Trapped with the Alpha King (Althea) novel Chapter 160

The Rightful Luna

Ava clenched her jaw, pacing back and forth in her chamber as her nails dug into her palms. Every step echoed against the marble floor, sharp and restless. Nothing was going as she intended.

Midas was supposed to handle everything discreetly. But now that fool had been detained, and everything was spiraling out of control.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she tried to steady her breathing. She couldn’t afford to lose composure, not now. “That wretch…” she hissed under her breath, thinking of Althea.

“Cain’s daughter, playing the saint now, pretending to heal the princess as if her blood isn’t cursed.”

She couldn’t gather much from the Queen Mother without drawing suspicion, so she decided to wait for Nilda’s full report before making a move. All she knew for now was that Princess Riela would be under that wretch’s care for a week. The thought made her body tremble with barely contained rage as she waited for Nilda’s full report.

She turned sharply toward her desk, where a crystal orb shimmered faintly. A faint image of Nilda’s face flickered within it. The older woman’s voice came through, low and nervous.

“Lady Ava, I’ve done what you asked. The Queen Mother now trusts her, but…” Nilda hesitated. “She invoked the Covenant of Binding. She drank the potion, yes, but it remains dormant in her body until she fails.”

Ava froze, her expression darkening. “Dormant?” she repeated, her voice dangerously calm. “So you’re telling me that unless she fails, the bond won’t be broken?”

“Yes, my Lady,” Nilda admitted quickly. “But don’t worry. I can make sure she fails. I’ve already weakened the residual healing energy surrounding the princess. No matter what she does, her progress will be slow. The Queen Mother will lose patience before long.”

Ava’s lips slowly curled into a smile, cold and sharp. “Good. Keep it that way. Let her think she’s making progress, just enough to give everyone hope before she falls flat. When the week ends, the Queen Mother herself will demand that the potion finish its work.”

Nilda bowed her head through the crystal projection. “As you command, my Lady.”

When the light faded, Ava stood still for a moment, her gaze locked on the fading glow of the orb. Fury still simmered beneath her skin, but the edges of her anger began to sharpen into something more controlled, more dangerous.

“Let’s see how long you can keep playing healer, Cain’s daughter,” she whispered to herself. “The Queen Mother may have spared you for now, but I will make sure you choke on that mercy.”

She reached for a small silver dagger on her table and ran her thumb along its edge, eyes gleaming. “When you fail, he’ll finally see you for what you truly are—a curse.”

Ava’s lips curved once more, her whisper soft yet venomous. “Soon, Gavriel will come back to me… once you’re gone for good.”

The blood moon was approaching, and Ava was preparing for it. By then, she would make sure Gavriel saw no one else, no woman but her.

*****

The grand ballroom of the Ward hall glowed under the shimmer of a hundred chandeliers.

Gold and crimson drapes cascaded from the high ceiling, and the air hummed with music, laughter, and the clinking of fine crystal.

Tonight was the birthday celebration of Lord Marius Ward, the Minister of War and Defense, one of the kingdom’s most respected and feared men. The event drew nobles, high-ranking warriors, and powerful families from all corners of the realm.

But no one commanded the room quite like Lady Ava.

The women exchanged knowing looks. “If not for that woman,” Lady Lola hissed under her breath, “the kingdom would’ve had peace by now. She’s bewitched His Majesty, using her father’s cursed bloodline, no doubt.”

Another noble woman nodded eagerly. “A breeder from a traitor’s line shouldn’t even be allowed near the royal palace, let alone the throne.”

Ava took a slow sip of her wine, concealing her satisfaction. Every rumor mattered. Every whispered insult built the image she wanted.

“You mustn’t say such things too loudly,” Ava murmured softly, her tone laced with just enough concern to appear noble. “The Alpha King treasures her… for now. But even the strongest bond can break under the weight of truth.” 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Her words earned subtle nods, and a spark of anticipation gleamed in their eyes. It was enough. Soon, the whispers would spread beyond the hall.

Ava’s gaze swept across the hall, lingering on the grand doors where the royal guards stood ready.

Any moment now, Gavriel would arrive.

She could already imagine it, his eyes locking onto her, seeing her standing there, poised and perfect. Ava’s smile deepened. Everything was unfolding exactly as she planned. And by the end of the night, everyone in that ballroom would whisper one thing—

That Lady Ava should have been, and still could be, the rightful Luna Queen.