The Heartbreaking News

FIVE YEARS LATER

DAMIAN BLACK

"Alpha." Nicholas, my second Beta said, standing before me. 

"What is it, Nicholas?" I asked. 

"Alpha, I think you should come outside for a moment." He replied. I nodded, dismissing him, and passed Clara who was standing beside me a small smile. 

I pulled out my phone and called for the maid. I had already assigned some maids to serve Clara since we might be getting married soon. 

"Alpha, you called for me?" Stella, the head maid asked, standing before me with her head bowed.

"Stella, this is Clara, my wife to be." I said, introducing Clara to her. "You and the assigned maids will attend to her needs from now on." I ordered, my tone firm. 

"Yes, Alpha" Stella replied, still bowing her head and I nodded.

Five years had passed, yet the wounds of Katerina's betrayal still lingered in my heart. I couldn't believe she was that heartless and full of competition. I truly wanted her to feel the pain I felt when I learned of her betrayal from Clara but she was able to escape it. 

She left like she claimed she would, leaving no trace which I really don't care because I know she'd eventually return, crawling back to beg for my forgiveness to take her back which- I wouldn't. Clara is my true fated mate and finally back in my life, I won't let Katerina's manipulation come between us again. 

I kissed Clara's cheek before stepping out onto the front porch, where the murmur of my Pack members voices awaited me.

"What's going on, Nicholas?" I asked, stepping out of the house, only to be met with the Delta of the Black Stone Pack- Katerina's Pack. She's their lead warrior and head of Pack defense. 

What is she doing here?

"Good evening, Alpha Damian." She said, bowing her head. 

"Good evening...." 

"Janet, Alpha Damian. My name is Janet" She said and I nodded. 

"What brings you here, Janet?" 

"I'm here to see, Ms. Kat... I mean, Luna Katerina" She announced and I scoffed, pinching the bridge of my nose.

Is this some kind of joke or something?

"Katerina, you said? Well, she left long time ago. It's been five years now and not a word from her. I have no clue where she is or what she's doing"

"What?!" Her eyes widened in horror. "What do you mean, she's gone? Our Alpha just passed away and he wanted her to succeed him as the next Pack leader. What do you mean she's left? What are we going to do now?" She exclaimed, her voice laced with worry and panic as she bombard me with so many question. 

KATERINA CLERKS

I just finished dressing up when my room door suddenly burst open and my son walked in. I crouched down to his level and pick him up. "Good morning, Mommy" Aaron said after kissing me on the cheek.

"Good morning, my love." I replied him with a smile. "And your sisters, where are they?" 

"In their room still sleeping" 

"Okay! Let's get you kids dressed so we can leave for work early." I announced, and he began to clap his hands in excitement.

I watched him and smiled too. After leaving the Mars Pack, I found a new sense of purpose in the Scorpio Pack, a similarly powerful Pack as Mars Pack led by a wise Alpha. I was appointed as the CEO of their royal consortium, a position that has brought me and my children peace and fulfillment. 

As we're done eating and ready to leave the house, the entrance door opened and a wide grin instantly appeared on my face while seeing him.

"Seb!" I said, walking towards him. 

Sebastian is my Pack's second Beta and my protector like I always call him. He's also the man my kids considered as their father having grown up and seeing him around us all the time. 

After leaving the Pack five years ago, I had no one else to run to except him. I have always confided in him with my problems, and he's never for once complained. Instead, he's been a constant source of support ever since our childhood and always finding solutions to my problems. He's been a rock for me and now for my kids too, always there to offer guidance and care like a father would. I'm forever grateful for his presence in our lives.

"You're back!" I exclaimed, beaming with a bright smile. It had been five days since we last spoke, and I'd missed him a lot. The kids had missed him too. He'd left five days ago, saying he got a call from someone- though, he didn't disclose who that person was. He only promised to fill me in when he return. 

"Hey, Kate..." he muttered, hugging me longer than usual. From the tone in his voice, I already know something was off, but I can't pinpoint what it is.

"Are you okay?" I asked, but before he could reply, the kids all ran towards him and group hugged him.

"Papa!" they squealed in unison. "We missed you, Papa" 

"I missed y'all too, and Papa brought a lot of goodies, but first, I need to talk to Mommy privately. Can you excuse us for a moment?" He asked the kids while kissing them on their cheeks one after the other. 

"Yaaay!" They all squealed excitedly before sauntering up to their room.

"Is something bothering you? This isn't the Sebastian I know. You know you can always talk to me about anything, right?" 

"I know" He said, nodding his head. "Actually, Kate, I... I don't know how to put this down to you. It's about your father."

At the mention of my father's name, my body stiffened. "What about him?" I finally find the courage to ask. 

"You have to take heart with what I'm about to say right now. The truth is, Alpha is dead. He passed away six days ago." He announced and I felt my breath got hitched instantly. Before I could properly digest in the news, he added again. "As his first and only daughter, he wants you to take over the throne and continue from where he left off. That was his WILL before his demise." 

I almost lost my balance after Seb broke the news to me but he was quick to hold me, protecting me from falling. 

"I know this comes as a shock to you, but you have to come back home and take up your responsibility as the Alpha's only successor. You have no idea how many warriors has been sent out to look for you. Please, take courage and prepare yourself. It's time for us to return to where you truly belong- with the kids" 

That was it - nothing more. I wanted to say something but find it hard to speak- just tears and heartbreak, that's all. The news of my father's sudden death came as a shock to me, but what shocked me the most was my father wanting me to take over the throne as the next Alpha of the Black Stone Pack. 

I've let him down in the past, allowing Damian's issue to drive a wedge between us. My father never approved of my marriage to Damian, and I regret not listening to him. But now, I'm determined to make it right. I'm now committed to fulfilling my father's wishes.

*************

A WEEK LATER

CLARA

"This is pure NONSENSE!!! What do you mean you can't crown my mother as the new Alpha?! She has all the right to claim this throne as the rightful successor! She has been with the old Alpha all these years, so what are y'all talking about?!" I burst out angrily at the Pack Council's, who still insisted on keeping the throne vacant until that Katerina of a girl returns. 

It's going to two weeks now that the old Alpha passed away and we've been dragging this issue since then. 

All I wanted was for my mother to take over the throne so we can have full control of the entire Pack in our palms but these old fools are not having it. 

"My lady, we understand that Luna Sarah has been a faithful wife to our late Alpha, but that still doesn't change the fact that the old Alpha made a will before his demise. Only his daughter has the right to take over the throne." One of the Council's said. 

"And where is your so-called new Alpha? Look around you carefully, did you see her present here? For goodness' sake, she left this pack eight years back- three years in marriage with Damian and five years to only God knows where. The warriors were sent out to search every corner of the universe for her, but they failed, and you still think she's going to come back? Can you all just stop being sentimental and do the right thing?"

"Our skilled warriors has gone in search of her. We believe they will find her soon." Another Council elder said.

"Very well then, since y'all want to keep being stubborn, it's fine. But just know this- if anything bad happens to this Pack, you all will be held accountable for it. A Pack without an Alpha is very outrageous and dangerous. I'm sure I don't need to say more." I decided to threaten them as our plan to manipulate them didn't work. 

The Councils talked amongst themselves and a few seconds later, they finally agreed to annul the Old Alpha's will and crown my mother as the new Alpha of the Pack. 

I shared a knowing look with my mother after the Council's announced her coronation would take place in three day. There's no way I would allow that bitch take all that my mother and I had worked so hard for. 

Time flew by fast, and the day of the coronation finally arrived. The day my mother is to be crowned as the new Alpha of the Black Stone Pack. Influential Alphas from different Packs were all invited, including Alpha Damian, my fiancé. The coronation began as drinks flowed amongst the Packs member, music played while performers danced to the sound, entertaining the guests.

A few selected Council's made a speech, and now it's time for my mother to be crowned. She began with an oath-taking, followed by her speech. Just as they were about to place the crown on her head, and I was already jubilating my victory, a familiar voice was suddenly heard. 

Turning towards where the voice came from, my eyes widened in horror as I saw Katerina and Sebastian walking towards us. Not only that, some little kids were trailing behind her too.