Chapter Four

CHRIS

Preparations had begun for my coronation, everyone seemed to be busy except me. I tried to help but they kept turning my offer down, they all gave me this special treatment as their alpha-to-be.

I went back to bed to lie down since no one needed my help, but I couldn't find It in myself to sleep while others were working their ass off to make my coronation a success. They all seemed to be more excited than I was, everyone was chatting about it including the palace workers.

"He'll make a fine leader," they all said.

How were they so sure? I could barely take care of myself, I'd had to rely on my mother several times in making critical decisions about my well-being and here I was, being praised by everyone in the city. 

So no, they were all wrong, I'll never make a fine leader, I'll lead them to their doom, I am not capable of being a good leader. I can't make critical decisions on my own. 

I stood by the window and watched as everyone was busy decorating the city, my mother was busy giving orders to everyone

"Put this there," she said to one.

"Place that over there," she said to another.

The palace maids were already tuckered out by the task at hand, one of them was panting heavily after carrying the gigantic flower vase. The palace staff was surely going to take a sick leave after the coronation was over. 

I got tired of watching everyone and decided to take a walk around the city since I was unoccupied. I quickly got dressed and left my room but I was stopped by the guards at the entrance of my room.

"My lord, you can't leave your room, our Luna has ordered that you stay indoors till your coronation," one of the guards said

"Well she doesn't have to know anything, does she?" I said, leaving the guards there.

"She's going to have our head on a platter if she finds you outside. My Lord!!" They called out but I paid deaf ears to their pleas.

I chuckled in excitement when I saw how the palace was beautifully decorated. Everyone seemed to take this coronation more seriously than I thought, the hall runners had been replaced with new ones, the same as the chandeliers.

I walked around the palace for a while before going to check on the city. I was warmly greeted by everyone I came across both young and old. The ladies flushed at the sight of me and whispered to themselves but I paid no attention to them either.

Suddenly, I came across an older couple helping each other in making sure that their home wasn't left out in the decoration, I stood and watched them for a while. I could feel the bond between them and wondered how long they have been together. I thought of going to meet them but I changed my mind and walked away.

I wished for the kind of love that the couple shared, I wished for a perfect life with my mate. Tomorrow I'll meet my mate and frankly, I wasn't sure I was ready. I had a lot to achieve on my own and I hadn't pictured the type of woman I wanted as my mate. 

I shoved the thought off my head and continued to observe everyone as they diligently carried out their duties. 

"My Lord!!" A guard called out to me, he was breathing heavily, he must have been running for a long time.

"Is everything alright?" I asked

"Your mother needs you," he said. I took to my heels immediately while the guard followed. I returned to the palace and found my mother in perfect condition. 

"Why then did he sound like there was trouble in the palace?" I thought.

"Mother is everything alright!" I asked

"Son, you should be resting, tomorrow is a big day for you. You can take a walk after your coronation" she said. 

She was overreacting and getting herself worked up over nothing, I knew she was only worried about me, especially the transformation process which I heard was extremely painful but I could handle it on my own.

"Mother, I've rested enough, you worry too much. You should be the one resting, I'll take over from here" I said as I beckoned one of the maids to take her to her chambers. She refused and went back to ordering everyone around before turning back to me.

"Fine, since you won't listen, I want you home before dusk," she said and walked away.

"I'm not a child anymore" I mumbled

I went back to continue my walk, this time my guard was with me. It was getting dark and soon the gates would be locked. I headed to the gate to make sure it was locked and properly guarded, I did that every night before retiring to my chambers. 

The guards at the gate were preventing some people from going out, they must have caught an intruder.

"What is going on over there?" I asked. One of them turned to face me, it was Lothar. He was the head of Beta and was a former member of the council.

"It is I, my Lord," he said bowing to me.

"Lothar, where have you been all day, and what is happening over there?" I asked again.

"My lord, the guards have refused my relatives to exit the city, they came to visit and wish to leave now," Lothar said. His relatives covered their faces which prevented me from identifying them. 

Suddenly, one of them uncovered her face and glared at me like she had seen me before. With the fierce look on her face, she still looked stunning, I was far from her but I could tell she had beautiful eyes, my heart was racing which felt strange. Our eyes met and I suddenly became tense, no one had made me feel so uncomfortable before. I wondered who she was and why she stared at me in that manner. I never knew Lothar had relatives,  I had heard a rumor that his family had been killed and he was all alone.

"Let them go," I said to the guards at the gate.

I walked to the gate and watched as they left, I stood at the entrance until Lothar returned.

"I never knew you had relatives," I said to him as he walked into the city. He was startled by my presence and said quickly.

"They are distant relatives from the Lamia Pack. They came to spend some time with me today. I'm sorry for violating the law, I'll take whatever punishment you have in mind."

"Did you invite them to my coronation tomorrow?" I asked instead. I wanted to see her again, there was something off about her and I wanted to find out what it is. She looked familiar but it was hard to figure out where and when.

"Uhm, I did. Hopefully, they will be here tomorrow" he said, "I have to go now, you should be resting. Tomorrow is a big day for you and everyone in this city," he said

"Will I make a good Alpha?" I asked. I was nervous about becoming the Alpha, it came with a lot of responsibilities.

"Of course, I have faith in you and I know your father is proud of you wherever he is," he said. 

I sighed, everyone had faith in me except me. This is the part when I needed my father the most but he was no more. 

"Do not wish for an easy reign as an Alpha but rather pray to the moon goddess for the strength to endure the difficult times. Always trust your instincts at all times" those were my father's last words before he joined his ancestors two years ago.

"Thanks, Lothar, I'll see you tomorrow " I tapped him on the shoulder and returned to the palace. So many thoughts filled my head as I got to my chambers. My bath had already been prepared so I quickly undressed and had a quick bath. 

"My lord, My Lord!" 

I was lost in thought and didn't know when the maid entered the room. She called out to me again, this time she tapped me bringing me back to reality. I jolted when she tapped me and she quickly moved back, apologizing.

"I'm sorry, but your dinner is set. Luna Maeve is waiting for you" she said

"Tell her I'm not hungry and that I'm too excited to eat anything," I said. She bowed and left my room.

I laid back on the bed and within a few minutes, I was asleep. I turned to the other side of the bed and noticed someone was lying on the bed with me. I opened my eyes and saw someone whose face was covered but the eyes were familiar. 

"Who are you and how did you get here?" I asked, moving away from the bed. I opened the door and found my guards in a pool of their blood. I reached for my sword but it wasn't there.

"Who are you?" I asked again. The intruder removed the linen covering its face and said.

"Remember me"

I tried to attack but the intruder was swift, within seconds the intruder pierced the sword in my chest and I fell to the ground.

"This is for my family," the intruder said

I jolted from the bed sweating profusely, I had just had a nightmare. The image of the intruder was clearer, it was her, Lothar's relative.