Chapter 96

Cara’s POV

Eamon had such kind words for me and my dress, but he himself is also stunning in his white fitted suit with golden trim along the collar and cuffs.

He wore a red vest under his white jacket, with a golden crest of the BloodyMoon pack emblazoned upon it.

The gold in the white gives him a sort of regal air. He looks every bit the king that he is.

“...That’s a handsome suit,”

I tell him during our walk to the ballroom. “A suit fit for a king. And you're the best king, my brother.”

Eamon laughs at my compliment. “Thank you! But Trust me, Cara. Of the two of us, I am much less regal in appearance!”

“I disagree,” I say.

“Then perhaps we should get one of these suits fitted for you,” Eamon says.

...What?

He means that I...?

I glance at him in surprise. My feet stop as that same surprise takes over my entire body.

Eamon had mentioned this topic to me in the past, but I could never quite bring myself to believe that I could really take that seat...？

“What are you saying, Eamon?”

“I think you know,” Eamon shrugs.

“I was never a good fit to be Alpha, Cara. My dream is not on that throne. All along, I’ve just been following my father’s orders and doing my best. I don’t actually love this job.”

Eamon looks into my eyes and says earnestly.“...Especially not now that there are more fitting candidates walking among us.”

He can’t mean me, yet, with his steady gaze on me, I feel that is exactly what he means.

BloodyMoon is a very traditional pack. She-wolves have never held high status within this pack—which is exactly why I need to hide my identity, prove myself under another name, and then reveal my true self.

I can't imagine the difficulties a female like me, would face in a pack like this, if I were to become alpha.

“Colin is just as excellent. Why isn’t it him?” I say.

Eamon:"You are far superior to Colin."

I: “......I’m just your beta,”

“You are more than that,” Eamon smiles. “You’ve always been more.”

"......"

I look at him for a long moment.

What words could I even say to express how much pride and gratitude fills me, knowing Eamon thinks me worthy of being the pack’s Alpha.

I never truly considered this as a possibility for myself.

I’m still unsure if I’m worthy or ready of such an honor. Though, as I’m sure this is just a suggestion, not a direct, immediate order.

If Eamon thinks I can do it...

“Ready?”

Eamon watches me silently for a long moment, and then nods toward the building that holds the ballroom and the event.

“Yes,”

I tell him.

My gaze gradually becomes resolute.

I don’t know what will happen tonight or any night after this, but I can face any challenge that comes my way and overcome it.

This is the belief that has carried me through my entire life ——

I want to be the person who is needed by everyone. I want to be the one who can help everyone.

Grandmother’s smile floats into my mind:

“Don’t cry, my little Cara,” she softly caresses my cheek and says in a hoarse and weak voice,

“One day, you will have a family of your own. Trust me, one day you will...”

...And now, I have it！

I clutch my brother Eamon’s arm, and he pat my head, smiling at me.

“Let's go！” I say to Eamon.

We enter the ballroom building through a back entrance so that we will not be observed by the party guests.

There, we weave through the winding servant corridors until we reach the area backstage.

Deep red velvet curtains block us from the view of the room, but beyond them, I can hear the excited chatter of the crowd.

A few people even cheer, calling for their pack’s alpha.

As someone who helped organize this party, I know better than anyone just how sizeable the crowd is on the other side of the curtain.

Everyone is waiting for us.

I’m used to standing off to the side, watching others host these events. I don’t know what it feels like to be in the spotlight myself. But I’m about to find out.

For better or worse, that spotlight is about to come for me.

As Eamon and I stand backstage behind the curtain, Alaric and his beta John approach from the other side.

When Alaric spots me, he stops, stunned by the sight of me.

Alaric:"...Cara?!"

His eyes are slightly wide, his lips parting.

He doesn’t have time to, as host of the event, an actor I hired named Charles, starts to speak through the speakers.

“—— Thank you all for joining us tonight！ In the celebration of the completion ！Of the joint project between our BloodyMoon and DarkWood packs!”

The crowd erupts in a rambunctious cheer. A few people whistle. A few others howl.

“As you know, this joint project took tremendous effort and dedication from both packs, and signifies the pack bond between two communities — This collaboration ushers in a new era of peace for both packs!”

As Charles continues on with his speech, rousing the crowd, Alaric seems to recover somewhat from his stupor. He takes a step toward me.

“Cara…”

“You can talk to Cara afterwards,” Eamon says. He glances back at me. “Assuming that is alright with her, of course.”

“Later, Alaric,”

I manage to say.

Alaric just continues to stare. “...But where is your beta?” he asks Eamon.

Eamon smirks. “Wait and see!”

Before Alaric can probe further, Charles finishes his speech and the velvet curtains part, revealing us on the stage to the massive gathered crowd in the ballroom.

I catch only a glimpse of the sheer number of people before the spotlights land upon us, blinding me to almost everything but the others on the stage.

I can still hear the crowd, I know they are there, but only white, hot light exists beyond the few feet around me.

Eamon looks at me, smiling fondly, before turning toward the front of the stage.

Alaric looks at me too, his face somewhat scrunched in confusion, though there is affection in his gaze. When Eamon turns, he does too, and together the two kings step forward on the stage, approaching the public.

John and I file in behind them, each standing to the right of our individual Alpha Kings.

Alaric looks back at me again, even more confusion crinkling his brow now.

The crowd’s loud applause blocks out all other noises for a time, echoing in my ears.

Then Charles, holding a microphone, walks on from backstage. He comes closer, but then stops, holding his hands out toward the alphas and betas. The crowd somehow gets even louder, showing their approval.

Eamon disparaged himself as Alpha King earlier, but surely he can see how much he is loved.

“— Let’s hear it for the pack alphas and betas!”

Charles says.

Alaric looks all around the stage, like someone else is magically going to appear from behind the curtains. He must be looking for Aylon, not realizing that it’s me.

“From pack DarkWood, we have Alpha Alaric and his beta John!” Charles says.

The people cheer and applaud in a thunderous roar. Charles waits for them to calm down slightly before he continues.

“And from pack Bloodymoon, we have Alpha Eamon and his sister Cara.”

Cheers erupt once more. Again Charles waits, though slightly more impatiently this time. “Many of you know Cara as the recently returned princess of the pack. You might not know that she has also taken on the moniker of Aylon and the role of beta. So please allow me to reintroduce you…”

Eamon steps aside and gestures for me to move forward on my own.

This is the moment. My moment.

Eamon’s reassuring smile helps my legs move, bringing me forward.

“Please welcome the BloodyMoon pack beta, Perhaps you know her more by her other name, our princess, Cara......Aylon Auburn!!!!”

The crowd’s cheers are even, impossibly, louder than before.

Eamon’s smile is kind and calm, giving me strength in this unusual moment.

I’m fully in the spotlight now, blinded by it. My nerves have me rooted and unsure.

Glancing at Alaric, I don’t know what I expect to see there.

He stares back at me in open shock.