SIERRA

I try to hear what my mate's saying but am distracted by his appearance and his voice. I am literally swooning in my seat watching Fenris address his people before beginning the elders' selection. I had a case of jittery legs so I requested to sit and watch him instead of standing beside him. I'll be up there with him during the ascension ceremony but for now, I want to watch him and let him be known as the Alpha of his future pack.

My morning sickness attacks me unexpectedly and I am pretty sure that everyone around me is keeping their distance because they don't want the risk of being puked upon. Apparently, only my scent can be hidden, not the symptoms.

I have the front row seat, being the Alpha Prince's mate. My parents are beside me on one side whereas Christine is on my other side and Yuki and Randale beside Christine.

All the Alphas have been given the second-row seats with their children sitting in the third-row seats. The people from Crimson Shadow are seated in the rows beside us, leaving a small space for the elders to walk in the middle of their rows and ours.

When we entered the clearing where Aztec and Avery got claimed officially, I was awe-struck. With the ground covered in grass and snow, small light bulbs were placed in all the trees around the main area making it look something similar to that human festival, Christmas.

To my surprise, there were small saplings of moonflowers planted in this clearing. I had read that the presence of moonflowers keeps evil beings away. No doubt it is for Xanthos. I wouldn't want him to crash and ruin our night. He is still on the run and I know Fenris is working on finding him and his sister.

I turn my attention back to my handsome mate. Standing there under the moonlight, he really looks like the Goddess's descendant, pure and strong, ready to take on any and every enemy for his people. I love him so much.

As if sensing my emotions, he turns his head to look at me and then smiles, lifting his hand for me to join him. I take a deep breath and squeeze Christine's hand which I had been holding because of my nervousness and then get up. She's been seeking comfort from me and I have been seeking some confidence from her.

Straightening my sleeveless lace dress which flares from the waist down, making sure that my bump isn't visible I walk towards my mate, trying to be the princess he needs me to be.

I keep my focus solely on Fenris and walk towards him, standing beside him. He puts his hand on my waist, pulling me firmly by his side, and then introduces me to the crowd.

"I would like to introduce my mate, our Luna, Sierra Vlček," he says. Even when I've heard my name with his last name before, I can't help but feel a delicious tingling feeling that buzzes through my body. Me taking his name makes me officially his and him mine. It shows that we accept each other.

Upon hearing Fenris's words, the entire supposed to be Crimson Shadow Pack bows down on their knees with their right-hand fists placed on their heart. The sign of complete acceptance shown by the pack to their Luna. My hormones kick in and I blink back tears at their open display of acceptance towards me. I watch as Christine smiles over at me with an I-told-you look. I grin back at her and then thank our people for their acceptance. Fenris squeezes my waist in happiness and I bask in his arms.

"Now that the introductions are done, let's begin the first ceremony. I have called a werewolf dignitary to our land who will be impartial in choosing the new elders. As discussed in the Alpha meeting, elder Alarick and elder Fridolf will still be a part of the council and only three new elders will be chosen. I have made a new rule where females, that is the Lunas can also come forward for this position," he finishes and immediately a loud roar of applause is sounded. No doubt for his allowance for female elders.

I join in the crowd to clap for my mate. His lack of princely upbringing doesn't hinder his decision-making skills at all. Leadership is in blood, after all. The crowd quiets a bit when a new scent drifts off into the clearing. A foreign scent. I look at Fenris who is calmly standing beside me looking in the direction from where the new scent is approaching us. The security is tight tonight with all the Alphas and the soon-to-be King present here, we have taken all the proper precautions. 

I look in that direction and watch a very tall, broad-shouldered male walk with two people flanking him on each side. He walks stealthily without making the snow crunch beneath his feet and without disturbing the wind. As he walks closer, his facial features become clearer and I feel intimidated. He has a very huge scar on his face, on his upper left cheek to be precise. His brown-black eyes looking straight up at my mate. They flick on me for a few seconds and then rest back on my mate's.

His men stop at the first row and Fenris waits for the male to walk up to us. As soon as the male reaches us, he steps away from me and greets the male with a warrior's greeting. I stand there stunned. Do they know each other?

"Welcome to Recrania. I hope you had a safe journey," says Fenris.

"I did. Coming here is like killing two birds with one stone." The new male's voice is very heavy, gravelly as if he has a different sound system in his trachea.

"Sure." Fenris chuckles making the new male smile a bit.

"I would like to introduce the judge for tonight's ceremony. Alpha King of Abros, Aryan Vraka," says Fenris. I am shocked but quickly compose my face to a neutral one and watch the third row. Tatiana's face is white as if she has seen a ghost. Connor is probably holding her. She appears as if she wants to bolt and hide somewhere. I understand what she's feeling but I stay where I am, not wanting to ruin it for Fenris.

Zion is sitting beside Tatiana on the other side and I watch as his face is contorting in fury. I hope he isn't angry on Fenris. I don't understand why he called this man. He could've called some other country or region's King.

Out of the corner of my eye, I sense someone standing. I turn to look at Alpha Conan who is beaming with happiness and I resist the urge to role my eyes. He starts walking towards us and I watch as Alpha Aryan ignores him and waits for Alpha Conan to make the first move.

"We can talk about it later. I am here at Alpha Fenris's request, not yours," is the brisk answer of Alpha Aryan which makes me laugh. I freeze and mentally face-palm myself. Three sets of eyes look down at me as I stand there blushing in embarrassment at my slip of emotions.

Alpha Aryan looks as if he wants to inspect me whereas Alpha Conan gives me the stink eye. I shrug not bothered by him and not afraid to show it to the crowd. My mate chuckles beside me and I want to ram my elbow in his ribs. He can't laugh at me, not in front of everyone.

"Your mate is a good judge of character," says Alpha Aryan and I watch my mate nod his head and then both of them share a laugh at my expense whereas Alpha Conan marches back to his seat.

They both turn towards the crowd after a few minutes and then Fenris begins to address the crowd.

"Alpha William Volkov and his Luna Catherine Volkov of the Moon Stone Pack have shown interest in being a member of the elder council. Along with them, Alpha Zacharias Farkas and his mate, Luna Valentina Farkas and Alpha Conan have shown their interest. Anyone else who wants to give their name?" asks Fenris to the crowd full of those Alphas and their children.

At the continued silence from the crowd, Fenris then continues with his speech.

"Okay, so let's begin with it. I will call out each candidate's names. They will come up here and then have a two-minute staring contest with Alpha Aryan. Whoever successfully completes this task, will be the future elder," explains Fenris and I frown. How can a staring contest decide the capability of a person?

I watch all the interested Alphas and Lunas walk up and have this staring contest with Alpha Aryan, all the while thinking about the motive behind this event. One by one everyone finishes their contest and I watch them curiously. So far, only Alpha William and Luna Valentina were able to stare for a whole two minutes without submitting. I can see, Alpha Aryan's wolf lurking close the top surface and my own rises to the surface in curiosity.

Soon, the contest is over and now Alpha Aryan takes a step ahead to declare the results. I watch curiously but startle when Fenris pulls me closer. He smiles down at me reassuringly but I frown. He must be knowing my curiosity as he just shakes his head and motions towards the foreigner Alpha with his chin. I nod and look ahead.

"Good evening, everyone. It a real pleasure to visit this country where the land is covered by snow but has such warm-hearted people," he begins, his voice and accent different from that of Fenris. Where Fenris's rough voice thrills me, Alpha Aryan's rough voice doesn't affect me at all. I notice his poetic words. His words ely opposite to that of his personality.

"All the Alphas here are very strong and capable of leading such huge packs. I am honoured to declare that Alpha Zacharias and Luna Catherine are the most suitable candidates for the elder's council. Congratulations. Unfortunately, I do not see it fit for a mated couple to be in the elder's council otherwise Luna Valentina and Alpha William were both capable for this job. I need some more candidates. Anyone?" explains Alpha Aryan and I can't help but laugh. He didn't even talk about Alpha Conan. Hah!

"What about me? I am capable enough," says the ugly devil. Alpha Aryan stares at Alpha Conan for a long moment and then shakes his head a little.

"An Alpha who is ready to give away his daughter to some other wolf even when she has her true mate, alive and willing to look after her is not capable in my eyes for the position of an elder. Is that clear?" he says looking at Alpha Conan dead in the eye. I watch as Alpha Conan goes pale and then sits back in his chair.

A few gasps are heard from the crowd along with mine. After all this Alpha King directly insulted Alpha Conan, not that I mind. He deserved it. I hope this means that he won't agree to take Tatiana as his mate. He's good but not her true mate.

"Any other candidate?" Fenris asks. This time two hands are raised. One of Alpha Christopher and the other of Luna Aurora. She appears to be scared of her mate who is glaring daggers at her.

Alpha Aryan nods at them and then continues with that staring contest. After a few minutes, he declares his result.

"The last member of the elder's council will be Luna Aurora. Congratulations."

All the new elders walk towards the old ones and are welcomed into their circle.

"I do not allow my mate to be an elder," seethes Alpha Conan from his seat. Fenris walks beside Alpha Aryan and then they both discuss something.

"May I say something?" Luna Aurora speaks in her soft voice.

"Yes, sure," replies Fenris.

"I, Aurora Lupe, mate to Alpha Conan Lupe in front of Alpha Fenris and Alpha Aryan as my witness, resign from my position as your Luna," she speaks confidently, her words directed at Alpha Conan who is red in the face now.

"You cannot..."

"She can. I am the witness and I agree," says Fenris calmly. Alpha Aryan nods his agreement.

"All the Alphas and Lunas here are supportive of their mate that have been chosen today. If you aren't happy and she definitely wasn't, a female has the right to resign from the earlier position and take up a new one, if offered. No one, not even her mate is allowed to stop her." Elder Alarick recites the ancient law and we all watch as Alpha Conan roars his displeasure.

He loses his control and shifts into his wolf, thereby breaking another law. He runs into the woods, completely disrespecting everyone present here and I watch as Luna Aurora loses her balance. Her children run towards her, catching her in time where she sobs.

"I lost the mate bond," she cries. I hold onto Fenris's arm not able to control my tears as I watch Luna Aurora lose her composure. Her mate broke the bond, he broke the rules and this means that he, no longer is the Alpha of his pack. He disrespected his Luna, his pack in front of everyone.

Oh, Goddess! Our problems never end. 

~~~~~~

Najis tuke!

Only one more chapter left for the ending. I'll be adding an epilogue, too. ☺️🤞

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