Chapter 546 – Good news? Please tell me
King Jaron carefully weighed every option left on the table, the humiliation of allowing a Beta to compete for his daughter’s hand against true Alphas sitting bitter on his tongue.
Still, there were plenty of ways to make life difficult for Corvine without Voren ever catching wind of it.
After all, Voren wouldn’t be standing inside these walls to interfere once the competition began.
Alphas were naturally stronger than Betas, and even if Corvine stepped forward as a Co-Alpha, Jaron remained convinced the man wouldn’t stand a chance against the three Alphas already chosen for the fight.
And if things somehow got out of hand, his warriors would be no match for Voren, especially when the crown hadn’t yet regained its full power.
"Fine." The word left his mouth with clear reluctance, the admission tasting like ash. "Corvine can compete."
A low murmur spread through the hallway as the warriors and servants exchanged quick glances. "But he’ll follow the exact same rules as the Alphas." Jaron’s expression hardened into something sharp and final. "He’ll have to defeat every opponent he’s matched against. Only then will he be worthy of competing for my daughter’s hand."
A smug smile slowly stretched across his face, the kind that never reached his eyes. "And I hope you understand something else." He paused long enough for every ear in the hall to lean in. "If he actually wins, which I seriously doubt," His voice dropped into a quiet chuckle. "His title would outrank yours."
His eyes locked onto Voren’s with open challenge. "Tell me, Alpha Voren, would you really be comfortable letting your own Co-Alpha hold more authority than you inside your pack?"
Voren remained completely unfazed, the calm on his face never cracking. Instead, he realized the trip hadn’t been a waste after all. Once Corvine stepped inside the Silver Moon Pack he would finally have someone close enough to dig into whatever secrets Jaron was still hiding behind that smug mask.
"If I made Corvine my Co-Alpha," Voren answered, voice steady and even, "then you should already know that titles mean very little to me."
Jaron’s eyes narrowed as the pieces clicked together all at once. Understanding dawned across his features, and a slow smile spread wider across his face. "Very clever, Alpha Voren." He folded his arms across his chest, the picture of satisfaction. "I’m the only one qualified to hold two titles because I was the one who discovered the crown."
His smile grew even wider, edged with quiet triumph. "But Corvine won’t have that privilege. If he becomes Alpha King, he’ll have to give up the title of Co-Alpha."
His gaze sharpened to a point. "So all you’re really doing is lending him your title long enough to qualify." He let out a quiet laugh that held no real humor. "I just hope his strength lives up to that borrowed title. The Alphas he’ll face aren’t weak."
Voren almost laughed out loud at the predictability of it. He wasn’t surprised Jaron had figured out the plan so quickly. The truth was he didn’t care who personally held the crown.
He only wanted someone he trusted completely to possess it. As long as Corvine had the crown, Voren wouldn’t have to worry about anyone else using it to stir up chaos.
As for Corvine’s strength, that didn’t concern him in the slightest. They had trained together in the city a few times, and Voren had personally taught him techniques that few warriors in any pack ever learned.
"You’ve accepted him." Voren’s voice remained steady, the decision already locked in place. "That’s all I needed."
Jaron stepped aside, clearing the doorway with a sharp gesture. "One week from today." He looked directly at Voren, the challenge still burning behind his eyes. "Corvine is to report here."
Although he had agreed, Jaron still wasn’t worried in the least. Voren’s quiet confidence only confirmed one thing in his mind. The man intended to spend the next week training Corvine hard.
Even if Corvine somehow accomplished the impossible and walked away the winner, Jaron already had another plan waiting. The crown could always be switched with an identical fake.
Corvine might receive the title, but the true power belonged to the crown itself. And all it would take to awaken that power was a single drop of blood from that gifted little girl.
After that he could hand Esperanza over to his business partners without a second thought. Whatever they intended to do with her afterward wasn’t his concern.
Another idea suddenly crossed his mind, and his lips curled into a faint, satisfied smile. Maybe Corvine himself could unknowingly bring Esperanza right to him. The thought settled every remaining worry in his mind. Yes. That plan could work perfectly.
Voren shot one final icy glare at Killian, the kind that promised unfinished business, before turning and walking away without another word. For the first time in days the tightness in his chest eased, the constant pressure loosening just enough to let him breathe.
He was getting closer, closer to discovering who those mysterious people really were. Once they were dealt with, Voren would not hesitate to have Jaron and Killian pay for ever threatening his family.
Then another question surfaced, sharp enough to stop him in his tracks right there in the hallway. Why did they want Esperanza instead of Seraphine? Weren’t mother and daughter equally valuable? Or was there more to Esperanza that even he still didn’t know?
By the time Voren returned to the hotel, everyone was already gathered in the conference room. The moment Seraphine saw him her face lit up with pure relief and joy, the tension she had been carrying melting away in an instant. She hurried across the room and threw her arms around him, holding on tight.
"V!" Excitement sparkled in her eyes, bright enough to push back the shadows still lingering in his own. "There’s good news." She laughed, the sound warm and full, barely able to contain the happiness bubbling up inside her. "You won’t believe this."
The sound of her laughter wrapped around Voren like unexpected warmth on a freezing day, soft and steady. For one brief moment every burden on his shoulders disappeared. His lips pressed against her briefly before he pulled away and responded, "good news? Please tell me."