ARDEN
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I sat on the far end of the couch, nestled against Cade’s side while Luna Mirage perched gracefully by the window, arms folded. Alpha Nathan sat cross–legged on the floor, his brows furrowed as the news anchor’s voice filled the silence.
“Breaking news,” the woman said. “The Callahan family–True Alpha rulers of the North- have officially withdrawn support for Professor Allen Winters in the upcoming Praetor election next month.”
The broadcast cut to a photo of their family. A voice recording coming from the call Mirage and Nathan had last night was played on screen along with its transcription..
“It is no longer in our best interest to back Mr. Winters‘ leadership,” the eldest Callahan said. “We respect the Office of the Praetor, but the North must look after its own integrity.”
I pursed my lips and glanced at Cade, who merely tightened his hold around my hand.
“Let us see what the wolves from the North have to say about this,” the news reporter continued before the next clip rolled in interviews of locals with worried expressions, the background unusually gloomy.
“I find it strange,” one woman said, wrapped in a thick coat. “Where’s the proof? My son studies at Elite, and he says Winters built it like a temple. If there’s no reason to mistrust him, why should we? But our faction leaders say differently…”
Another man chimed in. “I don’t know what to do. If there’s another candidate, then maybe I’ll consider… but for now? Winters is the only one I know.”
Cade reached over and clicked off the television.
Silence followed.
Then Mirage spoke, her voice soft and firm. “We expected this to happen eventually… but we can’t put out the data right away. These videos of the students–they’re far too sensitive. If they spread too quickly, we risk losing everything.”
Nathan nodded, his jaw set tight. “We need to keep it quiet for now. Focus on one thing first -slowing Winters‘ momentum. If we compile the names of all the officials who covered this up, or who were in on it, then we hold leverage. And once they know we do, that’s when we
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start moving.”
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“But we need to move fast,” Cade said sharply, rubbing his thumb over his knee. “Candidate filing ends next week. If Winters runs unopposed, we’re back at square one. We need someone to rally behind.”
He was right. We all knew it.
Mirage stood with a deep yet hopeful sigh. “We’ll find someone. We just have to be smart. Let’s present the threat first. Show them we know what they’ve buried. Then, when they’re scared, we bring out the truth.”
I looked between the three of them and something settled in my chest. For once, I wasn’t just a girl trapped in a fate I didn’t choose. I was part of something.
A soft knock came at the door.
We all turned.
The Beta peeked through, bowing slightly. “Apologies for the interruption,” he said, his voice formal but uneasy. “You have… a visitor.”
Cade stood immediately, frowning. “Who?”
The Beta hesitated. “It’s… Mr. Winters, Alpha.”
The room froze.
I swore I felt the temperature drop.
The Beta cleared his throat. “He says he comes in peace.”
Cade scoffed and couldn’t help but mutter, “Does he ever?”
They all turned to me, and I quickly made my way through the back door, settling at the bushes near one of the windows. I opened it slightly so I could hear everything.
Despite not being in Mr. Winters‘ presence first hand, I felt quite disgusted already. Knowing everything he had done and how he covered it up, I wanted to puke all the contents of my stomach out.
“Coffee?” Mirage asked, her voice unnaturally light.
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Winters chuckled. “Thank you.”
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Silence. Then the clink of ceramic. They were pretending. Trying to play this off like it was a normal visit. Like the man who ruined lives just casually dropped by for polite conversation.
I bit my lip, willing myself to stay quiet. My heart pounded in my chest like it was trying to warn me. Something’s wrong. Something’s very wrong.
There was a long, long silence, and I felt myself growing impatient. However, Winters spoke suddenly, his tone showing an unfriendly one compared to his usual flare. “You don’t have to play pretend.” The warmth drained out of his voice like blood from a wound. “I know someone sneaked into my office during the council meeting. And I know that involves your son.”
There was another long pause, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Nathan’s voice came out firm, recovering quickly. “Then you must know the reason why we’re withdrawing our support for your candidacy.
I imagined their faces. Calm. Stoic. But I knew Cade’s jaw must’ve clenched. I knew Luna Mirage’s fingers must’ve tightened around her teacup. Alpha Nathan, too, must be doing everything in his power to keep himself from lunging across the table.
“Everyone has secrets,” Winters said, his voice dripping with smugness, causing me to clench my fists. “But none of mine are hurting anyone.”
I almost gasped out loud.
“How is that not harming others?” Cade shot back, his anger unmistakable. “Do you even realize what you’re doing to the students? You think that’s helping? You’re warping them into something that benefits only you!”
A quiet laugh echoed in the room. “Well… it’s a system everyone seems to like, isn’t it?” Winters countered, his voice laced with mockery. “We give chances to others. We make people work for what they want. You should know all about that, Cade.”
“We all keep secrets, right?”
Then he chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down my spine.
“Secrets like–Cade not being your real son.”
My heart dropped.
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What?
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Inside the room, silence reigned, so loud and heavy it constricted my
throat.
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“How do you know that?” Nathan finally broke the stillness.
Winters didn’t hesitate. “Oh, I know more than you can imagine,” he said softly. “My time in Elite has served me well.”
Mirage whispered something I couldn’t catch.
Nathan opened his mouth, but Winters cut him off. “You’re going to pull out your funding? That’s alright. Most of the North sends their children to Elite. If it goes down, they’ll all go with it. And you–you’re going to let them down, too?”
He paused, the weight of his words sinking in.
“A non–true son who is the heir. A broken daughter in a mental hospital. And a future daughter–in–law who isn’t loved by her parents, who could be thrown under the bus at any moment, and who–if I remember correctly–was a rejectee?”
I clamped my hand over my mouth.
What the hell?
Was this all part of his plan?
Winters let out a cold chuckle. “That’s quite the combo, isn’t it?” he mused. “A family of misfits posing as royalty. I wonder what the public would say if they found out.”
Even if I wanted to dispute everything he was saying, I couldn’t.
It felt as if he was one step ahead of us at every turn.
Then he sighed, his tone shifting to the lighter veneer he usually wore. “Before you make any moves, just know that every step has consequences. And you’re the True Alpha family, after all. Or… maybe not so true anymore.”
“Thank you so much for the coffee,” he chuckled. “It tastes lovely because your people farm it themselves. I hope I can get more coffee supply from the North once I’m seated as the Praetor,” he added, delivering one last jab.
I heard his footsteps then.
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He was leaving.
Silence descended again, shell–shocked and heavy.
哈
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I ducked down, slumping against the bushes. My lungs felt tight, my brain still spinning.
None of this was easy. This wasn’t some political maneuver we could pull off in a week.
Crap.
