The vase shattered against the wall violently.

"My lord," came the beta's shaky voice, clearly scared of Carter's anger. He stood a few feet away from the said man.

"Please calm down," he said, trying to reason with the said man.

Carter paced around the office like a wild animal, unable to contain his emotions. "Calm down? Calm down? Do you not understand what has happened? That sick son of a peasant had the audacity to take away my title!" He growled, and the walls shook.

"My lord."

"My title! How dare he? Who does he think he is? I worked for that title, and he just rips it off like it's nothing?" He growled again, grabbing the books on his table and flung them towards the door.

"My lord."

"Thorne has crossed the line. He has finally done it. He humiliated me in front of everyone. I have never been so embarrassed! He couldn't just suspend me? No! He had to make sure I was humiliated."

He ran his hands over his hair, almost tugging it out of his scalp. He walked over to the alcohol cabinet, hands shaking as he yanked it open. He didn't bother with a glass, just grabbed the nearest bottle of alcohol, uncorked it with his teeth, and took a long, burning gulp.

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, "That dense fool. Who would he be without me? I made him who he is. Gave him my ideas to better the realm. To better the kingdom. And this is how he pays me back?" He snarled, mostly to himself. "And that wretched fool, Lord Alaric, took my title without a single word. He should've refused. Should've stood ten toes down and refused to take it, but what happened? He took it and that too with a smile on his face. Fucking bastards! I made them all who they are. Suggested their names to the fool who calls himself king. I made them all." He growled angrily, taking another gulp of the rum.

The beta stood still, hands clasped tight behind him. He had never seen Lord Carter this angry. So much so that he would drink like this or insult his majesty this way. He never spoke his mind so clearly, and yet today… the king had tested his patience so much.

A short knock jolted him from his reverie. He glanced at Carter to see him too engrossed in his anger that he didn't notice. The beta took a step outside to see a maid who passed him a letter.

"It arrived five minutes ago, Beta."

He dismissed her then stepped back into the office. Carter, of course, didn't seem to even notice he'd been gone.

The beta cleared his throat. "My lord," he began.

"What?" Carter barked out.

The beta stretched the letter to him. "This came in for you some minutes ago."

Carter eyed the letter suspiciously, but then it all cleared when he saw the familiar signature at the bottom edge of the letter. He grabbed it from the beta and hurriedly pulled it open, his eyes scanning the content written. His face grew stormier with each line he read.

The beta wasn't even sure he finished reading it before he crumpled the letter into his hands and slammed his fist against the table so hard, it cracked.

"That bastard. It's not enough that he publicly declared her his mate. He has plans to officially mate that wretch!" He snarled viciously.

"My lord…"

"He took that wretched filthy slave and spent the realm's money on her. Fireworks?" He spat out. "Wasting that kind of absurd money on a mutt. She should've—"

He didn't even get to complete his words as the office door slammed open, Freya stormed in, looking like she'd been attacked by wild bears. In her hand was a letter.

"Father!" She screamed like he wasn't literally right in front of her. She slammed the paper on the table. "Did you hear? Did you see this insanity?" She screamed, veins popping out of her neck. "It isn't enough that he practically gave a love confession to her in public. He proposed to her. He wants her to be the queen of the realm. A mere maid. A demon disguised as a witch like Adina will be the queen?"

Carter didn't reply, not when he was currently nursing his own anger.

"Father!" She screamed even louder, sending all the maids nearby fleeing, including the beta. This was a family matter he deduced.

Freya shook her head, already sweating from all the energy she was using. "This cannot happen. I refuse it. Over my dead rotten body will I allow this woman to be his mate. Be the queen." She shook her head even more, "You have to do something, Father. You can't let this happen to me—to us. You must do something, fath—"

Before she could finish her words, Carter swung around and threw the bottle of alcohol he was drinking at her. It missed by a few inches, the bottle shattering on the floor.

Freya gasped, eyes wide at this. "F-father.."

"GET OUT!" Carter growled, his voice animalistic.

Freya's lip trembled for a second, but only for a second. Then she straightened, eyes flashing with hatred, and turned toward the door.

Just as she reached to open it, someone none of them ever thought they'd see stood outside the door, smirking at the growl she just heard.

"Jocelyn," Carter called out, eyes on the woman before Freya. Freya turned to look at her father, then back at Jocelyn. Their eyes met for a second before she parted to let the other woman in.

Just as she shut the door, she caught the last thing her father said.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

Jocelyn smiled, lifting her hands in a show. "I came to make peace. See, I come in peace," she said.

Carter stared at her for a few seconds, then scoffed, running his fingers through his sweaty mess of hair. Everyone was messing with him at this point.

He pulled his cabinet and took out a long thick piece of tobacco and lit it up, then took a long draw of it. It calmed his nerves to an extent.

Then he looked at Jocelyn again, he laughed. "Peace? Is that what you call it now?"

Jocelyn's smile dropped, and she rolled her eyes. "Yes, peace. It might be foreign to you."

"Drop the act. Why the hell have you come here? Are you here to mock my downfall? Is that it? To rub it in my face that I am no longer head councilman? That I have no title? Is that what you've come here to do?" He snarled.

Jocelyn shook her head, dropping her bag on the table and sat down without an invite. "Oh, get your head out of your ass, Carter. I'm not throwing a pity party for you," she rolled her eyes.

"Jocelyn!" He growled, but it didn't faze her. After all, she knew him well.

"Hear me out, will you?"

Carter scoffed, "And why should I? Why should I listen to some garbage about you wanting peace when you just betrayed the girl you called family?" He said, laughing at her expression.

Jocelyn frowned. "Low blow. You and I know you would've done the same if you were in the same situation. Elara was losing, and I don't mean just losing her mind. Our interests were different. She wanted to be Thorne's queen, his mate, and I? I want different."

Carter hummed, "And you decided to sell her out to save your skin when it all went to flames. Why do you think I want to make peace with a person like you?" He asked.

Jocelyn smirked, leaning back against the chair. "Because Elara's fight isn't yours. You forget that I know you, Carter. We might have bad history between us, but I trust that we can put our differences aside and see the big picture here. You need my help, and I need yours. I've practically been blacklisted from the palace after all that's happened. I only have my life because I said Elara planned it all. Because I testified against her. And you? You've been blacklisted too. Your title is gone. You have no power outside this pack and estate of yours."

"And you think partnering up with me will help how?"

At this, Jocelyn smiled. "You need someone who knows Thorne intimately. Someone who can easily and deeply manipulate their ways into not just Thorne's head but his supposed mate. You should know by now, Carter. Thorne is unbreakable…and right now, the only way to get to him is through his mate. If you want to have control over him, you'll have to control his mate. There's no better person to do that but me."

Carter's jaw clenched hard. Jocelyn was absolutely right. How did he not see this? Of course, this was the solution.

He smirked, taking a swig of the tobacco again. "You're right, Jocelyn," he said, and she smiled widely.

"But you're also wrong." Jocelyn's smile dropped off instantly.

"What do you mean?"

Carter huffed, "I don't make deals with backstabbers or snakes, and unfortunately, you're both."

Jocelyn's smile was now replaced with a frown. "You'd be stupid to turn me down," she spat out.

Carter leaned back, shaking his head. "Get out. I'm done making deals with snakes. The first time was a mistake. There won't be a second."

Jocelyn stood up with her head held high yet still fuming with anger. "You're a fool, Carter. The biggest fool alive," she spat out venomously, turned, and walked out.

Just as she slammed the door behind her, eyeing the door with disdain.

"So you are Elara's aunt. Auntie Jocelyn," someone whispered next to her, and Jocelyn flinched hard, eyes wide with fear.

She turned to see Carter's second daughter, Freya, standing next to her with a smile that would usually creep out a normal person.

"It's Jocelyn," she bit out, eyeing the other warily.

Freya nodded, arms crossed over her chest. "Jocelyn," she whispered, licking her lips.

"My father isn't going to take on your offer. He's too prideful for that… but me, on the other hand," she smirked.

Jocelyn raised her brows, "You, on the other hand?"

Freya leaned closer, eyes gleaming with the same light Elara once had. The need to be seen. The want. The desperation. Jocelyn's blood boiled with excitement.

"I can help you…."

"Help me?" Jocelyn whispered, eyes narrowed as she took in the girl's full appearance. She was even prettier than Elara. What a jackpot.

Jocelyn smiled. "What exactly are you offering, girl?"

"Certainly more than Elara could."