The newspaper fell from Luna Victoria's trembling hands.
Front page:
“Former Alpha's Death Under Review—Council Launches Ethics Probe"
Subheadline: *Joseph Greenman Temporarily Relinquishes Command.*
She stared at the headline as if it might change.
Across the room, Joseph stood in silence.
“You really did it," she said. “You gave it all up."
He nodded. “They wanted a figurehead. Let them have one."
“You could've buried it all. No one would've blamed you."
“I would've."
---
That afternoon, Joseph walked the length of the estate once more.
Every hallway he passed whispered memory—of anger, pride, guilt.
At the gates, he turned in his key. “I'm not coming back."
The guard hesitated. “Should we tell the staff?"
“Tell them the truth."
And with that, he walked away from the only
