Notes:
     Merlin is crowned as Alpha over all of Wolf Haven.
Warnings: none

     Morning came and with it, everyone in Wolf Haven awoke. This was to be a day of celebration because Merlin would take his place as Alpha over all of Wolf Haven. That's why, this morning, everyone was in either one of the houses or castles, getting dressed in their best clothing, both for the celebration and the after party.
                         * * * * *
     Rose had just finished getting dressed in a fancy dress with a long flowing train that dragged behind it. It was blue like the dress she wore to her mating ceremony but much more modest than that one had been.
     She wandered into the room where Merlin was getting ready in an outfit similar to his day-to-day but a bit fancier. He stood with his back to her, a long dark blue cloak in his hands, a large golden pendant with his packs' crest on it.
    "Are you ok, Merl?"
    He turned to her then. "I haven't worn this since my coronation. It's been passed down from Alpha leader to Alpha leader; fathers to sons, mothers to daughters, fathers to daughters, mothers to sons, and grandparents to their grandchildren. And now, now I'm wearing it again, as the Alpha above all of these weres and..." He stared into her eyes. "I'm worried I won't be good enough."
    Rose moved closer to him, a small smile spreading slowly over her face. "Merlin, I've learned a lot about you over the year that we've been mated. You're a great Alpha! You've always taken care of everyone as best as you could and I know you will continue to do so. And you heard Iseldir. You'll have help."
     She picked up the cloak and placed it over his shoulders, then clicked the pendant closed over his chest. "Have faith like I do." She leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "I love you."
                           * * * * *
     Most of the mated Omegas were helping their Alphas get dressed much in the same way as Rose helped prepare Merlin. In Arthur's case, both Gwen and Lancelot helped him prepare before Gwen fixed up Lance. Odin was dressed by Bronwen and Eira and Gwaine by Talia and Elena. And so on and so forth.
    Luna was humming a tune as she got dressed. At that moment, Castiel walked in, adjusting the cuffs on his blue suit, and smiled at seeing his mate so happy. He gestured for her to sit down and she did so. Grabbing a brush, he ran his fingers gently through her beautiful golden hair, taking it in hand so he could run the brush through her long hair, holding her gently as he did so.
     All over Merlin's pack, these small, sweet moments were taking place as everyone prepared for the beginning of their new lives...
                           * * * * *
    Close to noon, all of Merlin's pack, the Miller/Charming pack, and all the stray weres and humans met up at the rendezvous point where Iseldir stood, waiting for them, dressed in ceremonial white and gold robes.
    "Shall we?" he asked, gesturing for them to follow him.
     The group of misfits followed the old Gama through the woods until they reached a spot far in them where the forest looked almost unreal, the colors bright and vibrant, the plants otherworldly, and, at the center of it all, stood the tallest tree any of them had ever seen, its branches stretched to the heavens, flowers covering each and every one.
     Standing at the base of this tree was Sola, dressed in what must be her finest spiritual clothing, her long dark hair pulled into a braid, offset by flowers like the ones in the tree.
    Before her sat all the weres in all of Wolf Haven, each dressed in their finest clothing, with their finest jewels.
     As Merlin and his charges walked through the crowd, the weres all stood and they noticed all different sorts of weres.
     Some of the males, like Sam, Dean, and Cas, wore suits. Some females did as well though many wore fancy dresses. Each of the foreign regions wore the fancy clothing that suited each region. The druids all wore robes like Iseldir, each of white and gold. The gypsies wore either fancy dresses or ceremonial clothing.
     The fäe weres wore their own sort of fancy clothing that wasn't different from their usual, much like the pale weres whose clothing was still very much the same as what Merlin had seen them wear everyday.
     The warrior weres wore an assortment of different types of clothing from full armor with long flowing capes while others wore partial armor with fancy robes or dresses. Still others wore nothing but robes or dresses, such as in Sapphira and Kida's cases.
     The spiritual weres dressed like Sola in what they would consider fancy clothing though it wasn't much different than their day-to-day clothing.
     The savage weres wore simple tight leather outfits much like what Cenred usually wore. The halflings dressed mostly in either Native American style clothing or loose, sheer clothing. Many caster weres dressed in either tight-fitting leather catsuits with fluffy robes or capes or in tight-fitting dresses that glittered like the stars.
     The medieval weres such as those in both Merlin and Regina's packs either wore armor with long flowing capes or ballgowns or something similar. The farm weres wore simple cotton dresses or shirts with leather pants.
     All of them, though different, respectfully parted to allow Merlin and his charges to make their way to the front. Merlin and Regina's packs then took their places at the front of all the groups.
     Once they took their places, Merlin travelled, alone, to where Sola was waiting for him. He knelt before her, head bowed in respect.
     "My people! We come here today to be humbled in the presence of the true Alpha! It is by the calling of our mother, the mother of all weres, Mother Lupa, that Merlin Emrys of the Emrys Pack has been chosen to lead us all!"
     Every were and human in the crowd cheered loudly, whooping and hollering, some howling in excitement as they jumped and spun in circles.
     Sola silenced them with a wave of her hand and turned to Merlin. "Merlin Emrys, do you swear to protect all your people?"
      Merlin nodded. "I swear."
      "Do you swear to guard the peace, only fighting when necessary?"
     "I swear."
     "Do you swear to love all your people and do what is best for them? And to choose leaders for each pack that will willingly follow your command and love, cherish, and protect your people as you do?"
     "I swear!" Merlin raised his voice.
     "And do you swear to do as Mother Lupa has asked of you and be the Alpha Wolf Haven needs?"
     "I SWEAR ON MY LIFE!"
     Sola turned to Rose and beckoned her forward. Rose moved from her spot in the crowd forward and knelt beside her Alpha.
     "Omega Vixen, do you swear to obey your Alpha but to advise him wisely and to protect the pack as he does?"
     Rose looked to Merlin and finally responded, "I swear...with all my heart."
     Sola nodded. "Then it is decided. Merlin Emrys is our new Alpha!"
     With that, as Rose and Merlin stood and everyone else in Wolf Haven bowed before them in a gesture of respect.
    "LONG LIVE ALPHA MERLIN! LONG LIVE OMEGA VIXEN ROSE!" they all shouted.
    All the weres then shifted, howled together, and rushed off to begin the afterparty.
                           * * * * *
    They split into smaller groups inside the large castles where the after party took place. Inside each one, the inhabitants were eating, drinking, dancing, fighting, and laughing merrily. The party was a small, simple one, meant mainly to celebrate the Alpha and to find that special place for each were in Wolf Haven.
    All of them were currently working on that very thing as they talked and laughed with various others, finding the best fit.
    Merlin watched all the interactions, keeping a careful eye so that he could be sure he picked the right candidate to lead each group. He also talked with each current leader of the groups to get a better reading on each, so to speak.
     Once the party was over, some hours later, it was decided that each group would speak with Merlin one at a time so he could work out what was best for each.
     Since it was important that the humans were turned quickly, they were sent away with Sapphira to be tested while Merlin decided on the rest.
    The first group he sent for was that of his own pack, the Mills/Charming pack, and the stragglers that came with them on the journey.
    His brothers spoke first, making it clear they wished to stay within his pack as his second and third respectively.
    Almost all in Merlin's pack also wished to stay in it, with him leading, aside from Castiel who told Merlin that he wished to start his own smaller pack with the Winchesters. Merlin agreed that, should all go well with the boys, he'd allow it.
    Peter and Felix also wished to leave his pack and start their own, a pack meant for those younger weres who felt lost or like outcasts. Merlin thought about it for a time and finally nodded his consent, saying they may, as long as they promised not to get into too much trouble.
    They promised and Peter whistled for his pack to join him, shouting, "C'mon, boys! Let's go!" Then they ran into the jungle like heathens.
    Merlin shook his head. "I'm gonna regret that, aren't I?"
    They all simply nodded.
    Despite Peter and Felix leaving, Evelyn and Adam were content in staying. However, a few more of Merlin's pack left for others. Esmeralda, Jasmine, and Al left to go with the gypsies. Ingrid, Pellinore, Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Rapunzel, and Flynn left for the pack of the pale skinned weres, lead by Isadora.
     The Mills/Charming pack wished to stay their own independent pack, nominating Regina as leader. Merlin chuckled at the news and joked that he supposed that was where Chad and Eric were to go after being turned. He accepted this and moved to the next group.
     The stragglers were few and they all decided to join Merlin's pack as his seemed the most safe. Merlin accepted each with open arms.
     Merlin then moved onto the next set. The druids were easy enough. Merlin couldn't imagine anyone else other than Iseldir leading the pack.
     The gypsies were next, explaining to Merlin that the leader they'd had left to join the Lost Ones pack. Merlin suggested Esmeralda to lead as she had led a pack of gypsies successfully before. The gypsies seemed to take a shining to her anyway which helped tremendously.
     Each group after that seemed to run smoothly, most of them having a suitable leader, with one or two needing a change in leadership.
     By the time Merlin had finished discussing all this with everyone, Sapphira returned with the four humans to give her report: they were ready to become who they were meant to be.
     Her pack remained the same as it was with her as the leader. After talking with the four humans, Chad and Eric had decided to go with the Miller/Charming pack while the Winchesters were a bit different.
     They, along with Castiel, Luna, and their pups, wished to start a smaller pack with just them since they were all the family each other had had for the longest time and had the strongest bond together. Since they were so few, Merlin trusted the three men could come to an agreement without needing a leader in charge.
     He also nominated that Gaius and his Uncle Agravaine should join the council, which was approved.
     All that was left now was to turn the boys and get everyone settled. All of which could be taken care of the next day. So, with everything solved for now, the groups went to sleep with their separate packs and contemplate what sort of shelter they might wish for, if any.
     They had a ways to go to prepare themselves for their new lives but, luckily, they'd already started....