Chapter 18: Chapter Nineteen

Vicenzo POV 

Victory had never tasted as sweet on my tongue as it did as I stood in the grand hall of the council building.

I stood at the head of the long marble table, my fingers drumming lightly against the polished surface, barely able to contain my smirk as Lorenzo made to deliver the final words that sealed his fate.  

The air was brimming with tension especially since Lorenzo had just announced his resignation, his voice steady and his eyes betrayed the storm raging within him. I couldn’t help but smirk as I watched him, the once-mighty King of the South had been reduced to a shadow of his former self. 

He had played right into my hands, and I was relishing every moment of his humiliation. The room was in chaos, the whispers and shouts of the gathered alphas and betas echoing off the walls. 

I stepped forward and raised a hand to silence the crowd, I was a ruler now being amenable wouldn't hurt me. 

“Thank you, Lorenzo,” I said, my voice smooth and confident. 

“Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. I promise to lead this city with the strength and vision it deserves.”

I could see that the words hurt him more than he would like to admit, a dagger to his pride which was exactly as I had meant it to be in the first place and I could see the flicker of anger in his eyes. 

But he didn’t respond. He just stood there, his jaw clenched tight, his fists trembling at his sides as he struggled to play the considerate leader. 

He was a man I had brought to his knees, one with no choice who had given up everything for a woman— Arielle.

 And now that woman was mine, to do with what I would and it was more than I could have expected. 

Or so I thought.

“This is a historic moment,” I continued smoothly, my voice echoing through the chamber.

 “One that will usher in a new era for the South. An era where strength is rewarded and alliances will thrive. I accept this responsibility, and I will lead with—”  

“Not so fast.” a voice rang out, sharp and authoritative, cutting through all that noise like a knife in butter. 

“Wait.”

I turned, my eyes narrowing as I saw the head of the council, an elderly alpha named Marcus, stepping forward.

He was a good man and had been presiding over the council for more than twenty years his dark hair was now silver and the piercing blue eyes gave him an air of wisdom and authority. 

But it was the look in his eyes—cold and calculating—that made my wolf bristle.

“Vincenzo" he said, his voice carrying over the din of the room

“The council cannot accept you as the new King of the South.”

The room fell silent, every eye fixed on Marcus as his words hung in the air like a death sentence. I felt a surge of anger rise within me, but I forced it down, struggling to keep my expression calm and composed despite the storm raging inside.

“And why is that?” I asked, my voice deceptively soft.

Marcus met my gaze, his eyes cold and unyielding.

 “You are not strong enough to lead,” he said simply. 

“You lack the power, the vision, and the loyalty of the pack. We cannot entrust the future of our city to a weak alpha.”

The words hit me like a knife to the gut and my pride I had to fight to keep my wolf from surging to the surface.

 Weak? 

I was anything but weak.

 I had outmaneuvered Lorenzo, the so-called King of the South, and brought him to his knees. 

How dare they question my strength?

I took a step forward. 

“Lorenzo has given up his position. You have no other choice.”  

“We do,” Aldric said smoothly.  

His meaning was clear.  

If I wasn’t strong enough, they would put someone else in power. Someone who would crush me the moment I lost their favor.  

I swallowed my anger. I couldn’t afford to lose control. Not here. Not now.  

So I didn’t let my anger show. Instead, I smiled— and more than a few of the gathered alphas shift uncomfortably.

“I understand your concerns,” I said, my voice smooth and controlled. 

“But I assure you, I am more than capable of leading this city. "

“On paper,” Aldric mused. 

“But strength is not just about power, Vincenzo. It is about fear. Respect. And you have not earned ours.”  

I wasn’t a fool.  

I had no leverage here. Not yet.  

" Alright if you need proof of my strength, you’ll have it soon enough.”

Marcus studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded, though I could see the doubt in his eyes.

 “Very well,” he said.

 “We will be watching.” he turned to look at Lorenzo 

" But until then, Alpha Lorenzo we will entrust this to you" he muttered and I nodded 

The meeting was adjourned shortly after that, the crowd dispersing all while they were muttering among themselves I stood there for a moment, my mind racing as I processed what had just happened.

 The council’s rejection was a setback, but it wasn’t the end. I would prove myself to them. I would show them that I was stronger than Lorenzo, stronger than any alpha they had ever seen.

And I knew exactly how to do it.

\---

I returned to Hell’s Pit, a few of the guards at the gate nodded respectfully as I passed, but I barely noticed them. 

My mind was consumed with thoughts of Arielle and the power she possessed.

As I stepped into the main hall, Valerie rushed towards me immediately her expression was grim, and I could tell from the look in her eyes that something was wrong.

“Alpha" she said, her voice low and urgent. 

“The Hell’s Pit council has summoned you. They want to see you immediately.”

I frowned, my wolf stirring restlessly within me. The Hell’s Pit council had just come back from the general meeting like I had, there was nothing they could possibly have to say to me but if they wanted to see me, it could only mean one thing.

“What do they want?” I asked, though I already had a pretty good idea.

Valerie hesitated, then said, 

" I think they’ve realized Arielle isn’t a normal omega. They want to know what you’re planning to do with her.”

I frowned, I had planned to do this on my own terms without the ministers hounding my ever step but that didn't really matter now did it, I smirked, a cold, calculating smile as Valerie shifted uncomfortably behind me 

“Good,” I said.

" But –" 

 “Let’s not keep them waiting.”

\---

The Hell’s Pit council chamber was a dark, foreboding room, lit only by the flickering light of torches mounted on the walls.I could feel the weight of the council’s gaze as I stepped into the room, the council members who hadn't even bothered to defend me sat in their tedious semicircle, their eyes gleaming with a predatory light. If they expected to take this from me then they had another thing coming. 

I stepped forward, keeping my expression neutral. 

“You called for me.”  

One of them—an older woman with silver-streaked hair and cold, sharp eyes—spoke first. 

“You’ve been keeping a secret from us, Vincenzo.”  

I raised a brow.

 “Matilda I keep many secrets.”  

A man to her right let out a low chuckle, but there was no amusement in it.

 “Not this one. The girl—the omega you’ve been keeping in B Block.” he hissed and I shrugged 

" She was no danger to the Hell's Pit so.i didn't see the need to inform you " I muttered 

“Vincenzo,” the council head muttered his tone cold and unyielding. 

“We’ve heard rumors about the omega you’ve captured. Rumors that she’s not what she seems.”

I met his gaze, my expression calm and composed. 

“That’s correct,” I said. 

“Arielle is a purebred dominant omega. Her power is unlike anything we’ve ever seen.”

The room fell silent, the council members exchanging uneasy glances. He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. 

"Then we must decide what to do with her.”  

My smirk widened. 

“There’s nothing to decide. She belongs to me.” the murmurs that followed were sharp, but no one openly challenged me.  

" And what do you plan to do with her?” the council head asked and I smiled, 

“I plan to use her power to prove my strength,” I said.

 “To show the council—and the entire city—that I am the strongest alpha. And then, I will take my place as the King of the South.”

Dante one of the other men studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable then he nodded, a slow, deliberate a gesture that sent a thrill of anticipation through me he turned to the council head and nodded 

“Very well,” he said.

 “But be warned, Vincenzo. If you fail, there will be consequences.”

I didn’t respond.

 I didn’t need to.

 I had no intention of failing. Arielle’s power would be mine, and with it, I would crush anyone who stood in my way.