The Day of Mourning
The atmosphere over the Brave Pack territory was thick and heavy, a combination of morning fog and the palpable tension of a Pack without a true leader. Today was the day the late Alpha would be laid to rest. The mood within the main halls was formal and fraught, not with grief, but with cold calculation.
Every Pack member knew that the leadership void had been instantly filled by Prince Zack, and his movements over the past twenty-four hours had been swift and decisive.
Hera had spent a sleepless night in Princess Sylvia's quarters. She had found no opportunity to escape; every exit was now patrolled by Zack's personal guards, their vigilance heightened by the sudden shift in power. Her plan to flee had been replaced by a desperate need to survive the day.
She dressed in the customary black, her mind a frantic war room. The wedding was set for a week later, giving her mere days. She had to use the gathering of external Alphas as a distraction or, somehow, as a platform for escape.
The main Pack grounds were prepared for the rites. Prince Zack, dressed impeccably, accepted condolences with a cold, formal efficiency that seemed to drain any warmth from the air.
The high point of the morning was the performance of the rite of passage by the Pack's Priestess. Her voice was mournful as she spoke of the late Alpha's journey to the afterlife, but her eyes kept drifting toward Zack with a look of deep apprehension.
As the burial procession came to an end, Zack made an announcement that left the pack in shock.
" The late Alpha, should be at rest now, it's time we move forward and start planning how to make a statement to other clans that we are sufficient within ourselves and we also need to build alliances, that being said, last night, I sent an invitation to all the clans in this region and beyond."
Hera and Princess Sylvia quickly exchanged puzzled glances.
" The banquet with be taking place the day after tomorrow and my marriage to Hera will also take place that same day"
The whole clan burst into incoherent murmurings, Hera wished the ground will open up and swallow her, she thought she still had time to plot her escape how was she supposed to plot her escape with the new turn of events.
She was pulled out of her thoughts by the loud scream from Selene.
The whole place got quiet, pin drop silence. She walked over to where Prince Zack stood and pulled at his shirt.
"You really can't wait to get rid of me that bad, can you? What exactly does she have that I don't, is it because she's an Alpha wolf and you think she suits you best to be your Luna? I love you and I was chosen for you by the moon goddess why can't that be enough for you, why???" Selene's voice cracked as she tears run down her cheeks.
Prince Zack quietly removed her hands from his shirt and loudly announced,
" I Prince Zack the Alpha of the Brave Pack, rejects you Selene as my mate and Luna"
Selene immediately felt the strong panic of pain in her chest, she clutched her chest tightly, trying so hard to breathe, the pain was way different this time and she knew that he really wanted to end things with her so badly, she decided she won't be the laughingstock but she will make sure to get her revenge. She stood up and faced him,
"I, Selene accepts your rejection." She said boldly, the both of them clutched their chests as the final separation was very painful. After what seemed like hours but was only a few minutes, Selene raised her head and walked away.
"As that is out of the way, I expect everybody to come together and make this banquet a success. It will be a three in one ceremony, the wedding, the coronation as the new Alpha and the banquet, I expect nothing other than the best. The Beta, Stephen will delegate posts and tell you guys what to do." Zack walked out immediately he was done with his speech and was immediately followed by Hera and Princess Sylvia.
"We agreed on next week, why is happening next tomorrow?" Hera asked immediately they got inside Zack's office."
"Not that I owe you any explanation, I changed my mind because the other Alpha's will be planning for the full moon and won't have the chance next week, you can leave now" Prince Zack explained without raising his head.
"Zack, you don't get the monopoly of decisions around here, you don't get to ruin other people's life just to get what you want" Princess Sylvia said.
"I'm not exactly sure why you think I care what you think but I'll let you wallow in that illusion, if you don't mind I have a wedding to plan." Prince Zack opened the door, making a gesture for both of them to leave.
**The SilverBorn Pack**
" We received a mail from the Brave Pack or something, their Alpha just died, they are inviting us for the wedding of their next Alpha and Luna and also a banquet thing." Beta Cassia said.
" Is that a thing among packs? Why do we have to go, I wish we could just stay here." Princess Isadora sighed.
"I know right… The priestess said we have to join things like this now. It's always easier said than done, I wish things will be different." Beta Cassia added.
"Please make the announcement and any necessary arrangements, so we can delegate people to hold down the place while we go out." Princess Isadora said to her Beta.
"You are still avoiding Helios?" Beta Cassia asked.
"There's nothing to say actually and he's with Darian all day." Princess Isadora replied.
"You've noticed it too. I can't wait for all this to be over and have my man back."Beta Cassia said and the both of them burst started laughing.
*** The Brave Pack ***
The banquet hall was set and each table bore the name of the Clan that was to seat there. The security around the pack had doubled, the whole place was heavily guarded.
Hera was in her room pacing from one place to the other.
"You might want to calm down, you will ruin your make up." Princess Sylvia said to Hera.
"You don't know how I feel right now, I don't want to do this. I'm scared, really really scared. I don't want to be forced to mate with someone I don't like and moreover he's not my mate." Hera explained.
"You might as well sit down and think something, it's impossible to run away as even your door is heavily guarded. We just have to pray that your mate shows up miraculously or you suddenly possess the ability to be invincible and escape those guards, before then please sit." Princess Sylvia tapped on the empty space beside her. Hera sat beside her.
"Really, invincible?" Hera said and the both of them laughed.
" I'm sorry about what you are going through right now, but we have to stay sane through it. After the wedding we could smuggle you out with the guest or something, we'll think if something just stay calm." Princess Sylvia held Hera's hands and Hera rested her head on the princess' shoulder.
The other clans had started arriving and the banquet hall was gradually filled, the seats were almost occupied saved the table space reserved for the SilverBorn Clan.
Prince Zack was worried at first but after he learnt that nobody has seen the SolverBorn's attend any event, he motioned for the programme to start.
The members of the Brave Pack were already seated while Hera, Princess Sylvia, and some of the people were waiting outside to walk Hera in.
Hera was so nervous and anxious when the Priestess announced the start of the wedding.
Princess Sylvia held Hera's gown and they walked in with other ladies.
The banquet hall was closed after them, the music played as Hera walked towards the Altar where Prince Zack and his men stood with the Priestess standing with her Staff.
As soon as Hera got to where the Priestess was, the banquet hall's door opened.
A hush of silence fell on the hall, only the music could be heard as the crowd turned towards the door.
The arriving Pack was unknown to most, an aura of quiet, formidable strength surrounding them.
First was Darian, the Chief Guard, tall and solid, his eyes scanning the crowd with professional intensity.
Next was Cassia, the Beta, her presence sharp and observant. And finally, stepping out with a casual grace that defied the solemnity of the occasion, was Helios.
He was dressed in tailored, dark gray travel clothes, standing a full head taller than Darian. His sheer physical presence, the chiseled features, the intimidating height, and the unnatural, almost blindingly handsome quality of his face, caused gasps to ripple through the crowd. But it was the quiet, unnerving intensity in his eyes, which seemed to hold a vast, ancient knowledge, that held everyone captive.