Chapter 9 - THE ELECTION CRIMSON HAD NEVER HELD
Crimson Territory elected its first Alpha council three years after Kane lost his title.
Not one ruler.
Seven ward representatives and one military commander elected separately.
The old families called the system chaotic.
Ordinary wolves called it the first time anyone asked them.
Rosa Calder, a former emergency physician, became council chair.
She had no famous bloodline.
Her scent was ordinary.
Her decisions were not.
Crimson’s economy recovered after transparent trade agreements replaced Lucian’s hidden network.
Silvercrest restored healing shipments after the council accepted independent audits.
The marriage treaty was formally dissolved.
A cooperation treaty replaced it.
No bride.
No groom.
No inherited command.
Aurelia disliked the loss of tradition.
She signed anyway.
Our relationship changed after I limited the First Call.
I established a bloodline council with authority to block me if I attempted involuntary command outside immediate defense.
My mother called the restriction dangerous.
I called it necessary.
Eventually, she admitted that protecting my power had become another way of organizing her life around fear.
She retired as High Matriarch two years later.
She did not name me successor.
Silvercrest held an election.
I won narrowly.
Then declined permanent control.
Instead, I proposed a Continental Warden system with rotating leadership and public review.
The Alphas hated it.
May you like
The ordinary packs supported it.
That conflict told me which side required protection.
