyes lifted, shining with quiet determination.

"They will stand with it."

A thoughtful silence settled over the chamber as everyone absorbed the significance of her words.

Daniel lowered his gaze to the map before slowly exhaling.

"I never imagined I'd live to see an eighteen-year-old make me question a system that's survived for centuries."

A ripple of laughter softened the tension.

He smiled and shook his head.

"And yet… here we are. What do you have in mind?”