It's been weeks since Thalia's death. Since the flames that was meant to kill her almost burnt down the whole kingdom. Thalia's death didn't bring me any peace, instead it hunted me. My wolf kyle resents me for standing by and doing nothing while an innocent girl died. He believes I should have said something. That I should have stood my ground if I'm going to be the Alpha of this pack one day.
"You're allowing seraphina manipulate you" he said to me after training one day through the mind link
"No I'm not" I replied. "She's just looking out for me. She loves me"
"So you believe that you and her should be together?" Kyle asked. I was silent for a while. I have asked myself a thousand time if I made the right decision by rejecting her and every single time I have doubts. Kyle nudged me again, waiting for a response.
"Well, she's dead now. There's nothing I can do about it" I replied in a fit of anger.
"What if there is something you can do about it? What if she's not dead?"
I stopped to consider it, but I shrugged it off. "She's definitely dead. You saw the fire"
Kyle did not reply. He just went quiet and left me to my thoughts.
Today is my coronation day. The day that would officially make me the next alpha of this pack if anything were to happen to king Magnus. The palace bells rang out over Greenwood Park, echoing repeatedly through the misty morning. The golden ceremonial armor was tight across my chest and my cape dragged behind me like dead weight, heavy with every lie I had told and every truth I had buried. The people cheered outside, waiting to see their new Alpha. Waiting to see Seraphina crowned Luna by my side.
But somehow I couldn't breathe.
My father called me last night. Beaming with smiles and telling me how proud I made him. He was glad I rejected thaila. Even when I told him that I loved her but I had to do it because the king commanded it, he just smiled and patted me on my back.
"You did the right thing son" he said but I didn't believe that. I just watched my mate burned alive by the command of the woman I was about to call my Luna and everyone thinks I've done the right thing.
I gripped the edge of the marble sink in my dressing chamber, trying not to smash the mirror in front of me. I stared at my own face. It wore a mask of power but my eyes looked haunted. It looked empty.
"You should have stopped it," my wolf growled inside me, his voice a violent growl echoing through my mind. I rolled my eyes. He hasn't spoken to me for days and today he's bringing it up over again.
"It was too late," I answered out loud, jaw clenched.
"Liar!" he snarled. "You stood there. You watched it happen. You watched her burn and even ran away like a pathetic wolf that you're not!"
I shook my head, trying to block him out, but I could feel his anger burning through my veins like wildfire.
"Her father is the king. He gave the order. What was I supposed to do? Go against the king orders?"
"You gave up our mate. You gave up our soul!"
"I did it for the pack. For duty. I cannot make a weak omega my Luna. It had to be seraphina. The brave one"
"You did it for fear, for position, for power. If you were any half of a man you would have given up everything to be with the one your heart chose. Not the one who chose you."
That one stung. I slammed my fist into the marble, cracking it.
"I chose her" I whispered to myself but a servant interrupted my thoughts.
"Your Highness," he called nervously from behind the doors. "The ceremony is beginning."
I didn't respond. My knuckles bled into the sink. I stared at the crimson drops, and I thought of her. Thalia. How her blood must have stained the earth. How her screams must have shattered the moonlight. And how I did nothing.
I deserved every drop of blood that spilled out of my veins
Seraphina Walked into my room looking grand and royal In her coronation dress.
"What's the matter my love? You look tensed." she said hugging me from the back.
"Just a little nervous about the coronation that's all." I lied.
I could tell she didn't buy it by the way she stopped rubbing my back abruptly. She turned to face me, cupping her hand on my face.
"You're the prince of this pack now. Not an alpha in training anymore. Your sole concern and worry should be the good of this pack."
I groaned.
"You need a strong and powerful Luna like me by your side as your mate. Not the weak and cursed omega the moon goddess gave to you"
I nodded sheepishly. I wouldn't deny that seraphina has her way with words and gets to me every time.
"Smile my love." She said sweetly as she kissed my jawline. "Today marks the beginning of our legacy"
I smiled as I took her arms and we walked out together.
"see" I said to my wolf through the mind-link but he just growled and ignored me. I frowned but I did nothing. Maybe one day, we will both be convinced that we did the right thing. But for now, we had to get crowned.
💫
The coronation grounds were glowing. Gold and green banners waving high above the courtyard, petals scattered like blessings beneath the marble stage. The crowd roared as we stepped out. I smiled, like I was supposed to. The mask of royalty fit perfectly now but I didn't feel royal at all.
My father stood tall beside the priestess, his eyes shining with pride. Seraphina was radiant in her silver coronation gown, the circlet of emeralds already placed in her curls. She looked perfect. Like the perfect Luna.
But I couldn't look at her for too long. Because every time I did, I saw her lips moving as she gave the order.
"I want her dead. By fire."
Her father the king sat majestically on the throne and smiled. He looked content. He looked happy that his pack was going as he wanted it now that his cursed daughter is dead. He didn't look sad like someone that just lost his first daughter.
"You still have a chance," my wolf whispered, quieter now but no less desperate. "Reject Seraphina. Speak the truth."
"It's too late," I said in my mind.
"She may be dead, but you can still honor her!"
"Don't!" I snapped. My smile faltered on stage. "Don't say her name right now."
"Say it."
"No."
"Say it!"
"Enough" I said through gnashed teeth. "I'm alpha now, and seraphina is my mate. This fuss about Thalia ends now."
Seraphina squeezed my arm softly as she felt me go tensed. My wolf didn't say a word to me after that. I kept a straight face and smiled as I walked down the red carpet leading to the throne.
The priestess stepped forward. "Prince Cane of Greenwood, do you accept the mantle of Alpha and vow to serve with loyalty, courage, and honor?"
I hesitated. The whole courtyard held its breath, waiting for my response.
My father's stare was iron. Seraphina's fingers tightened around mine as she stood tall beside me. I could feel the pressure behind her silent threat. "Don't ruin this."
I forced the words out.
"I do."
The crowd erupted. My father breathed a sigh of relief. Even relief could be seen on the king's face. He took the crown from the bearer and placed it on my head.
"I crown you the Alpha of Greenwood Park, and the king after my death.."
The process was repeated for seraphina and waves of cheers exploded across the courtyard. I could see her smile as we took our place beside the king on his throne. I clocked my eyes and imagined it was thaila. I would have given anything to see thaila smile with so much pride and happiness. But now that she's dead that would never happen.
My stomach twisted on the insides. I felt like a fraud. I knew I was doing this with the wrong person and hopped that one day, I will get the chance to right my wrong. But right now, I had to play the perfect picture.
💥
Later, after the feast, and the dancing, and the fake pretence, I escaped the celebration. I found my way to the moon garden. Thalia's favorite place before she became a shadow of herself.
It was silent. I walked along the garden till I got to the river.
I could still see her. Young and innocent. Dancing barefooted on the river bank. Her smile made my heart melt. Then I remembered how pathetic she looked. Days when she'll be scrubbing in the river when it was cold in nothing but rags. How pitiful and weak she looked.
"I failed you," I whispered to the wind. "I failed her too."
"She will forgive you eventually," my wolf said gently now, his anger was gone. Only pain could be heard from his voice.
"I don't deserve forgiveness."
"Then fight for redemption. Confront seraphina."
I sank to the stone bench, burying my face in my hands.
"She's not the enemy. Besides, why now?" I asked. "Why does it matter? She's gone."
"Because her fire still lives. And you're still breathing. If you're breathing, you're not done."
A rustle broke the silence.
I sat up, startled. The wind blew gently. I looked around the river, there was no one. I even ran to the garden to confirm and I couldn't see anyone
But I felt it. I could feel her.
It was impossible, but the scent, the familiar earthy sweetness of lavender and rain was there for a heartbeat, and then gone as quickly as it came.
"No," I whispered. "She's dead. She's dead."
But something in my chest stirred. My wolf rose inside me.
"She's not," he whispered. "She survived."
I stood, shaking. "That's impossible. We watched her burn."
"Did you?" he challenged. "Or did you run away like a scared pup before the end?"
I stared into the trees by the garden.
Could it be?
Was it possible that she could escape that fire?
And then something happened.
A gust of wind swept through the trees, stronger than it should've been. The silver-bloom petals danced through the air and for a second, they glowed. Just like fire. My heart slammed against my ribs.
"If she's alive..."
"Then you still have time to be the man she thought you were," my wolf said.
Tears pricked my eyes. I hadn't cried before. Not once. Not when I rejected her as my mate, or when I kissed Seraphina, not when I sealed my fate as Alpha. But here, alone in her memory, I broke.
"Thalia," I whispered again. "If you're alive… please… find a way back."
And I swear I heard the wind whisper back.
"Soon."