CHAPTER 197: CHAPTER 197: PERFECT REPLY

Serena’s POV~

After everything finally calmed down, everyone was seated around the long dining table. The room was quiet except for the faint sound of music playing in the background and the clinking of glasses being set down.

I sat beside Lord Maximus, my father.

Even now, the thought still felt strange. My father. The word didn’t fit easily on my tongue. I kept sneaking small glances at him when I thought no one was looking. He sat tall and calm, his expression steady and unreadable, as if nothing in this room could ever shake him.

I wasn’t sure what to say or do.

And to make things worse, the alphas decided to take the seats beside me too.

Of course.

Aeron sat closest, his face calm as ever, but his eyes were pinned on me. Luca and Lucian followed, sitting without a word, and Kael grinned like he owned the place.

I realized this man is smiling too much for my liking. I had never seen him relax this much in my entire life. Surely a kiss didn’t make him stupid, right?

So here I was... stuck in the middle of these brothers.

On one side, my father, the man who had just reappeared in my life out of nowhere.

On the other side, there was the queen, then Prince Vaelen, and then Arlena, who looked like she was about to burst from trying to prove how important she was.

I couldn’t help but sigh softly.

If this was supposed to be a "simple royal dinner," then I was seriously starting to doubt the meaning of simple.

What was she even doing here?

She didn’t belong in this kind of setting. She wasn’t a royal. If this is supposed to be a gathering only for Royal, why the hell was she invited here, or has the queen already taken her as her own...her daughter-in-law?

Was she just here to make Vaelen uncomfortable? Because if that was the plan, it was definitely working.

I caught him stealing glances at me now and then, his jaw tight, his hand gripping his cup just a little too firmly.

As soon as everyone was settled, the king finally spoke. His voice was deep and full of that fake warmth that powerful people used when they wanted to sound kind but actually weren’t.

"Ah, Alpha Aeron," he said, smiling like this was some friendly reunion. "It’s been a long time. The last time I saw you and your brothers, you were still young boys. You had nothing left after your father lost the pack. It’s truly admirable that you managed to reclaim your position... especially from someone like Alpha Eirik."

His words sounded polite, but the tone didn’t match. There was something sharp underneath. A hint of mockery.

I wasn’t the only one who heard it.

The table went quiet for a second.

It was clear what he meant. He wasn’t praising them...he was reminding everyone that they had lost once. That they had fallen.

But Aeron didn’t flinch.

He just looked at the king, calm and steady, and then spoke in that smooth voice of his that somehow always sounded respectful and dangerous at the same time.

"Your Majesty," he said, "I had to take back what was mine. After all, I couldn’t leave my father’s legacy in another man’s hands...especially not someone else’s puppet."

He paused for a moment, his tone still polite but his words cutting sharp. "It wouldn’t look good if the strongest pack served under someone’s whims, would it?"

The room went silent.

You could feel it...the instant change in the air. The king’s face slowly turned red, his forced smile faltering for just a second before he straightened again.

Everyone understood what Aeron was really saying.

Because everyone knew Alpha Eirik was nothing more than a dog for the Werewolf Council. He did whatever they told him, wagging his tail and pretending it was loyalty.

And the worst part? The king himself wasn’t much different.

He served them too. Everyone knew that... even if no one dared to say it aloud.

So when Aeron spoke those words, it wasn’t just a jab. It was a challenge.

I almost choked on my drink.

Did he just... say that? Out loud? In front of everyone?

When I looked at him, I couldn’t help it... I admired him.

He had guts. Real guts.

He sat there so calmly, as if he hadn’t just insulted the king in front of half the court.

And then his eyes met mine.

There was faint amusement there, like he knew exactly what I was thinking. And he knew that I was going to look in his way.

My heart gave a tiny jump, but I quickly looked away... only for my gaze to meet Vaelen’s instead.

To my surprise, he looked amused too.

For the first time ever, they agreed on something.

That realization almost made me laugh.

For once, the fearless Alpha and the too-proper Prince were on the same side.

Aeron had already managed to get on everyone’s nerves...especially the king’s. The man was trying his best to keep that fake royal smile on his face, but anyone could see how tight his jaw had become.

The others looked like they were watching some thrilling play... too scared to join but too entertained to look away.

And that was when she finally decided to speak.

The queen.

Calm, graceful, and cold as ice. She had been sitting quietly beside the king all this time, sipping her wine with that perfect posture of hers. But now, as she saw her husband getting humiliated again and again, her patience snapped.

Because in her eyes...humiliating him was the same as humiliating her.

Even though she also looked down on him.

She slowly lifted her glass and took a graceful sip, her movements smooth and elegant like she was on stage. Then, with that same calm tone that could slice through steel, she spoke.

"Alpha Aeron," she said softly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You’ve grown quite bold. I’m sure your father must be very proud of you. I can clearly see whom you’ve taken after."

Her eyes gleamed with mockery, even though her smile stayed polite.

Then she added, "But we cannot deny facts, can we? Your father was killed by Alpha Eirik Moonveil in quite a brutal way. He died such a disgraceful death. I’m not trying to upset you, but that is the truth. In our world, power is everything. Only the strongest survive."

The table went silent.

Her words were polite, but everyone could hear the hidden poison in them.

She wasn’t just talking about Aeron’s father. She was mocking the entire pack’s past... their fall, their weakness, their blood.

For a second, I tensed.

I thought Aeron would get angry or worse, lose control. Anyone would if someone dragged their dead father into conversation like that. Especially in front of so many people.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he chuckled.

It wasn’t a warm sound... it was low, dark, and almost chilling.

He looked at the queen with that same calm face, his eyes glinting faintly under the light. "Your Majesty," he said, his voice deep and smooth, "the queen is always right. Only the strongest rule."

Then his tone turned sharper, darker.

"That’s why Alpha Eirik Moonveil is seven feet under the ground... while I’m sitting here."

The queen’s smile froze.

You could almost hear the sound of her breath catching. For the first time that evening, her calm mask cracked... even if just for a second.

I had to bite back a smile.

Because honestly? That was perfect.

He handled it so well. While everyone else looked uncomfortable or shocked, Aeron just leaned back, relaxed, like he’d said nothing unusual.

And the best part? His answer wasn’t just clever... it was true.

I remembered how my so-called father had died.

That bastard deserved every bit of it.

The four brothers had taken their revenge in a way no one would ever forget. They hadn’t just killed him...they had destroyed him.

They had torn him apart, piece by piece, while he was still breathing. And when it was over, they buried him in pieces, scattered and broken, without a proper grave.

Even in death, he wasn’t whole.

And I wouldn’t lie... I was the happiest when I saw it.

Because after everything he had done, after all the pain and blood and humiliation... he got exactly what he deserved.

The only regret I had was that I hadn’t been there myself.

I wanted to be the one to tear him apart. I wanted to see his face when he finally realized that karma had caught up to him.

I wanted to scream at his face that this is what you deserve after ruining countless people. After what you’ve done to me, my mother, and most importantly, their parents.

But still... I was happy that the brothers did it.

They gave him what he earned.

And watching Aeron now, calm and proud, I couldn’t help but feel a quiet satisfaction.