Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Kai’s POV

If my wolf had not been stirring inside me, hardening the beat of my heart, I would have asked someone to pinch me at the sight before me.

My gaze flicked downward, where Count Barry was on one knee. His voice slithered through the silence.

"I’ve been a failure in my duties, Your Highness. I’ve come to apologize and atone for my sins, sire."

Count Barry spoke in a tone I had not heard since the moment I severed my relationship with Leo, before he could no longer tolerate me and resorted to outright hatred.

He turned to the Court, spreading his arms before speaking again.

"Alpha Kai is the perfect Alpha King we could ever ask for. I had thought he was accusing me until I conducted my own investigation and realized he was speaking the truth. Truly, there were men trying to destroy my reputation, and Alpha Kai was merely trying to save me before I was suspected of any involvement."

My brows knitted together, wrinkling the skin of my forehead, and I wondered what game this man was playing. The Court filled the silence with hushed whispers, most of them simply watching the scene unfold.

Count Barry faced me again and offered a deep bow, his forehead touching the polished floor. His palms rested on either side of his head, and he maintained the posture for what felt like more than a minute.

The sight should have been satisfying, but the intention behind it was alarming and entirely unconventional.

Then came the next surprise.

The palace doors creaked open, allowing a new presence inside. A familiar presence. My eyes slid toward the entrance, where Leo strode in gracefully, every step measured with elegance. He carried a tablet in one hand, tucked loosely against his side, and his expression held an expectancy I did not trust.

In a steady rhythm, he stopped before me while Count Barry rose to his feet and stepped back, settling beside him.

"Your Highness, I’ve come to the realization that not only has my old age dulled my wit, but it has also prevented me from being effective at my duties. For that reason, I’d like you to accept the transfer of my position to my nephew."

My eyes widened, stunned by this newest turn in their game.

Among the Court, the whispers became conflicted arguments, every individual carrying an opinion of his own, though none possessed the courage to voice it aloud.

Not that I’d allowed it.

I was far too invested in this new performance to permit distractions.

"Are you asking for retirement?" I chose my words carefully as the heavy air carried my voice across the room.

Count Barry nodded eagerly before answering.

"Yes, Your Highness."

I was about to respond when Leo himself decided to speak.

"I understand I haven’t been in Court for some time, Your Highness, and I’ve missed a great deal. But I’ve remained active behind the scenes and have been searching for a way to prove my loyalty to both you and the rest of the Council. If you’ll allow me to present one of my recent investigations, I believe I may impress you."

Count Barry continued from there.

"I only wish to strengthen your circle, Your Highness. What need do you have for an old man like me, growing weaker in both knowledge and agility, when you could have a younger version of everything I once used to help your father triumph over our enemies?"

He paused before turning to the Court.

"The law recognizes the vote of the majority. If Leo proves his worth today, the Council may either vote him in or have him removed."

I sighed.

"In what way does he intend to prove himself worthy of joining my Council?"

I supposed wishes truly did come true.

I’d longed for change, for newer and sharper minds instead of these old men who challenged every decision I made.

I simply had not wanted them replaced by the likes of Leo, but even my hands were tight. I should have known a day like this would come where Count Barry would shuffle Leo in his place, same as the rest of the Counts when they wished to retire.

My careful observation of his features revealed his growth. He had never been timid, but neither had he been someone capable of masking his emotions. Leo had always been easy to read. If he was irritated, I knew it.

But when I searched his eyes now, they were steady, like the calm morning after a vicious storm.

He was simply too composed.

Leo raised the tablet and began.

The very first words of his speech forced me to lean forward on my wooden throne.

"Alpha Kai may have had his reasons for hiding this from his Court, but a few nights ago, he uncovered the treasonous activities of the men responsible for stealing the Pack’s funds and armories."

The Court stirred at once while my grip tightened around the arms of my throne.

Where was he going with this?

Our eyes met for only a fleeting moment before he continued.

"My sources inform me that these men are from MoonBlade. The weapons they carry come from SilverFang, but the bullets are manufactured by MoonBlade. These are not assumptions but facts. Otherwise, I would simply remind everyone that MoonBlade has always despised SilverFang. Yet I suspect that explanation alone would fail to convince our Alpha King, considering he’s attempting an alliance with them through the Luna."

Without missing a beat, Leo returned to the matter of the weapons, as though he had not just insulted my intelligence and painted Alex as someone bargaining with the enemy.

These were the very people responsible for this conspiracy, yet they had stepped into the light to speak of it.

I hadn’t expected this move, but I understood the strategy: reveal themselves publicly, twist the truth, make themselves appear innocent, and use the secrecy of my investigation to distance themselves from the crime.

I cleared my throat and spoke. "What proof do you have that these men are from MoonBlade?"

Leo stepped forward to answer, but one of the Counts interrupted.

"Why would you hide your interrogations from us, sire? We are your inner circle and the first line of defense for this Pack."

Another Count immediately joined in.

"Indeed. If we don’t know what’s happening within the Pack, how are we supposed to help you?"

A third stood his ground as well.

"Please answer us, Your Highness. We need to know. What plans do you have for us? Do you no longer require our service? Are we no longer members of the royal Council?"

More and more complaints reached my ears.

I settled deeper into my chair, observing them from above. I expected to find satisfaction on Leo’s face. Instead, he merely watched me calmly.

"Hm." I scoffed, pressing my lips together as I let the spectacle continue.

When their voices finally quieted, I pointed toward Leo.

"I asked for your proof."

The very moment my words left my mouth, four men entered the palace carrying a large wooden crate.

The entire Court fell silent.

Even Father remained unusually quiet, simply watching the scene unfold.

When the crate was opened, my expression darkened at the dried plants arranged neatly inside.

"For generations, it has been established that every Pack possesses its own unique wolfsbane. SilverFang has its own, while MoonBlade has another. To prove these prisoners are not SilverFang wolves but rogues from MoonBlade, let them consume this MoonBlade wolfsbane."

A MoonBlade’s wolfsbane would kill a member of a MoonBlade Pack, while the same goes for a SilverFang Pack member. It was a simple yet smart logic.

"Why should I?" I challenged. "I’m currently investigating these men to discover who orchestrated and funded their actions."

Leo remained unfazed.

"If they die, then we’ll know they’re from MoonBlade. And who else would sponsor them if not Alpha Frederick himself? If they survive, then we know they’re SilverFang wolves, and you may continue your investigation to uncover the true traitor." He said and I scoffed.

I’d truly underestimated Leo’s intelligence.

He had cornered me.

The Court stood behind him, and if I refused to use the MoonBlade wolfsbane, rumors would spread that I was hiding information from my own Council.

That would be a stain upon my authority as Alpha King.

No matter how little I trusted these men, I could not rule without a Court or without the Council members who upheld the traditions of the Pack.

And if these prisoners died, proving they were from MoonBlade, then every chance of extracting information from them would die alongside them.

Neither Leo nor Count Barry would ever be exposed. All my efforts would have been wasted. It was an exceptionally calculated move.

Leo would once again make MoonBlade the enemy, diverting suspicion away from himself, yet another question surfaced in my mind. Leo looked far too confident. If these men truly died, then they were indeed from MoonBlade.

But that would also mean Leo had an accomplice within MoonBlade, which meant that SilverFang wasn’t the only Pack infested with hidden rats. It meant MoonBlade harbored them as well.

Both Packs had people working to see them destroyed.

Fuck...

This game was far larger than I’d ever imagined.

And at the moment, my hands were completely tied.