CHAPTER 124: MY REIGN.

CHAPTER 124: MY REIGN.
~ Livia’s POV~

The healers were still shouting when I walked into the hall.

“Kieran! Alpha Kieran, stay with us…!”

“His pulse is dropping…”

“He took the antidote too late”

Their panic filled the air, but I didn’t feel a thing. Not fear. Not grief. Not a shock. Just… clarity.

This was the moment fate had crafted for me.

Kieran lay on the floor, body limp, breath shallow. His eyes were half-open but unfocused, like his mind had been ripped away.

I stepped closer.

Mira blocked me immediately, trembling. “Don’t. Touch. Him.”

I smiled. “Why? Afraid I’ll break your precious Alpha?”

Ava was on her knees beside him, gripping his hand with both of hers. “Kieran… please, wake up. Kieran, please…”

Her voice scraped the air, raw and trembling.

Pathetic.

Damon knelt beside her, jaw clenched as he checked Kieran’s pulse. “He’s fading. Eric, lift him. We’re taking him to the healer wing.”

The Council members rushed in. Perfect timing.

One of them gasped. “The poison… it’s taken hold. He’s slipping into a coma.”

A hush fell.

I straightened slowly. “Then you all know what must be done.”

Ava’s head jerked up. “What are you talking about?”

I turned to the Council, ignoring her completely. “The Alpha is incapacitated. A leaderless pack is vulnerable. Someone must take the throne until, if, he wakes.”

Councilor Arden nodded grimly. “She’s right. The pack cannot remain unstable.”

Ava shook her head fiercely. “No. No, you can’t hand everything to her!”

I smiled at her. “Watch me.”

Damon rose to his feet slowly, towering but calm. Too calm. “Livia,” he said quietly. “This is not the time to play politics.”

“Politics?” I laughed softly. “Your mate, your little miracle was the one who caused this chaos in the first place. Don’t talk to me about politics.”

Ava froze.

Mira surged forward. “You don’t get to blame her!”

“She IS the reason he betrayed the Council.” I shrugged. “And now? Look.” I gestured at Kieran’s unconscious form. “He paid the price.”

Damon’s eyes darkened. “Livia. Choose your next words carefully.”

I met his stare without flinching. “Don’t try to intimidate me, Damon. You’re not in your territory anymore.”

Eric stepped forward, voice measured. “Livia let us take Kieran out of here. Then we can…”

“No.” I lifted a hand, and guards immediately blocked their path. “No one leaves until the Council acknowledges the new Alpha.”

A murmur rippled through the hall.

Ava stood slowly, hands trembling but voice steady. “You did this. Didn’t you?”

I forced a gasp. “Me? Poison Kieran? Why would I harm my own fated mate?”

Her eyes narrowed. Damon caught her arm before she lunged.

I turned back to the Council, tone sharp. “Declare the throne vacant.”

Arden cleared his throat. “Kieran is alive… but unfit to rule.”

“Exactly,” I said. “So crown me. Immediately.”

Silence.

Then, one by one the Council bowed their heads.

“The throne is yours, Queen Livia.”

Ava inhaled sharply like she’d been slapped.

Mira whispered, “No… no, no…”

Damon muttered, “This is madness.”

I walked toward the dais as the crown was brought in. As the cold metal touched my head, a rush of triumph surged through me.

Finally!

Finally!

I looked down at them, Ava shaking, Damon tense, Mira crying, Eric furious, as I stood above them, the crown gleaming on my head.

“Now,” I said softly, “let’s address the traitors.”

Ava blinked. “…What?”

Damon shifted in front of her protectively. “Livia. Don’t.”

“Oh, I will.” I lifted my chin. “Ava or whatever name you cling to, you are no longer welcome in this territory.”

Ava’s face crumpled. “You can’t banish me. Kieran…”

“Kieran isn’t here,” I cut in. “And even if he were, he can’t protect you.”

Damon stepped forward. “If she goes, I go.”

I smiled. “I expected that.”

Eric ground out, “You touch one hair on her head…”

“I said banished,” I repeated calmly. “Not executed. Count your blessings.”

Mira whispered, “Why are you doing this? We’ve done nothing to you.”

“You exist,” I said flatly. “That’s enough.”

Ava swallowed hard, voice cracking. “Please… let me stay at least until he wakes…”

I stared at her for a long moment.

“Oh,” I said softly. “You think he’s going to wake up.”

She froze.

I stepped closer, leaning in until she flinched. “If he survives the next week, it’ll be a miracle.”

Damon growled low. “Livia…”

“Guards,” I snapped. “Escort them out of the territory. They have one hour.”

Ava shook her head, stepping toward Kieran again. “Just…just let me touch him. Please, just one more…”

Two guards grabbed her arms.

She screamed, “KIERAN!”

Damon tore one guard away, but ten more swarmed them. Mira clung to Ava, sobbing. Eric struggled beside Damon, trying to reach her.

Ava collapsed to her knees as they dragged her back, fingers stretching toward Kieran’s unconscious body.

“KIERAN—PLEASE—LET ME STAY—”

Her voice cracked like it broke something in the room.

I watched it all without blinking. Without mercy.

This was the cost of loving him.

This was the cost of choosing her.

Damon’s voice thundered through the hall. “LIVIA, IF HE WAKES UP—”

“He won’t,” I said simply. “And even if he does… he won’t find you here.”

Ava sobbed as the guards pulled her toward the doors. “Kierannnn…”

They were forced out of the hall. The doors slammed behind them.

Silence.

Cold. Heavy. Absolute.

I looked down at Kieran’s still body.

“My reign begins now,” I whispered.

And no one, especially not his precious Ava, would take it from me.