The Luna's Harem

Chapter 15: Put Them In Their Place

"Kneel."

Barely anyone heard Lynsandra’s words, but they felt her command when their knees gave in. They crashed to the floor with violent thuds, hearts skipping a beat as everyone’s breathing hitched all at once.

Cassian, who had been just about to raise his hand to get Lynsandra’s attention, found himself on all fours. His eyes dilated as his complexion paled... just like everyone else.

"What is..." Katarina’s shoulders trembled. "... is going on?"

Meanwhile, Victor’s mind went blank under the crushing pressure bearing down on him.

This presence unleashed in the venue...

Everyone’s thoughts trailed off as beads of sweat formed on their foreheads, trickling down until they landed on the tiled floor. All the reckless words they had spewed earlier rolled back down their throats, almost choking them.

"What is the meaning of this?" one of the guests near Katarina muttered in panic. She tried to get up, but nothing happened. If anything, the moment she struggled, the weight pressing on her grew heavier, so heavy that the floor beneath her began to crack.

"This presence..." one of the men gulped, his complexion drained of color. "...Only the Alpha King can carry such immense pressure."

No matter how difficult it was, he forced his head to rise. The moment his eyes landed on Lynsandra, his breathing stopped once more.

The air around her darkened, her aura visible as it filled and smothered the entire venue.

As realization struck him—and slowly, everyone else—the man’s mouth fell open.

"Luna."

This time, he bowed his head not only out of will, but because the person before them was none other than Her Royal Highness, the Luna of the Royal Pack—the only pack in Lunareth to carry a royal lineage blessed directly by the lunar goddess.

"If she’s the Luna, then..." someone in the crowd murmured, eyes sliding toward Katarina. "How could Katarina not know? Didn’t she say she was close with the Royal Pack?"

At that, Katarina’s already ashen complexion drained of its last hint of color.

How is this possible? she thought. How could this pathetic Lynsandra... be the same Lynsandra of the Royal Pack?

The same question crossed Victor’s mind.

In the three years he had been in a relationship with Lynsandra, he had never known any of this. All he knew was that she had left her countryside home in search of better opportunities in the city. She rarely spoke about it, and he had assumed it was a bitter past.

Besides, it hadn’t mattered to him back then.

But now, how could her wolf feel powerful enough to rival the Alpha King himself?

"She never had a wolf," he muttered under his breath, his expression aghast as he knelt before her. "Didn’t she say her wolf forsook her?"

That was why Lynsandra had been scentless, her wolf aura barely detectable. Everyone knew that a wolfless wolf was even worse off than an omega—lower than the lowest rung of the social ladder.

But... what is this?

Lynsandra smirked as she swept her gaze across the room, pleased by the silence. This was why she didn’t need a large entourage. If she needed to put people in their place, she could do it without anyone’s help.

A few individuals had managed to withstand her aura. Julian, beside her, was among them. But that was because Julian was a pure human; he wouldn’t perceive it the same way as these wolves.

"Those who can stand in my presence may take their seats," she said indifferently, taking another step forward, forcing everyone else to sink even lower on their knees. "That means you deserve them."

Julian guided her hand toward the table at the perfect angle. But just as he pulled out a chair for her, Lynsandra snapped her gaze toward the host of the evening.

The host looked shaken. Aside from a select few of the guests, nearly everyone was on their knees. And yet he was still standing.

"I allowed you to remain standing so the launch may proceed," Lynsandra said coolly, freezing him in place. "We’re already a minute late. Continue as planned."

"Y–yes..." the host stuttered, his eyes darting nervously across the room.

How was he supposed to host an event when nearly everyone was kneeling?

Then he gulped, spotting figures—two, to be exact—walking toward the same table as Lynsandra.

"Haha... I’m so glad I crashed this party," one of them said. "Otherwise, I’d have missed something this interesting." freewebnøvel.com

Victor narrowed his eyes as a leg passed him. Then, another one stepped right between him and Katarina.

"Be quiet," the second man said calmly. "You should worry about what she’ll say if she finds out you’re here."

Curious, Victor—and many others—forced themselves to lift their heads.

When they finally recognized the two men who had withstood the pressure, understanding dawned on them immediately.

Julian’s immunity made sense because he was human. But for wolves, only those of extraordinary strength could remain standing.

"That man..." one guest choked. "Isn’t that the brother of the Alpha of the North?"

At the same time, another whispered, eyes locked on the second figure. "It’s Alpha August." He swallowed hard. "That’s Alpha August of the West Silver Claw Pack!"

"And those two..." someone else gasped, realization crashing down on him. "They were selected to join and even made it into the Luna’s Harem."

Two Alphas from different regions; both equally powerful. It was no surprise they could withstand such pressure. After all, only the strongest, smartest, and most capable were allowed to enter the final trial.

And right now, Elias and August were proving they deserved their places.

Silence fell over the room once more, the reality unfolding before them too overwhelming to process, especially for Victor.

Meanwhile, indifferent to the stunned crowd, Lynsandra arched a brow as the two men joined her table.

"Go easy on me," Elias quipped as he sat across from her. "Withstanding this pressure isn’t easy for me either."

Despite his words, he leaned back with effortless ease.

"If you can’t keep up the facade, the door is wide open," August said as he took his seat nearby, composed as ever. "Save yourself some dignity."

Lynsandra had noticed them earlier in the crowd, so their presence didn’t surprise her, though their purpose did.

"Care to explain how the two of you ended up here?" she asked lightly.

Elias grinned, recalling Cassian’s reaction the day before. "Let’s just say there’s a loudmouth in the harem."

"Two," August corrected, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose before giving Elias a mocking look. Then, he turned to Lynsandra.

He pulled out an invitation and placed it on the table. "Unlike him, I don’t crash parties. I was invited."

"Hah." Lynsandra chuckled, amused. "I’m impressed."

She then turned her attention to the presentation on the stage.

And throughout the launch, from beginning to end... everyone else remained on their knees.