ELENA'S POV - ONE YEAR LATER
"You're wasting our time."
Alpha Derek's voice booms across the Council chamber before I even finish climbing the stairs. My babies sleep in carriers against Marcus's chest behind me, and I force myself not to react.
"I haven't spoken yet," I say calmly, reaching the platform.
"You don't need to." Alpha Victoria crosses her arms. "A female Alpha? Leading rogues and a witch? This is a joke."
The fifty Alphas in the room laugh. Some openly mock me. Others whisper behind their hands like I can't hear every word with my wolf senses.
Pathetic. Desperate. Playing Alpha.
I set my presentation folder on the podium. My hands don't shake. I learned how to hide fear months ago, back when I had nothing but determination and two newborns who needed me to be strong.
"Northvale Pack requests official recognition," I begin.
"Denied," Alpha Marcus Stone—a different Marcus, not my Beta—says immediately. "You don't meet the requirements."
"I have fifty pack members. Your requirement is forty." I pull out the roster. "I have secure territory—two hundred acres purchased legally. I have sustainable income through my company, Hartley Innovations, which earned three million dollars last year."
Silence falls.
Elder Cornelius leans forward, studying me with sharp eyes. "How did a rejected Luna with nothing build a company worth millions in one year?"
"I stopped waiting for Alphas to give me permission," I say simply. "I created werewolf security systems—cameras that detect magic, alarms sensitive to supernatural hearing. Every pack needs them. I just made them first."
"Clever," Elder Cornelius admits. "But recognition requires more than money. It requires respect. Why should traditional packs respect rogues and witches?"
"Because my rogues are wolves that your perfect packs threw away." My voice hardens. "Wolves rejected for being too weak, too scarred, too different. I gave them homes. They gave me loyalty. That's worth more than bloodlines."
"Bold words from someone who probably has no bloodline," Victoria sneers.
My wolf stirs inside me, that strange silver power that appeared after Chase rejected me. It wants to show these Alphas exactly what bloodline I carry. But Sage's warning echoes in my mind: If they discover you're from the Ancient Bloodlines, they'll kill you.
"My bloodline doesn't matter," I say instead. "My results do."
I present everything—financial records, territory maps, pack member testimonials. Each document is perfect. Each number is exact. I spent a year preparing for this moment.
The Council whispers amongst themselves.
"She's thorough," someone mutters.
"Too thorough," another Alpha says suspiciously. "Where did a rejected Luna learn business?"
"College," I answer. "I have a degree in business management. I just never got to use it because my mate—my former mate—wanted me to play perfect housewife instead."
A few female wolves in the audience nod. They understand.
Elder Cornelius stands. "We'll vote. All in favor of granting Northvale Pack official recognition?"
Hands rise slowly. Twenty. Thirty. Thirty-five.
"All opposed?"
Fifteen hands.
"Recognition granted." Elder Cornelius bangs his gavel. "Welcome to the Continental Council, Alpha Elena."
I should feel victorious. Instead, I feel numb. This is just the beginning. Now comes the hard part—proving I deserve this seat.
"Thank you," I say formally. "Northvale Pack will honor—"
"One more thing," a smooth voice interrupts.
Roman Blackwood stands from the back row, and my blood runs cold. The Alpha who wants to claim my babies walks toward me with a predator's grace.
"Since Alpha Elena now has Council recognition," Roman says loudly, "she can be challenged. Ancient law allows any Alpha to challenge for territory, resources, or"—his eyes lock on my sleeping babies—"bloodline rights."
"What are you saying?" I demand.
"I'm saying your twins carry rare silver wolf genes." Roman's smile is cruel. "Genes valuable enough to challenge for. I invoke my right to challenge Alpha Elena for custody of her children."
The chamber erupts in gasps.
"You can't—" Marcus starts.
"I can," Roman interrupts. "Ancient law is clear. Any Alpha can challenge for bloodline claims. And those children's bloodline is extraordinary. They belong with a strong pack, not rogues."
"They're MY children!" My voice echoes with power that rattles the windows.
Every Alpha in the room tenses. Several back away. That wasn't normal Alpha power—that was something older, stronger.
Something that proves Sage was right about what I am.
Roman's eyes gleam with triumph. "There it is. That silver Luna magic. You're not just any rejected mate, are you, Elena? You're special. Which makes your children even more valuable."
My wolf screams at me to run. To grab my babies and disappear. But I'm an Alpha now. Alphas don't run.
"Name your challenge," I say coldly.
"The Blood Moon Trials," Roman announces. "One month from now. If you win, you keep everything—your pack, your children, your secrets. If you lose"—he pauses dramatically—"your children join my pack. And you become my prisoner until you tell me exactly what Ancient Bloodline you're hiding."
"Elena, don't agree!" Sage shouts from the audience.
But I have no choice. If I refuse, the Council will strip my recognition. I'll lose everything I built.
"I accept," I say clearly.
Roman's victory smile widens. "Excellent. I'll see you at the Blood Moon, Alpha Elena. Try not to die screaming like the last participant."
He leaves, and the Council chamber explodes with noise.
Elder Cornelius tries to restore order, but I barely hear him. My mind races through everything Sage told me about the Trials. Three impossible challenges. Secrets revealed. Death waiting at every turn.
I won my pack's recognition today.
But I might have just signed my own death warrant.
Marcus appears beside me, carrying my babies. "We'll find another way."
"There is no other way," I whisper.
Behind us, I hear footsteps. I turn, expecting another Alpha with threats.
Instead, I see Chase Rex standing there, looking absolutely shattered.
"I heard everything," he says quietly. "Elena, those Trials—"
"Are none of your concern," I snap. "You rejected me, remember? These aren't your problems anymore."
"Those are my children Roman wants to steal!" Chase's composure cracks. "Let me help. Please. I know I don't deserve—"
"You're right," I interrupt. "You don't deserve anything. Not my trust, not my children, and definitely not the right to play hero now."
I walk away before he can respond, my head high, my spine straight.
But inside, I'm terrified.
Because in one month, the Blood Moon rises.
And when it does, every secret I've been hiding—including the one about what I really am—will be exposed for every Alpha in North America to see.
The Alpha who wanted to destroy me succeeded.
He just didn't know he'd create something far more dangerous than a broken Luna.
He created a queen.
And queens don't go down without a fight.