EMBER's POV

Now that I had managed to enter into a project that allowed me to bring money into the company, I asked my father to help me call a meeting that included the Elders of the kingdom.


I had plans, and I wanted to tell them about it. I wasn't an Alpha, but I had the kingdom's best interest at heart. With all of their help, I knew I would be able to bring it all to fruition.

"Congratulations on your win, Ember." my father said, at the start of the meeting.

Of course, he wasn't here as my father, but rather as the Lycan king, and as the overall head present at the meeting.


I smiled and nodded, "Thank you, sir. It is in lieu of winning the competition that I'm here. As you well know, the competition allowed me to win a whole lot of money, I'd like to put the earnings from winning into the kingdom." I began and looked around at the faces of the people that were around.

I was nervous, but they were interested and that gave me the courage I needed to continue,


"When I heard about the competition and its benefits, my mind immediately went to the poor of our people. As much as the Lycan king tries to reach even the lowest class of society, there are still parts that are marginalized and aren't well integrated into some important sectors. Healthcare, nutrition, and education. By joining hands with the creators of this project, I can join hands with you all and together, we can make this kingdom whole. We can make this kingdom one."

"That's very selfless of you Ember." one of the elders said with a smile

"Indeed." my father said looking at me thoughtfully, I was worried that if he kept looking at me with so much affection, the truth of our relationship would come to light,

"and what measures would you propose to take back the Wakeland from the wanderers?" one of the younger elders asked and I thought for a moment.

Being with Paris for so long, I had not been able to integrate with society outside of Paris. But since coming home, I had actually gained some insights about wanderers on our wakelands and the nuisance they caused.

"Those wanderers make life even harder for the low-income families." that tidbit of information had me gritting my teeth.

Growing up privileged didn't take away my ability to care for those who had less.

"every means necessary. We will beat them out, but I believe enough is enough and they can no longer make use of our resources. Not when they make life miserable for our people in the process."

"Do you suggest we start a war with them?" one of the elders asked. It was known that the wanderers were troublemakers.

Well, lately, I had become trouble itself.

"I'd rather our people weren't stuck in the middle of a battle. But if that is what it will take to give them their freedom. Then so be it. But from one end to the other, my people will be free."

The elders cheered and I couldn't help but blush. My father looked at me proudly and shook my head. I was going to have to remind him that until the right time came, he needed to remember that we weren't related.

"I'm impressed with what you've brought forth, Ember. In the end, the wanderers will keep invading and invading the wake-lands until we hold the bull by the horn, so to speak. " the oldest Elder said,

"we will back you up in any way you need us to, Ember." my father said, and I smiled up at him.

"Thank you, sire," I said and bowed my head slightly. In addition to reminding him that we were strangers in public, I was going to have to give him a big fat hug. He was the reason the Elders even gave me a listening ear in the first place.

When the meeting was over, I was the only one who left. My father still had a meeting with the elders that had nothing to do with me.

"Miss?" my bodyguard who had been assigned to me questioned as we made our way to the car.

"hmm?" I asked absentmindedly, as I scrolled through my phone,

"There's something I need to show you." He presented me with his phone and I took it, my brows knitted.

"What is this?" I asked in surprise, as I read through the letter that had been sent to my business mail. And yes, my bodyguard had access to it. Because of all the backlash I had been getting, he was my bodyguard for both online and offline purposes, "who sent this to me?" I asked looking up from the lawyer's letter, and he pressed his lips together,

"your ex-husband's mother."

"Luna Lara sent that?" I asked in befuddlement, as I continued to read. The letter accused me of taking Paris's company secrets and selling them for gain.

Why was I even shocked? All the woman ever talked about was how I was using Paris for his money. Even now, when she no longer had to deal with me, she couldn't keep me out of her thoughts and still had to spit on my name.

"Do you want me to sue for harassment?"

I handed my Bodyguard back his phone and shook my head, "No. Just leave it for now."

"Miss, there is something else," he said weakly, and I immediately felt weak as well,

He scrolled through his phone and handed it to me once again and this time I gritted my teeth.

"Ember Macgregor, a scam." I read aloud. Not everyone was willing to accept the fact that I won the Alpha's Banquet competition fair and square.

I knew some of the Alphas were being unfair, I just didn't expect people to say untrue things,

"rumor has it that she might have bribed some of the officials beforehand." one comment read.

"but she doesn't have any money, so she probably paid with her body." another comment wrote, and I shook my head before handing him his phone once again.

"They can say whatever they want. I won fair and square, and I'm going to use this investment to help my kingdom grow. That's all that matters now. " I said and without saying any more, I walked toward the car.

I can't lie and say none of their unfair comments got to me, but I was going to be diplomatic about it. I wasn't going to lose my head. And if they expected me to do less because of their comments, I was going to prove them wrong.

However, there were others who weren't willing to be level-headed about the entire thing.

"What is the meaning of this rubbish?" Axel asked when he barged into my room later that day

"you used to knock before coming in here?" I said mildly as I sat up in bed,

"I must have forgotten my manners as my sister is being slandered online and failed to mention it to me," Axel said with barely contained anger and I sighed,

"I was going to think of a way to handle it."

"I don't want you to think of a way to handle it. I don't want you in a situation like this in the first place."

"Neither do I." my father said, entering my room, and I sighed once again.

This was the last thing I needed. For these two to get involved,

"Father, Axel, really, it'll be okay."

"We saw the video about that coworker harassing you, Ember. Why didn't you tell us? When were you going to tell us?"

I shook my head, "I didn't want to worry you guys."

"This is happening because they don't know who you are. These people are going to find out that they are messing with the wrong person." my father said angrily.

"what? What do you mean? What do you plan on doing?" I asked, dragging myself off my bed

"They are going to know that the person they are treating this way is the Lycan king's daughter, and I assure you there will be retribution." my father's voice boomed

"retribution? Yes, Daddy, I agree. But I don't want people finding out who I am just yet. Not until I do all of the things I need to do. Please."

"Ember…" Axel began, sounding strained, but I pleaded with him with my eyes,

"Please, Axel. We can still punish the person who did this without revealing my identity just yet. We just need to find the culprit. Not the commenters. People are bound to comment, but the person who put up that post about me cheating to get the spot."

"Do you have any idea who it could be?" my father asked and I shook my head, " at the banquet, there were Alphas who said things, but I don't know. It could be anyone."

"We'll find the person. And I'm sorry, Em. But those people who commented are going down as well. It's all a form of slander in my book" Axel said,

"oh but-"

"That's the only way we aren't revealing your true identity. Non-negotiable, sissy."

I looked at him for the longest time and then at my father,

"don’t look at me, kid." he said, as though sensing my plea, "I want them to suffer too."