He Scorned My Love Now He Watches My Rise Chapter 23
Before the cooperation vote began, Colton voluntarily requested to recuse himself.
“The project lead and I had a personal relationship. I will not participate in any vote regarding pricing, personnel, or route selection.”
The elder approved, and Colton moved from the main seats to one at the very edge.
Three years ago, he never would have done something like that.
Back then, he enjoyed every privilege that came with being the Alpha heir, yet he considered my desire for even a little protection from him to be a sign of greed.
Now he had finally learned the boundary between power and feeling.
But that lesson had nothing to do with me anymore.
In the end, the Nightfall pack accepted the standard cooperation terms.
There was no extra guarantee from the Moretti family, and no personal favor granted to me.
The project would be jointly supervised by both teams, and all communication would go through official work channels only.
When the vote ended, the elders did not adjourn.
One of them called to Colton.
“Next, we review your succession eligibility.”
A stir ran through the hall.
Bianca whipped around.
“What does this have to do with Colt?”
An elder laid the Luna candidate registration documents from three years ago on the table.
“The future Alpha knowingly allowed a candidate partner to be repeatedly humiliated by high-ranking members, while letting his authority become a shield for their cruelty.”
“He allowed personal prejudice to influence mate registration and permitted the Beta’s daughter to use his identity to bully a lower-ranking werewolf.”
Bianca’s face changed.
“You can’t revoke the inheritance rights of Alpha blood just because of a breakup!”
“We are not reviewing the breakup.”
The elder looked at her.
“We are reviewing his ability to uphold pack law.”
Colton did not defend himself.
Instead, he handed over two more documents.
They were the overseas assignment applications I had withdrawn three years ago.
“She stayed the first time because I was hospitalized.”
“The second time, because I used the claim ceremony to pressure her.”
His hand rested on the edge of the papers.
“And all the while, I allowed the people around me to say she stayed for the Luna position.”
Bianca was frantic.
“She chose that herself! Are you admitting all this now to play the victim and win her back?”
Colton looked up.
“She won’t come back.”
He said it calmly.
“I’m admitting it because the person who did wrong should bear the consequences.”
The council temporarily froze his succession rights.
There was no set date for restoration.
Until the disciplinary review was complete, he could not represent the Nightfall pack in any external affairs.
Bianca rushed toward him.
“Are you out of your mind? You’d rather give up being Alpha than let this go?”
Colton looked over at me, where I was gathering my materials.
“I’m not giving it up.”
He paused.
“I’m admitting that what I did back then made me unworthy of it.”