h4Chapter 201: Chapter 201/h4

The grand hall was heavy with silence, broken only by the sound of rustling papers as the votes were being counted.

Kimberly, standing at the center, held an air of authority, her expression calm and unreadable.

But the tension in the room was suffocating. Every gaze was locked onto her, waiting, anticipating.

At that moment, Alpha Theo walked back into the hall after excusing himself earlier.

His sharp eyes swept across the room, sensing the shift in energy. Something had changed in his brief absence.

He instinctively knew that whatever was about to happen would alter the bnce of power forever.

Kimberly finally exhaled and looked up. "We are done counting the votes..." She paused for a second, letting the weight of the moment sink in before delivering the next words.

"And we have a tie."

A collective gasp rippled through the hall. Shock washed over everyone like a crashing wave.

Mona’s fingers curled into fists beneath the table. Her heart mmed against her ribs.

*What? A tie? This is impossible. I had this in the bag.

I made sure of it!* She forced herself to remainposed, but the frustration bubbling beneath the surface was undeniable.

Across the room, Lucian sat frozen, his mind whirling. *A tie? After everything?* His jaw tensed.

He had braced himself for victory or defeat, but not this. This uncertainty was unbearable.

Kimberly let the murmurs die down before she spoke again, her voice steady andposed.

"As the Moon Goddess, I do not have the right to cast a vote in this matter. My role is to ensure that the process is conducted fairly and justly.

The same applies to the Supreme Chief Priest."

Mona’s eyes darkened slightly. *Of course. And now she’s about to throw in some ridiculous twist. I can feel it.*

Lucian leaned forward slightly, his muscles stiff. *This could go either way. I need to stay alert.*

Kimberly continued, her expression neutral but her words carrying an air of finality.

"Under normal circumstances, if a tie urs, the sitting Alpha would retain the seat. However, due to the presence of an Alpha King, the rule has changed."

A new wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd. Some nodded in understanding, while others exchanged uncertain nces.

Mona barely held back a sneer. *Convenient. Just when I thought I had this locked down, she changes the rules.*

Lucian’s heartbeat elerated. *This might be my chance...*

Kimberly turned to Theo, who remained seated with a calm yet unreadable expression.

"As the Alpha King, the final vote falls to you," Kimberly dered. "You alone will cast the deciding vote."

A thick silence settled over the hall. Every pair of eyes turned toward Theo. The pressure in the room was palpable.

Theo exhaled slowly, then rose from his seat. His movements were deliberate, exuding an aura of absolute authority.

His gaze swept over the room, pausing briefly on both Mona and Lucian.

A faint smile yed at the corner of his lips, one that held no warmth, only calction.

Mona’s fingers twitched. *Why is he smiling? What’s going through that damn mind of his?*

Lucian swallowed hard. *This is it... This moment will decide everything.*

Theo walked toward the ceremonial box, his boots echoing across the floor. Without hesitation, he took a single slip of paper and cast his vote.

He returned to his seat without a word. The hall remained silent, waiting for Kimberly to reveal the result.

Kimberly approached the box, opened it, and pulled out the single vote.

As she read it, a flicker of surprise shed in her eyes, so quick that only the most observant noticed.

But she masked it immediately with aposed smile.

She turned to face the audience.

"The Alpha King has cast his vote for Mona."

The hall erupted into chaos.

One side of the room burst into cheers, Mona’s allies celebrating her victory.

On the other side, murmurs of disappointment and disbelief filled the air.

Some shook their heads, whispering among themselves, but none dared to question the oue, the process had been transparent.

Mona remained seated, a slow smirk forming on her lips. But as she met Theo’s gaze, something in her chest tightened. *Why did he do it?*

Lucian sat motionless, his body rigid. His mind couldn’t process the words he had just heard.

*Mona... won?*

He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. *This isn’t happening... I had it. I was so close.*

The sting of defeat settled deep in his bones.

Without a word, without a nce at anyone, Lucian pushed his chair back and walked out of the hall. His silence spoke volumes.

Mona watched him leave, the corners of her lips twitching upward. But beneath the surface, unease crept into her thoughts.

*Theo... What game are you ying?*

Theo’s expression remained unreadable as he finally stood, ncing at Kimberly. Without saying a word, the two of them walked out of the hall.

*Enjoy this moment while itsts,* Theo thought, his eyes filled with something no one could quite decipher.

★At the Alpha King’s Residence★

The moment they stepped into the house, the tension exploded.

Kimberly turned sharply to face Theo, her usuallyposed demeanor cracking.

"Theo, why?" she demanded, her voice carrying a mixture of anger and disbelief.

"Why did you vote for Mona? I thought you wanted Lucian!"

Theo remained calm, pouring himself a drink with slow, deliberate movements. He didn’t answer right away, letting the silence stretch between them.

Kimberly’s frustration grew. "Theo!" she snapped. "Answer me!"

He finally exhaled and took a slow sip before responding. "I did it to save his life."

Kimberly’s eyes widened slightly, her anger giving way to confusion.

"Save his life?" she repeated, brows furrowing. "What do you mean by that?"

Before Theo could answer, footsteps echoed from the entrance.

Lucian stepped into the living room, his face shadowed with disappointment, betrayal, and something even deeper, pain.

Theo didn’t react, but Kimberly took a small step back, sensing the storm brewing in Lucian’s presence.

Lucian’s voice was quiet, but the fury behind it was unmistakable.

"What do you mean," he said, each word slow and measured, "that you did it to save my life?"

A heavy silence followed.

Theo finally turned to face Lucian, his expression unreadable. But he didn’t speak. Not yet.

The air in the room thickened with tension.

The weight of Theo’s decision, the implications of his words, and the burning questions in Lucian’s eyes all hung in the bnce.

No one moved... No one breathed.

And then, the silence stretched on, leaving them all teetering on the edge of something far greater than just an election.