Page 110 of Abandoned By My Alpha Husband

Then she nodded.

"Okay," she said quietly, smiling softly. "Yes."

Liam hugged Anya. Both kids started clapping.

I pulled Elena tighter and kissed her forehead.

"Thank you," I murmured. "Thank you for believing in me again."

She wrapped her arms around my neck, face nestled in the crook of my shoulder.

The next morning, tension filled the Elder Council chamber.

Seven elders sat around the table, every face grim. When I walked in, they all looked up, eyes full of dissatisfaction and doubt.

"Your Majesty," the Grand Elder said coldly. "We heard about the Butcher Squad. Lina... I never would have guessed she was behind it all."

"Yes," I said, taking my seat at the head, leaning back. "She's dead. The remnants have been cleared out. The cancer that threatened Silver pine for over a decade is finally gone."

A few elders exchanged glances. Their expressions softened slightly.

"That's good news," Elder Ria said. "But Your Majesty, we heard... you brought that woman into the operation? Elena Windsor? The former Luna?"

"Yes."

"And," another elder leaned forward, "we heard that hybrid girl is also your child?"

I tapped my fingers on the armrest twice.

"Not a rumor," I said evenly. "A fact. Elena is my mate. My fated mate. Liam and Anya are both my biological children. I called you here today to announce it."

The room exploded.

"What?"

"Mate? But she's a half-breed!"

"That little girl's your child, too? Impossible!"

"Your Majesty, you've lost your mind!"

"Enough!" My voice wasn't loud, but the Alpha command in it crushed every protest. "This is a fact. I don't need your approval. I called you here to inform you—in three days, I'm holding an official ceremony to announce Elena's status."

The Grand Elder's face turned iron.

"Your Majesty, you're destroying the Hale family's reputation! A half-breed as Luna—what will the pure blood families think of us? You—"

"I'm saving the Hale family," I cut him off, leaning forward, gaze slicing across them all. "What have I been doing all these years? Supporting human businesses, breaking noble monopolies, repealing discriminatory laws against half-breeds—you think that was a whim?"

I stood and walked to the window.

"Look out there." I gestured to the street below. "Relations between humans and werewolves—how much better are they than ten years ago? Half-breeds aren't slaughtered at random anymore. Human merchants are establishing themselves in Silver pine. Street protests and riots—how many fewer are there?"

"That's because of reform." I turned back. "And the Butcher Squad? That was the result of our old, idiotic policies. Lina was a hybrid. Abused from childhood. Discriminated against. So she became a monster. She built an organization to get revenge on every pure blood werewolf."

"If we keep clinging to pure blood supremacy," my voice went cold, "there'll be a second Lina. A third. Silver pine will destroy itself in hatred and blood."

The room fell silent for a few seconds.