Chapter 71 The Final Plan (Part 2)

Chapter 71 The Final Plan (Part 2)

The sun had already dipped past its zenith, bathing the Blood Moon Pack’s stronghold in a lazy afternoon glow. Inside his private office, however, the air felt heavier — dense with thoughts, plans, and the weight of tomorrow’s war.

Aldus sat behind his large oak desk, elbows resting on the polished surface as his fingers steepled beneath his chin. The documents in front of him lay forgotten, his eyes fixed instead on the empty fireplace across the room.

No matter how many times he replayed yesterday’s trial in his mind, the bitterness didn’t fade. Lies, carefully woven and masterfully delivered, had poisoned the air of the hall.

Each false testimony was another blade driven into Livia’s name, and he — the Lycan King — could only sit and watch.

Tomorrow, that would change. Everything will change for sure.

The sudden creak of the heavy door broke the silence. Aldus didn’t need to look up to know who it was. Only two people dared enter his office without knocking.

“Still brooding, I see,” came Sebastian’s familiar drawl, laced with both amusement and irritation.

Dominick followed behind, closing the door gently before walking toward the desk. “You haven’t left this room since the Council left this morning. That’s not like you, Aldus.”

Aldus leaned back in his chair, exhaling a long, controlled breath. “There’s too much at stake to waste time resting.”

Sebastian dragged a chair closer and dropped into it with a heavy sigh. “We know. We were there, remember? And believe me, I’m still trying to figure out how I didn’t rip those lying bstards apart on the spot.”

“Especially that Amber” Dominick added darkly, his amber eyes flashing. “I could smell the deceit rolling off of her. Every word was rehearsed. Every tear, fake. Yet the crowd believed them.”

Aldus’s jaw tightened. “That’s exactly what they wanted. A narrative so well-crafted that even the truth sounds like a lie.”

The three men sat in heavy silence for a moment, each replaying the chaos of the first trial in their minds. Then, Sebastian broke it.

“So,” he said, leaning forward, “what’s the plan? I know you have one. You always do.”

Aldus’s lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. “I do.”

Dominick crossed his arms. “And? Are you going to share it with us, or are we supposed to guess?”

“I requested the trial to be moved tomorrow,” Aldus began, his tone calm and deliberate. “Livia isn’t strong enough to stand yet, and I won’t risk her life for a courtroom spectacle. But that’s not the only reason.”

Both men exchanged a knowing look — the kind that came from centuries of friendship and battles fought side by side.

“I asked the Elder Council to summon new witnesses,” Aldus continued, his eyes sharpening with resolve. “Ones who were at the Moonlight-Silvermoon unity celebration. People are not tied to the Moonlight Pack.”

Sebastian’s brows shot up. “Smart. If the testimonies come from outsiders, it’ll destroy Amber and Aldrake’s carefully built narrative.”

“Exactly,” Aldus said. “And I asked for the summons to remain confidential. No one outside the Council knows. Not Amber. Not Aldrake. Not even their allies.”

Dominick’s lips curved into a wolfish grin. “A secret weapon.”

“But do you think it will be enough?” Sebastian asked, leaning back. “Amber’s desperate. And desperate people do reckless things. If she suspects we’re planning something, she’ll try to sabotage it.”

“She already suspects,” Aldus replied, his tone quiet but certain. “And that’s exactly what I’m counting on.”

The room fell into a contemplative silence once more. The stakes were higher now — far higher than they had ever been. But this wasn’t just about clearing Livia’s name anymore. It was about exposing the corruption festering within the Moonlight Pack… and tearing it out from the root.

Dominick rose from his seat first, clapping a heavy hand on Aldus’s shoulder. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we’ll be ready”.

Sebastian followed, his expression softening slightly. “We’ll fight this fight together, brother. And this time, we won’t lose.”

Aldus offered them both a small nod, gratitude flickering in his eyes. “Thank you. But make no mistake — this is only the beginning. By tomorrow, the truth will burn through every lie they’ve built.”

As his friends left the room, the king turned his gaze to the fading light outside his window. His hands tightened around the armrest of his chair, his resolve hardening with every passing second.

For Livia. For justice.

Tomorrow, the real battle will begin.

While the Blood Moon Pack prepared for what was to come, the Moonlight Pack’s manor lay wrapped in silence — the kind that wasn’t peaceful but suffocating. Inside her private chamber, Amber paced back and forth like a caged predator. Her perfectly manicured nails dug into the flesh of her palms, leaving crescent-shaped marks.

The memory of the previous trial haunted her. Livia’s defiance. The Elder Council’s piercing stares. The way Madame Julie had spoken — questioning the credibility of the testimonies. And worst of all, the way Aldus had looked at Livia as if she were something… more.

Amber’s jaw clenched so tightly it ached. She was furious about what happened at the trial.

“Everything should have gone according to plan,” she hissed to herself. “Every witness, every accusation — they were all lined up perfectly. She should’ve been crushed.”

But she wasn’t.

Despite the lies, despite the humiliation, Livia was still standing. Still breathing. Still there. And the Council… the Council didn’t believe everything. Amber could see it in their eyes. She could tell that they didn't believe what lies she told.

The sun dipped low behind the Blood Moon territory, painting the sky in deep shades of crimson and violet — a sign, perhaps, of the battle that awaited them come dawn.

The entire pack was on edge; warriors sharpened their blades, guards doubled their patrols, and whispers of the postponed trial spread like wildfire among the wolves.

Inside the pack house, the atmosphere was heavy — the kind of silence that comes not from peace but from anticipation. Everyone knew that the second day of the trial could change everything. It could destroy lives… or save them.

Aldus stood by the tall window of his office, his hands clasped behind his back as he stared out at the vast forest beyond the borders.

He had barely slept the night before, his mind a storm of thoughts and strategies. Every detail mattered now. Every choice could tip the balance.