The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate-Chapter 176: Her true form

In the grand council hall, silence fell as the Alpha King rose to address the gathering.

"You are all aware of why this urgent meeting was summoned," King Phillipe began, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Radulf De Lagrange has challenged my authority, after I took rightful action to discipline Zenna, my daughter, for her betrayal."

Zenna stepped forward, keeping her gaze low before lifting them. "Your Majesty, don’t twist the truth to suit your narrative," she said. "Tell them why my eyes glowed that day, the truth you’ve concealed from me all these years. Tell them how you planned for me to bear a child... just to serve your ambitions and secure your power."

A collective murmur rippled through the council as the accusation settled in the air.

Loretta, the Luna Queen, stood abruptly. "How dare you stand here and defame the Alpha King?" she barked, her stern eyes narrowing on Zenna. "You, who have always been a thorn in our side. Despite your questionable blood, you were granted a place of honor and married to an Alpha. Yet this is how you repay us, by stirring rebellion and speaking out again and again. We have shown you mercy more times than you deserve."

Zenna let out a bitter chuckle at the Queen’s words. "Mercy?" she echoed, her voice laced with scorn. "Strange... I don’t seem to remember any of that mercy you speak of. I spent eighteen years in the coldest wing of the palace, isolated and forgotten. The very first time I stood before you, Queen Luna, you reminded me of my place. You said I must pay for the sins of my mother."

Her gaze swept across the silent hall, she kept her voice firm despite the tremor of pain beneath her words. "There wasn’t a single day I wasn’t punished, mentally, emotionally and physically. And only I know what it took to survive in that palace, never knowing if I’d live to see another sunrise."

She paused, her eyes settling on Phillipe now. "The first real punishment came after I was married when Radulf returned from the war. That was when the true intentions became clear. The King insisted I get marked, get pregnant, to produce an heir with a dominant Alpha bloodline. And when I defied him, he ordered the fifty lashes punishment for me."

Her voice cracked just slightly, but she held her ground. "Every pack present in this hall has heard the whispers. They are not lies. You all know how I was treated. So tell me why must I obey a father who sees me only as a tool for his own ambitions? Why should I carry a child only to hand them over to him, as if they were never mine? Why must I submit to every demand he makes just because he wears a crown?"

For the first time, Zenna stood tall and unshaken in front of her father. The fear that had once bound her in silence had vanished—burned away by years of injustice. Her voice, steady and resolute, echoed with the strength she had buried for too long.

The hall remained tense until Jasper stepped forward, breaking the heavy silence. He met the Alpha King’s burning gaze without flinching.

"Your Majesty," he began respectfully, but with clear conviction, "I do not believe Radulf or Zenna deserve punishment. In fact, I believe it’s time someone spoke the truth plainly. You’ve been merciless to your own blood."

A ripple of murmurs stirred through the council as Jasper went on, "As for Radulf, he acted on instinct, not rebellion. What mate wouldn’t act when their bonded one was suddenly imprisoned without a proper hearing? He was trying to protect her."

He paused, then added with emphasis, "Punishing them now would only confirm the rumors that this throne values obedience over justice. And that is not the legacy an Alpha King should wish to leave behind. I suggest the Alpha King to let it go and let Zenna live with dignity."

Radulf was glad that Jasper stood up for them in the council. But he was aware that this would anger Phillipe.

"You’ve always been a loyal advisor, Jasper," Phillipe’s voice thundered through the hall. "How could you suggest something so insane? Zenna’s actions yesterday could’ve cost me my life. She is a threat to the throne."

His sharp gaze shifted to Radulf. "And Radulf... He swore allegiance to me—vowed never to raise his voice against the crown. I spared his life when I could’ve executed him for his father’s treason."

Radulf’s jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. His green eyes glowed crimson red. But before he could speak, Zenna stepped forward.

"Your Majesty," she said sharply, "why don’t you tell everyone the truth? That it was you, who falsely accused Radulf’s father?"

Radulf turned toward her, completely stunned. He hadn’t expected that truth to come out yet, not before Selina arrived.

"What did you just say?" Phillipe’s voice dropped an octave as he stepped down from the raised platform, his face darkening.

"Lady Zenna, watch your words," Commander Tristan warned, his hand inching toward the hilt of the sword.

"It’s the truth," Zenna said, louder this time. "Radulf’s father was innocent. The charges were fabricated by the King himself. And I’m not speaking without proof."

The hall exploded into murmurs, disbelief and suspicion spreading like wildfire.

Phillipe’s eyes blazed. "This is blasphemy! Tristan, arrest her immediately. She will be punished by death!"

Leon immediately stood up from his place upon hearing that. He glanced at Zenna and then Radulf. ’Why is he allowing her to speak?’

"Stop this, Phillipe!"

Every head turned toward the entrance. Silence fell.

Karina stood near the entrance. Her silver hair and hazel eyes caused every pack wolf to stand up as if she consisted of a commanding aura. Loretta’s face drained of color, seeing the woman she hated the most, alive and radiating like a moon.

Her eyes shot at Phillipe, who told her she was dead. ’Why is Karina standing in front of us?’ she thought, realizing Phillipe betrayed her trust her once again and kept Karina alive.

Meanwhile, Phillipe was horrified to see her. ’So, the last night, something did happen in the underground dungeon. I should have checked it.’ He regretted his decision for going to bed.

Karina strode confidently into the grand council hall with a grace and an aura that made every pack’s alpha to leave their seats. Behind her, Savio and Alfred followed.

She walked up to stand beside her daughter, Zenna.

"Phillipe," Karina began, "why do you look so frightened? Just last night you were barking threats, claiming you’d kill my daughter right in front of my eyes."

Her piercing gaze locked with his, and her voice rose with righteous fury.

"I warned you, didn’t I? Never play with a woman of the Moon Goddess Clan."

"You imprisoned me for twenty two years! only so you could use me as a pawn against my own blood. Tell them, Phillipe. Tell them how you wiped out the Moon Clan, how you slaughtered every soul and razed our sacred grounds. Tell them how you kidnapped me, forced me to marry you, and bear your child!"

She then held Zenna’s hand firmly.

"You wanted a son. But when you got a daughter instead, you branded her a curse. An illegitimate child, you called her. And you locked her away... just like you did to me." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"You spread lies," Karina continued. "You told everyone she was born of a mistress. You poisoned their minds with that filth and fed that lie not into the palace, but the entire kingdom."

"I don’t—" Phillipe began, but he was cut off by a voice louder and fiercer than thunder.

"Don’t you dare, Phillipe!" Zenna’s voice rang out, echoing through the grand hall like a war cry.

Suddenly, a blinding light burst forth.

Zenna’s long black hair shimmered and turned into cascading silver strands, glowing like moonlight. Her raven eyes brightened, shifting into luminous silver, as if the moon itself had taken residence within her gaze. The sudden intensity of her transformation forced everyone in the room to shield their eyes.

’So that’s her true form...’ Radulf thought with awe and pride. She’s the descendant of the Moon Goddess herself.’

"Don’t say another lie, Phillipe!" Zenna’s roar echoed throughout the council hall.

Loretta staggered back, disbelief painting her face pale. ’She broke the seal...’ The very seal Loretta had placed years ago to strip Zenna of her power, to make her a wolf-less omega. Now, it was completely gone.

Zenna’s silver hair rippled behind her as she took a step forward, the ground beneath her feet seeming to tremble with her fury. Her silvery gaze was ready to burn Phillipe’s eyes this time.

"Admit it," she growled. "Admit what you did to my mother. Admit what you did to my husband’s family and to my husband. Own your sins before I rip them from your throat myself."

Gasps echoed across the room. Never before had someone threatened the Alpha King in the presence of all the packs. But Zenna didn’t care. She wasn’t holding back anymore. She wasn’t afraid. Not of the title, the throne, or the man who once ruled over her life like a tyrant.

"Catch her!" Phillipe commanded Tristan and the guards.

"Try even taking one step toward me," Zenna threatened them.

Tristan and the guards hesitated and didn’t move an inch from their place.

’I won’t intervene today. It’s the moment she owns,’ Radulf decided.

~~~~~

Hello Dear Readers,

This story will soon wrap up. I’m trying my best for daily updates. I plan to write 2/day from tomorrow. In the past few days I’ve been busy.

THANK YOU

HAPPY READING