Exchanging Vows: The Swapped Wife Is a Top Shaman

Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Ivy’s Point of View

Alpha Roland’s eyes locked onto mine.

For a long moment, neither of us moved. Neither of us spoke. The tension between us was thick enough to cut with a knife.

I could see him calculating. Weighing his options. Trying to figure out if I was bluffing.

I wasn’t.

Finally, he let out a slow breath through his nose. His jaw unclenched slightly. The crimson faded from his eyes, replaced by something colder. More dangerous.

Calculation.

"Everyone out," he said.

His voice wasn’t loud. But it carried the weight of absolute authority.

Luna Camilla rose from her seat, confusion written across her face. "Husband, what’s going on? Surely you don’t believe this girl’s—"

"I said out."

"Father, she’s lying!" Seraphina rushed forward, grabbing Alpha Roland’s arm. "Whatever she told you, it’s not true! She’s just jealous because I married Bastian and she got stuck with a dying man!"

"Don’t listen to her nonsense," Bastian added smoothly. "She’s clearly unstable. The stress of her situation has affected her mind."

Alpha Roland’s hand slammed down on the table.

"SHUT UP!"

The roar echoed through the hall. Seraphina flinched back. Bastian went pale. Even Luna Camilla took a step away from her husband.

"When I give an order," Alpha Roland said through gritted teeth, "I expect it to be followed. Now get out. All of you. Guests, elders, servants. Everyone except the Calloway family."

The hall erupted into confused murmurs. People exchanged uncertain glances. No one wanted to leave. Everyone wanted to know what was happening.

But no one dared disobey the Alpha when he used that tone.

Slowly, reluctantly, the guests began filing out. Elders shuffled past with curious looks. Servants scurried away with their heads down. The whispers followed them out the door like a swarm of insects.

Within minutes, the great hall was nearly empty.

Only two families remained.

Alpha Roland and his wife and daughter on one side. My parents, my brother, and me on the other. Bastian lingered near the door, clearly uncertain whether the order applied to him.

"You too," Alpha Roland said without looking at him.

"But Father—" Seraphina started.

"He’s not family yet. Out."

Bastian’s jaw tightened, but he bowed and left. The heavy doors closed behind him with a boom that seemed to seal our fate.

Now it was just us.

Alpha Roland turned to face me fully. His expression had shifted from rage to something more controlled. More calculating.

"Speak," he commanded. "What do you want?"

I released his wrist and took a step back. "I want you to allow my father to participate in this year’s kingdom examination."

Silence.

Then Alpha Roland laughed. It was not a pleasant sound.

"That’s what this is about? You’re trying to help your pathetic father escape his duties to the pack?"

"I’m trying to help my father live a life free from your tyranny."

"Watch your tongue, girl."

"Or what?" I met his glare without flinching. "You’ll humiliate me? Insult me? Treat me like garbage? You’ve been doing that my entire life. It doesn’t scare me anymore."

"Ivy." My father’s voice was tight with worry. "Please, don’t—"

"Stay out of this, Father." I didn’t look away from Alpha Roland. "This is between me and him."

"You have no leverage here," Alpha Roland sneered. "Whatever lies you’re planning to spread, no one will believe you over my daughter."

"Then let me make myself clear." I stepped closer to him. "Either you agree to let my father take the examination, or I will tell everyone what really happened on my wedding night. Every detail. Every word. Every disgusting thing your daughter did to steal my husband."

"SHE’S LYING!"

Seraphina lunged at me, her hand raised to strike.

My father moved to intercept her, but I held up my hand to stop him. "I can handle this."

Seraphina’s palm came flying toward my face. Fast. Vicious. Aimed to leave a mark.

I didn’t move. Didn’t flinch. Just stared directly into her eyes.

"I’m still the future Luna of the Silvermoon Pack." My voice was ice. "Are you really going to hit me?"

Her hand stopped inches from my cheek.

"Think carefully, cousin." I tilted my head slightly. "Striking the wife of the Silvermoon heir would be an insult to the entire Ashford family. Do you really want to start a war between packs just to satisfy your temper?"

Seraphina’s face contorted with fury. Her hand trembled in the air. But she didn’t swing.

She couldn’t.

After a long, tense moment, she lowered her arm and stepped back. Her eyes were burning with hatred, but there was fear there too.

Good.

She retreated to her father’s side, clutching his arm. "Father, make her stop! She’s spreading lies about me! You have to punish her!"

Alpha Roland stroked his daughter’s hair soothingly. Then he turned his cold gaze back to me.

"You speak of evidence," he said flatly. "Where is it? Anyone can make accusations. Prove what you’re saying is true."

Bastian’s voice came from somewhere behind me. He must have snuck back in. "She’s clearly delusional. Jealousy has rotted her brain. She can’t accept that Seraphina and I are happy together, so she’s making up stories to destroy us."

I laughed.

The sound echoed through the empty hall. Bright. Sharp. Slightly unhinged.

Everyone stared at me like I had lost my mind.

Maybe I had. But I didn’t care anymore.

"You want proof?" I smiled. "Fine. Let me show you something."

I closed my eyes for a moment. Took a deep breath. And when I opened my mouth again, it wasn’t my voice that came out.

It was Seraphina’s.

"Bastian... stop talking and hurry up. I’ve waited long enough."

The hall went dead silent.

I continued, shifting seamlessly to Bastian’s deeper tones. "Are you sure you want to be with me? There’s no turning back after tonight, Sera."

My mother gasped. My father’s face went white.

Back to Seraphina’s voice. "I’ve been planning this for so long. You have no idea how much I wanted you, Bastian. Not that vegetable brother of yours."

Bastian’s confident expression crumbled. His face drained of all color.

Seraphina looked like she might faint.

I kept going. Bastian’s voice again, dripping with arrogance. "Dominic won’t last much longer anyway. The healers give him weeks at best. And when he’s gone, the heir position falls to me."

Then Seraphina. Breathless. Theatrical. "She never deserved you. A Beta’s daughter... pathetic... you were always meant to be mine..."

I stopped.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Everyone was staring at me with wide eyes. My parents. Finn. Alpha Roland. Luna Camilla.

No one had ever known about this ability. I had kept it hidden my entire life, just like my shaman powers. Another secret weapon, saved for exactly the right moment.

And this was that moment.

"That’s... that’s impossible," Seraphina stammered. Her face was bright red. "You’re making it up! You’re putting words in our mouths!"

I smiled sweetly at her. "Am I? Then how do I know exactly what you said? How do I know the pet names you used? The promises you made? The way you moaned his name while I lay under the bed, listening to every disgusting sound?"

Seraphina’s mouth opened and closed. No words came out.

Bastian still hadn’t moved. He stood frozen like a statue, his eyes wide with shock and horror.

I turned back to Alpha Roland.

"That’s my evidence," I said calmly. "I was there. I heard everything. And unless you want me to perform this little show for every pack in the kingdom, you will give my father what I’m asking for."

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