noun ~ the ceremony of crowning a sovereign or sovereign's consort

We were escorted down long and narrow corridors until finally, we came to a large set of stairs that lead to huge wooden doors. Liliana bowed and departed from us after introducing the gentlemen beside her; they were guards.

I inhaled deeply as they began to ascend the stairs to the grand doors, my heart hammering in my chest.

Charlie came to stand on my right, Phoenix still on my left as we began to follow the guards up the stairs.

You look wonderful. Phoenix breathed, my arm looped through his. It will be fine, believe me.

I inhaled deeply. Thank you, I'm just nervous.

I glanced up at Charlie to find him in Beta mode but he noticed my gaze and looked down at me. He gave me a gentle smile, his eyes crinkling with the movement.

As we approached the top step, the doors began to creak open and my throat went dry. We walked through slowly and I forced myself to calm down and straighten my shoulders.

My eyes were met with the brightness of the huge room below. I blinked away the harshness to see we were on top of another staircase, overlooking the entire ballroom below us. Gentle classical music was playing, quieting to a gentle hum as whispers filled the room.

"Announcing Lord Alpha and Lady Luna Titan, and Beta Evans from Blood Moon." A large booming voice announced.

Once he spoke, we began to descend the stairs and I took extra care in making sure I didn't trip on my dress as we walked down the stairs. I tuned my breathing in with Phoenix's, absorbing his calm attitude.

To avoid the many gazes, I cast my eyes across the room, taking in the atmosphere. A classical band was playing on a slightly raised podium beside the staircase. The room was so high, that I felt minuscule compared. It was bright white with huge glass chandeliers, golden emblems and decorations, sculptures of wolves and paintings of the wolf ancestors.

As we reached the bottom of the stairs, the curious eyes never left. I felt Phoenix inhale deeply as the music picked up in volume once again. I looked around the room, many of the wolves larger than me and oozing with confidence. The coronation was only for higher wolves, namely the Alpha couple but Charlie had come for his 'smarts'. His words, not mine.

The coronation was set to be "informal" based on the fact it was a ball and not a wedding-style celebration. But people were dressed in their fanciest clothes and cameras were pointed from large metal arms that were secured into the wall. I blushed when I realised some were focused on us but was grateful when they began to move away.

"Alpha Phoenix, good to see you again." A man with silvering hair greeted.

We turned to see an Alpha I recognised from my fights, a wide smile on his face. I distinctly remember him being a King's Alpha who was very nosey with the mate fights and my twin. He was Alpha of New Moon; the innovative pack.

"Alpha Demetrius, good to see you again too." Phoenix greeted as they shook hands.

I noticed how the man's eyes flickered to me and observed my body, his smile polite but still creepy. I clenched my jaw, forcing my emotions to not show on my face. A woman beside him, dressed elegantly in a red gown was scrutinising me. Her blonde hair was pale and held into a bun at the back of her head. Small wrinkles showed around her eyes and mouth as she frowned but she didn't give me any bad vibes.

"I'm sure you remember my mate, Nova," Phoenix smirked, his hand moving to hold me around my middle.

The couple nodded, and the woman's eyes widened in delight. I licked my lips nervously, forcing myself to speak.

"Nice to see you again."

"And you, my dear, glad you survived the fights." Demetrius chimed.

"This is the Lycan twin you told me about?" The woman asked, turning to her mate. "She is very intriguing, you are correct... You look wonderful dear, I am Aila."

I felt Cel rise at my nerves, particularly when the woman's eyes flashed a deep hazel colour of her wolf. I wondered for a moment if she was related to Phoenix.

Do I trust her? What does your gut tell you? I asked Cel.

I would. I do. Something about her wolf... does not try to intimidate me nor threaten me. Cel soothes me.

The woman noticed my scrutiny and laughed. "I can see your wolf showing. Does she feel threatened by me?"

I licked my lips, trusting my strange gut and shaking my head. "Quite the opposite."

"Well I am glad." She laughed, her hand smacking at her chest. "I knew your mother."

My eyes widened at the thought. "You did?"

She nodded, smiling sadly. "She was a great and kind woman. I'm so sorry dear, but I am glad you made it out alive... you should walk or dance with me after the coronation, I can show you the paintings of your ancestors that they have here."

I felt my heart race, my eyes immediately falling to the painting of a King behind her. "There's paintings?"

"Of course." She smiled. "Come find me after, I will show you."

"I will." I nodded.

The orchestra lowered their volume as once again the room fell to hushed whispers. I felt Phoenix turn us, Charlie, following the movement with ease so I was still wedged between them. My stomach fluttered at the feeling of being so secure.

"Announcing, his Royal Highness Prince Alexandar Mora and his to-be mate Lady Theia Cooper." The announcer called.

The whispers fell to a dull silence as the soon-to-be King and Queen descended the stairs. Nobody but myself and Phoenix had known he had found his mate. He had confided in us to keep it a secret as he knew his father would not approve. Phoenix had told me she was of Beta blood, from a pack on the out-lands.

Alexandar was dressed in a blood-red suit with some kind of deep brown wolf pelt hanging down his shoulders and pack, trailing on the floor. He wore it like a cape, its paws draped down his chest and the muzzle resting on his head. I wondered about the symbolism of it, as to why they kept this particular wolf pelt. His ginger hair was hidden beneath the wolf's head but his brown eyes were wide and full of pride as they entered the room.

His mate, Theia, seemed to be the complete opposite. Her skin was a dark rich contrast to his pale tone, her eyes were hard to see from here but they appeared to be a dark brown almost black. Her body appeared curvaceous, covered by a layered blue dress that I was sure Molly would be gushing over. A small smile lit my face as I thought about how much she would love the large dark dress.

Theia's eyes cast around the room, not an ounce of nerves on her face as she held her mate's arm. Her black hair was a short afro, neatly kept atop her head. I noticed the camera's working their magic, capturing all angles of the events unfolding as the future rulers descended the stairs.

The crowd parted as they began to walk the floor, arms linked as they glided gracefully across the room. How she was so smooth in six-inch heels, I'd never know.

They fastly approached us and I automatically bowed my head in their presence, finding everyone nearby doing the same. I inhaled sharply when they passed, absorbing in their wolf's essence to send signals to Cel. She was intrigued by the powerful woman, more so wanting to know of her wolf.

Once they had travelled further up the room, I straightened my back along with the two men at my side. The couple climbed a few more steps that led up to a podium, an older man stood waiting for them. The elder wolf was dressed in ceremony gowns; a deep red, white and gold cape encasing his body and a similar hat on his head.

"Welcome, everyone." The elder called. "Today, we are not only marking the coronation of Prince Alexandar Mora, but also we are here to witness with great history, the marking of true mates outside of the normal mate-ship duals."

I glanced up at Phoenix to find his gaze firm as we faced towards the front of the stage.

"If I could please have the King's Alpha's approach the stage." The elder called.

I swallowed harshly as Phoenix began to move, taking me with him. Charlie fell into step behind us, Demetrius and Aila behind us. Another couple emerged from the crowds ahead, taking lead from us as we all approached the stage. I observed the back of their heads, both the males were brunette, however one was beginning to grey and was short than the other. I wondered where Lyra was, we haven't heard from her in a while.

He is a stand in Alpha whilst Lyra sorts herself out. Phoenix's voice reached me through the mind link.

We all stood in a line at the base of the stairs, Charlie behind me and Demetrius closer to me. I noticed the Alpha I was unacquainted with gave me a side glance from beside Phoenix, his older counterpart falling in line with Charlie. I assumed it was a father-son duo, both sharing the same brown hair with black highlights and brown eyes.

When the strange Alpha did scrutinise me, Phoenix only seemed to pull me tighter to him, blocking my view from the man. I held back the frown, remembering we were on camera and turned back to the front.

Alexandar's eyes were ahead but Theia was already watching me. She glanced at my mate, to the way he held me and then to the wolf beside us with no emotion. She was cool and calculated, and even more beautiful in person.

She is not a full wolf. Cel mumbled.

She's not? I wondered, my eyes narrowing on the woman before me.

She smells strange, I cannot place it.

I hummed to her, licking my lips as my hand clenched around Phoenix's arm.

"Thank you all for coming, the ceremony shall begin." The elder beamed, raising his arms.

The room was quiet but the lights behind us began to dim until the stage was the main focal point. My jaw clenched as Alexandar stepped forwards to stand beside the elder.

"Can former King and Lord Phoenix Titan approach the stage?"

My eyes widened as Phoenix bowed his head, his hand slipping from my waist. I felt cold and weirdly empty when he walked ahead, barely glancing at me in his 'Alpha-mode'. I timidly turned to where he was standing to see the strange Alpha already staring at me. Charlie must have noticed the standoff, as he fell into position beside me, his hand coming to hold my own. I took it gratefully, squeezing it as a sign of thanks. He held his shoulders square, going as far as to glare at the Alpha beside us who turned away at the intimidation.

"Do you Phoenix Titan, officially bestow the crown and all of its glory upon Alexandar Mora?"

"I do," Phoenix spoke, his voice velvety smooth.

"Do you Alexandar Mora accept this honour and given to you by Phoenix Titan?"

"I do accept." Alexandar bowed his head, opposite Phoenix.

The sudden appearance of a silver knife met my vision, pulled from an ancient case that lay on a small wooden stool. He turned to Phoenix and I winced when the elder cut his palm until blood pooled at the surface. It didn't heal straight away, being a silver weapon, but Phoenix healed quickly so time was against them. He did the same to Alexandar and in an instant, they held hands, shaking firmly once. Alexandar held his gaze, portraying a promise to him that no one else would ever know.

It must've been only me but I could practically see the energy travelling through their arms, encasing Alexandar in a new kind of power.

"Thank you. The royal blood pact has been sealed." The elder bowed his head. "Phoenix Titan, you are officially bestowed once again with your Lord title."

Phoenix bowed his head before turning and leaving the stage. He came back to beside me, Charlie falling back as his hand slipped away from mine. Phoenix's arm came around my waist, my eyes finding his dark hazel looking down at me. He leaned down slowly to press a kiss on my temple, the faintest of touches that had me smile at the comfort it gave.

"We will now continue with the crowning."

I turned to see the elder holding the silver knife again, narrowing my eyes to see the golden hilt was shiny and clean. He sliced down Alexandar's other hand who squeezed until his blood pooled down his palm and wrist, and onto a cloth beneath him. The elder then held a golden crown, decorated with some kind of jewels. Alexandar got down on one knee, both of them facing each other but with their sides to the crowd and I swallowed as the blood continued to drip. The elder lifted it above his head, Alexandar staring down at the ground.

"Are you Alexandar Mora, willing to accept the oath that is to be given to you today?"

"I am."

"Do you vow to protect our kind, to all costs, even in war, sickness and poverty?"

"I vow."

"Do you vow to protect our lands, nourishing us with value and prosperity?"

"I vow."

"Do you vow to use your power, to benefit werewolf kind in justice, honour and virtue?"

"I vow."

"Then, by the power given to me on the day the Kingdom was created, I crown you, King Alexandar Mora."

The crown was lowered to his head, the silence surrounding us filling the room. I inhaled sharply as the elder let go and Alexandar stood to his feet. The rush of power in the room was electric as he stood before us, before one by one we all broke into a large chorus of approval. Howls filled the air, charging the energy and securing the throne.

•••
Happy Friday! Are we all excited for Halloween coming? Do you celebrate it?

Also thank you for 7 million on Lost Luna! She's also number one again in werewolf category!

Question of the Day:
If you celebrate Halloween, what do you want to be dressed as?
I don't dress up but my boys are Batman and the joker this year lol

WC: 2393

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