Chapter 75: Chapter 75

Tiana

I stood frozen, my face burning with humiliation while the entire room watched. Before I could form a response, Kaius spoke.

“That’s it.”

His voice was quiet. Deadly quiet.

Margaret turned to him, satisfaction flickering across her face.

“The same person you classify so low, I would choose her over you any day.”

Margaret’s expression froze. “What?”

“You heard me. Given the choice between you and her, I’d choose her. Every single time.”

My breath caught. Around the room, I heard sharp intakes of air and the glare of every eye turning toward us.

“Kaius,” I whispered. “Don’t say that.”

“Why not?” He didn’t look at me as he replied. “You want to talk about what makes someone worthy of being Luna? Let’s talk about it.”

“You’re making a scene,” Margaret hissed.

“Good. Let them hear.” His voice rose, addressing the whole room now. “Tiana has more integrity in her little finger than you have in the entirety of your existence here.

She cares about this pack. Not because it advances her position or makes her look good, but because she genuinely wants to help people.”

“Kaius, stop.” My voice came out strangled.

“She sees worth where others ignore,” he continued, his words gaining momentum. “She defends those who can’t defend themselves. She works harder than anyone I know to prove she belongs here, and she does it without seeking recognition or praise.”

Margaret’s face had gone pale. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

“Don’t I?” He took a pause. “I know what I am saying. I have watched her consistently to know this.

And the more I notice these things, the more I realize that I do care about her. More than I should. And yes, I wish circumstances were different. I wish—”

He stopped himself, his jaw clenching.

The room had gone completely silent. Kaius, Margaret, everyone else.

My eyes stayed on the floor because I could not look at anyone. Yet somehow, it moved, searching for Zane and hoping he did not think much of what Kaius had said, especially since he had never been in support of our closeness.

My eyes found him sitting in that high-backed chair like a statue carved from stone. His expression gave nothing away.

But his eyes. His eyes were locked on Kaius with an intensity that made my blood run cold.

Margaret recovered first, her shock transforming into something that looked almost like triumph.

“Well,” she said, her voice shaking slightly. “At least now we know the truth. The servant Luna and the Alpha’s nephew. How predictable. I had always sniffed the chemistry.”

“There’s nothing—” I started, but she cut me off.

“Oh please. Don’t insult us by pretending this is one-sided.” She gestured between Kaius and me. “Everyone’s seen how you two are together.”

“We work together on pack business,” I said. “That’s all.”

“Is it?”

“Because nephew-in-law just declared his feelings for you in front of the entire pack leadership. So either you’re incredibly naive, or you’ve been encouraging this.”

“She hasn’t encouraged anything,” Kaius growled.

“Haven’t you?”

Margaret turned back to him. “Be honest, Kaius. Did she give you hope? Make you think there was a chance? Or are you just so desperate to avoid marrying me that you would convince yourself you’re in love with your uncle’s mate?”

“I’m not—” Kaius stopped, his hands clenching into fists. “This isn’t about avoiding the marriage.”

“Then what is it about?”

“It’s about the fact that she’s everything you’re not!” The words exploded out of him. “Kind. Genuine. It irritates me when I realize I have to deal with this just for some pack agreement.

I promise, if you were any better than this, I would endure the union.”

Margaret flinched as though he had struck her.

Beta Ezra cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should—”

“Everyone out.”

Zane’s voice came suddenly, tearing through the tension.

Everyone turned to look at him.

He stood slowly, his full height and presence filling the room. When he spoke again, his voice was absolutely terrifying.

“Everyone out. Now.”

The pack members present moved immediately, filing toward the exits without question.

Beta Ezra ushered the elders out while Gamma Rowan followed with the warriors and within moments, the room was nearly empty.

Margaret moved toward a chair, “I will just…”

“You too,” Zane said quietly.

She froze mid-step and turned towards the door.

“Stay behind.” His eyes locked on his nephew. “I want to speak with you.”

My feet started moving toward the exit with everyone else, but Zane’s voice stopped me.

“Ezra, escort the Luna to her room.”

I looked at Kaius, whose face had gone pale. Then at Zane, whose expression told me nothing.

When Beta Ezra came to me, I left with him, my legs shaking and my mind spinning with everything that had just happened.