<h4>Chapter 31: Chapter 31: HER FIRST VICTORY</h4>


    <strong>MAEVE’S POV</strong>


    I thought about it long and hard, yet I could hardly think of anything that spread faster than a rumour.


    A funny thing about rumours? They didn’t care about truth, or if you were titled, or even the fucking goddess. Once a rumour was out in the open, there was no taking it back, no concealing it.


    The only thing you could do was allow it to run its course. And right now, I had lit the match by announcing Lydia as certifiably insane. It was left to the crowd to do the rest.


    "That’s absurd," Lydia screeched, turning to face the murmuring crowd.


    Most people had begun to give her wary little looks. Some even went as far as taking a few steps back, as if they feared the snarling wolf would suddenly set the grounds on fire.


    This was certainly not Lydia’s lucky day. Unfortunately for her, I was only just getting started. There was still so much more toe.


    "I am not insane," Lydia continued, whipping her gaze back to Ivan. "Ivan. Son. She’s lying. I am the Luna of this great household. I am not mad. You have to believe me when I say that she attacked me on purpose. She shaved my hair off and knocked me out."


    "I’m afraid the Luna is in denial," I countered, forcing a drained expression onto my face. "I know we’ve had our differences, but what reason could I possibly have to cut her hair off?"


    "Mother has had a few episodes since she grew ill," Ivan said, interrupting with a sharp look in my direction. "But then, I find it hard to believe that she would go as far as to cut her own hair off. There’s also the case of this morning. You imed to be the one who had cut her hair off in order to carry out a diagnosis." His gaze narrowed sternly then. "Which is it, Maeve?"


    "I was merely covering up for the Luna’s misdeeds," I said, clutching my hands tightly. "At that point, it had just happened. I had no choice but to cover for her. I had no idea she was going to do this out here in the open." I waved in the general direction of the hall, and Ivan growled.


    "I don’t believe you."


    "That’s more like it." Lydia’s eyes lit up. She reached out and grabbed Ivan’s arm, clinging to him like he was herst tether to reality.


    The hall, once abuzz with gossip, fell into a heavy silence. There was a thick, stifling tension now as everyone waited for what I would say next.


    I looked from Ivan to Lydia, then back again. My tears had dried. Now my face was set in cool indignation.


    "Typical," I muttered, a breath of augh slipping past my lips. "You know, I can cease being the Luna’s healer if you no longer approve of my methods. What’s the point, if you’re just going to keep distrusting me?" I paused, then added, "But keep in mind that the clock is ticking. The Luna is running out of time. You have to decide what matters more to you—her life, or your inhibitions about me."


    I held his gaze, daring him to speak against the truthid bare between us. Ivan’s face shifted slightly—his jaw tense, eyes calcting.


    He looked like he had plenty to say, but was carefully weighing his options.


    "I said it already, and I’ll say it again," I began, slowly, making sure each word was clear. "The Luna threw a fit during my session with her this morning. She cut off all her hair and passed out from exhaustion. Now, based on everything you’ve seen in thest fifteen minutes, I want you all—members of Ash Creek—to decide for yourselves who’s most likely telling the truth."


    I took a few measured steps back, giving the crowd the space to form their opinions. That was when Revierre, the pack priest, stepped forward in all his aged glory.


    "I’m sorry to interrupt," he said calmly, emerging from the crowd.


    Every eye in the room turned to him.


    He looked exactly the same as yesterday, but this time, he wore a round pair of sses perched on the bridge of his nose.


    He moved toward the tight circle we had unconsciously formed and spoke directly to Ivan.


    "Again, I apologize for the intrusion, Your Highness," he said. "And I hope this won’t offend you. But I implore you to consider the truth in the Moon Healer’s words. After months of desperate searching, she is ourst hope of saving the Luna’s life. As she rightly said, we are running out of time. The more we dwell on past missteps and old wounds, the more likely it is that we’ll lose her entirely."


    "What are you trying to insinuate, priest?" Lydia asked, her voice dripping with venom as she turned her rage onto him.


    Revierrie lowered his head in a respectful bow.


    "I do not mean any disrespect, Luna, but if the healer says that your illness has deteriorated to the point of madness, then I implore you to provide the room for her to do her job so you can get better."


    "You presumptuous little weasel!" Lydia screamed at him. "How dare you? You know nothing about me or my illness!"


    "I know enough to deduce that you need to be treated as soon as possible. Thest thing we need is for the present situation to grow worse than it already is."


    He turned to Ivan, silently urging him to hearken to reason. Ivan looked torn, clearly wrestling with the opposing perspectives.


    It took him a few moments to make up his mind, but I recognized the exact moment he did—he exhaled a rasping breath, his expression rigged with guilt.


    "Ivan," Lydia gripped his arm tighter, as if she could physically anchor his loyalty.


    Ivan ced his hand over hers and gently pried her fingers away.


    "You need to try to get some rest, Mother. You’ve had a long day."


    "Don’t tell me you believe these tant usations against me," she growled, voice trembling with fury. But more than anything, she looked hurt. Betrayed.


    "I’m afraid the priest is right. You need to get better as soon as possible. And to achieve that, we have no other choice but to cooperate with the healer."


    "So you don’t believe me? You actually think I’m insane?"


    "I’m sorry, Mother," he said, avoiding her gaze. Then, his tone shifted to something colder, more authoritative, as he addressed the guards. "Take the Luna back to her rooms. Keep a close watch on her. She is not to leave until we see improvements in her health."


    "No!" Lydia shrieked, attempting to flee, but the guards were quicker.


    They seized her before she could get far. She thrashed in their grip, yelling obscenities and calling out to Ivan, but he refused to turn.


    His back was to her, his jaw clenched tight, and his shoulders stiff with resolve. He didn’t move until Lydia was safely escorted back upstairs and locked in her rooms.


    The crowd slowly began to disperse after that.


    But even then, his eyes never left me.


    There was a glint of something in his gaze, suspicion, maybe, or a lingering note of usation.


    As if he were trying to peel back each of myyers, to uncover whatevery buried underneath my intentions. To catch a slip-up, a fracture in my mask, the slightest hint of a lie.


    I bit down on my smirk before it could curl too smugly across my lips and offered him a slow, theatrical bow instead—one befitting an Alpha. A mockery wrapped in elegance.


    Then I turned on my heel, collected Asha into my arms, and strode out with my head held high. And yet, not once did Ivan’s eyes leave my form


    By midnight, a wicked little rumor had spread across the entirety of Ash Creek pack: the Luna had gone mad.


    As the hours wore on, whispers turned into questions. Many began to wonder whether it was still reasonable to keep Lydia Cross in her position as Luna.


    That night, I slept with my arms wrapped tightly around Asha, unable to suppress the small, satisfied smile of victory on my lips.


    I woke the next morning wearing that same vindictive smile.


    I got ready quickly, dressing Asha without dy.


    By the time Nina arrived to escort him to his lessons, I was already dressed and standing by the door—ready to begin a new day of ending the Cross lineage.