Chapter 2. A New Throne

They had heard the stories—that Lila had fallen, that the great Alpha Damian had chosen a new leader, not to destroy them, but to guide them.

And now, that leader had come.

***

The Alpha’s Estate

The estate had once been Lila’s fortress—cold, towering, and soaked in secrets. But already, changes had begun.

The gates now stood open.

The spiked iron wolf statues that once snarled down from the walls had been taken down.

Cleaners had scrubbed the blood from the courtyard.

Servants stood at attention by the stairs, and though their expressions were blank with caution, they bowed low when Theo stepped into the great hall.

The old throne had been burned. In its place stood a new one—crafted from dark wood, carved by Damian’s artisans. Simpler. Sturdier. A throne for a protector, not a tyrant.

Boram gestured. “It’s yours now.”

Theo walked slowly toward the seat. His heart beat heavily—not with nerves, but with weight. With p