Chapter 90

Claire POV

“Princess?” Megan, my assistant, stood in the doorway of the conference room.

“They’re here,” she said quietly. “It’s time.”

I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders, then turned around from where I’d been looking out the tall office windows.

“Let them in,” I said,my voice firm.

I was ready.

Or at least, as ready as I’d ever be.

Saying a small prayer that this would go well, I walked over to the head of the conference table and waited for the Alphas and Lunas that had been conspiring against me to walk into the room.

Everything had to go exactly according to plan here.

Or else all was lost.

I reminded myself that I’d done all I could to prepare for this moment.

From the wording of the message I’d responded with, inviting all the allied leaders here, to their journey here into the heart of the Royal territory - all arranged as carefully as possible.

I’d had transports ready and waiting for the leaders and their security details at the airport, and given instructions to the drivers to take a carefully planned route here to the capital.

My enemies needed to see the devastation and destruction left behind by the rogues they had paid and organized to attack us over these last few weeks.

They needed to see villages and entire towns destroyed.

They needed to see a territory that was struggling on the very edge of collapse.

And as they walked into the conference room, smug looks on their faces, I was careful to keep my own expression serious, sad, even a little frightened.

I wanted each and every one of them to look at me and think they had me right where they wanted me.

A terrified, inexperienced princess, trying to protect a pack that had been almost totally destroyed by its enemies.

And that’s exactly what they were thinking.

I saw it on their faces as they walked into the room.

The disgust for me, the weak leader.

The confidence that they had won.

In their arrogance, each and every one of them dismissed me as any real threat, and ordered their security detail out in the large waiting room.

And each and every one of them was making a mistake.

Because everything, from the ruined countryside to the clueless young leader and even the messy conference room with mismatched chairs -

Everything they saw was exactly what I wanted them to see.

When Sabrina entered the room, her arm linked through Alpha Soren’s, I pretended to look shocked.

“Sabrina! Wh-what are you doing here??”

She laughed. “Did you really think you’d seen the last of me, Omega? I’m here to take my rightful place on the throne.

“And to make sure you get what’s coming to you,” she added with a snarl.

“Now, now, darling,” Soren told her, patting her hand before they both sat at the table. “Let’s give the poor thing a moment before we rip her throat out, yes?”

I let my eyes go wide at his threat.

It wasn’t difficult.

This was the first time I’d been face to face with the Alpha of the Bloodclaw pack, and he was a very imposing man.

It didn’t take much for me to imagine him shifting right here at the table, and lunging at me.

And if this didn’t go well, that might yet be exactly what happened.

“P-please,” I stammered. “If you would all sit. I’d like to get this over with.”

A woman snorted. “I bet you would.”

Danelle, if I was correct. The Luna of the Moon Shadow pack.

She was rumored to be as cold and ruthless as she was beautiful.

Beside her, her Alpha Oliver laughed at her little joke.

On her other side Damien, Alpha of the Ice River pack, simply frowned at everyone, watching us all with calculating eyes.

Once everyone was seated, I gestured for Megan, who had been standing in the doorway.

She nodded, then rolled in a tea cart.

“I would like to begin this meeting with a ceremonial tea,” I said. “If you’d please indulge me in this small ritual before we have to talk about…surrender.”

I swallowed hard and looked away for a moment like I was fighting tears.

Alone in a room full of powerful Alphas and Lunas, I wasn’t surprised to find that wasn’t difficult to pretend to do either.

Once everyone agreed, my hands trembled all on their own as I began to serve the tea.

The threat in this room was absolutely terrifying.

Alpha Damien took his small ceremonial mug in one giant hand, tossing back the tea one long sip.

Then he slammed the mug down onto the table.

“Let’s get on with it.”

Everyone else drank their tea - Sabrina and Soren, I noted, both smelling theirs suspiciously before following suit - and agreed.

Figuring I’d dragged things out as long as I possibly could - hopefully giving everyone else enough time to get into place - I nodded.

I stood.

“Thank you all for coming today. As my message said, I would like to discuss the terms of surrender.

“Yours, specifically.”

This was met with a moment of silence, then a large burst of laughter filled the room.

“You expect us to surrender?!”

“She’s as mad as her father!”

I sat back down and watched calmly, waiting silently with a small smile on my face.

I couldn’t help it.

This was exactly how I’d hoped they’d react.

The laughter continued.

Until Nathan walked into the room.

That’s when the laughter cut off abruptly into shocked silence.

“Is it done?” I asked.

“Yes, Princess,” he answered me formally. “Your orders are being carried out as we speak.”

“What orders??” Sabrina demanded, crying out over the noise of everyone else also trying to speak at once.

“What have you done, you filthy Omega?”

Exchanging a satisfied look with Nathan, I turned to the table and explained:

“With Alpha Nathan’s help, I have gathered the warriors and support of every other single pack in the realm,” I declared.

Everyone immediately went silent.

“The leaders of these packs were all too happy to help, once I informed them of what had actually been going on.”

I looked around at everyone gathered, all the fear I had felt now completely gone.

“Once they knew my father hadn’t really refused aid, and was in fact dealing with a conspiracy made by his neighbors and so-called allies…

“Well, they sent us everything they had.”

And hadn’t that been amazing news to receive?

When Nathan told me the promises for support that were rolling in, I cried.

Big, happy tears of relief.

“This army of volunteer warriors is even now making its way through the deep forest of my pack’s borders, routing out and capturing every single rogue they find.”

“They’ve already finished, your Highness,” Nathan said. “The last ones were being loaded up onto trucks just moments ago.”

“Perfect,” I said. “These rogues will now be transported to the heart of your own packs, on the steps of your pack houses.”

I couldn’t help but smile wider, baring my teeth.

“You’re all about to have some very angry mercenaries right on your doorsteps.”

I looked around the room, watching everyone’s faces as the reality of the situation sank in for each person gathered around the table.

“Unless, of course, you agree to my terms of surrender.”