Chris

The hall reverberates with wild cheers, celebrating our crowning and Kane's appointment as regent. After what feels like an eternity, all of our hard work has paid off and I couldn't be prouder.

My chest swells, seeing my family take their rightfully earned place in our world. For the first time in a long time, I let myself savour the moment. Ethan can barely contain his excitement, my hand resting on his shoulder is the only thing anchoring him as he gets caught up in the jubilation.

All too soon, my attention is brought to Jess as she stiffens beside me, her hand squeezing mine. I follow her gaze but she's staring at nothing, brows furrowed in concentration.

'What is it baby,' I link, trying to keep my expression neutral.

'He's here,' she hisses. 'I can feel him and he's pissed!'

Cyrus bristles at the edge of panic in her voice, itching to take a crack at this Shadowman.

As quickly as she gets worked up, she relaxes slightly, confusion written clearly on her face. 'He's gone...'

'Where was he?' I ask, scanning the room and finding nothing of note.

'I don't know,' she replies after a moment, turning her golden-brown gaze to me. 'It was like he was here... but not?'

'Like the dreams?' I ask, struggling to suppress a scowl.

Nothing is ever simple, there's no peace, not for us.

'Yeah, but weaker... I felt him flare up just after Kane was confirmed and the cheering began... He didn't see this coming I don't think,' she mumbles, lost in thought.

Slowly a light shines in her eyes, twinkling as a smile slips on her lips. "Whatever we're doing is not what he wanted, so I say we keep it up," she whispers aloud.

Jess turns and steps against me, hooking her hand around the back of my neck to reach up for a kiss. When her lips brush mine, I'm only too eager to return it, wrapping both arms around her waist as renewed cheers and whistles sound.

When we finally break apart, our breathing is heavy and she's looking up at me through her dark lashes with a coy smile playing on her lips. "Congratulations Sire," she breathes out far more seductively than it has any right to be.

"My Queen," I huskily whisper back, lifting her hand to my lips for a quick kiss.

A clearing throat draws our attention to Jace, who is grinning like a fool, his grey eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Really?" I grumble.

"You love birds have all night, me and the kid are starving," he replies, nodding to Ethan.

"Hey," Ethan groans. "I'm a prince now!" He glares at Jace for a moment, making the Beta laugh.

"You've always been a prince kid, now you just have some jewelry-"

Ethan jumps on him, cutting him off mid-sentence. I groan and palm my forehead, thankful that everyone is already making their way out and over to the ballroom that's been turned into a hybrid banquet hall.

"Highnesses, if you please." Percival gestures to the thrones. "It's tradition to have your photos taken individually and together."

I fish out my phone and pass it to Jace, then lead Jess up to the right-hand throne and see Ethan staring at his. After giving her cheek a quick kiss, I walk over to him and lay a hand on his shoulder.

"It's bigger up close," he mumbles, not taking his eyes off of the throne.

"Mmhmm," I murmur, giving him the time to work through his thoughts.

"What if I mess up?" he whispers, lifting his gaze to mine.

"We all mess up Ethan," I say, remembering having this conversation with my father many years ago. "It's how you fix your mistakes that matters... The fact that you think about the consequences tells me in time you'll be a great king."

"I never thanked you, for all you did..." he starts, his brows furrowed and eyes troubled.

"Kid, that's what family is for," I say, shaking my head. "We all have our parts to play, sometimes we don't know what that part is until the time comes."

Ethan considers my words carefully and slowly nods. For as young as he is, he's seen more than any child should have and it's forced him to grow up too soon. Already I'd put his reasoning and ethics against any Alpha.

"You guys good?" Jess asks, having taken her seat. There's a knowing look in her eyes but she's giving him his space.

"Yeah, just man talk," I saw winking at him. Jess rolls her eyes playfully and Ethan sighs as he relaxes and takes his seat. Not wanting to hold anyone up longer, I take the center throne.

Ethan's right, I realize as I settle into my seat. Suddenly the weight of the crown I wear grows tenfold.

As challenging as the transition from Alpha to King has been, it's just the beginning.

Fortunately, the pictures go quickly and Jace got the hint, snapping candid shots with my cell. I have to remind both him and Ethan not to run to the banquet hall when Percival releases us.

For as stressful as the preparation was, both the ceremony and dinner go smoothly. Even Caimens' rogues have blended in well, with several finding their match packs throughout dinner.

When dinner finishes, the band strikes up and Percival motions for us to lead the first dance. Jess gracefully takes my hand and follows me into the center of the clearing.

"Have I mentioned how beautiful you are tonight, my queen?" I murmur, sweeping her around the dance floor to the music. Jess smiles and drops her gaze, her cheeks rosy.

"You may have, Sire," she teases back.

"I'm so proud of you baby," I whisper looking deep into her golden-brown eyes. "You've come so far and I love you more every day. I can't wait to start this next chapter."

"How did I get so lucky?" she whispers, her eyes glistening with unscheduled tears. We pause, taking a moment where everything else seems to fade away but us and the music.

Jess leans up, brushing a chaste kiss on my lips before smiling up at me. The love and happiness feeding back through the bond make my heart swell.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ethan walk up, holding his hand out for Jess to cut in. She isn't the only one to have broken out of her shell this year, Ethan is unrecognizable from that feral pup that was running wild in my pack this spring. In such a short time he's flourished into a young man any father would be proud of.

I hand Jess off and spot grandmother in a simple silver gown on the sidelines and ask her to dance. With the grace of a seasoned Luna, she takes my hand and glides onto the dancefloor.

"Your parents would be so proud of you Christopher," she says, her voice choking up.

"Quite a twist of fate for a second son hmm?" I muse.

As the second-born I was destined to be Derek's Beta at best, but the fates had other plans for our family. Derek is poised to take over the Guardians when Garrick retires and not only am I Still Waters' Alpha, but the king until Ethan is of age.

"Your parents always knew you boys were destined for great things." Her broad smile and pride shining in her crystal blue eyes is a welcomed sight.

"Somehow I don't think they expected me to be King," I dryly reply with a ghost of a smirk.

"Maybe not, but look at the life you have built, a beautiful mate, pups on the way, a son any father would be proud of... I'm so proud of you Christoper!"

"I am truly blessed," I agree, watching Jess and Ethan glide around.

The music pauses before the next song, allowing for a change of partners once more. Grandmother returns to her seat but I collect my next unwitting partner.

"What do you say, head warrior?" I ask, extending my hand to Sara.

"Can I refuse the king?" she muses, taking my hand and slowly getting up. "I really do need the rule book for this new king status." Her dark eyes glint with mischief as she twirls around the dance floor with me.

"Why? You just threw the one out about Alpha without reading it, I expect nothing less." Sara laughs at getting called out like that. We may have had our rough patches but she is among my most trusted, and practically family.

"She sure looks the part, hmm?" Sara muses looking at Jess as she dances with Jude. "It's possible I was wrong about her after all."

We both break down laughing. Sara and Jess were like oil and water, with Sara taking an instant dislike to the concept of a human Luna. Though their friendship is odd, there is no limit to how far either would go for each other.

We do a couple more passes and decide to take it easy now that the dance floor is filling up. Kane does his one obligatory dance and is sitting and drinking with Nex, laughing like old times.

"Cheers," he calls, holding a drink out for me. I toss the whiskey back, savouring the silky-smooth heat.

"Look at those two," Nex says, nodding to Willow on the dance floor. "I miss her... you not so much." I bark out a laugh watching Kane's face fall with a grumbled asshole.

"This is all she's talked about for weeks," Kane admits. "She's a proper Luna at home now, even getting some friends, but none so close as Jess."

Willow and Jess are dancing and laughing alongside Sasha and Mira. They're too far to make out what they're talking about but seeing her head tossed back in laughter leaves me grinning.

"Hale," I call, waving the man over as he wanders through the crowd. "Kane, Hale, and this is Nex, his ex Beta and my head warrior male?"

The first time trying to introduce Nex is awkward, to say the least, but Halee nods to the men and takes a seat.

"Valley Glen, right?" Kane asks, eyeing the senior Alpha, who nods. "His pack sent all of those medical supplies, between that and our healers our losses were minimal."

I look at the Alpha with renewed light, not knowing he had any role in the war. By the end, I was so fixated on Jess and her recovery that I trusted Kane and the rest to oversee what needed to be done.

"I wish we could have done more, but by the time we got word you guys were in the thick of things," Hale replies with a grimace. "So I threw everyone into production, packed up as much as possible, and sent it as soon as we could."

"It made a difference," Kane dismisses. "We were able to focus our healers on the most critical... that saved lives."

I follow Hale's gaze to the dance floor and onto Jess. He's got the smile of a man at peace. His reaction over losing Lyana was raw and genuine, clearly something that hit his small pack hard.

"Jess is in rare form tonight." I chuckle, watching her twirl Willow. "I'm sure she'd be more than happy to spare you a dance."

The older man barks out a laugh and waves that notion away. "I've been blessed with many things over the years, two left feet are among them."

"Kane feels your pain," I dig, earning a scowl and grumble.

"Who's the woman she's dancing with?" Hale asks, craning his neck for a better view.

"Willow?" I answer, curious about his interest. "The Crescent Falls Luna."

Kane straightens in his seat but says nothing though I see the scrutiny his gaze now carries. No one likes when someone takes an interest in their mate, alphas least of all.

"She reminds me of someone..." Hale trails off. "This place feels full of ghosts."

The man stands abruptly and shakes his head. "Forgive an old man's nostalgia, I think I'll turn in. Gentlemen."

I watch as Hale retreats and replay his words over and over again. This place is full of ghosts, but I suspect he means a different kind.

And how does Willow fit in?