Chapter 46

Eamon’s POV

"Cheers to so many years of serving your pack with pride and honor! To Walter!"

"Cheers to Walter!"

The fifty or so partygoers join me in toasting Walter, my longtime Beta and friend. Walter has served Pack BloodyMoon for decades, acting as my father’s Beta before I took the throne.

This elderly man with white hair raised his glass, smiling kindly as he looked at everyone present, thanking them.

The retirement party is in full swing, and all of Pack BloodyMoon’s nobles are gathered for the celebration. Even Landon, my rarely present brother, is here. Everyone is here, except Richard.

I whisper to the assistant beside me, "Is Richard still not coming back?"

The assistant hesitates before answering, "Yes, sir. He said he hasn't found a way to fully heal Mia yet, and that he still needs to atone..."

I sigh, unable to continue discussing the matter.

He's punishing himself.

Richard is still off on his mission to cure Cara’s wolf’s hibernation. I keep in touch with him as much as I can, but he hasn’t been home in years. It’s probably for the best, since there are many in our ranks who would like to see him punished for how he aided Lilia’s terrible schemes.

He’s my brother, yes, but his actions directly hurt my sister and my niece and nephew. The least he can do is help to find a cure for Cara’s missing wolf.

But I also hope that he can come back soon...That way, our big family can be reunited.

“Lovely party, Eamon!”

“What an excellent event!”

“Fabulous!”

“Glad you’re enjoying yourselves,” I tell the pack nobles complimenting the event. “My sister did most of the work.”

The nobles are surprised to hear that Cara planned Walter’s party, “The princess?!”

I nod at the question, “Yes, she is quite the worker.”

One noble leans closer towards me, “Speaking of work… who do you have in mind to replace the irreplaceable Walter? Who will be your next Beta?”

I knew it was only a matter of time before someone asked me this question. I don’t want to lie, but I don’t want to overshadow Walter’s celebration with news of Cara’s appointment.

“I’ve thought long and hard about this decision. I’ve found the right person, and I am very confident that they will be the best person for this job.” I say.

This doesn’t seem to satisfy the nobles around me. They were hoping for me to reveal a name.

One noble speaks up and asks directly, “It’s your sister, isn’t it?”

I look at him curiously and he stammers, “I just… well, I’ve heard that she’s been doing a lot more to help out…”

“I guess every princess gets what she wants though, doesn’t she? A princess says they want to try being a Beta and POOF, magically they get the job offer,” another noble says sarcastically, his voice low.

The noble whispers, "And I heard that the princess doesn't have a wolf now... How can she bear this responsibility?"

How did they know that Cara had lost her wolf?

I narrow my eyes at this man, and I feel my brother Colin smoothly slide next to me.

Colin looks to this noble and says, “Would you feel better if the next Beta had years of experience serving as a Beta for a pack just as large, if not larger, than ours?”

The noble nods enthusiastically, “Yes, if such a Beta were available, that would certainly be better than a princess—”

Colin cuts him off, “Fortunately, our sister DOES in fact have this experience. It sounds like we’re in agreement then, that she IS the best person for the job?”

The question sounds more like a challenge, like Colin is daring the noble who thought Cara hadn’t earned her position to disagree with him. Colin always protects his family first, no matter what.

The noble looks sheepish and adjusts his shirt collar. “Um, well, if that is the case, then, um, yes…”

“Wonderful!” Colin says with a smile, satisfied that the noble is sufficiently placated.

All this politicking, managing expectations and personalities… I’ve always found it tiring. Even more so the older I get. It’s one thing to make reasonable decisions and consider ideas, it’s another thing entirely to peacefully manage the people within the pack.

It’s something that seems to come naturally to Cara. Unfortunately, I’ve always felt I’ve had to work hard to improve at.

It’s one of the skills that will make her a great Alpha Queen someday.

Everyone else in the pact will agree, once they see her in action.

But I can’t let on to my plans yet. Maybe soon though…

---

Cara’s POV

I smile to myself from the corner, relieved that my brother Colin stepped in to defend my work experience.

I heard the nobles’ outraged tones when they learned that the princess would be the next pack Beta. I’m used to having pack nobles underestimate me. I’ve spent my entire life being underestimated.

When I was an orphan, no one thought I deserved to be Beta because of my low-born status.

Now that I’m a princess, no one thinks I deserve to be Beta because they think I only got the job due to my high-born status.

“There she is!” I hear Landon’s voice as I feel his arms wrap around me in a hug.

“Landon! I’m so glad you’re here!” I tell him with a smile.

But I'm not the same as I was before... Now I have a family.

Landon whispers to me, "Hey, don't mind what those guys are saying. We all know you're the best..."

"In our family, aside from you and Eamon, everyone else are rebellious little troublemakers. We're all really grateful to you."

Something about Landon’s easy, care-free attitude always puts me at ease.

I tell him, "That should be something I say. I'm also really grateful to you all, because... because I truly have no wolf now."

My wolf, Lucy.

I place my hand over my heart. Every time I think of her, my heart aches.

"Isn't there someone else you're forgetting, besides our sister and Eamon?" Colin walks over to us.

"Oh, I almost forgot about you! My youngest brother." Landon chuckles.

He chuckles. “As compensasion, Cara, Colin, interested in coming with me on my next trip around the world?”

“I wish I could, but I expect I’ll be quite busy,” I reply.

“Ah, yes, how could I forget? Congratulations again, by the way! I’ll think of you while I’m traveling, though.” His face looks almost sad, like he almost misses me already.

“Send me a postcard?” I ask. At least I’ll be able to experience those far-off places through Landon’s writing.

“Of course!” Landon replies.

My brother Ryan stumbles over and looks at Landon and I before glancing around the room. “We finally have almost all of us in one place,”

“And looking so fancy!” his twin Aidan laughs, gesturing to our formal party attire.

“We’ve got to commemorate the occasion with a family photo!” Ryan suggests.

Eamon tosses his phone to an assistant, and pulls me in. “Everyone gather around Cara!” he instructs.

I’m in the middle, sandwiched between my five red-headed brothers. I feel a genuine smile hit my lips, and I feel the smile all the way up to my eyes.

I feel really, truly happy.

We all smile for the family photograph, and I know this will be a portrait to treasure.

“So, Cara,” I hear Landon say right after we get out of our poses. “Do you have any more dates scheduled?”

I shot him a surprised look.

“Well, considering your last date was a real security risk, it’s better we know in advance if you plan to date any more,” Ryan says.

Colin jabs Ryan in the gut with his elbow, probably upset with Ryan for bringing up my last blind date. The date that ended with me nearly getting raped and Mia accidentally going home with Alaric.

Aidan mutters softly, "As long as it's not Alaric..."

“I know a few single princes from other packs if you’re interested…I could introduce you?” Eamon hesitates to ask me.

I know they were going to wait for my answer.

But I shake my head and turn to my brothers.

"No, I've decided to take a break from dating for now." I say.