The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Letters and Leashes

Aeron’s POV

The candlelight flickered gently across the edges of the parchment as I dipped the quill once more, letting the black ink soak into the paper with practiced grace. My strokes were steady and Precise. Every curve of each letter carried the exact tone I wanted: respectful, polished and grateful.

"To Alpha Rhys of the Black Ridge," I wrote, "Your words of goodwill have reached us at a most meaningful time. We are honored by your acknowledgment of the Silver Dawn Pack’s return to its rightful place, and we warmly extend an invitation to our formal coronation five days hence..."

My lips tightened slightly as I signed the name at the bottom—my own, Aeron Duskdraven, First Alpha of the restored Silver Dawn.

It was the third such letter I’d written this morning. All with nearly the same meaningless flattery in different packaging. The same alphas who now lined up to grovel at our feet had once praised Alpha Eirik like he was the moon incarnate.

I still remembered the letters they sent him after our father’s death. Congratulating him on his new union. Cloaked with lies. Empty words written with grinning jaws still wet from blood.

The same alphas who turned their heads when we cried for justice. The same ones who whispered behind closed doors that perhaps we had deserved it.

And now they came to us with praises and invitations and hollow friendship.

It was disgusting. But I responded to every one of them.

Because politics demanded patience.

And power demanded polish.

With Crimson Fang crushed and merged, our combined territory made Silver Dawn one of the largest and most resource-rich packs in the northern territories. That kind of status drew vultures disguised as allies. Everyone wanted to be close to the throne now.

So I wrote them back.

Not because I trusted them. Not because I respected them.

But because survival required more than brute strength. It required diplomacy. Appearances. Strategic tolerance.

I knew this game.

them. Pretend their

mind, and dipped the quill into ink once more. But before

who it was. I recognized

was quiet, composed, but his

I said

Alpha." His voice was low, cautious. "I waited until things settled

door, as if unsure whether

"Then speak."

the silence press down until he

the edge of the chair opposite mine. He adjusted his jacket, cleared his

the incident today," he began. "With your brothers. And

quill down at last and met his gaze. I

squirmed under the weight of

You were right... something’s changing. Today, there was a scene in the servants’ quarters. It began after Selene was seen leaving Lucian’s

pause again,

I gave him none.

on. "It seems an omega maid deliberately sent Selena to clean Lucian’s room. She wasn’t supposed to be there, but she went. She followed orders like always. The

of emotion crossed his face then. Disgust? Guilt? Maybe

her. He... let her

arched one brow, but said

and furious that she hadn’t been hurt. She started questioning

to hit her?" I asked, voice

at first. She just... stopped the blow. But the head maid was already coming.

The lie was

"And?"

public punishment. But something snapped, Alpha. She kept trying to explain, but no one listened. I think... I think she realized she wasn’t going to be spared. That no matter how quiet she was, how obedient, they’d still come for her. And she—she fought

for a second, as

precise. Like she’s been holding it in for years. It

in his seat,