The Brave Pack
Hera spent most of her day in the pack's library trying to figure out the ways she can suppress the heat without a mate, she'll be damned if she lets Prince Zack close to her.
The door opened and Princess Sylvia came in crying.
"I knew you will here" she said in between sobs.
"Hey, what happened?, are you okay?, did micheal do something?" Hera asked as she pulled her friend tightly to her chest.
Princess Sylvia dissolved in tears as Hera stroke her hair.
"My … Dad is gone!!"
"The Alpha is dead?" Hera let Princess Sylvia sob into her chest, she didn't know what else to say.
The Alpha had finally succumbed to the wounds her father inflicted on him, the day he raided their pack. Wolves heal really fast but it was surprising how slowly the wounds healed.
One of the major reasons she was kept at the brave pack was to see if she would remember what her pack used in making weapons so they could heal the alpha.
Hera had a flash back of the incident and she tried to shake it off so she could be in the moment with her friend. She didn't know what to feel about the news of the late Aloha's demise so she just silently comforted her friend.
"Thank you, I don't exactly mourn his death, I disliked him for being that person he was to other packs, to our pack, to me and most especially to Zack. Zack was the sweetest of souls as a child, our father brought out that part of him. Right now, I only mourn what we could have had, if life had gone differently, if he had made different choices but I guess we will never know." Princess Sylvia tried cleaning the tears on her face even when she couldn't control the tears.
Hera held her hands and smiled at her, it's okay to grieve, he's not just the Alpha to you, he was your father too. You don't have to be modest around me, Cry all you want, be sad for as long as it takes before you pick yourself up. I don't have the tears to cry with you in this moment, still we can be sad together..
Hera sat on the floor resting her back on the wall, she tapped her laps and Princess Sylvia laid on the floor, curled into a fetal position while resting her head on Hera's laps. Hera stroke her friend's her softly again as they sat in silence that was only broken intervally by the Princess' sobs.
After hours of silence, Princess Sylvia sat up and rested her head on Hera's shoulder.
"I think I should go now, they will start plans for the funeral soon and I need to be there"
"I'll go with you." Hera replied.
"You don't have to do that, you have just enough on your plate and I know how traumatized my dad made you, coupled with this whole thing with Zack. I wouldn't want you to deal with all that because of me, I'll do it alone. Thank you for sitting with me" Princess Sylvia stood up and Hera stood up too, walking towards the door.
"Let's go before your brother sends his guards down here" Hera smiled at the princess.
At The Palace
"Where have you been?, we've all been waiting for you so we can start the meeting" Prince Zack said, without giving her a chance to speak he continued.
"Let's start the meeting" He said and the royal members of the packs started discussing how to go ahead with the Alpha's Burial.
Princess Sylvia tapped Hera's Laps and motioned her to see Selene. Hera saw Selene trying to hold Prince Zacks hand, while offering him water. Hers looked back at her friend and they both tried to stifle their laughter.
"Do you ladies by chance have a different opinion from ours" Prince Zack said and they both kept a straight face.
"Hera tell me what you think we should be doing differently" He said calmly but everyone saw beyond the facade, Hera knew she had to say something to get out of this situation immediately.
"I believe that the different ideas are great and if I'm to add something, I'll say the late Alpha loved to host large banquets, we could do this to honor him and to also show the other packs that despite the passing of our Alpha we are very united." She smiled hoping Prince Zack bought it.
"That's a very great suggestion, I really didn't think of that, Thank you Hera." Prince Zack said, she smiled at him and sat down.
They continued the discussion, everyone loved the banquet idea and they decided to bury the late Alpha the next day and host the banquet a week later. The burial would hold after the Pack's Priestess performed the rite of passage for the late king the next morning.
After the meeting ended, Princess Sylvia and Hera stood up to leave.
"Hera I need you to help with the invitation cards, you came up with the idea after all, it's only fair that take full credit and responsibility. Be in my office in 45minutes." Prince Zack said calmly again.
Princess Sylvia and Hera left for the Princess' room.
"Did you come up with that on your feet?" Princess Sylvia asked.
"I had to. I'm already on your brother's radar, I don't want more spotlight on me."
"Did you see your future Luna?, I've never seen anybody so desperate, why can't she just read the room?" Princess Sylvia said.
"Why are you surprised?, that was classic Selene move" they both laughed at what Hera said.
"Do you still get those hot flashes?, it must be hard without a mate, I think you could be a late bloomer because everybody that got there wolf that night, experienced the heat that night."
"That's true. I'm guessing mine might happen during the next full moon. Talking about that night. I almost felt bad for Selene, not only did he reject her, he also locked her out during her heating phase. I'm glad the Pristess gave her something to soothe the pain."
"Me too. Wait!!, that means we could meet the Priestess to help you when your heating phase starts, that way Zack won't be able to use it against you." Princess Sylvia said excitedly. Hera's eyes widened with excitement at the realization of it.
"Do you think your brother has a way to know when I'm happy?"
"Why?" Princess Sylvia laughed at Hera's question.
"I have to go, he just mindlinked me to come to his office" Hera said.
"I wish you luck, you'd need it as his Luna is with him" Princess Sylvia said laughing.
At Prince Zacks' Office
There was no guard at the door so Hera knocked before opening the door. She saw Selene making coffee for Prince Zack. She thought it's a little too late for coffee but who's she to interfere.
"You will draft a list of people we are inviting and I'll review it when you are done." Prince Zack said and Hera nodded.
She started working on the list thinking of every possible alpha she could invite and when she was done, she handed the list over to Prince Zack.
"This is even more comprehensive than I had in mind, draft up invitation letters for each person, you can use my Computer." Prince Zack pointed at his computer.
Selene felt jealous at the interaction between Hera and Prince Zack so she decided to ruin it.
"Word around the pack is you most likely will enter the heating phase on the night of the full moon. Your wolf looks weird after all, it's only natural that it takes you time to process things. How will you survive the phase without a partner." Selene smiled at Hera.
"It really doesn't matter when it comes, you and I are the same. Infact, I think I'm better than you, being without a mate, is better than being rejected by my mate. Imagine being used by someone all these years and the one night when you rightfully need it, they lock you out. You should be grateful the priestess came to your rescue. I guess what I'm trying to explain to you is, I'll ask the priestess to help me the way she helped you." Hera smiled back at Selene.
"Selene, when is the next full moon?" Prince Zack asked.
"Next two weeks." Selene replied, happy to have the Prince's attention.
"Hera, let's get married three days before the night of the full moon. The other packs will be preparing for the full moon, so we can host the banquet on the day of the wedding. That will be next two weeks Wednesday." Prince Zack said casually.
Hera and Selene both had surprise boldly written on their faces as they both turned to look at the Prince.