In front of a big mirror, Ciara stared at her perfectly decorated self. She was dressed in a beautiful purple gown embroidered with golden threads, her neck adorned with diamonds. It was something a queen wore to her and her husband's coronation, but in Ciara's case, there was no husband.
It was her coronation day and also her eighteenth birthday. She was to be crowned Alpha Queen, ruler of all werewolf packs, and the first ever female ruler.
Even though a lot of werewolves didn't like the fact that she was female, no one was strong enough to challenge her. She was the strongest and most powerful being on earth, someone all supernatural beings feared.
Immune to all witches' magic, wolfsbane, and silver. Everyone thought the goddess made a mistake when blessing her, no one should possess such terrifying power.
And to make matters worse, a female.
Not only was she strong and powerful, she was ruthless as well, and everyone knew not to cross her.
When she was just nine years old, she ordered an entire pack to be executed just because a pack Alpha's son spilled water on her test book at school. To her, mercy was for the weak, and she was anything but weak.
She wasn't always so ruthless. In fact, she was once a very kind little princess. Her parents, the Alpha King and Luna Queen, were benevolent rulers who always told her to be kind, fair, and loving to her subjects.
But they were unfortunately killed by an offender they had chosen to forgive, forcing the eight-year-old Ciara into power. Even though she was too young to lead, she refused to appoint a regent. She ruled over the packs as crown princess.
"There she is, Her Royal Highness... and also my future wife," said Nathan, the only person who didn't fear her and also her best friend.
"Would you like me to serve your head on a platter to your mate?" she asked. Nathan knew she was joking.
"What I'd kill to see a smile on your face. I mean, today is your coronation—aren't you even a little happy?" he asked, a childish pout on his lips.
"Is there anything I can help you with? I don't think you came just to tell me you wanted to see me smile," Ciara said with a slight frown.
"It's always business with you. You're no fun. Anyway, since I'm the only one who doesn't fear you, I've been given the honor of being your driver. You're late to your own coronation," Nathan said as he handed her crown.
"A queen is never late. You're all just too early," she said as she wore the crown. "Anyway, let's get going, Mr. Driver." She smiled at him.
"Yes, ma'am." He opened the door for her, and they went to the garage.
The garage was filled with luxury cars—BMW, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini—you name it. You'd think you had just walked into a car gallery.
Nathan grabbed the key to a white Rolls-Royce Phantom and opened the door for Ciara. "Your Highness." He bowed slightly and helped her in.
It was tradition to go in a limo, but these two weren't ones to follow tradition. They did as they pleased, after all, who would dare rebuke them?
Nathan started the engine and drove off to the venue.
The coronation was held in a church. Everyone was already seated, awaiting Ciara's entrance.
The church wasn't filled with joy as it had been for previous coronations. Instead, it was filled with fear. No one was there because they wanted to be, they were there because they feared what would happen if they didn't show up.
An hour past the set time, Ciara finally walked in. The atmosphere fell silent. Everyone was afraid to even breathe too loudly as she made her way to the altar.
"Give your subjects a smile, Ciara," her wolf Ker suggested.
Like the goddess Ker, her wolf was destructive... a bringer of death. She played a major role in Ciara's ruthless persona.
"Since when do you care about them?" Ciara gave her a mental side glance.
"I don't. But they're still our subjects," Ker shrugged nonchalantly.
"Fine." Ciara gave them a smile.
Her smile sent chills down everyone's spine. The only time they had ever seen Ciara smile was when she was ordering someone to be executed.
It was as if she enjoyed killing.
And now she was smiling at them?
Who's dying?
Did we do something wrong?
Those thoughts filled everyone's minds.
"Ahem." The priest cleared his throat as Ciara reached the altar. "We are gathered here to witness the coronation of Her Highness, Ciara Valerian Silverclaw. May the goddess Selene bless her with longevity and wisdom as she rules over the eight hundred packs of the earth as Alpha Queen."
The priest began the coronation process. He removed the crown princess crown from Ciara's head, had her repeat the vows after him, and when they were done, he took a golden cup from his assistant.
The cup was filled with holy water from the holy spring. It was said that the water came directly from the moon, possessing healing power and holy affinity, and was used for anointing the Alpha King, or Queen, in Ciara's case.
He poured the water over her head while continuing his chants. The water dried as soon as the chant ended.
The ceremony was over.
He then picked up the king's crown.
"Bless the goddess Selene. Bless Mother Luna. May the goddess Selene guide you as you rule over the eight hundred packs."
With that, he placed the crown on her head.
"All hail Queen Ciara Valerian Silverclaw."
He signaled for all to stand.
"Long live the Alpha Queen," everyone chimed... some reluctantly, others holding back complaints.
"That took too long. Why did I even have to go through that stupid process of saying vows I don't mean?" Ciara complained to her wolf. "I vow to protect my people? Yeah right. I need protection from all of them. Do they think I don't know they all want me dead?"
"Don't complain too much. The day is almost done... we're just left with the banquet," Ker smirked.
"This is exhausting. Thank goddess I don't have a parade," Ciara sighed.
"The perks of being hated, I guess," Ker commented.
"But we still have that irritating drive around the central packs," Ciara added.
"Relax. You'll be in the car the whole time. At least be happy about that," Ker reminded her.
After the coronation drive, Nathan drove Ciara back to the Alpha Royal Palace to prepare for the banquet. The servants helped her change into a beautiful silver dress... the color worn to honor the moon goddess.
"You look as beautiful as ever, Your Majesty," one of the servants said without thinking.
Realizing her mistake, she quickly dropped to her knees. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I didn't mean to address you as Highness."
Ciara just stared at her.
'Am I really that scary?' she wondered.
"Stand up. It's not like I'll have your head for such an honest mistake. Just finish my makeup and leave," she said calmly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The servants quickly finished and left.
"Can't you be nice for once?" Nathan's voice came from the door.
"I was nice. After all, I didn't kill her, did I?" Ciara smiled coldly.
"You rarely smile. But when you do, it's menacing. Gives me chills," Nathan said dramatically.
Ciara rolled her eyes and ignored him.
Nathan received a call. "Yes… oh… okay… sure… don't worry about it." He hung up. "The Alpha who was supposed to be your escort is sick. He won't make it."
"I'm surprised he waited this long to get cold feet," she said, unbothered. "Congratulations, you've been promoted from driver to escort."
"Given how you're dressed, I'm guessing you knew this would happen," she added, eyeing his outfit.
"Who else is worthy of being your escort if not me? Asking Alpha Lockwood was just politeness," Nathan smirked.
They arrived at the banquet hall. As soon as they stepped in, Ciara felt Ker grow restless.
"Something doesn't feel right," Ker warned.
"Nathan, tighten security. Ker senses something," Ciara ordered.
He immediately mind-linked the guards.
"Announcing Her Majesty, Ciara Valerian Silverclaw, and her escort, Beta Nathan Bloodfang."
As tradition dictated, they took the first dance. Soon, the banquet filled with music, laughter, and chatter.
But Ciara couldn't shake the feeling.
A young girl approached, blushing intensely.
"Sir Nathan…" she said nervously.
"Strange," Ker muttered.
"May I have this dance?" the girl asked.
Nathan smiled politely. "Of course."
As he reached the center, silver chains snapped around his wrists.
"What the..."
He turned to the girl. "Why?"
"I'm sorry… but the Alpha Queen has to die."
"Stand down, Alpha Queen, or your Beta dies."
A man in a black cloak held a dagger to Nathan's neck. His fangs and red eyes revealed him as a vampire.
Ciara had already begun shifting, but seeing Nathan held hostage forced her to stop.
"What do you want?" she roared.
"I'd like to speak to Ciara," the vampire said.
Ker relinquished control.
"What we want is simple." The vampire continued after seeing Ciara return back to her original self.
'Wait, we?' Ciara noticed what the vampire said and was more confused than ever. She then realized something wasn't right. How did she not notice this?
This vampire stood in a room full of werewolves, and there were some wolves close enough to save Nathan—but no one did.
Not even the guards showed any sign of wanting to save him.
They were all in this together.
"Bare your heart and allow yourself to be killed, and we'll let your Beta live. And don't worry, we won't go back on our word, we have it written on holy paper," the vampire asserted.
Holy paper was like a contract with the soul. If anyone violated any agreement written on it, everyone who would benefit from the violation would die, no exceptions.
'They really mean it when they say they won't kill him.' Ciara scowled with uncertainty.
"So, you're saying if I die, Nathan lives. Correct?" Ciara asked for confirmation... not really a question.
"Correct," the man replied.
Nathan noticed what Ciara was about to do.
"You can't!" he bellowed. "I won't let you."
"Stay out of this, Nathan. That's an order."
Nathan had tears in his eyes. Who said men don't cry?
"It doesn't matter if I die... my younger brother will take up the role of Royal Beta. But you… no one will take up the role of Alpha Queen," Nathan protested stubbornly.
On the other hand, Ciara gave him a smile.
"All hail Alpha King Nathan Bloodfang," she said to the wolves.
As if under a spell, they all bowed.
"Long live the Alpha King Nathan Bloodfang."
No one understood why they were bowing. It was like they had lost control of their bodies.
Ciara smiled again.
"See? They accept you. I have the power to make them obey me, but that power doesn't work if they don't accept me. You are the only one I have left, Nathan. I told you, didn't I? If death do us part, I'd be the first to die."
With that, she let down the barrier.
A wolf near her drove a dagger through her heart.
As her eyes slowly closed, she saw the chains on Nathan removed, and he ran to her, holding her tightly.
"You dummy… who's going to be my wife now?" he said with a bittersweet smile, tears falling from his eyes.
"Your mate… who else would?" Ciara smiled weakly as her life drained from her. Each second was priceless... not even gold or diamond could buy those moments.
She gave him a weak gaze, the light in her eyes fading.
"A king should never cry in front of his subjects."
With that, her breath slowed… her light faded… and her life slipped away.
"You just had to have the last say, huh?"