LEXS POV
The council had stretched for over an hour.
Mal sat perched on the edge of her seat, her long gown cascading around her like molten silk. Her nails tapped impatiently against the carved armrest as she waited for the Alpha to finally speak of her marriage. She didn't hide her excitement, though her eyes darted around the hall, carefully studying the assembly of noble families, the elders, and her future rivals.
Levi and Leo, seated beside her, prayed silently in their own way. Their prayers were simple: may the Alpha choose them. The thought of Mal resting her hand on one of their arms, becoming the Luna, burned a desire in them both—but neither dared to voice it aloud.
Mal didn't care for either of them. Not truly. She only wanted the throne. The power. The authority that came with being the first Luna to marry in the Alpha's bloodline. By law, the first to marry would become the next Alpha. She wanted people to kneel before her, to obey her orders without question, to fear her as she feared no one.
The Alpha finally raised his hand, commanding silence. Every eye in the hall fixed on him.
"I have decided," he began, his voice rich and resonant, "that one of my sons shall marry a noble girl from the Newcastle family once she turns eighteen."
Applause erupted across the hall. Noble families clapped politely—or with jealousy. Some daughters who had dreamed of this union seethed in silence, their resentment thinly veiled behind polite smiles.
Mal's face lit up with a radiant smile. She clapped with her parents, proud and triumphant. Her mother leaned closer, whispering into her ear:
"Have you gotten rid of that Olivia girl?"
Mal's lips curved slightly, a shadow of malice behind the gleam. "Not fully… but she's in a deep coma. Hardly able to interfere."
Her mother's eyes blazed. "Get rid of her completely, or your marriage will be in jeopardy."
Mal's voice was soft but firm. "Yes, Mother."
The hall fell quiet again, waiting for the Alpha to specify which son would claim the bride. The Alpha whispered to the Queen, his lips moving quickly, eyes flicking over his sons.
Unseen in the back, a figure dressed in black moved silently. The hood covered his face, but his intentions were clear. His silver blade gleamed faintly in the candlelight. He edged closer to the perfect spot to strike the Alpha, kneeling down at the front but aiming true.
Lex noticed immediately. His golden eyes narrowed as his heart skipped a beat. He tried nudging his brothers, but they were distracted, discussing Mal's younger sister, Ava—a year younger than Mal and rumored to be exceptionally beautiful.
The intruder raised his arm, blade ready to fly. Time slowed for Lex. He could see the glint, feel the chill, and hear the faint whisper of danger. His mind screamed at him to act.
The Alpha stood, his voice booming across the chamber:
"To make it fair for my sons, the marriage shall not be decided by favoritism… but by the Gods themselves, after her eighteenth birthday."
Mal's heart leapt. Her mother's eyes narrowed, scanning the hall. She noticed the intruder's movement but didn't intervene, letting events unfold.
Levi and Leo exhaled, tension leaving their bodies. Their hopes, for now, were cooled. Lex, however, could not remain still.
Ignoring his brothers' calls, he stood abruptly.
"Lex!" Levi shouted. "Sit down! What are you doing?"
The Alpha's eyes landed on him. A glare sharp as steel. "Disobedience is forbidden, son. Sit!"
The intruder's knife left his hand.
Time froze.
Lex lunged forward. He twisted his body, intercepting the silver blade just inches from the Alpha's chest. The dagger skidded off, leaving sparks as Lex's armor took the brunt of the impact.
Gasps echoed through the hall.
Guards surged forward, cutting down the intruder before he could recover. But Lex wasn't unscathed. The blade had nicked him, slicing into his back. He fell, blood spilling from his mouth, eyes wild with pain.
"Brother!" Levi shouted, rushing forward. Leo followed, both lifting Lex while keeping a protective barrier between him and the intruder.
The Alpha, unharmed thanks to Lex's split-second action, rose and called for order. The crowd erupted into murmurs of shock and relief.
"Are you alright, my son?" the Queen asked, her voice trembling as she leaned forward.
Lex's chest heaved, blood dripping from the wound. He spat crimson onto the floor, struggling to stand.
Mal dove forward instinctively, smoothing her gown as she knelt beside the Alpha. Ava trailed behind, concerned.
Mal's mother, seated with cold precision, did not flinch. She whispered to her husband:
"Did you do this, honey?"
Mal's father glanced at her, confused.
"I did what I knew was right," she said simply, her eyes still fixed on the chaos.
The intruder, restrained by guards, laughed bitterly. "At least I got his son," he spat, his words echoing across the hall.
Lex coughed, blood trickling down his chin, but his golden eyes blazed with life. The danger had passed—but the hall remained tense, fear and awe swirling through every noble present.
The Alpha's voice cut through the murmurs:
"This is a warning. No one in my empire shall dare threaten my family. Let this be a lesson."
Mal, despite the near-catastrophe, felt a thrill run through her. She had seen power firsthand, the raw danger surrounding the Alpha, and she wanted it all—the throne, the influence, the obedience of the people.
Ava whispered, trembling, but Mal's eyes glimmered with ambition.
Lex, sitting with bloodied armor, glanced toward Olivia's recovering form in his mind. Every thought of her clashed with the chaos, the laughter, the pride of Mal.
And deep down, he knew: the battle for loyalty, love, and survival was at his doors , the only question that ran through Lex's mind was , who will dare do such a thing like this , who will dare want to kill the Alpha....