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.

Thank them. Pretend their words

already fading from my mind, and dipped the quill into ink once more. But before

need to turn to know who it was. I recognized the scent

was quiet, composed, but his

late," I said without

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

edge of the study, just inside the door, as if unsure whether to step further. That alone told me he wasn’t here for

"Then speak."

scroll, letting the silence press down

He adjusted his jacket, cleared his throat once, twice. His fingers tapped the armrest

he began. "With your

the quill down at last and met his gaze. I

the weight of

he continued. "Kept a close eye on them. Lucian, especially. You were right... something’s changing. Today, there was a scene in the servants’ quarters.

pause again, gauging my

I gave him none.

Lucian’s room. She wasn’t supposed to be there, but she went. She

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

didn’t punish her. He...

brow,

was waiting and furious that she hadn’t been hurt. She started questioning her, yelling

tried to hit her?"

the head maid was already coming. The younger maid lied and claimed Selena

exhaled slowly. The lie

"And?"

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 if

Fought hard. The head maid first. Then others who joined in. She didn’t use her wolf—she can’t. But she’s fast, brutal, precise.

his seat,