Derata was already dressed by the time I woke up. After trying to connect the dots of how Alex could speak to me without my wolf, I finally settled on the idea that I had made it up inside my head. I took my bath in a rush, walked to the wardrobe, and stared at the gown. It was stunning. Rich. Elegant. But it felt alien. I had been comfortable in trousers and soft linen shirts for so long.
I started gathering my hair, pulling it back to braid. My fingers brushed the scar on my scalp. I paused. It was the scar from the fire, from saving that boy a long time ago. I let out a slow breath and braided over it, sealing that past away.
"Calla! We're late!"
I heard my name called from outside. I walked back to the window. Derata stood there, ready. Radiant.
"Come on. Alpha Aedric is waiting," she called again, tapping her foot.
I rushed out of the room. As I stepped into the open air, the familiar wave of silence and turned heads hit me. Gasps followed.
My first time dressed in a gown. I guess this was a change.
I saw power once. It was raw, unfiltered, when my father commanded an army. That day, something in me clicked. I wanted that feeling. I felt it again when my brother became War General. It was a shiver down the spine. A craving.
I felt it again as I stepped into the grand hall of the throne room. The golden crown sat on a velvet pillow, waiting for its king. Glowing.
I didn't know how many packs existed in the werewolf world, but hundreds had come to see Apex ascend. They were all seated, many fawning over Elara, who sat beside Gladys at the Aura Pack table.
The main doors opened. I entered with the Dusk family and Alpha Aedric of the Luminary Pack.
Instant silence fell over the crowd. Heads snapped toward me. But my eyes found someone else first—Devlin and two Sterling Pack elders. They were seated in the front row, a place of honor. An honor for my brother.
Devlin started to stand. I barely glanced his way, giving a tiny shake of my head. He sat down instantly. This was Apex's moment. I wouldn't steal the light.
I followed Alpha Aedric and Moon to our reserved seats. Derata rushed over to us, frazzled and breathless.
"The King will arrive in a moment," she whispered, adjusting a tray of goblets near our table. "Goodness, the staff is trying, but the security isn't tight enough."
"Everything will be fine, Derata," I assured her, resting a hand on her arm.
She gave a quick nod. "I really pray so."
The double doors opened right after she spoke. The two Lycan princesses walked in. Grace incarnate. Their presence demanded quiet reverence. They moved toward the two seats flanking the king's throne.
Princess Mairez paused by Alpha Aedric, offering him a respectful nod and a warm smile. Then she turned to me.
"You look wonderful, Calla," she said, her smile truly radiant. "I can call you that, right?"
"Right." I smiled back.
She gave Derata a kind look too. Then she leaned in to whisper to Derata, "My brother said this morning the host will be hired again for all future Lycan Kingdom festivals. It'll be tedious work. Brace yourself."
Then she moved on. Derata's face lit up. She couldn't contain her smile. Alpha Aedric was grinning too, proud that the Luminary Pack's name was spreading.
I sat down, quietly smiling, my eyes fixed on a porcelain cup. Then I felt it—a heavy, intense gaze. It didn't thrill me this time. No chills.
I glanced up. I met Gladys's eyes.
He was watching me from his table. He hadn't stopped staring since I walked in. But I truly didn't care anymore. I looked away, only to see Moon looking at me too.
"It's strange seeing you in a dress like this," Moon said softly when our eyes met. He looked down and gave a faint, genuine smile. "You look beautiful."
His words barely registered. A deep, sudden silence fell over the vast room.
He was here. Yesterday, he was a lord. Today, he became a king.
The great doors parted. Apex Blood entered.
Gasps rippled across the hundreds of people. All attention pivoted. Shock, awe, reverence. Many were seeing him for the first time.
He was so tall. A shadow stitched in flesh. Dressed in layered black again, his raven perched on his shoulder. This time, his fur cloak bore the Lycan Kingdom's royal crest. Even the silence seemed to bow before him.
He walked forward, imposing and calm. Then he stopped. Abruptly.
His head turned. To me.
I swallowed hard as his eyes locked onto mine. Colorless this time. Glacial. Devouring. He held the stare for a long moment before moving on.
He walked to his throne, but he detoured first. He kissed both his sisters gently on the lips. Just like yesterday. Another wave of low gasps. I was stunned yesterday, but I understood their bond now.
At last, Apex sat on his throne. Head bowed. Eyes lowered. Avoiding every gaze. Or maybe choosing not to see any of us.
"It's time. Let's get started," Derata said, rising with renewed energy.
The coronation began. The first elder stepped up to the dais. I kept my eyes on the King, waiting. Finally, the elder cleared his throat and addressed the room.
"We are gathered—"
The explosion hit.
$$
The great throne room doors splintered inward with a deafening crash. Wood flew like shrapnel. I heard the sickening sound of it hitting a few of the nearest guards.
The guards snapped into position, but it was too late.
They barreled in, a wave of raw, bleeding muscle. The scent of violence and unwashed fur slammed into my senses, burning away the sweet perfume of the flowers and wine. Real rogues. Blood-soaked, wild-eyed.
A massive man in the lead roared, his voice shaking the stone floor. His teeth were blackened, his face twisted with rage. "Apex! How dare you not invite Rogue Town to your coronation? Disrespect means death!"
The threat was real, primal. Unclaimed werewolves had breached the Lycan Kingdom. This wasn't just a scandal; it was an act of war.
I finally turned my head, searching for Apex. He sat still and regal on the high throne. The golden crown lay untouched beside him, a symbol of the power he had not yet claimed. He hadn't moved a muscle.
His eyes found mine. Even with chaos erupting around him, his focus was absolute. It was a strange, possessive stare, as if he had been waiting for me to look up.
When our eyes locked, he didn't give a grand signal or draw a weapon. He just lowered his gaze slightly and let a small frown cross his lips. It was a look of annoyance. *Why did it take you so long to pay attention to me?*
I heard it. Again. He said it. He spoke to me. How?
"Oh, so you ignore me now?" the Rogue Alpha snarled. He took a step toward the throne. "Then don't blame me for sending you to your dead father!"
Rogues have never known their match.
Apex's eyes finally rose again. Slowly. Icily. His face was a stone mask, but the air around him had changed. The casual royalty was gone. Something cold and sharp had replaced it.
"It must be because of Calla. She's one of them," Elara's voice wasn't loud, but I heard her. Gladys said nothing.
The Rogue Alpha stepped onto the first stair.
Devlin moved. He was a solid block of muscle, stepping instantly into the Rogue Alpha's path. The Sterling Pack Beta did not hesitate. We protect. Always.
The Rogue Alpha growled low, jaws clenched. "I know you," he spat. "But I won't stand down for a Beta. Maybe if your Alpha had shown, but word says he died in battle. Never returned."
A freezing chill went through me. My jaw set hard. I tasted the blood from my own hand.
Devlin's voice was low, dangerous, cutting through the silence. "Speak filth about the Alpha of the Sterling Pack once more and lose your head."
Gasps echoed. The Rogue Alpha turned slowly, his eyes dragging over Devlin with a condescending smirk.
"Stand down if you value your life. It's Apex's blood I came to spill."
In the next instant, the Rogue Alpha lunged, blade aimed high for Apex's chest. But before Devlin could even finish his counter-move, a shadow dropped from behind the throne. Silent. Deadly.
Steel flashed, catching the light like a star.
With a single, precise thrust, the Rogue Alpha crumpled. His own blood spilled across the floor, painting the gold of the untouched crown and the steps red.
The throne room went completely, utterly silent.
I slowly brought my bleeding hand up, my eyes wide. I stared at the dark figure standing over the corpse.
"Does anyone else wish to make a toast?"