Kieran’s hand fell away from mine. My eyes snapped open in shock.
“Alpha Tristan,” Alpha Rowan called, “please join me on stage.”
Applause filled the room as representatives congratulated the winning pack. I sat frozen, unable to process what had just happened. We had the better proposal. Alpha Rowan himself had practically confirmed it this morning.
Tristan rose gracefully from his seat, buttoning his suit jacket as he moved toward the stage. As he passed our table, he turned to look at me.
I glanced up, meeting his gaze. The corner of his mouth lifted in a victorious smile that ignited both confusion and fury within me.
What the hell just happened?
I blinked, certain I’d misheard. The steady buzz of excitement that had been building in my chest all day suddenly
flatlined into shock, then disbelief. I sat frozen as reality crashed down around me.
“Bullshit!” Kieran hissed beside me, his fingers curling into fists on the table.
Alpha Liam stepped forward, extending his hand toward Tristan with unmistakable respect. The pack leaders who’d been eyeing me with interest just moments ago now shifted their attention to the victor, their expressions morphing from curiosity to deference.
“Looks like the Ravencroft family isn’t invincible after all,” a representative from Crystalcrest Pack whispered to his companion, just loud enough for werewolf hearing to catch.
Serena leaned close, her voice small with disappointment. “I can’t believe it! How is this possible, boss?”
I didn’t answer, couldn’t answer. My throat felt too tight, my mind racing to process what had just happened. All that work, all that planning–wasted. And for what? So Tristan could remind everyone who truly held power?
“Alpha Tristan,” Mistwood Pack’s Beta called, “would you please share a few words.
The room fell silent as Tristan stood. Every wolf present seemed to hold their breath, anticipating the words of one of the most feared and respected Alphas in the territory. Alpha Rowan approached him, offering a bouquet of congratulatory
flowers.
Tristan moved to the podium with that easy confidence that had once made my heart race. Now it just made me want to
claw his eyes out.
“Good evening, everyone,” he began, voice smooth and commanding. “I, Alpha Tristan, never forget the promises I make to my pack. When I became Alpha of Silverblood, my father asked me to maintain all the alliances he had worked so hard to
build. This pack was one of them.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Such transparent manipulation, yet everyone was eating it up. The nausea in my stomach intensified.
“We will give the Mistwood Pack 30% of the profits from the project,”
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Everyone’s jaw almost dropped to the floor.
“Only 30%?”
I heard voices from behind me. All the Alphas were shocked that Alpha Tristan was offering such a small percentage to Alpha Rowan. It seemed like an unfair deal for Mistwood!
“Yes, just 30%. But my pack will send 20% of our elite fighters to help Mistwood in their upcoming territorial disputes
Everyone turned silent.
Now the deal made perfect sense. There was no one who was unaware of the fact that the Silverblood Pack possessed the most formidable warriors among all packs. That was why this arrangement was so significant.
All the Alphas had expected Tristan to simply take the land development rights with minimal compensation, given his pack’s dominant position. No one anticipated he would offer military support in addition to financial compensation.
“This is why no one can match Alpha Tristan’s strategic thinking.”
“Offering fighters from the top–ranked pack is worth more than gold.”
“This is precisely why he rules the strongest pack in the territory.”
Other Alphas whispered in admiration of Tristan’s balanced approach to alliance–building.
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