Chapter 34
Vick walked briskly through the corridors of the palace toward the grand hall. Her footsteps were soft against the marble floors, but her mind was focused. As she approached the entrance, she wasn’t surprised to see Maya’s car parked outside. Maya had a knack for showing up exactly when expected-and sometimes when she wasn’t.
Just as she took a step closer to the hall, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, noticing the caller Maya. Vick took a deep breath before answering.
“Hello, Miss Maya,” Vick said, her tone neutral.
“Where’s your mistress?” Maya’s voice was sharp as if she couldn’t quite hide her curiosity. “Is Azalea with you?”
“No, my lady is back at the palace,” Vick replied calmly, her eyes scanning the hall entrance. “Is there a message you’d like me to deliver to her?”
For a moment, there was a pause on the other end of the line. Then Maya’s voice came through again, but this time it was softer, almost dismissive. “No need. I’ll handle it myself.”
Before Vick could respond, the line went dead, and she watched as Maya stepped out of her car, her expression poised and unreadable as she made her way into the grand hall. Vick knew that Maya was playing a game, but she couldn’t quite figure out the rules yet. She sighed and made her way back toward the gardens to report to Azalea.
Azalea was seated on a stone bench under the shade of an old oak tree, her eyes closed in quiet contemplation. The palace gardens were one of the few places where she could find solace, away from the endless scheming and politics that surrounded her every day. Vick approached quietly, not wanting to disturb her too soon.
“My lady,” Vick said softly, and Azalea opened her eyes, giving her a small smile.
“Is she there?” Azalea asked, already knowing the answer.
Vick nodded. “Yes, she’s present at the hall. She didn’t leave a message for you, though. She just walked in.”
Azalea’s smile widened, but there was no warmth behind it-just the sharp calculation of someone always a step ahead. “Perfect. Then it’s time I make my presence known.”
Without another word, Azalea stood, brushing the soft fabric of her gown as she straightened herself. She had a plan in mind, one she’d been thinking about since the moment Maya had invited them to dinner the previous night. If Maya could make her way into the hall, then Azalea would too. After all, if Maya could attend meetings with the elders and Federico, what was stopping her, Luna, from doing the same?
—
The grand hall was already filled with hushed voices and the low murmurs of conversation when Azalea entered. Heads turned as she walked in, her presence commanding attention without her even trying. Her gown, a deep shade of emerald that contrasted beautifully with her fair skin, flowed behind her as she walked with the quiet grace of royalty.
Federico was standing at the centre of the room, deep in conversation with two of the elders, Elder Palmer and Elder Palimo. Maya stood a few feet away, hovering like a shadow, her eyes narrowing the moment she saw Azalea. But Azalea paid her no mind.
As she reached Federico’s side, she inclined her head slightly toward the elders in a polite greeting before taking a seat beside her husband. It wasn’t until she had settled into the chair that Elder Palmer’s voice broke the silence.
“Lady Azalea,” Elder Palmer said, his tone stiff. “I don’t believe you were invited to this meeting.”
Azalea’s gaze was steady as she looked at him, her face an unreadable mask. “Neither was Maya,” she replied smoothly. “Yet here she stands as if she belongs.”
Elder Palimo shifted uncomfortably, clearing his throat. “Maya is from this clan,” he said, his eyes darting toward the woman in question. “We trust her presence because of her family’s long-standing loyalty to the kingdom.”
“And I am the wife of the future alpha of this clan,” Azalea said, her voice unwavering. “If Maya can attend, then surely I can as well. Unless, of course, you mean to suggest that my position is less important than hers.”
The room fell into an awkward silence as her words hung in the air. Maya’s eyes flared with anger, but she didn’t dare speak up against Azalea in front of the elders. Instead, she shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Federico, waiting for him to respond.
Federico had been watching the exchange quietly, his expression calm but alert. When Azalea’s gaze met his, there was a flicker of something-approval, perhaps, or maybe just curiosity. Either way, he turned to the elders and spoke with a finality that left no room for debate.
“She stays,” Federico said, his tone firm. “If anyone here has an issue with my wife’s presence, you are free to leave.”
The elders looked at each other in silent dismay, but none of them dared challenge Federico’s authority. After all, as much as they might have disliked Azalea’s intrusion, no one was willing to be the first to walk out.
Azalea smiled faintly, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She had won this round, and both she and Maya knew it.
The meeting resumed, though the air was noticeably tenser than before. The elders discussed the upcoming ball, preparations for security, and the logistics of hosting such a large event. Azalea listened quietly, her eyes flickering toward Maya now and then. She could sense Maya’s growing frustration, the way she fidgeted and shifted in her seat.
As the discussions continued, Azalea’s mind wandered. She wasn’t here just to make a point. She was here to remind everyone, including Federico, that she wouldn’t be sidelined. She was part of this world, part of this pack, whether they liked it or not.
Maya’s presence only fueled her determination. If Maya thought she could weasel her way into Federico’s inner circle, she was sorely mistaken. Azalea had her plans, and she would not let anyone-especially Maya-threaten her position.
After what felt like hours, the meeting finally drew to a close. The elders began to rise from their seats, offering final words to Federico before leaving the hall. Maya lingered near the entrance, her eyes meeting Azalea’s for a brief moment before she turned and walked out without a word.
As the room emptied, Azalea remained seated, her hands resting lightly in her lap. Federico, who had been watching her closely throughout the meeting, approached her.
“You handled yourself well,” he said, his voice low.
Azalea looked up at him, her expression serene. “I always do.”
Federico studied her for a moment, then nodded. “I meant what I said earlier. You’re part of this now, whether the elders accept it or not.”
Azalea’s gaze softened slightly, though she didn’t let her guard down. “Good,” she replied. “Because I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
Federico gave her a rare smile before offering her his hand. She took it, and together, they left the hall, their united front stronger than ever.