Chapter 173 Jail Alice
_Rowena’s POV_
The following morning, we left for the capital. Our private vehicle pulled up to the outer gates of Ebonmoon Packhouse in the evening, which means our journey was roughly a eight hours journey.
Finally returning to this city didn’t feel much of a stretch. Still, I was happy to be back here.
We came to the Ebonmoon Packhouse because Alaric had insisted on me staying at the main mansion with him instead of returning to my own house or heading out to the outskirts of the territory.
Initially, I had resisted the idea but realizing I was terrified of Nana Seraphine finding out about my weakened physical condition and the true extent of the injuries I was still recovering from, I agreed to Alaric’s request.
She had enough burdens on her shoulders without worrying about my health, and I knew how sharp her eyes were whenever I walked into a room, meaning she would spot my slight limp and pale complexion in a heartbeat.
But Alaric had refused to yield on the matter, looking me dead in the eye during the drive and telling me that he could only watch over me properly and ensure my safety if I stayed close to him where he could reach me at any given moment.
Arguing with Alaric was pointless. He was the type to never give up or yield to anyone easily, although he made an exemption for me. But not always.
Once my personal things were moved into the guest wing on the third floor of the packhouse, I called Kasper into the private study adjoining my bedroom to handle our first major move.
The Ebonmoon Packhouse looked like a small city. The entire place was overwhelmingly big with servants moving around like bugs.
Kasper stood attentively near the door while I leaned against the heavy mahogany desk, handing him a secure drive containing the raw files and verified documents we had compiled during our time away.
"I want the complete record of Virella’s evil doing leaked online by tonight," I instructed him, keeping my voice steady and entirely focused. "No dramatic spin or an exaggerated commentary, and no emotional appeals. I want it spread across every major pack forum, independent news network, and social channel in the capital before her team even realizes what is happening or has time to craft a cover story."
Kasper took the drive with a nod, understanding the situation. “It will be everywhere before midnight, Rowena. Her people won’t be able to scrub the servers fast enough, and by tomorrow morning, everyone from the lowest pack member to the highest council member will be reading the evidence." He assured me and I gave a firm nod.
“Great.”
He turned to leave but paused. “I’ll be heading to see Gabriel soon, in case you don’t see me around.”
I nodded thoughtfully, he needed to make up with Gabriel after everything.
“Alright, my regards to him.” I said.
Shortly after he left the room to execute the order and meet Gabriel, Celeste stepped into the study, closing and locking the door behind her to ensure complete privacy.
She pulled out a chair across from me, her expression instantly telling me that she was entirely in her element and ready for the battles ahead.
She briefed me about Alice again, laying out the legal and political maneuvers she had spent the past few days constructing behind the scenes.
"Alice thinks she still controls the narrative because no one has openly challenged her position in public yet," Celeste said, leaning back in her chair with a dangerous smile playing at the corners of her lips. "By the time the council serves her with the formal summons, her key allies will have already abandoned her to protect their own reputations. She will be standing entirely alone when the hammer falls. She isn’t family, Rowena.” She paused and gave me a pointed look.
“She isn’t.” I agreed.
“So there’s no need to hold back. Let’s fucking jail her.” She said, using the word she rarely used.
I was fine with it. Whatever she wanted for Alice, she could do it, the woman had already done lots of damage. In as much as I didn’t want to dwell on it, the death of my father and brothers remained a plot, and that plot was organized by Alice.
There was no direct evidence yet, but jailing her for the others was enough.
I just had to make sure she suffered dearly for everything together.
After Celeste concluded her briefing and headed downstairs to coordinate with our legal team, the door opened once more, and Alaric walked into the room.
He didn’t sit down immediately, opting instead to stand by the window overlooking the manicured grounds of the packhouse,.
After a while of just staring at me like I was the best thing to ever exist, he finally spoke.
"I’m holding a formal press conference tomorrow morning," Alaric said, taking a seat opposite from me. "The media has been speculating for days about why I left the capital so abruptly and why I personally intervened on your behalf across regional boundaries without consulting the board first. I intend to lay it all out publicly, what happened, the full extent of the corruption we uncovered, and exactly why I went out of my way for you."
I sat in complete silence for a long moment, carefully digesting his words and considering what a public declaration of that magnitude would mean for both of us moving forward.
Announcing his personal involvement and backing me so openly in front of the entire capital would tie our names together irrevocably in front of every major family, media outlet, and political section in the territory.
It left zero doubt about where his allegiance stood and sent an undeniable message to anyone who thought they could move against me. It was a massive, irreversible move that would completely shift the power dynamic in the city overnight, making it clear that an attack on me was an attack on the Ebonmoon Alpha himself.
Last of all, it declared I was his.
I looked at him standing there for a while. He was hiding it well, but I still spotted the rigid posture as he awaited my response.
I guess he thought I would refuse. I’m about to surprise him.
"Alright," I said softly, looking up to meet his steady gaze. "Hold the press conference. I agree."