radicalducati Chapter 84
Chapter 84
Cassandra’s POV
The news of my marriage to Dorian had spread instantly. As soon as he left, I heard the loud voices of some of the Pack members in protest.
The uproar echoed through the halls, a mixture of anger and confusion. One of the council members who was solidly behind me after I had given him lots of money rushed in to tell me that the members of the Pack needed my attention. His face was flushed with urgency.
“They’re demanding answers, Cassandra,” he said breathlessly. “You need to address them now before this turns into a full-blown riot.”
With a deep breath, I straightened my spine and walked out onto the balcony overlooking the Pack's gathering space.
The sight before me was overwhelming, a sea of anxious, outraged faces, eyes burning with questions. I had expected resistance, but not in such numbers.
One of the elders, a grizzled man with silver streaks in his dark hair, stepped forward. His piercing gaze met mine. “We have questions for you, Cassandra,” he said, his voice firm yet respectful. “And we demand answers.”
“Go ahead,” I said, my voice steady despite the nerves curling in my stomach.
“Why have you imprisoned the Alpha?” someone called out from the crowd, followed by murmurs of agreement.
I took a deep breath and met their gazes head-on. “Because the Alpha and his grandfather were responsible for the death of my mother, your Luna,” I declared. A hush fell over the crowd. I pressed on, “My mother took her own life because of the horrors my grandfather committed using the Lunar Flame. And my father played a part in it.”
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
“That is a grave accusation,” the elder said cautiously. “Do you have proof?”
“I have the truth, and I have lived with it all my life,” I said firmly. “The past is written in blood and sorrow, but I refuse to let it dictate our future.”
A young warrior stepped forward, his eyes skeptical. “If you claim to be the rightful heir, then why do you not wield the Lunar Flame?” he challenged.
The question was expected, and I was ready for it. “I do have the Lunar Flame,” I said, holding my head high. “The reason I haven’t exhibited it until now is because I have not yet fulfilled the requirement of the Moon Goddess.”
The murmurs in the crowd grew louder.
“And what is that requirement?” the elder pressed.
“I must marry the Prince of Indigo Pack,” I announced, my voice unwavering. “Only then will the Moon Goddess bless me with the full power of the Lunar Flame.”
A stunned silence fell over the gathering. Shocked expressions were exchanged as the weight of my words settled upon them.
“So this marriage is necessary?” another Pack member asked hesitantly.
I nodded. “Yes. The ceremony will take place tomorrow night. And all of you are invited to witness it. Once the bond is sealed, I will have the strength to protect this Pack as no Alpha before me has.”
Some heads nodded in reluctant agreement, others remained skeptical. But before I could speak further, a loud cry of panic erupted from inside the Pack house. The sound sent a chill down my spine.
The gathered Pack members turned in the direction of the wailing voices. My heart pounded as maids rushed out, their faces streaked with tears.
“What happened?” I demanded, stepping toward them.
One of the maids fell to her knees, sobbing. “The Alpha has passed away.”
The words sent a shockwave through me. Gasps of disbelief filled the air. The crowd erupted into a frenzy of whispers and cries. My mind reeled.
As I stood frozen, absorbing the magnitude of what had just happened, I knew one thing for certain: the poison had worked and the throne was fully mine now.