Chapter 4
Aurora
Three days later, the official Alpha succession ceremony of the Silver Moon Pack was held.
On the altar, I wore white ceremonial robes, facing hundreds of pack members. Today, I would officially become this pack's Alpha.
"This is wrong!" A voice shouted from the crowd. "A female Alpha? That's against everything we stand for!"
It was Marcus, the Third Elder's son, standing in the crowd with obvious defiance on his face.
I sneered: "Marcus, you dare question the Moon Goddess herself?"
"What I'm questioning is—"
"Enough!" Chief Elder Aldric roared angrily. "The Moon Goddess has spoken. Question her will again, and it will be blasphemy!"
Marcus bit his tongue, though the defiance in his eyes remained obvious.
I smiled to myself. This time around, no one slips through my fingers.
"The succession ceremony begins!"
The Chief Elder lifted the Alpha crown—forged from pure silver and embedded with sacred stones.
"In the name of the Moon Goddess, I crown Aurora Reed as Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack!"
The moment the crown was placed on my head, power unlike anything I'd ever known surged through me, my eyes glowing gold with newfound authority!
"Hail Alpha Queen!" The Chief Elder was the first to kneel.
"Hail Alpha Queen!" The crowd roared in unison, dropping to their knees as their voices thundered through the hall.
Even Marcus, with all his opposition, buckled under the weight of my Alpha command!
I looked around, drinking in the moment. Everything taken from me before would be mine again—with interest!
"Now, let my mate come forward."
Zane approached wearing a deep blue ceremonial suit, kneeling on one knee before me: "My Queen, my everything."
He rose to drape the consort's cloak over my shoulders, whispering in my ear: "From now on, I belong only to you."
His scent made my head swim.
"Long live the Queen!" The crowd erupted in cheers.
After the ceremony ended, I received the pack members' pledges of loyalty in the great hall. That's when a familiar figure emerged from the crowd.
"I, Dante," said the handsome warrior who once courted me, dropping to one knee, "pledge my life to Queen Aurora!"
I looked at him with interest: "Dante," I said with a hint of amusement, "weren't you trying to get into my bed just weeks ago?"
Dante raised his head, a flash of complexity in his eyes that quickly became resolute: "It's because I've seen your strength up close that I know what you're truly capable of. You've chosen Zane. Let me serve you instead with my sword and my life."
Interesting. From suitor to guardian—this kind of loyalty was more valuable.
Just then, another voice rang out: "I also pledge loyalty to the Queen!"
It was actually Marcus, who had just opposed me! He also stepped forward and knelt.
I raised an eyebrow: "Marcus," I said coolly, "minutes ago you opposed me. And if memory serves, you once thought yourself worthy of my bed."
Marcus lowered his head, shame flashing across his face: "I was blind and arrogant," he said, eyes downcast. "Your power opened my eyes. The Moon Goddess chose well. I'd rather serve at your feet than live with the shame of rejection."
I nodded with satisfaction. Watching former suitors pledge their swords to me was sweeter than any rejection could ever be.
"Good," I said, my voice carrying throughout the hall. "Anyone else care to challenge me?"
I let my power flood the room, pressing down on every person present. The fence-sitters along the walls suddenly found the floor fascinating. Even the oldest, most stubborn elders bit their tongues.
Zane stood beside me, watching Dante and Marcus kneel in loyalty, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He whispered in my ear: "You've got them eating from your hand," he whispered. "Rivals to servants in the blink of an eye."
I chuckled softly: "It's called strategy, darling," I smirked. "Something you could learn."
"Excellent!" I raised both hands. "Today marks a new chapter for Silver Moon! Under my leadership, we will become the pack others fear to cross!"
"Long live the Queen!" The cheers grew even more fervent.
The celebration continued until late into the night. When the last guest left, I finally returned to the Alpha office—a place I had never truly possessed in my past life.
"Tired?" Zane gently massaged my shoulders.
"Not at all," I said, leaning against him. "Best damn day of my life."
"Rest then, my Queen. Tomorrow brings new battles."
After he left, I sat alone at last, I ran my fingers over the desk's polished surface. Mine. All mine.
Suddenly, I noticed a letter on the desk.
I frowned. That wasn't there a minute ago...
I tore open the envelope. Inside was a note:
"An Alpha who defies tradition must die."
My blood ran cold!
In the bottom corner was a silver emblem—intersecting crescents that seemed to pulse with malice.
I'd never seen this symbol in either of my lives!
"Zane!" I immediately called out.
In less than ten seconds, Zane burst into the office: "What's wrong?"
I handed him the note, watching his expression gradually grow grave.
"This mark..." Zane's eyes narrowed. "It's familiar, but I can't place it."
My instincts screamed danger. Someone outside our pack wanted me dead.
"Find out what this symbol means," I ordered. "And get me reports of any strangers near our borders."
"Yes!" Zane responded and left.
An hour later, he returned with the investigation results.
"My Queen," Zane's face darkened. "Sera's been meeting with outsiders. And our patrols have picked up unknown scents along our borders for days now."
"I knew it," I hissed through clenched teeth.
"That bitch Sera won't give up even after being banished!"
"There's more," Zane added. "These scents? They're powerful. Not some random rogues."
I stood and walked to the window, gazing out at the distant dark forest. Moonlight cast long shadows through the trees, hiding God knows what in the darkness.
"So," I said with an icy smile, "our real enemy isn't home-grown. Sera's stupid enough to bring outsiders against her own kind."
Rage boiled up inside me, so fierce that Zane actually took a step back.
"I don't care who they are," my eyes glowed with fury. "They come for me and mine? I'll paint the forest with their blood!"
But this was just the opening move. Whatever group used that silver emblem, whatever they really wanted—that was the real mystery.
Somewhere in the darkness beyond our borders, someone was watching. Waiting. Planning.