Alpha King and His Heir Share One Luna

Chapter 3: Pride and Power

Chapter 3: Pride and Power

(Elara's POV)

Standing at the entrance of Thorne Manor's courtyard, I forced a gentle smile onto my face despite the storm brewing inside me. Lucian Vance's cold eyes bore into mine, his disdain palpable in the air between us. My wolf Emma was practically snarling within me, demanding that I stand up for myself.

"It was my attendant who misunderstood," I replied coolly, keeping my voice steady despite my racing heart. "Today, I wasn't dismissed but passed the primary election."

Lucian's expression faltered for just a moment, genuine surprise flickering across his handsome features before the mask of contempt slid back into place. His stormy gray eyes narrowed as he studied me, clearly trying to determine if I was lying.

"Today there were only a few candidates selected—how could you possibly be among them?" he retorted with biting sarcasm.

The implication was clear: the mate selection ceremony for the future Luna of the Royal Redwood Pack was designed for daughters of prestigious packs only. Not someone like me from tiny Silverwood.

My nails dug into my palms as I discreetly clenched my fists, fighting to maintain my composure. Emma was practically howling in my head.

This man is so annoying, let's get away from him quickly, my wolf urged.

I agreed with her sentiment but knew I couldn't show weakness. Not here, not now. Not after Seraphina herself had select me.

"If you check the list, you'll find my name there," I suggested, my voice soft but firm. "Now, if you'll excuse me."

Without waiting for his response, I turned and walked away, my head held high. Emma purred her approval within me.

That's right. Show him we don't need his approval.

I could feel Lucian's gaze burning into my back as I left, my light designer dress flowing around me. It wasn't as opulent as what the other candidates wore, but in that moment, I felt stronger than I had in years.

Kaia hurried after me, confusion written across her face. "Miss Elara, is it true? You passed?"

"Yes," I replied, allowing a genuine smile to light up my face now that we were away from Lucian. "The Former Luna herself selected me."

Kaia's eyes widened with shock and delight. "That's wonderful! Your father will be so proud!"

My heart warmed at the thought. Father had been so worried about my participation in the selection. This news would ease his mind considerably.

(Lucian's POV)

I watched Elara's retreating figure, her raven hair catching the late afternoon sunlight as she walked away with dignity that both infuriated and captivated me. The news she had delivered left me unsettled and confused.

She had passed the initial selection? How was that possible?

My jaw clenched as I fought against the unwelcome surge of attraction that hit me whenever I saw her.

I turned and strode back toward the manor, needing to verify her claim. If she had indeed passed, it changed things. Not dramatically—she would still never be the future Luna—but her status within the pack would improve. She would become...almost worthy of me.

The thought brought me up short. Why was I even considering this? She wasn't my fated mate. She was the niece of my father's mistress—a woman whose very existence had brought nothing but pain to my mother.

My mother. The true complication.

I ran a hand through my hair in frustration as I entered the manor, my footsteps echoing in the grand foyer. My mother and Emily Rivers had been bitter enemies for years. If my mother ever discovered I harbored any feelings for Elara—Emily's niece—the consequences would be severe.

My mother had already suffered enough because of my father's infidelity. I couldn't add to her pain.

And yet, I couldn't deny the pull I felt toward Elara Rivers. It wasn't the sacred bond of true mates—I knew that much—but it was powerful nonetheless. Physical, primal, and absolutely forbidden.

I decided to head to the records room, where the selection results would be posted. I needed to see for myself if she was telling the truth.

As I walked the familiar halls of Thorne Manor, my mind continued to wrestle with conflicting emotions. If Elara had indeed passed the selection, it meant I would see more of her in the coming weeks. The thought both thrilled and disturbed me.

I reached the records room and nodded at the pack official on duty, who immediately stood at attention.

"The selection results, sir?" he asked, already reaching for the tablet that contained the day's records.

"Yes," I replied curtly.

He handed me the tablet, and I scrolled through the names quickly. Most were expected—daughters of powerful Alphas, including my sister Cordelia. But there, at the bottom of the list, was the name that had been consuming my thoughts: Elara Rivers, Silverwood Pack.

So she hadn't been lying. Seraphina Thorne herself had selected her. But why? What had the former Luna seen in this girl from an insignificant pack?

I walked back out into the corridor, my emotions in turmoil. I needed to get control of myself, to remember who I was. I was Lucian Vance, future Alpha of the Vance Pack, one of the most powerful packs under Royal Redwood rule. I couldn't afford to be distracted by a girl like Elara Rivers, no matter how beautiful she was.

(Third person's POV)

Late afternoon sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the east wing office in Thorne Manor. The warm golden light cast long shadows across the elegant chess board that sat between Alpha King Caspian Thorne and his nephew, Rhys. The two men were locked in an intense game, their expressions reflecting the near stalemate on the board.

Caspian, a powerful figure in his early thirties with silver-streaked dark hair and piercing blue eyes, studied the board with calculated patience. His fingers rested lightly on a knight piece as he contemplated his next move. Across from him, eighteen-year-old Rhys watched his uncle with respectful attentiveness, his amber eyes reflecting both strategic thought and an undercurrent of anxiety.

"I heard that today during the selection ceremony Seraphina selected several potential mates for you?" Caspian inquired in a measured tone, moving his knight to capture one of Rhys's pawns.

Rhys nodded, his closely cropped dark blond hair catching the sunlight. "Yes, uncle," he replied, his voice betraying a mix of calm and latent anxiety.

Neither man had attended the selection ceremony in person—it wasn't customary for the Alpha King or the future Alpha to be present for the preliminary rounds. But both were well informed of every detail of the proceedings.

Rhys moved his bishop, putting Caspian's king in check. "Your grandmother seems to have strong opinions about who would make a suitable Luna."

Caspian's lips curved into a slight smile as he deftly moved his king out of danger. "Seraphina always has strong opinions. The question is whether they align with what's best for the pack."

The underlying tension in the room thickened. Though the selection ceremony was ostensibly designed to find the most suitable mate for the future Alpha King from among dozens of candidates, both men knew the reality was far more political. Seraphina's grand display had concealed the fact that the contest for the future Luna essentially pitted two highborn candidates against each other: Cordelia Vance from the prosperous Vance Pack, and Aria Sullivan, daughter of the influential Sullivan Pack's Alpha.

A knock at the door interrupted their game. Caspian's assistant, Cedric, entered the room with a tablet in hand.

"The official candidate list, Your Majesty," Cedric announced, his voice respectful as he approached.

Cedric was a refined man in his fifties, with graying hair and intelligent brown eyes that missed nothing. He had served the Thorne family for decades, his loyalty absolute and his counsel always measured and wise. He placed the tablet beside the chess board with practiced efficiency.

"Thank you, Cedric," Caspian said, picking up the tablet.

He began scanning through the names, most of which were expected—daughters of powerful Alphas and high-ranking pack members. Rhys watched his uncle closely, noting the slight narrowing of his eyes as he reached the end of the list.

Caspian's gaze lingered on an unexpected entry: the last recorded candidate was not from a prominent pack but was identified as "Elara Rivers"—the daughter of a once-respected pack advisor known for his progressive ideas about pack cooperation.

"Gareth Rivers' daughter," Caspian murmured, more to himself than to Rhys. "Interesting."

Recognition flickered in his eyes as he recalled the Beta advisor who had once served his father with distinction. Gareth Rivers had been known for his bold spirit and innovative ideas about strengthening cooperation between packs. But Gareth father's abrupt illness had pulled him away from the royal pack years ago, and his influence had waned considerably since then.

"You know her father?" Rhys asked, curious about his uncle's reaction.

Caspian set the tablet down. "I knew of him. He served as an advisor to my father before being called back to Silverwood Pack due to a family emergency. He had some... progressive ideas about pack relations."

It was clear that the inclusion of Elara Rivers on the list had caught his uncle's attention. Rhys shifted in his seat with anxious. His grandmother Seraphina had been pressuring him privately to choose Cordelia Vance—a choice that would consolidate her own power within the pack due to her family ties with the Vance pack. But such an alliance would potentially threaten the balance of power that his uncle had carefully maintained.

Caspian studied his nephew's face, noting the slight tension around his eyes. After a moment, he casually yet pointedly asked, "Rhys, do you already have a preferred choice for your future Luna?"

The question hung in the air between them, laden with significance. Rhys felt a slight sinking in his heart, understanding that his uncle was subtly pressuring him to state his position. Caught between his grandmother's wishes and his uncle's obvious concerns, Rhys found himself in a difficult position.

He had not yet met any of the candidates personally—that would come in the next phase of the selection. But he knew the political implications of each potential choice. Cordelia Vance would strengthen ties with her powerful family but potentially give Seraphina too much influence. Aria Sullivan would forge a new alliance but might disrupt the current power balance in other ways.

As the silence stretched on and Caspian waited patiently for his answer, Rhys realized that the mate selection was far more than a search for his life partner—it was a chess game with the future of the Royal Redwood Pack at stake.