The Cursed Alpha's Fifth Luna

The heavy double doors of the council meeting hall opened, and Rodrigo walked in.

The entire hall fell silent. Conversations died instantly as the council members rose to their feet, their eyes following him as he strode toward the head of the long table. Rodrigo’s gaze moved across their faces, taking them in one by one. His expression remained unreadable, but something dark settled behind his eyes.

Now, everything made sense. The urgency with which they had been searching for the Vothraki. The desperate attempts to find out what had happened inside the Alpha’s Vault. The strange tension that had lingered around the council ever since his father’s death.

His eyes swept over them, wondering how many of them were on his side, and how many he would have to get rid of alongside his stepmother.

"Alpha," the council greeted in unison.

Rodrigo didn’t answer. He took his seat on the throne at the head of the table.

"Sit."

He ordered it quietly, and everyone sat back down.

Rodrigo leaned against the throne, his gaze moving around the room before flickering toward the empty chair across from him—the Matriarch’s seat. It was empty. His jaw hardened, and his eyes shifted slowly across the table until they settled on Charlotte. Her son was noticeably missing too.

Interesting.

Hogan was the first to speak. "We heard what happened yesterday, Alpha. Are you alright?"

Rodrigo looked at him. Hogan, Seven’s father, had stood by his side for years—one of the few people he had trusted without question. But now, Rodrigo wasn’t so certain anymore. Did Hogan know, or was he just as blind as Rodrigo had been?

Rodrigo blinked, his thoughts disappearing behind a calm expression. "I am well," he replied with a slow tilt of his head. "Although a few people might have been disappointed."

His eyes drifted deliberately toward Charlotte. She was staring down at the table, a small smile resting on her lips.

A murmur spread through the council. Hogan’s brows drew together. "Alpha, are you saying someone here tried to kill you?"

Rodrigo did not answer. His eyes stayed on Charlotte for a moment, then he reached beneath his cloak and placed something on the table.

The hexagonal-shaped seal glinted under the bright afternoon light as it landed with a clink on the wood.

The Alpha’s Seal.

Absolute silence hit the hall. Every council member froze. Charlotte stiffened, her eyes dropping to the seal. For a moment, she stopped breathing before lifting her gaze to Rodrigo’s.

Rodrigo’s lips curved into a faint smile. The memories he had regained flashed in front of him again, and he gritted his teeth.

She had wanted him dead all along. She should have tried a bit harder. Now, it seemed, it was too late.

"Someone went to great lengths to get this," Rodrigo said, his fingers resting on the edge of the seal. "I wonder what they were trying to find."

A low murmur rippled through the room. Rodrigo watched their reactions—fear, confusion, suspicion—and let them sit with it. Then his eyes settled on Charlotte.

"Lady Charlotte."

The room quieted instantly.

Charlotte raised her chin. Something crossed her eyes for a moment, and then she replied, "Yes, Alpha?"

"You were my father’s Luna, and the closest person to him before he died." Rodrigo leaned back. "Care to tell me what he hid inside the vault that is so important someone would dare to harm the Alpha to obtain it?"

Charlotte’s eyes turned icy as she held his gaze. Neither of them moved. Then she smiled, her voice perfectly calm. "I would not know. The late Alpha did not allow me into the Vault."

A dry laugh escaped Rodrigo. "That’s true. He didn’t trust you enough—the Luna—to allow you into the Vault."

The atmosphere shifted. Every pair of eyes turned toward Charlotte. Her smile faltered for a second, but Rodrigo caught it. She quickly recovered, folding her hands neatly on the table.

"Care to indulge us, Alpha?" Her artificial smile returned. "What do you think he was hiding?"

Rodrigo’s brow twitched. "I never said he was hiding anything."

Charlotte thinned her lips. Beneath the table, her nails dug into her palms, but she kept her face relaxed. "Then whatever is inside the vault does not concern me, Alpha."

Rodrigo stared at her, then smiled. "Very well." He turned his head. "Seven."

Seven stood immediately. "Yes, Alpha."

"Bring in the masked men."

Seven’s expression remained impassive. "Yes, Alpha." He turned and walked toward the doors.

Charlotte frowned, her gaze following Seven before snapping back to Rodrigo. "What men?" There was a subtle tension in her voice—fear clouding her expression.

Rodrigo watched her go from shock to grim satisfaction, a smirk on his mouth.

Charlotte shifted in her seat, her eyes snapping to the doors.

A few seconds passed before the heavy doors opened again. Two men were dragged into the hall in chains.

The council erupted into frantic whispers. Both men were badly wounded, bandages wrapped around their torsos with dark stains of blood showing through.

Charlotte’s face paled the moment she saw them. Rodrigo caught her sharp intake of breath and the panic in her eyes before she quickly lowered them. It was gone in an instant, but he had seen it.

The guards dragged the prisoners to the center of the room.

"Kneel," Seven ordered.

The two men were forced down, their shoulders trembling as they bowed their heads before Rodrigo.

Rodrigo looked down at them and smiled, pointing his finger casually at them. "These men tried to kill me."

Charlotte’s heart slammed against her chest, but she forced herself to remain calm, praying her expression gave nothing away.

"They have already confessed," Rodrigo said.

Charlotte’s eyes snapped up instantly. Her gaze darted to the men, and then at Rodrigo.

The voices in the room died down instantly as all eyes fixed on him.

Rodrigo’s eyes moved slowly through them, letting his words sink in. "Someone in this room hired them."

Charlotte’s fingers curled into fists beneath the table.

Rodrigo’s smile widened. "So I’ve brought them here to point out who."

The room exploded. Everyone began speaking at once.

"Who hired them?"

"Alpha, are you certain?"

Rodrigo leaned back in his seat, his fingers drumming against the table. Then he raised his hand, and the conversation died.

He looked toward the two men. "Look up."

Neither moved. Seven grabbed one of them by the hair and forced his head upward.

The man’s eyes swept across the council. Rodrigo watched him carefully.

"Take your time. I’ve promised to spare your life and that of your family if you point at who sent you." His voice was almost gentle.

The man swallowed. His gaze moved from one council member to another.

Charlotte sat perfectly still, her eyes fixed on the man.

"Do you recognize the person who hired you?" Rodrigo asked.

The man hesitated. Rodrigo leaned forward. "Think carefully."

The man slowly lifted his eyes again. His gaze moved across the table, then stopped.

Charlotte’s heart seemed to stop with it. The man stared directly at her.

A second passed. Then another.

Rodrigo’s eyes narrowed. Charlotte felt the blood drain from her face. Her fingers dug into her palm until it almost bled.

The man opened his mouth. "That is—"

"Wait," Rodrigo interrupted, raising his hand.

Charlotte drew a shaky breath, her eyelids fluttering.

Rodrigo’s lips curved slightly, and then he leaned forward.

"Before you answer..."

Charlotte’s breathing grew shallow as she turned slowly to look at him. Rodrigo let the silence breathe for a moment, and his fingers tapped once against the armrest.

"I want to give whoever it is the chance to step forward." His gaze moved across the entire council. "Once you are identified, it will be too late. You will be executed, along with everyone in your family, for treason."

Everyone stared at him, their faces pale. Rodrigo’s smile disappeared, a ghostly sneer replacing it.

The hall dropped into an eerie silence, the cold wind blowing harsh against the window. His eyes returned to Charlotte, watching her. For the first time, she looked pale. Her eyes were fixed on the table now, unmoving.

A long moment passed, and no one said anything.

Charlotte gritted her teeth, but she did not move. Her eyes fixed on a spot on the table as she waited for the painful seconds to pass.

Rodrigo watched her. A slow smile stretched the corner of his mouth.

It seemed she underestimated how far he was going to go.

Very well.

Rodrigo leaned forward. "Time’s up," he said, hitting the table once. Low murmurs rippled through the council as he turned to the men still shaking on their knees.

’’I gave you a chance and you didn’t take it.’’ Rodrigo said, ’’That would mean you had acted ready for the consequences.’’ he said, turning to the men.

"Go on now. Who hired you?"

The man’s eyes shifted through the councilmen again.

Charlotte held her breath. Her heart slammed loudly in her chest as she waited.

One second.

Two.

Three.

Then the man pointed.

Charlotte’s heart dropped.