Author POV
The room fell into complete silence the moment Luckyresia mentioned the prophecy. But the silence was short-lived.
Henry's eyes immediately turned blood-red glowing with rage and power. The temperature in the room seemed to drop as his aura darkened.
"Guards!" he bellowed, his voice thunderous and commanding. Within seconds, two guards burst into the room, standing stiffly at attention.
"Seize her and lock her up in the dungeon," Henry ordered, pointing directly at Lana.
The guards hesitated. They looked at each other, uncertainty clouding their expressions. Their eyes flicked to Lana, then back to Henry. Neither of them moved.
"What are you still standing there for?!" Henry roared. "I said lock her up!"
One of the guards swallowed hard, then spoke up, his voice shaking slightly. "We're sorry, sir. Alpha Ken gave us strict orders not to mistreat her. He… he said anyone who dared lay a hand on her would be beheaded."
Henry's face twisted in fury. "Do you even know who I am?" he shouted. "Do you want me to do the beheading myself?!"
The guard dropped his gaze. "I'm sorry, sir… I was only following Alpha Ken's command," he said quietly.
A tense pause followed. You could hear a pin drop.
Then Nora stepped forward, her heels clicking softly against the floor. She cleared her throat delicately but spoke with authority.
"Fine," she said coolly. "If you won't lock her in the dungeon, then place her in a secured room. She is not to leave until further notice."
The guards turned to Lana, approaching her more gently this time.
"I'm sorry," one of them said, his tone calm but firm. "Could you please come with us?"
Lana looked at all the faces in the room some filled with anger, some with judgment, none with understanding. But she said nothing. Instead, she simply nodded once, quietly, with grace. Then she followed the guards out of the room without another word.
"Can you see the level of disrespect she just showed?" Luckyresia said, her voice laced with disdain as she watched Lana being escorted out of the room. "She didn't even beg. No fear, no remorse. She has no ounce of respect for either of you, and certainly none for your authority."
She folded her arms across her chest, then stepped closer to Nora and Henry. "It's a good thing we're seeing her true colors now, before it's too late. Because if she ever becomes Luna… if she gets that title… you'll lose your son to her completely. She'll have him wrapped around her finger, and there'll be nothing you can do."
Nora nodded in agreement, her jaw clenched. "Yes… you're right," she murmured, her eyes narrowed with thought. "It does sound like something she's capable of. Manipulation, deceit it's probably how she got into Ken's life in the first place."
She reached for Luckyresia's hand and gave it a light squeeze. "But don't worry, my dear. You are the only one who deserves to be by our son's side. You've known him since childhood. You understand our ways. You were meant to be Luna. And we'll make sure that happens."
A satisfied smirk slowly spread across Luckyresia's lips. "Thank you," she said, her voice soft but brimming with confidence.
Then her expression darkened again. "But how are we going to do that?" she asked, her tone more serious. "I can't become Luna while that girl is still here. It's obvious she's used some kind of charm or manipulation on Ken. If he wakes up and sees her locked away, he won't allow it. He'll defend her. He always does."
Nora exchanged a look with Henry, who remained silent but watchful.
"We need to act before Ken wakes up," Luckyresia continued. "We have to find a way to get her out of the pack… quietly, permanently. Because as long as she's here, she's a threat not just to Ken, but to all of us."
Nora's fingers tapped slowly against her arm, her eyes distant as she thought. "You're right. Ken's feelings for her will cloud his judgment. He's already disobeying us for her, giving guards orders behind our backs. If we wait too long… we'll lose our chance."
Henry finally spoke, his voice low and calculated. "We need to make her disappear before he opens his eyes. Quietly. No fuss. If she's gone, we'll say she ran away. That's what rogues do, isn't it?"
Luckyresia smiled, pleased with how quickly they were all getting on the same page. "Exactly. No one would question it. And if anyone does, we'll say she was afraid of punishment and fled in the night. It won't be hard to make that story believable."
"But we have to be careful," Nora added, narrowing her eyes. "Ken is no fool. If it smells like a setup, he'll come for answers. And if he finds out we were involved…"
"We'll make sure he doesn't," Henry said with finality. "We won't touch her ourselves. We'll have the elders barnish her from the pack."
"How exactly are you going to do that?" Nora asked, turning to her husband with a curious but wary expression.
Henry's lips curved into a thin, calculating smile. "You should know better than anyone I was once the Alpha of this pack. I know the system. I know how the elders think, what they fear, and how easily they can be swayed."
He stepped closer, his voice lowering like a conspirator's whisper. "All we have to do is use the prophecy. Twist it just enough to create panic. The moment they believe Ken's life is at risk, they'll fall in line. Fear is a powerful motivator."
"But the prophecy was never confirmed," Nora reminded him. "It was just a vision from the Seer, and it was vague at best."
Henry waved her off. "That doesn't matter. We don't need it to be true we just need it to feel true. And with the girl being a rogue, it won't be hard to convince the council that she's the danger the prophecy warned us about."
Luckyresia's eyes lit up. "So… you're saying we don't even have to get our hands dirty. The pack court will decide her fate?"
Henry nodded. "Exactly. Once we bring it before the court and remind them of the old vision, they'll act to protect Ken. They'll see her as a threat and they'll have the legal power to exile her."
Nora raised a brow. "And what if she speaks for herself? What if she defends her actions?"
Henry scoffed. "Who will believe the word of a rogue over that of a former Alpha, the Luna, and Ken's 'true mate'?" He glanced at Luckyresia. "By the time she opens her mouth, the decision will already be made."
Luckyresia smiled, cold and victorious. "Then let's begin. I want her gone before Ken opens his eyes."