The Wolf's Queen Vows

Chapter 49: The Failed Plans

The door to Eirene’s chamber burst open with a loud bang. The sudden noise made her jump. She turned sharply from her dressing table, clutching her robe to her chest.

"Rowena?" she barked, startled. "What on earth—"

Her daughter was breathless. Her face was pale and flushed.

"The palace is on fire, Mother!" Rowena shouted.

Eirene frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Not a real fire!" Rowena snapped, her voice shaking. "Aveloria! She’s back!" freewebnøvel.coɱ

Eirene froze. For a second, she thought she had misheard. She turned fully toward her daughter, her expression blank.

"What did you just say?"

Rowena slammed the door shut and leaned against it. "You heard me! She’s alive!"

Eirene blinked several times, her mind refusing to process it. "That’s impossible."

Rowena’s tone was sharp, near hysterical. "Does it look impossible? She rode through the gates with her soldiers and that mutt Galen! The whole court knows. They said she led the charge herself and killed Wanderers with her own hands!"

Eirene’s jaw dropped slightly. She had spent the last few days crafting what she would say when the report of Aveloria’s death reached the palace, how she would pretend to grieve, how she would win sympathy from the king and the council. She had imagined shedding false tears by the fire.

And now, all of that was gone.

Rowena began pacing across the floor, her hands shaking. "Do you know what they’re saying? They’re calling her a hero. They said she’s stronger than before. That she has the blessing of the moon itself, they said two of her mates fought beside her like a divine army!"

Eirene’s eyes narrowed. "Who told you this?"

"Everyone! The guards at the gate, the maids, the elders. Everyone’s praising her. They’re saying she saved the border. She faced fifty Wanderers and came back alive; they all saw her when she returned."

Eirene stood motionless for a moment, trying to hide her rage. She went to the edge of her bed and sat down slowly. "And Galen?" she asked quietly.

Rowena scoffed. "Oh, they’re all singing his name, too. The brave Beta who fought for his heiress and mate. They’re saying Aveloria and her mates fought side by side until the last of the monsters fled."

Eirene’s teeth clenched.

Rowena continued, her voice rising. "You said she wouldn’t survive the mission! You said the forest would take her! You said—"

"I know what I said!" Eirene snapped, standing abruptly. Her tone silenced her daughter for a second.

The room fell quiet except for Rowena’s ragged breathing.

Eirene rubbed her temple, her mind racing. "She wasn’t supposed to return. Everything was planned. The Wanderers—"

"Failed! Like every other one of your plans!" Rowena cuts in sharply.

Eirene turned sharply toward her. "Watch your tone."

Rowena laughed bitterly. "Why? Because you’re my mother? You keep making promises that never work. You’ve been talking about getting rid of her for years, yet she keeps returning stronger than before."

"Rowena!" Eirene hissed. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

"No! You don’t get to shush me anymore," Rowena said, her voice trembling with anger. "Do you know what they’re saying about us? That we were useless while she risked her life for the realm. That we’re cowards living in luxury while she bled on the battlefield. Even Father looked proud when they mentioned her name!"

Eirene’s fingers tightened around the edge of the bedpost. "I’ll handle this."

"You said that the last time!" Rowena shouted. "When she returned from the temple to warn you, when she started gaining the council’s trust again, you say you’ll handle it every time. But what happens? Nothing!"

"Enough!"

Rowena stepped closer, eyes blazing. "No, Mother. I’m done following your silly plans. I’m done waiting for your schemes to work. You promised we would be safe when she was gone. You promised I’d finally have my chance at the throne. And now she’s back, more beloved than ever!"

Eirene exhaled through her nose, trying to keep control. "You think I don’t know what’s at stake?"

"You don’t act like it," Rowena spat. "You’re standing here, calm, while our entire future is falling apart."

Eirene straightened, her eyes hardening. "Calm is how I survive, Rowena. Panic is how people get caught."

Rowena gave a bitter laugh. "You mean panic is how people realize you’re useless?"

Eirene’s eyes flashed with warning. "Say that again."

Rowena didn’t. She turned away, pacing again. "She’ll destroy us, Mother. You know she will. And now that she’s faced the Wanderers, she’ll gain even more influence over the council. Even the king will listen to her now. He called her ’the pride of Lycanthria’ in front of everyone."

Eirene’s lips pressed into a thin line. "He’s blinded by sentiment. It won’t last."

"It will!" Rowena said fiercely. "You don’t understand. The elders are already preparing a feast. They’re calling it a victory celebration. The council, the packs, and the warriors will be there. They’ll use that night to honor her and her mates."

Eirene froze again. "A feast?"

"Yes," Rowena said bitterly. "A public show of loyalty. After that, no one will dare oppose her. Not even you."

Eirene’s hands curled into fists.

Rowena continued, her voice dropping. "You said we had control. You said everything was under your grasp. But look around, Mother. You’ve lost it. You’ve lost everything."

Eirene strolled toward her, her voice low and firm. "Watch what you say to me."

Rowena didn’t back down. "What are you going to do? Cast another useless spell? Talk to your precious Coven again? How often will you fail before you realize she’s stronger than you?"

Eirene raised her hand, and for a moment, Rowena thought she might strike her. But she didn’t. Her hand dropped to her side.

"Enough," Eirene said, her tone colder now. "You may not believe in me anymore, but I’m not finished. Not yet."

Rowena rolled her eyes. "Another plan?"

"Yes."

"Then what is it this time?"

Eirene looked away, thinking. Her mind turned quickly, piecing together the next steps. "The feast will be our opportunity," she said finally. "If she gained the people’s love tonight, she’ll lose it just as quickly once they see what she truly is."

Rowena frowned. "And how do you plan to do that?"

Eirene turned back toward her. "You’ll know soon enough. Just stay quiet. And don’t speak to anyone about tonight."

Rowena stared at her, shaking her head. "You really think you can still win?"

Eirene smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach her eyes. "Winning is not always about who’s strongest, my dear. Sometimes it’s about who strikes last."

Rowena scoffed but said nothing more. She moved to the door, pausing only once. "You better be right this time," she said quietly. "Because if she takes everything from us, I’ll never forgive you."

Eirene didn’t respond. She watched her daughter leave, her expression hard and calculating.

When the door closed, she sat down again and stared into the empty mirror. Her reflection looked tired, the lines on her face deeper than before. For a moment, she wondered if the Coven had deceived her, if the dark charms she’d used had weakened instead of strengthened her.

But then her jaw tightened. She refused to let that thought take root. This wasn’t over.