THE COUNCIL HOUR
Freya
I haven’t attended a Council Hour in months.
But the whole truth is that Kade has taken fewer sessions recently.
And from what I have heard, he rarely consults his Small Council before declaring justice and offering resolutions, or even before embarking on conquests.
It is only Izel who whispers in his ears.
Only she influences his thoughts and decisions.
Now he sits tall on the dais, flanked by his Small Council members and by Izel in pale pink silk.
Wolves crowd the floor—warriors, house-wolves, elders, betas, omegas, all waiting.
The omega who just finished explaining his troubles waits patiently on his knees with his head bowed low, listening to the Alpha’s justice. When he rises, his face doesn’t hide his dissatisfaction. Regardless, he expresses his heartfelt gratitude to Kade and joins the crowd once again.
Kade glances toward Jax. “Next.”
Jax nods, and his eyes find mine in the crowd. That’s when I move. My boots echo softly as I step from the shadows at the back and walk toward the center of the hall. The low murmurs of the crowd fade as heads turn. Izel’s smile dies on her lips.
“Luna Freya,” someone breathes, the title almost a question.
I keep walking. My diadem feels heavy on my forehead, but it feels right.
‘Show them our power. Show them we’re not meek,’ Nyx growls within me.
Kade shifts on the throne. “Freya—”
But I speak over him. “I come to address a false decree issued under my name.”
The crowd gasps. Izel’s hand tightens on her skirts.
“False?” Kade repeats the word.
I pull a scroll from my sleeve—one of the parchments Jax brought to me days ago. “This document claims I ceded all household authority to you, Alpha Kade. That I gave up the title of Luna in favor of ‘Lady Izel.’ It bears my seal. And my handwriting. Except both are forged.”
The room stills. Jaws fall open in shock—of the council members and common folk alike.
Kade’s jaw flexes. “Freya, you will explain yourself.”
“I just did.” I cross the dais and place the forged decree before him. “That seal is a copy. The real one hasn’t left my possession. Now, a seal may be forged, but how does one forge one’s handwriting? It must take years of practice, perhaps? Or something… unnatural.”
I let the accusation of witchcraft linger without saying it outright.
“You don’t remember receiving such a decree from me, do you? I have never handed over my powers.”
Izel laughs, brittle. “You’re mistaken. Perhaps you’ve forgotten—”
“Forgotten?” I cut her off. “You mean when you poisoned me, kept me weak, and whispered to the pack that I’d lost my senses, Lady Izel?”
Several gasps resound in the air, murmurs drowning the room.
Kade barks, “Silence!”
Izel lifts her chin. “Careful, Freya. Accusing the Alpha’s consort of treason is—”
“Consort?” I repeat with a mocking laugh.
“You wear pearls and call yourself lady, but you were never bound to him by the Moon. Your union was never blessed by a Soulbinder, let alone the Moon Goddess, if I can call what’s between the two of you a union at all.
You are nothing more than his mistress.”
Kade stands, voice sharp. “Enough, Freya.” The room falls quiet again. His eyes flick from me to Izel. “This is not the place—”
“It is exactly the place,” I say softly. “Every wolf here deserves to know and decide who leads this pack. The one who forged decrees? Or the one wearing the Luna’s crown?”
Kade’s nostrils flare. “You challenge her standing publicly? I named her Lady of the House. You go against my orders?”
“Yes.” I lift my head. “Under Moon Law, a false Luna may not claim title, property, or voice in court. She may obviously not forge decrees. Or poison anyone in the pack. I demand you strip her of it now.”
Izel takes a step forward. “You dare demand of your Alpha?”
“I dare demand of my husband,” I answer, “because he swore to protect and obey our marriage vows in front of everyone who witnessed our wedding. And yes, I dare demand justice from my Alpha because when he ascended the pack throne, he also swore an oath to protect truth above pride.”
That lands heavily.
The crowd murmurs again, growing restless. Tamsin, standing with the guards, hides a grin behind her hand.
Kade lets out an exasperated sigh. “Freya, you bring shame on us with this spectacle.”
“No,” I say. “I bring truth. She forged my name, poisoned my food, and called herself Luna. You’ve known it. It is you who has humiliated our pack by betraying your lawful marriage.”
Kade’s eyes flash. “Enough!” He turns to Izel. “Show me this decree she speaks of.”
Izel hesitates, her fingers twitching.
Kade’s tone hardens. “Show me.”
Slowly, she picks up the scroll from where I placed it on the table and unfurls it before walking back to Kade.
His face darkens as he examines it. He looks between us. “Who wrote this?”
“I don’t know,” Izel says too quickly. “It was delivered to me weeks ago. I assumed Freya—”
“Lies,” I snap.
“Enough,” Kade says again. “I will hear no more bickering.”
“You must choose,” I tell him.
His eyes flick to mine. For a moment, I see something old there—guilt, maybe, or grief. Then it’s gone. “I will not choose between you.”
“Then you choose her by default,” I say.
He looks away. “Neither of you will use the Luna title until the Conclave decides it.”
Izel pales, her cheeks flushing red with shame. “You can’t—”
“I can,” Kade says coldly. “And I do. Until then, I want to hear no more of this nonsense.”
Izel’s voice wavers. “Kade—”
“Be quiet,” he snaps. “You’ve caused enough disorder.”
Izel’s composure cracks, and it’s a first. Her lips tremble, eyes glassy with humiliation. Around us, whispers grow: Forgery. Deceit. Not the true Luna. And the Alpha let it happen.
I bow my head slightly. “As you command, Alpha.” My voice is gentle. “But remember—truth doesn’t wait for Conclaves. It stands on its own.”
Then I turn and walk down the dais. No one blocks my path.
When I pass Tamsin, she murmurs, “That was a clean kill, Luna.”
I almost smile.