The Inauguration
Chapter 9

The sound of utensils banging against plates rang in the room. The sound filled the atmosphere, accompanied by the measly chatter between the councilman.

It was their last night here and Solani couldn’t be more glad that they were leaving. They had caused her too much turmoil and stress, and she didn’t want to even begin to comprehend what was happening to her alpha, Lugar.

Yesterday was the final meeting between the packs and the councilman involved and she knows Lugar had no choice but to agree to their terms and conditions because if he didn’t, then he would only endanger their pack.

He would relinquish his title as Alpha the minute he bowed down to the boy and his mate. She does not see fit to treat the boy with respect as he had not earned it, nor has he shown any emotions or any kind of respect towards her and her alpha, so why should she?

Once he kneels, she is next and she remembers how Lugar had pleaded with her to let go of the anger when they were discussing the matter. She would have to kneel, agreeing with her Alpha, that they were one.

The sound of the councilmen laughing brings her attention to the men in front of her.

“This is marvellous,” one councilman bellows with a smile,” we are literally rewriting history, our names will be in history books, the future generation will be hearing stories of how the monarch started again,” he continues to ramble and Solani can’t help but roll her eyes.

She turns her focus back to the young male sitting on her right. He eats his carrots quietly, too quietly for her liking. She looks at him a little bit longer and notices how he often looks at the two newly mated before turning his attention back to the plate in front of him.

“Penny for your thoughts,” she whispers.

He turns to her, smiling and placing the carrot back on his plate. He fiddles with his fingers, and she guesses he’s trying to replace either the words or the courage.

“Will….will I have one?”, her face crunches in confusion and she looks up at the couple and how they interact with each other and she sighs knowingly.

“Yes,” she says turning in her chair to give him her full attention,” in fact, I bet you already have one. The goddess has made one specially you, to love, guide and help you grow to be this big man that will do anything for her. But remember to never take it for granted, never take the moon’s gift for granted for you don’t know what will happen,” she says smiling before pinching his cheeks and he gushes pushing her away.

She turns back in her seat and is stunned to replace everyone’s eyes on hers. She looks at Lugar for help but is puzzled to replace an emotion in his eyes that she cannot understand. “She would be proud,” her eyes turn to Alpha Therealt, surprised he spoke, “she would be grateful that someone is there for her boy”.

She smiles with a nod, “thank you”, but the ache in her heart stings and she looks back at the child not wanting anyone to see the tears that are on the brim.

‘Solani I think he’s had enough for one night,’ she heard his voice ring in her head.

She nods before getting up from her chair, "I’m sorry to leave so early but it’s past Williams bedtime,” she picks the boy up in her arms before turning back to the table,"goodnight”.

With a few whispers of good nights, she treks back to her room. She knows that she should have left William in his room but she needed him here with her.

She got his pyjamas from her closet as he does often sleepover in her room, she gets him dressed and ready for bed but the entire time her mind is on autopilot.

She thinks about what Alpha Therealt said.

She thinks about how it impacted her heart and her head hangs as she sighs and snuggles closer to William.

Bringing his tiny body into her own, cradling him. She remembers the soft voice of her Luna, the way she was welcomed by her especially when everyone in the pack was so against her. Her Luna was everything to her, was like a sister she needed.

She had already lost one sister before and that pain was unbearable and her Luna, Gwendolyn, was there. She mended the pain and put her together when she thought she had lost herself.

She misses her dearly.

Gwendolyn was human and was Cronin Lugar’s mate. She was a kind woman, she made sure everything was done right and she was never one to remind people of their past mistakes. She always made sure that Solani focused on the present and the future, never the past for the past had already delivered her to the present.

She would never forget those words. Those were the same words that made Solani have the strength to wake up in the morning, the same strength to conquer her nightmares. Gwendolyn was her best friend and her family.

Everyone was happy when Gwen was pregnant, an heir and it was the Beta’s job to protect the Luna especially when the Alpha wasn’t around.

Lugar didn’t want to leave her alone but Gwen wouldn’t let him stay, he had a duty. So he went to the meeting in another pack and Solani followed after Gwen like a lost puppy, making sure everything was perfect for Gwen.

But then the pack got attacked by a few rogues, Solani made sure to keep close to Gwen the entire time but as Luna, Gwen was worried for the pack.

Solani’s pleads fell on deaf ears and she followed behind her Luna towards the safe house and the warriors had noticed the last rogue slip past them and soon enough Gwen was jumped.

Solani managed to kill the rogue but the rogue had already done its damage. She remembers the rush of panic flowing through her, that she started shouting for Lugar to return home immediately, while she picked up Gwen and ran to the pack hospital.

Lugar made it in time for the birth of his son but that night, he may have gotten a gift but he lost a mate.

She felt the cord that had broken between her and Gwen and she remembers the howls of the pack mourning their Luna. Lugar never blamed her and that just made her hate herself more.

She holds William closer, hearing his soft snores fill the room but she’s startled as the side of the bed dips and she smells his scent.

“Stop crying,” he whispers as he pulls them closer to his chest, William in the middle and his arms closing behind Solani’s back. “Stop crying Lani,” she sniffles and wipes away her tears. “We’re okay,” he hums, “she’s okay”.