The following week, Xanthe faced the council in a tense meeting. Though her recent actions had earned her praise, whispers of dissent had begun to spread.
"Alpha Luna," one elder began, his voice heavy with doubt. "We've heard unsettling reports. Rogues encroaching on our borders, alliances being questioned… and your husband's involvement with human affairs. Are you certain his influence isn't weakening your focus on the pack?"
Xanthe stiffened, her jaw tightening. "My husband's business has no bearing on my leadership. The attacks are calculated, likely orchestrated by those who wish to see us divided. And as for alliances—"
"You mean to imply treachery within the pack?" another elder interrupted.
"I mean to imply vigilance," she corrected sharply. "We cannot allow outside forces to manipulate us. This is exactly what our enemies want—for us to turn against one another."
The room murmured in uneasy agreement, but Xanthe knew the damage had been done. Elias's plan was working.
That evening, Xanthe returned home to find Lynam poring over documents in his study.
"We need to talk," she said, her voice laced with frustration.
He looked up, immediately sensing her agitation. "What happened?"
"The council is starting to doubt me," she admitted. "And they're questioning your role in this."
Lynam frowned. "My role? What does that even mean?"
"They think you're a liability. That your business dealings are interfering with pack affairs."
He slammed the pen down, his frustration bubbling over. "This is exactly what Elias wants. He's pitting us against each other, and now the council is falling for it."
"And what am I supposed to do?" she shot back. "You're not exactly making it easy to defend you, Lynam. Half the time, I don't even know where we stand!"
Her words hit him like a blow. "Where we stand? Xanthe, I've been fighting for us—for you—since the day we married. But if you don't believe in me, then maybe we've already lost."
The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging heavy between them.
Elias's plan took shape quickly. Rogue werewolves staged a series of attacks near pack borders, leaving behind false evidence pointing to Lynam's involvement. Meanwhile, rumors of a secret alliance between Lynam and a rival pack spread like wildfire.
Xanthe was summoned to an emergency council meeting the next day.
"Explain this!" one elder demanded, throwing a report onto the table. It detailed supposed financial transactions linking Lynam to the rogue attacks.
Xanthe's eyes scanned the document, her heart sinking. She recognized the signature at the bottom—an exact replica of Lynam's.
"This is a forgery," she said firmly.
"Can you prove that?" another elder challenged.
She hesitated, realizing the trap she was in. Without solid evidence, her defense would only deepen their doubts.
"I'll find the proof," she vowed.
Back at home, Xanthe and Lynam worked late into the night, dissecting every piece of evidence Elias had fabricated.
"We're running out of time," she said, her voice tinged with desperation. "If we don't clear your name soon, the council will strip me of my title—and that's exactly what Elias wants."
"We'll find a way," Lynam assured her. "But we need to stay united. He's counting on us to fall apart."
Xanthe looked at him, the weight of their strained relationship pressing down on her. "What if we already have?"
His expression softened, and he reached for her hand. "Then we rebuild. One step at a time."
Her heart ached with a mix of hope and uncertainty. They had a long road ahead, but for now, they had each other