I paced around my room like a madwoman. The floor was cold against my bare feet, but I didn’t care. I didn’t even realize when I flung the vase off the table or yelled at the maid who brought me tea. I was too restless. Too anxious. My nails dug into my palms as I clenched and unclenched my fists.
"Where is he?" I muttered, glaring at the clock. The council meeting was taking too long. Way too long.
Another maid tiptoed past my door, probably trying not to get noticed. "You!" I shouted. She froze. "Why are you sneaking around like a thief? Get out! All of you, out of my wing!"
They scurried away like frightened mice.
I threw myself on the couch and then got up again a second later. I couldn’t sit still. My heart was pounding. My mind was spinning.
The familiar sound of tires on gravel.
I flew to the window. The black car had just pulled up in front of the house.
"Father!" I screamed and ran out before the driver could even open the door.
But the second I saw him, my heart dropped.
He looked furious. Ashen. Defeated. Not like my father.
"Father? What happened?" I asked, grabbing his arm. But he brushed past me without a word, storming inside.
"Tell me what happened! Did they agree? What did they say about me becoming Luna?"
He spun around suddenly, making me flinch.
"Do you have any idea what I went through in there, Belinda?!"
I froze. He had never yelled at me like that.
"I went in there thinking I had the right to speak, to be heard! I carried the pride of our bloodline with me, believing they would treat me with respect. But no! They humiliated me! Treated me like a fool!"
"But... but I’m going to be Luna, right? You told them I was the right choice?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"Yes, I did. And Kael... Kael said you were the only Luna they acknowledged. But that was just to shut me up," my father muttered, his voice tight with frustration and shame. He wouldn’t meet my eyes. His face was pale beneath the anger, and the way he sat, like he was collapsing in on himself, sent a ripple of fear down my spine.
"You didn’t see their faces," he went on. "You didn’t hear their tone. They made it clear, I’m just a Beta. I should stay in my lane."
"But you will be more," I said softly, walking closer. My voice trembled, but I refused to break. "You’ll be Alpha’s father-in-law. That makes you powerful. More powerful than any Beta has ever been. Don’t let this break you. Please, Father. We’re so close."
He finally looked at me, and the pain in his eyes almost knocked the air out of my lungs. I hated what they did to him. Hated how they made him feel small.
"Do you know how dangerous those boys are?" His voice was low, but sharp. "Do you have any idea what you’re walking into? They’re not just Alphas, Belinda. They’re wolves born of power and rage. One misstep and they’ll crush you without blinking."
I didn’t flinch. "Then I won’t misstep," I said firmly. "I’ll play the perfect Luna. I’ll make them trust me, love me. And when I do, we’ll rise. Together."
He stood up suddenly, walking to the window like he needed air but couldn’t quite leave the room. He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"You think it’s that easy?" he muttered, back still turned to me. "You think you can outsmart wolves like that? Kael doesn’t even blink before making decisions. And the other two, they’re unpredictable. They laugh one moment and threaten your life the next."
"I’m not afraid of them."
"Then you’re stupid," he snapped, spinning around to face me. "You’re being blinded by your ambition. That meeting was a warning. They didn’t just reject my words; they humiliated me. In front of the council. In front of the elders."
"I know, and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you to speak on my behalf," I said quietly. My throat tightened. "But I thought... I thought we had more leverage."
"You thought wrong," he said bitterly.
I stepped closer again, not giving up. "Maybe I was wrong. But I still believe in what we’re building. I believe in us. We’re not just another Beta family. You didn’t raise me to be small or quiet or meek. You raised me to lead. To aim high. And that’s what I’m doing."
His mouth opened, but he said nothing. I took it as a sign to keep going.
"You think I don’t know how dangerous they are? I’ve seen it."
"You want to play with wolves, then be ready to bleed," he said, voice low. "Because that’s what they do, Belinda. They destroy."
"Then I’ll learn how to survive them," I replied. "I’ve come this far. I won’t back down now. Not when we’re this close."
"You don’t understand what kind of game you’re playing."
"Maybe not," I admitted, tears stinging my eyes. "But I’m willing to learn. I won’t let them crush us, Father. I won’t let them win. We just need time. You just have to trust me a little longer."
He sighed, long and heavy, and looked at me like he wanted to believe me, like he wanted to be proud, but didn’t know how. His shoulders sagged again.
"You’re too ambitious for your own good."
"No, Father. I’m ambitious for us. For our family," I said, stepping even closer. "You made me this way. You raised me to want more. To expect more. Don’t tell me now that I’m wrong for doing exactly what you taught me."
I reached out and hugged him. He didn’t hug me back, not at first. His arms stayed frozen at his sides. But I didn’t let go. I buried my face into his chest like I used to as a child, hoping he would remember that I was still his daughter. Still the same girl who wanted to make him proud more than anything else.
"I’ll fix this," I whispered. "I’ll make you proud. I promise."
He didn’t answer for a long time. Then, finally, softly, I felt one hand rest on my back.
"Just don’t get yourself killed," he muttered.
I nodded against his chest. "I won’t. I can’t. Not until we get what we deserve."