Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby
Chapter 137: Leader of the Opposition

Chapter 137: Leader of the Opposition

When Alistair Greymoore reached the VIP area where the council members were seated, he lowered his head in a respectful bow, following proper werewolf etiquette. Once acknowledged, he stood quietly to the side, composed and waiting. Tradition dictated that no one could speak before the council without permission... unless, of course, the matter involved life or death for a werewolf.

The duel in the coliseum had already become monotonous for the council members. What had begun as a high-stakes confrontation between powerful alphas now dragged on tediously. The audience’s energy had dimmed, and the council members just wanted the match to end so they could return to their homes. But Alistair’s sudden and formal arrival at the VIP platform raised eyebrows. Something was wrong.

It was Sarika, the Priest of the werewolves, who broke the silence first.

"Is there something you wish to say, Alistair?" she asked, her tone calm but inquisitive.

Alistair exhaled, visibly relieved to be granted permission. "Thank you, Reverend One, for allowing me to speak."

He bowed once more before continuing. "The Raynor Clan is deliberately stalling the duel to buy time while they dismantle our clan’s foundation in the kingdom. I beg this council to intervene before irreparable damage is done."

Matthias, the Arbiter of the werewolves, leaned forward with a frown. "Are you claiming they attacked your family members or your businesses directly? If so, that would be a serious violation of the dueling accord."

Alistair nodded solemnly. "Our political influence in the kingdom has long been supported by several human allies embedded within Parliament and key bureaucratic circles. While this duel was meant to resolve our dispute over Stockport businesses, the situation has escalated. Many of our human allies are now being publicly named in a massive scandal. Dozens are being accused of financial crimes and corruption. It’s too coordinated to be coincidence. Ethan Raynor is clearly dragging out the duel to keep us confined here while the Raynor Clan destroys us politically from the outside."

Lucien Marceau Valemont, the Treasurer from France, narrowed his eyes. "Again, these are serious allegations, but do you have proof that the Raynor Clan orchestrated this? Have they taken direct action against your allies?"

Alistair nodded again. "The Stockport businesses were managed by the Brown family, longtime friends and allies of ours. The scandal began with Oliver Brown... my son’s close friend and a key figure in our political web. His arrest warrant triggered a chain reaction. It’s all over the news now. Please, see for yourself."

Before Alistair could respond, Stellan Ragnar Fenroth, the Warlord of the werewolves, interjected. "What you are saying is the Raynor Clan is behind it? This is a bold accusation. You should have proper proof to support it."

At this, Sarika took out her phone and began scanning the headlines. Within minutes, her expression darkened. The scale of the situation was undeniable. Major networks were broadcasting the scandal, naming influential politicians, corporate leaders, and long-time government advisors.

"I see now why you’re concerned," Sarika admitted. "But as far as I know, the Raynor Clan has never been interested in politics. They’ve always kept their focus on business. If they really wanted to destroy you, they wouldn’t have agreed to a duel in the first place. It’s not their way."

The other council members murmured in agreement.

"Yes. It doesn’t match their usual behavior," Lucien echoed.

"Regardless," Sarika continued, "you’ve brought this to us, so it’s only fair we check with the other party."

She dialed Fiona Raynor, the head of the Raynor Clan. The phone rang three times before a sleepy, annoyed voice answered.

"Why are you disturbing my sleep?" Fiona grumbled. "If that good-for-nothing Ethan loses the duel, you can whip him to death. No need to call me over it."

The call was on speakerphone, and the entire council heard her words. A few stifled awkward coughs as embarrassment swept over the room.

Sarika cleared her throat. "Fiona, do you know what’s happening in the kingdom right now?"

Fiona replied with an amused tone, "What happened? Did that bastard king finally drop dead? He’s been pestering me for dinner for months. I never had the heart to tell him his great-grandfather used to pester me exactly like him!"

Sarika closed her eyes for a moment, realizing Fiona was in one of her playful moods and clearly unaware of the scandal. Before the conversation grew more inappropriate, Sarika quickly ended the call.

"Never mind. Call me in the morning," Fiona mumbled as the line went dead.

Sarika looked back at Alistair. "You heard her. She’s clearly unaware of what’s happening. And if she was behind it, she wouldn’t have denied it. She’s never been one to hide her actions."

Stellan crossed his arms. "Alistair, if you believe the Raynor Clan is involved, then go and gather the evidence. Once you have something concrete, bring it to me. Until then, don’t disturb the council during a sacred duel."

Alistair understood that he had little choice. With a respectful bow, he left the VIP area. Once he returned to his clan’s seats, he gave immediate orders to his elders. They were to leave the coliseum and search for any shred of evidence that linked the Raynor Clan to the growing political catastrophe.

One by one, the Greymoore elders exited the coliseum, they returned to the kingdom in search of answers.

***

Elsewhere, the newsroom floors of the kingdom’s major dailies like The Times, Daily Telegraph, and Daily Mail were buzzing with tension. Normally, their final editions were printed by midnight and distributed to regional hubs. But tonight, a tip from the opposition party had prompted them to hold their presses and leave space for a major announcement.

Editors were initially puzzled when the Stockport Scandal broke at midnight instead. After the police held their emergency press briefing, journalists scrambled to cover the arrests, suspect lists, and unfolding chaos. Still, they were confused... was this the big political news they had been warned about?

When they contacted opposition leaders for clarification, they were told that the real announcement was still pending. Now, the editors were in a dilemma. Should they hold off or go all in?

That dilemma vanished once the full list of suspects was leaked. Over a hundred names... half of them current Members of Parliament and ministers... were implicated in financial fraud, smuggling, and criminal conspiracy. It wasn’t just a scandal; it was a political earthquake.

The editors quickly decided to expand the coverage. Extra pages were added to the newspaper covers, turning the story into a full-blown special edition. Advertising companies, sensing record-breaking readership, rushed to secure last-minute placements.

The Stockport Scandal was now front-page news, not just a headline. Teams were dispatched to interview anyone even remotely connected to the suspects. The National Crime Agency coordinated with immigration authorities to prevent those on the list from fleeing the country. Some individuals were arrested at home, others at airports... caught just in time.

Only a few from the list had managed to escape, and those were primarily from the opposition party, who already knew the situation in advance. What began as a single search warrant was now an all-consuming firestorm.

Finally, the big news arrived. The Opposition Party held one final online meeting for the night, attended by nearly all its MPs and core officials. Most of them had already been briefed in advance, so there was no panic or confusion. They understood the gravity of the moment... this was poised to become a historic turning point not just for their party, but for the entire kingdom.

Baron Ernest Prentice of Hampton, Chairman of the National Convention of the Opposition Party, presided over the meeting.

"Thank you all for joining this meeting on such short notice," he began. "As you are aware, our party—and indeed, our entire kingdom—is currently facing a major political crisis. I don’t need to explain the details; what happened was beyond our expectations. We had reason to suspect that one of our MPs, Oliver Brown, was involved in illicit activities. And as a party that upholds the interests of the nation above all else, we informed the relevant authorities. The rest, as you’ve seen, is now headline news."

He paused briefly, then added, "At the time, we never imagined we would have to come to this... stripping our party leader in Parliament of his positions. Many of our MPs have been arrested or face serious allegations. But now is not the time for hesitation. We must show the people of the kingdom that our party is not controlled by criminals, but by honest citizens. To do that, we need to elect a new leader of the opposition immediately. Please feel free to propose candidates you believe are best suited to lead us in these challenging times."

Baron John Constantine of Notting Hill, Chairman of the Opposition Party Board, took the lead and said, "If we want the best for our party and the kingdom, we need to choose a leader with a strong reputation, someone well-liked by both the party and the media, and who comes from a noble background. Our focus must be on the upcoming election, so we need a leader who is fit to become Prime Minister. I propose Baron Anthony Hayward Chapman of Bethnal Green for the position of Leader of the Opposition and the next Prime Minister."

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