[Raven]


    Ezra stopped typing on the keyboard, ending the five heavy minutes that felt like five hours because of all the tension it created in the hall. The wall screen was a mess ofplex code and algorithms running independently now. The hall was crammed with an uneasy silence. Every eye was glued to the projected screen.


    Although, except Isagi and Vie, everyone seemed to have given up on understanding what Ezra was doing.


    Ezra stepped to the center of the dais, his fingers gliding in the air to control the wall screen. With a series of precise gestures, he split the screen into multiple sections, each disying different pieces of information. Ezra''s face was impassive and fully concentrated, in contrast to the anxious expressions around him.


    "Tracing back the digital footprints of the news article had led me to..."


    Ezra gestured in the air and the screen zoomed in on a map, highlighting a location with a glowing red circle.


    I narrowed my eyes.


    Ezra faced Isagi and continued, "the news article was written and published from a public cyber hub which means... the source of the news is unreliable and this news is fake-"RêAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    "Huh!" Vie spoke through the mic before her. "Seriously? Is this the best you can do, Alpha Ezra? All that digital drama for what? This? To prove this news is fake? Honestly, you should have just let Alpha Asher handle this for you, like he always does. At least he wouldn''t havee up with something so childish."


    "True," an elder supported Vie. "Yes, maybe the source of the news is unreliable, but there are proofs and witnesses who have seen you recklessly put a measly mortal at the pedestal of the Luna of the Infernal pack."


    "You should be mindful that your remarks can now tarnish the dignity of Luna''s position. I can''t even imagine how ugly this sounds. It feels like a crime, disgusting to even think of a measly mortal, let alone a weak omega, being called as the Luna of our most esteemed and prestigious pack in all realms. Such a notion is not just offensive; it''s an affront to our very legacy."


    "Exactly," another elder said. "You are one of the Alphas of the Prime pack now. You have to understand the weight your words hold. You can''t just say something or do something as outrageous as this and get away with it."


    "Alpha Ezra should apologize and pledge to never repeat such a mistake again..."


    The elders'' voices rose from all sides, each usation more absurd than thest. My nails dug into my palms as I watched Ezra stand on the dais with his head held low.


    They had cornered him in a tight spot again. Shadow eclipsed his face, and it was difficult to tell what was going through his mind. It was at times like these Ezra often took impulsive decisions without thinking much. If he did it again, things might get even moreplicated.


    Tensing my brows, I looked at Asher. He must be sensing it as well, but why wasn''t he interfering?


    Tsk! Don''t let them pull you down.


    I looked at Ezra again. Should I interfere? Get him out of there?


    "Let''s not be so harsh on him. After all, this is the first time-" Vie spoke through the chatter of the elders, but Ezra interrupted her.


    "The news is fake," he dered matter-of-factly in a rather rxed tone. His voice, though calm, was firm with confidence. "I hacked into the camera of theputer where this article originated and found that this post was scheduled, which means the time it was created and the time it was published are not the same."


    "All this information is irrelevant. They prove nothing about the news being fake," Vie retorted.


    "Ok then..." Ezra lifted his head, staring back at the council, revealing the slight smile on his face. "Let me re-frame my words. The news is forged."


    A wave of confusion crashed across the hall, throwing it into disarray.


    "Please maintain the decorum of the meeting." Isagi''s aura dominated the hall, bringing the chaos to an abrupt halt. "Alpha Ezra... please continue and please rify why you think the news is forged."


    "The news was forged to attack me and taint my reputation as an alpha. And this isn''t the first time someone has tried to prove how unfit I am to be the Alpha of this pack. News like this goes viral every day, but we don''t call the council meeting to discuss every one of them, do we? This news wasn''t a big deal, it was made into one by the one who called this meeting today," Ezra said.


    I was slightly lost at this point.


    I looked at Asher and from his expressionless face; it was difficult to tell if he understood what Ezra was trying to do or not. But he most probably did.


    "Now, let me exin why I believe this news was fabricated to target me. First, the person who wrote it went to great lengths to conceal their identity by using a public cyber hub and then scheduling the post. They didn''t even have to write it on their own. They could have made someone do it for them and several demons have the power to manipte and control minds..."


    Ezra was clearly pointing towards Vie because she, too, could use her wolf''s powers to manipte the minds of weaker demon werewolves.


    "This news deals with an event that urred within thest two days in the mortal realm. The public doesn''t have such easy ess to the mortal realm. Even the paparazzi wouldn''t dare stalk me there. Therefore, the source of this news must be someone from the upper ranks of our pack - someone with significant power and the ability to ess the mortal realm easily."


    "Honorable Speaker, does it even matter who wrote that news?" Vie interrupted Ezra again. "Alpha Ezra is trying to mislead us from the topic at hand. The news he ims to be forged is, in fact, very true, and I have the proof to back it up. With your permission, I would like to show the council the evidence. I assure you; the video is raw and real. Alpha Ezra can easily verify if it''s been manipted or not."


    Ezra nced sharply at her over his shoulder. His lips curled up slightly as though he were waiting for this moment.


    With Isagi''s permission, Vie yed the footage captured by Ezra''s very own official demon drone security when he introduced Xanthea to the Virgo pack.


    "See?" Vie said once the video ended.


    "And you call me childish," Ezra sighed. "You proved it yourself right in front of the entire council that the news is forged."


    Vie frowned.


    Asher exchanged a nce with Isagi and both of them seemed to have understood Ezra''s point. Isagi rxed back in his chair while Asher shut his eyes. The meeting was over for the two of them. "How!?" Vie snapped, getting to her feet.


    Ezra yed the clip again, but slowed down the speed of the video where he introduced Xanthea as the Highdy of the Infernal pack.


    I widened my eyes as the realization hit. It was such a small thing.


    "I introduced Xanthea as the High Lady of the Infernal pack, not the luna, and I think many of you are mixing up the two positions. These two positions are not the same," Ezra said.


    Why couldn''t I see the obvious before?


    "Let me enlighten you about the difference between them," Ezra continued. "Luna''s position is a political position and is held by thewfully soul-pacted wife of the Alpha of the pack who has been recognized and publically crowned as the luna of the pack with majority eptance in the Parliament. Meanwhile, the Highdy''s position in the royal family is held by the woman who has created awful soul-pact with the alpha."


    Something exhrating charged through my body as Vie''s eyes widened in shock, fury, and embarrassment.


    I let out a silent chuckle.


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    "Xanthea, the demon lords'' wife, has beenwfully soul-pacted with me and my brothers. Obviously, she holds the position of the High Lady of the Infernal pack right now. So, I see nothing wrong with introducing her as the High Lady. Meanwhile, I never referred to Xanthea as the luna of this pack. Lady Vie gave the proof of my innocence herself."


    Vie clenched her fists, her snake hair turning more agitated and violent. She sank back into her seat.


    The positions of High Lady and Luna had be synonymous over the past centuries because the High Lady always assumed the role of luna of the pack. And maybe that was why this confusion was created. However, Ezra was right; despite their apparent simrity, the two positions were distinct.


    It was such a simple thing that it had slipped from my mind. Perhaps it''s always the simple things we tend to forget easily, and most often, it''s those simple things that matter the most.


    "Now..." Ezra paused, letting the weight of his words settle over the council. He turned slowly, his gaze sweeping across the hall, daring anyone to challenge him. "Does anyone have anything else to say? Any more false usations? Or are you done demeaning and offending me?"


    The elders who were going all out at him moments ago shuddered as his aura crushed them. They exchanged nervous nces.


    I would have loved to relish on those cowards cowering beneath Ezra''s authority, but I was actually amazed how well he handled this. I lowered my gaze, letting out a heavy breath.


    Ezra''s smile faded into a serious face as he faced Isagi again.


    "Looks like you''re done. But I am not. I won''t let this slide so easily. The way I was attacked today based on some useless news article on the devil is a big deal because I am the Alpha of this pack and I want everyone to remember that there will be consequences for such perpetration."


    Ezra''s voice echoed in the hall.


    "Indeed, Alpha Ezra," Isagi nodded.


    "Something as trivial as this could have been sorted ifdy Vie was just mindful and courteous enough to reach out to me first and ask for an exnation," Ezra said. "But what she did instead was call the council just to waste our time." Vie bit her lower lip, ring at Ezra.


    "The news article could at most be just a civilian joke that went viral. But it doesn''t seem so anymore. I smell conspiracy brewing underneath it to attack the Alpha. And any form of attack, digital or not, on the Alpha of the pack is recognized as - treason. Basing my argument upon it, I, Alpha Ezra Xipher, use Vie Sylten and all the elders who supported her today of treason."


    "This is preposterous!"


    There was a cry, and the hall erupted in shock and uproar. Vie''s face contorted with anger and disbelief.


    Ezra remained calm; his gaze unwavering.


    "And..." Ezra raised his voice, drowning every other. "And there''s only one punishment for treason - expulsion from the Prime pack and a sentence of lifetime in the Novem Infernal pack," he told Isagi.


    An icy chill ran across the hall and there was pin drop silence as though a blizzard had just passed by. Some elders began trembling just at the mention of the life sentence in the Novem Infernal pack, the ninth Infernal pack - a pack that even demons feared.


    The fear on Vie''s face had humbled her and I could hear her crashing heartbeats even amidst the constant murmur in the hall. She widened her eyes and looked at Asher for some help, but Asher just yed with the pen between his fingers. She shuddered, lowering her head. After gathering whatever strength she could, she got to her feet.


    "This is ridiculous! Y-you have no way to prove that news was-"


    "Try me," Ezra said, looking directly into her eyes and this time Vie, along with the entire council, felt the gravity of a demon lord.


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    Vie took a hard gulp as she peered at Ezra, breathing heavily.


    "Is there no chance you might consider mercy, Alpha Ezra?" Isagi asked.


    Ezra didn''t answer and allowed the desperation to strangle the silence that haunted the hall.


    "Alpha Ezra," an elder spoke, rising from his seat and bowing deeply. "This was a severe misjudgement on our part, and we fully deserve to be punished for it. However, I hope you can find it within yourself to give us another chance and forgive us."


    "Yes, my lord. Please have mercy."


    All the elders who spoke against Ezra got to their feet and went into the bow.


    Ezra stood impassively, with no intentions of showing any mercy.


    The elders in the bow red at Vie. Clenching her jaws, she looked at Ezra, her eyes filled with disgust and apprehension.


    She had always believed herself superior to Ezra. Just bowing before him would shatter her soul, let alone offering an apology.


    But the pressure from the elders made her bow reluctantly before Ezra. Gritting her teeth, she tried to deal with the shards of her shattered pride, ego and superiorityplex.


    "I am... I... I... apologize," she forced those words through her clenched jaws.


    Ezra peered at Vie and the tension around them intensified even more.


    Vie lifted her gaze from the bow and looked at Ezra. Holding her gaze, he smiled.


    "Make sure there isn''t a next time, because there won''t be a second forgiveness," he said in a tone that was both cheerful and haunting. "One wrong move, one mistake, and you''ll all find yourselves in the Court, facing judgment before ''me''. And then, I won''t be so forgiving."


    Humiliation burnt red on Vie''s face. Her chin trembled as she sank in her seat, her snakes hair going feral as they hissed at one another.


    "Thank you for sparing us, my lord-" an elder began but was interrupted by Ezra.


    "I might have forgiven you for offending me, but not for insulting my wife..." his smile stretched across his entire face. "What did you call her? A weak omega? A measly mortal? You felt disgusted to even think of her as the luna of this pack, huh?" Ezra''s chuckles reverberated through the walls, madness slowly draining into his eyes.


    And then he went silent.


    Asher widened his eyes and got to his feet. "Ezra..." he called.


    "This pack has always belittled the weak," Ezra''s voice turned hoarse. "Nothing''s changed. This pack''s still the same! STILL AS AWFUL AND ROTTEN AS IT USED TO BE!"


    I swiftly looked at Asher, who peered at Ezra with wide, nk eyes.


    "Weak can''t be part of your system? Weak can''t be part of your family? You discard them, tossed aside to suffer. You trample on the weak like you were born entitled to do so!" He grunted.


    "Ezra!" I got to my feet.


    "We''re disgusting, aren''t we? Shame!" Ezra growled, panting. "You are wrong. You are all wrong. I''ll prove it to you! I... Alpha Ezra Xipher... take Xanthea, a weak mortal - a mere omega - as my official Luna candidate!"