Exchanging Vows: The Swapped Wife Is a Top Shaman novel Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Ivy’s Point of View

The silence that followed Luna Helena’s words was suffocating.

I could feel the tension in the air. The anticipation. Everyone waiting for Alpha Alaric to make his decision.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Seraphina move. Her elbow jabbed into Bastian’s ribs. A sharp, urgent gesture.

‘Say something,’ her eyes screamed at him. ‘Now.’

Bastian stepped forward immediately. He dropped to one knee before his father, head bowed in a show of humility that fooled no one.

"Father," he began. "I know this is a difficult time for our family. For our pack. And I know that no one can ever truly replace Dominic."

‘Liar,’ I thought. ‘You’ve been waiting for this moment since the day he fell.’

"But I want you to know that I am ready." Bastian lifted his head, meeting Alpha Alaric’s eyes. "I have spent years preparing for this. Studying pack law. Learning military strategy. Training alongside our warriors. I have dedicated myself to becoming worthy of leading the Silvermoon Pack."

He paused, letting his words sink in.

"If you choose to name me as heir, I swear to you, I will honor Dominic’s legacy. I will protect this pack with my life. I will be the leader our people deserve."

Seraphina dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. Vivienne nodded approvingly. Margot’s smile widened.

A perfect performance. Rehearsed down to the last word.

Alpha Alaric said nothing. His face remained unreadable. But I could see the conflict in his eyes. The weight of the decision pressing down on him.

"Physician Aldric," Alpha Alaric said finally. "I will ask you once more. Is there any possibility that my son will recover?"

Aldric shook his head slowly. "I’m sorry, Alpha. In my professional opinion, the chances of the heir regaining consciousness are almost nonexistent. The damage is simply too severe."

‘Because you’ve been making it worse,’ I wanted to scream. ‘Because you’ve been killing him slowly while pretending to heal him.’

But I stayed silent. Watched. Waited.

Margot seized the moment. "Alpha, please. You cannot keep waiting for a miracle that will never come." Her voice was soft. Sympathetic. The voice of a concerned family member. "I know how much you love Dominic. We all do. But you must think of the pack now."

"Bastian is also your son," Vivienne added gently. "He carries your blood. Your legacy. Passing the heir title to him is not a betrayal of Dominic. It’s simply... practical."

"The pack needs stability," an elder spoke up. "The longer we delay, the more uncertain our position becomes."

"Other packs will see our hesitation as weakness," another agreed. "We cannot afford to appear vulnerable."

"A succession ceremony would reassure our allies," a third added. "And discourage our enemies."

One by one, they piled on. Each voice adding weight to the argument. Each word pushing Alpha Alaric closer to a decision he clearly didn’t want to make.

I looked around the room.

Margot’s face was alight with triumph. Vivienne’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Bastian remained kneeling, the picture of humble devotion. Seraphina clutched her handkerchief, playing the role of concerned wife.

And Luna Helena stood beside me, broken and silent, watching her son’s birthright being stripped away.

No one cares about Dominic.

The realization hit me like a blow to the chest.

Not the elders. Not the physician. Not Margot or Vivienne or Bastian.

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