THE COMATOSE ALPHA'S PROXY LUNA

Chapter 5

The next morning, the grand hall of the Alpha Council was packed. Dozens of powerful pack elders sat in high stone seats, looking down at me like I was a criminal.

Rebecca sat next to her father, Alpha Henderson, who was the head of the entire Council. Killian stood near them, a victory smirk plastered across his ugly face.

"Evangeline Brooks," Alpha Henderson’s deep voice boomed through the silent hall.

"You are accused of using fraud to marry a comatose Alpha and stealing the leadership of the Silver-Crest pack. What do you have to say for yourself?"

My stomach twisted into a painful knot. I looked around the room, but Beta Thomas was forced to stand in the back. I was completely on my own.

"There was no fraud, Alpha Henderson," I said, forcing my voice not to shake.

"The pack magic accepted my blood on the contract. The system verified it."

Rebecca stood up, pointing a manicured finger at me. "The system made a mistake! My father, Dominic was poisoned and incapacitated.

He could not choose you. An omega from the slums cannot lead the greatest pack in the country. It is a disgrace to our traditions!"

"She is right," Killian chimed in, stepping forward. "My brother is practically dead.

His business assets and pack authority should fall to his blood brothers, not to me not to a stray girl Thomas found on the street."

The elders began to murmur and nod in agreement. Panic rose like hot acid in my throat. I couldn't see a way out of this trap.

“They are trying to scare you, Evangeline,” Dominic’s voice suddenly echoed inside my head. The dark, familiar warmth of his presence instantly calmed my racing heart. “Henderson is corrupt. Killian promised him a cut of our northern forests if they remove you.”

What do I do? I thought back desperately, hoping he could read my fear.

“Look at the third elder on the left. The one with the grey beard,” Dominic instructed calmly. “His name is Elder Marcus. He owes his life to me. Tell him that the Silver-Crest pack laws state a Luna’s contract can only be broken if the Alpha himself rejects her.”

I swallowed hard and locked my eyes onto the grey-bearded wolf. "Elder Marcus!"

The old wolf blinked in surprise as I called his name. The rest of the room went quiet.

"According to the ancient Silver-Crest bylaws," I stated loudly, standing as straight as a queen. "A signed and magically bound matrimonial contract cannot be overturned by the Council. The only person who can dissolve my title as Luna... is Alpha Dominic himself."

Killian laughed out loud. "Dominic is a vegetable, you i***t! He can't speak, let alone reject you!"

"Exactly," I countered, staring Killian down. "Which means until he wakes up and says otherwise, I am the legal Luna of this pack. If you remove me by force, you are breaking the very pack laws you swore to protect. The other packs will see it as an illegal coup, and your stock market value will drop to zero."

Elijah, who was watching from the sidelines, turned pale. He quickly leaned over and whispered into Killian’s ear. Killian’s smirk completely vanished.

Alpha Henderson slammed his wooden gavel down hard. "Silence!"

He glared at me, his eyes full of pure hatred. He hated that a low-level omega had just used their own laws to trap them. He looked at the other elders, who were now whispering frantically among themselves.

"The law is clear," Elder Marcus spoke up, his deep voice cutting through the murmurs. "We cannot break the bond without the Alpha's word. The contract stands."

Rebecca stamped her high heel against the floor, her face twisting in rage. "Father! You can't let her win!"

"Quiet, Rebecca," Henderson snapped, his voice tight. He turned his cold gaze back to me. "The contract stands for now, Evangeline Brooks. But do not think you have won. If Alpha Dominic does not show signs of recovery or leadership within thirty days, the Council will declare him legally dead. And when that happens... you will lose everything."

"Thirty days is all I need," I said, holding his gaze.

As Henderson adjourned the meeting and the angry crowd began to leave, Dominic’s velvety laugh echoed beautifully inside my mind.

“Beautifully played, my fierce Luna,” his voice whispered, filled with a great, dangerous pride.

“You saved us today. But Henderson is right. We have thirty days to break this curse, or they will kill us both.”