Page 96 of Abandoned By My Alpha Husband

Standing before me now was a strong, independent Elena who had her own light.

My wolf whimpered low inside me.

Mate, my wolf said. She's gotten better.

Lina knelt there, stunned for a few seconds, then slowly stood. She glanced at Elena, her expression complicated, then lowered her head and hurried out of the hall.

"About werewolves and humans," I stood before the microphone again, "there's no oppression either way. I'm going to make Silver pine different from what it was. I'll support promising human enterprises. The business world won't be a werewolf monopoly anymore. This is my pledge. I hope it stops the attacks online and in reality."

I saw the Elder Council's livid faces. But I didn't care. Elena stood beside me, her eyes bright. That was enough.

After the press conference, Elena and I walked out of the hall together.

Reporters still chased after us with questions. The guards held them back. We went through the corridor to the side entrance.

"Lucifer."

Elena suddenly stopped and turned to look at me.

"What?"

She looked at me, something unreadable in those amber eyes.

"Why were you watching me?" she asked, sounding embarrassed.

I paused, only then realizing I'd been staring at her throughout the whole event on stage.

"I was just..." I stepped closer, the distance between us only inches. "I was just surprised."

"Surprised at what?" She frowned.

"Surprised you've changed." My gaze settled on her face. "Elena, you've become stronger. More captivating."

"I love you even more." I lowered my head, forehead almost touching hers. "More than five years ago."

She jerked her face away. "You... you're talking nonsense..."

But I noticed her ears had turned red.

I couldn't help but smile, and gently pinched her earlobe. She jumped back like she'd been burned and glared at me.

"Come on," I said. "The news is cleared up. Your shop can reopen."

Over the next few days, everything went as I'd predicted.

The press conference video went viral. Elena's line, "I won't become what you are," became a trending topic. Everyone discussed her courage and grace. Windsor Flagrance' orders exploded. Long lines formed outside Elena's shop every day.

And I did start supporting promising human companies. I'd been doing this secretly for a long time. Now I was just making it public, because these human companies had grown through covert development and could now compete with the traditional noble werewolf enterprises. This meant noble werewolf power would be weakened, including those ancient werewolf families, like the Grays.

It also meant I'd be going to war with the conservative Elder Council.

But I wasn't afraid. I knew that to reform, to change Reserpine's werewolf supremacy and pure bloodline theory, to change the environment for Anya, Liam, and all mixed-bloods, I had to support humans in confronting the noble werewolves. Reserpine's noble werewolves had been arrogant too long, intensifying conflicts and spawning Butcher Squad. I had to eliminate the root cause.

I sat in my study, looking at comments about Windsor Fragrances on the computer screen, a smile tugging at my lips.

"Your Majesty," Marcus knocked and entered. "Ms. Windsor says she's considering opening branch locations. Business is too good for one shop."

"Good." I nodded. "Tell her to let me know if she needs anything."