Betrayed By My Mate, Claimed By His Lycan King Uncle
Chapter 136: The real fight begins.

Chapter 136: The real fight begins.

"The Alpha Emperor is dead!"

A heavy silence followed the announcement.

"Now... the real fight begins," Dimitri murmured, his voice grave as he sprang off the bed, his muscles tense with urgency. His eyes flicked to Sorayah, who looked up at him in alarm. "I have to leave now, Sorayah. You can go to bed on your own, I’ll return later. But for now, I must be at the Alpha Emperor’s chamber with the other court officials."

Without waiting for a response, Dimitri strode out of the room, leaving Sorayah alone in the cold stillness of the night.

***

When Dimitri arrived at Lupien’s bedchamber, the scene that greeted him was nothing short of horrific. The Alpha Emperor lay sprawled on the bed, his once-mighty form broken. Blood poured from his eyes, ears, and mouth...an undignified, brutal death that no Alpha Emperor should ever suffer. And yet, Lupien had.

Servants quickly ushered Dimitri and the other officials away from the room and into the grand ceremonial hall, as protocol dictated.

The hall was solemn. The court officials stood in rows, dressed in black ceremonial robes, their expressions a mixture of grief and calculation. Some faces were etched with genuine sorrow.....others, like Dimitri’s, masked well their true thoughts. Many wore their grief like costumes, more for show than sincerity.

"The Empress Dowager is here!" announced one of the court eunuchs in a firm, loud voice that echoed through the hall.

Immediately, every official...including Dimitri lowered their heads in deep reverence. A middle-aged woman entered the chamber, her posture regal, every step she took measured and purposeful. Though not aged in appearance, her presence exuded the gravitas of someone who had witnessed and survived many power struggles. Her black hair, laced with streaks of silver, was tied neatly into a traditional bun. Her skin was smooth and well-kept...a testament to years of meticulous care and discipline. She looked every bit the woman who valued grace and appearances, despite her age.

"Long live the Empress Dowager" the officials and Dimitri chorused in unison, their voices rising and falling like waves in a ceremonial tide.

The Empress Dowager gave a slow nod and then took her seat at the head of the court, her expression unreadable but her presence commanding.

"Now that the Alpha Emperor is gone," she began, her voice even and strong, "a period of mourning will commence. It will last for seven days. Only after that will we begin preparations to crown the next Alpha Emperor. At the end of the mourning period, the body of our beloved Alpha Emperor will be taken to the sacred tomb."

A hush fell over the hall as her words settled over them.

"Your Highness," one of the high-ranking officials stepped forward, bowing respectfully before he spoke. "Forgive me for being forward, but we must not take too long before selecting the new Alpha Emperor. Our enemies are watching , and any sign of weakness could be an invitation for war. Whoever we crown must not only be noble in blood but skilled in martial arts. That is the only way the people will trust in his protection, and the enemies will fear the strength of our pack."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the hall.

"We all know that only the Beta Lord has what it takes to ascend the throne," the official continued, his voice gaining momentum. "He is not only a Beta by rank but revered as the God of War. His wisdom, strength, and loyalty make him the ideal candidate to sit upon the Alpha Throne. The Empress Luna is still pregnant, and though her child carries the Emperor’s bloodline, it is yet unborn. We cannot hand the throne to an unborn heir, and certainly not to the Empress herself. With all due respect, she is unfit to rule in her condition."

At that, all the court officials turned and bowed solemnly toward Dimitri. The message was clear.

But the Empress Dowager raised a hand, silencing further declarations.

"We can discuss succession in due time," she said with quiet authority. "For now, let us focus on mourning the Alpha Emperor. We must also see if he left behind a written will. If such a document exists, we shall abide by his final wishes. If not... then we may consider the Beta Lord."

Her voice sharpened as she stood, her commanding gaze sweeping across the room. "But until then, let us grieve with dignity. Let no ambition taint the memory of our fallen Alpha."

"As you wish, Empress Dowager," the officials and Dimitri replied in unison, bowing deeply once again.

With a graceful turn, the Empress Dowager rose from her seat and exited the grand hall, her robes sweeping behind her.

As she stepped into the corridor beyond, she was met by the striking figure of Melissa, who stood waiting with one hand resting gently on her still flat belly. A sly smirk curved her lips.

"Your Highness, Empress Dowager," Melissa began, offering a curtsey that barely concealed her insolence, "what a coincidence it is to run into you here. You and the Alpha Emperor have always had... let’s say... a complicated relationship. You couldn’t even meet with him one last time before his death. And yet, now that he’s gone, you suddenly appear in court."

The Empress Dowager’s eyes narrowed slightly, but her tone remained composed. "That is because I have been on house arrest, as you very well know. And during that time, I have been praying for the Moon Goddess to protect him, and our pack."

"Oh, I see..." Melissa replied, her smile widening with a touch of mockery. "Well, I’ve heard the new Alpha Emperor will be chosen right after the seven-day mourning period. I suppose that decision rests heavily in your hands, doesn’t it?"

Her voice dropped, oozing feigned humility.

"Not that I’m interested in ruling, of course. I only just announced my pregnancy last night, and the Alpha Emperor died mere hours later. Even if I were to serve as Regent, the court would never support me. And to be honest, I wouldn’t want to take on that burden. My child is not stable yet, and I must prioritize its safety above all else."

The Empress Dowager offered no immediate reply. Instead, she simply observed Melissa in silence, her expression unreadable as her eyes briefly flicked to the younger woman’s stomach, then back to her face.

"Who becomes the Alpha Emperor next shouldn’t concern you right now, Luna," the Empress Dowager said coldly, her voice laced with restrained fury. "You should be mourning your husband, not circling the throne like a vulture. And yet, here you are...already speaking of succession."

"Husband?" Melissa scoffed, one eyebrow arched high with disdain. "Your son never behaved like one. Not even in his final moments. So yes, I need to know who the next Alpha Emperor will be. Is it the Beta Lord? Or are you planning to bring in another puppet from outside the palace?"

The Empress Dowager’s lips tightened, but she offered no reply. Her silence was louder than words.

Melissa tilted her head, a smirk blooming across her lips. "Oh well, I don’t need an answer anymore. You know what’s best for the realm, I’m sure. I’ll just focus on raising my son....the true heir and future Alpha Emperor." She bowed, graceful yet defiant, before turning on her heel and striding away, her soft footsteps echoing through the corridor.

The Empress Dowager remained still, her expression unreadable. Her eunuch and several loyal servants trailed behind her silently. After a moment, she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Do you truly believe the Empress Luna is carrying the Alpha Emperor’s child?" Her tone was grave, thoughtful.

The eunuch, a middle-aged man with a slight stoop and calculating eyes, lowered his head respectfully. "It seems unlikely, Your Highness, especially given the dosage of the drug she consumed. However... there is a possibility they consulted a witch doctor....or perhaps they never administered the tonics at all. We assumed she drank them, but we never confirmed."

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes. "My instincts say she’s faking the pregnancy. Still... if she did not consume the tonics, her stomach will begin to swell in time, and we’ll have our answer."

"Yes, Your Highness," the eunuch said with a solemn nod. "But how long do we allow the throne to remain vacant? Seven days of mourning is already pushing it. The people are restless. The other packs are watching."

The Empress Dowager sighed, her hands clasped in front of her tightly. "I’m considering the Beta Lord. I detest the idea, but he’s the only one who can counter the influence of Melissa’s family. They’re power-hungry, ambitious, and dangerous. Only Dimitri can keep them at bay...for now."

"But... forgive me, Your Highness," the eunuch said hesitantly, "you hate the Beta Lord. He’s responsible for the death of your only son. Why now would you support his claim to the throne? You once disqualified him....stripped him of honor. And now you offer him a crown?"

A sharp smile twisted the Empress Dowager’s lips, one that didn’t reach her eyes. "Because this isn’t about loyalty or love, it’s about strategy. I want to see the Beta Lord clash with the Empress Luna’s family and other powerful families. I want war between them. He is a tool, nothing more. A weapon for war. When the dust settles, when peace is restored and the threats neutralized... Dimitri will die. And then, my uncle’s son will take the throne."

The eunuch blinked, understanding settling in his eyes. "So, you intend for the title of Alpha Emperor to return to your bloodline, no matter the cost?"

"Exactly," the Empress Dowager replied, her voice as hard as stone. "We must play the long game. Let Dimitri wear the crown for now. Let him take the hits and spill the blood. And when he has served his purpose... we will discard him, just like we discarded Lupien."

"You are wise, Empress Dowager," the eunuch said reverently, bowing with a satisfied smile that mirrored hers.

"Summon the Beta Lord to my chamber," the Empress Dowager commanded, already turning to walk down the hall. Her voice rang with imperial authority. "There is much we need to discuss."

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