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Healer Rhea's POV

Rhea—Amory—Had looked down to her feet once more to see the decapitated head of her former Council member, Mithwell. This ultimately reminded her that there were still a few lingering throughout the audience—The humans of the court who always looked at her with an ill temperament.

Gods, she couldn't imagine how damaging things will look if humans were in the mix with this madness. But it was becoming more clear that it was more than likely a correct possibility.

In the midst of it all, and the others handling the escapists—The Enforcers no doubt following the orders of Drex elsewhere. Rhea turned to see Romulus already looking at her, as if waiting for her to make a decision.

And yet, her eyes glanced to the alter. "Let us make things official, that way others cannot reject our rule." Romulus had closed his eyes and ducked his head down in silent agreement. With a few steps towards her, he offered out his hand and returned her back to the alter.

Upon looking at the Priest, she realized he looked quite disheveled after ducking for cover behind the thrones.

Amory had snuck another smile to Romulus, but the Priest had cleared his throat to return his attention to the ceremony.

There was no point in restarting, and thus, he picked up where he left off before gesturing to the two to estate their vows to one another. While holding one another's hands at their center, Amory could feel the tether return slowly snaking its way around their wrists to intertwine.

And it was undoubtedly beautiful to think of the meaning of eternally binding one's soul to the other.

A concept a human like herself only dreamed of accomplishing.

"Amory...I've made many promises over the course of this year, but I will gladly add to this list. I promise to be your lover, companion, and friend. Your partner, your ally in any conflict, and your toughest adversary...Wherever we go, we will always return to one another. This is my promise of love to you. To give the best of myself and ask no more than you give in return. To share with you my time, and to bring joy, strength, and imagination to our relationship." Amory's lips had parted as the tears from before had come forth once more.

It was beautiful, it was heartfelt, and warm. But more importantly:

It was Romulus.

    "Romulus...I choose you for life. I promise you my deepest love, my fullest devotion, and my tenderest care through our undiscovered future together. I promise to be faithful to you. I promise to love you, commit to you, and support you. I pledge to respect your unique talents and abilities, to lend you strength for all of your goals. I am grateful for your deep love and constant friendship. As I have given you my hand to hold. I give you my life to keep." Romulus' eyes had blinked back and forth to hold back the tears, he hadn't been prepared for Amory's expression of love.

He knew it, his beast could feel it.
But announcing it to a whole Kingdom, to the whole continent, it tugged on his soul without warning.

    "...Here before witnesses, King Romulus Tirean and Queen Amory Vrovaria have sworn themselves to one another. With this cord, I bind them to their words. Repeat after me." Romulus had caught Amory's long inhale in preparation for concentrating on this final piece. And before the golden thread would be laced around their conjoined hands, he rubbed his thumb into her skin in hopes of some comfort.

    "Heart to three, body to thee...Always and forever, bless it be." The crowd beside them had chanted the final three words as a confirmation of their union. And Romulus had to hold himself back from kissing her before they said so.

    "...You may now kiss the bride." Amory had felt her heart starting to leap, but it was strange—The tug placed onto it was in sequence with how Romulus was breathing.
Was that his heart?

    With the priest's words lingering in his next action, a playful smile coursing on Amory's lips had urged Romulus forward as took to the first public display of claiming his wife amongst a crowd.

His wife—His mate.

But there was another step to all of this, a combined coronation before they were relieved of everything. Since Romulus was already announced as King following his father's death, it was Amory who needed to be crowned.

How odd it felt, for both to be titled as the proper monarch for this mix-match kingdom.

Romulus had left Amory's side, but not until after he had aided her to the ground to be presented to the Gods and Goddess of old to announce her proper ascension.

Something that Amory hadn't had in her own father's passing.

Romulus had stood in front of the throne, waiting for his Queen to be reinstated. And even then he had felt the surge of energy as the Priest had chosen a testament of old to deliver this historic moment.

And Amory had taken each and every word with heart and courage until a crown had been offered. One that Romulus refused to wear as nothing aggravated him more than something heavy and dull atop his head.

No, his crown laid in his wolf—His inner beast—The scars lingering on his face as he earned the throne.

Just as Amory has.

The cheers had prompted the Queen to pick up her head and rise back to her feet, although a little unsteady, it had allowed her to pick up the better half of her gown to follow after Romulus as she smiled.
With another offering of his hand, he took the moment to steal another kiss as the howls and laughter made it seem as though there hadn't been a slaughter.

All pretending that there wasn't blood staining the bottom of Amory's white gown. Or that it didn't reek in his nostrils and nearly caused his beast to beg to find the others who were tasked to destroy this beautiful day.

Which reminded him of another cruel concept.

"Ladies and gentlemen—Wolves and humans alike—My honored guests...I am delighted that we could stand together at a time like this. I would like to introduce you properly, to my wife, to my mate—Queen Amory Vrovaria." The announcement had earned plenty of gasps, as well as the quick turnaround from the honored guests close to her.

Hadn't they already established that she is truly Amory?

"My Queen will return to her throne and help me restore just what she envisioned after her father's passing. A united Kingdom. A united forefront of wolves and humans to come together in harmony. Whether that takes us months or years, our reign will be the start of something better—Something our fathers would be proud of." Romulus had caught Amory's smile with ease, and felt her shoulders straighten as she smiled to the rest of the crowd.

Her body almost hummed in reply to the mass' acceptance—Nearly bringing her to tears as she felt not only Romulus' presence beside her, but the familiar lingering of something greater.
Something more.

Perhaps Amory could not see them—Would not see them for a long time, but her mother, father, and brother were all standing beside her.
Rooting for her from the beyond.

Before she could choke, Romulus had gently tugged her, gesturing to the throne and leading her down to sit. Hoping that it would give her ample time to rest after such excitement.

But as she took her seat, he had only stood beside her—They would not be acting as consort to one another, but as he said before, the pair would remain as a united front.

A means to an end of the Rogues another alike.

Once in position, Wilhelm had held his hands up high, acting out the best of his Advisor description as he made the announcement.

"All hail the Alpha King! All hail the Alpha Queen!"

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Date: 07/23/23

Time: 11:05

Words: 1379

Author's Note:

As Wilhelm said, all hail the Alpha King!
All Hail the Alpha Queen!

But we are not at the end just yet,
we have a Honeymoon AND the preparation for an epilogue to enjoy!

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend and I will see you tomorrow for another update!
(Hopefully!!)