The Alpha King or Queen''s coronation was a massive event among the world of werewolves, but it only required a ball for the Alphas and Lunas to meet and congratte them. For thest few weeks, the ''grand hall'' of the mansion was prepared for such an asion and even had two thrones ced to the right side of the room. A and Damon made sure security was tight; it wasn''t just their pack they needed to protect for the night but other pack leaders.


    At 7pm, A could hear cars approaching the packhouse and chatter among new guests entering the packhouse. The house and estate were lit up along with a red carpet falling down the steps to the front doors, and the pack members on patrol closest to the house were dressed up in ck suits. Guests entered in their suits and gowns, grabbing their champagne sses as they entered.


    While the guests were arriving, Damon was lying on his bed, mind-linking with other pack members, sending out orders for security while he waited on A. She was in the room next door getting ready with Nairi and Chiara; their giggles and excitement could be heard through the walls, making the Alpha smile. After the night before, he had been worried about his mate, but luckily, she did not be ill after spending quite a bit of time in the water. A ryed the Moon Goddess'' words to him, the pair kept it between them, but he could feel the fear creeping into her asionally when she was not distracted. Nheless, her mood had significantly improved from the removal of her scar and being in thepany of Nairi and Chiara.


    Finally, after hours of getting ready, A emerged from the bedroom, instantly taking Damon''s arm.. The pair eyed each other appreciatively. Damon looked dashing in a tuxedo, and A wore an off the shoulder champagne evening gown with her hair pulled back into a low bun. Her make-up was done, showing off her jewel-like blue eyes.


    Damon leaned forwards to kiss her-


    "No!" Nairi burst in front of them. "I did not do her hair and make up for you to mess it up, mister!" She pointed her gloved hand at Damon, making A burst into a fit of giggles, leaning away from her mate. She was right; it was tiresome looking ''perfect'', and Nairi would scold her for messing up her masterpiece.


    "Fine," Damon grumbled, ring at Nairi before leading A away.


    "Have fun, kids!" Nairi called from behind them. A looked at her and Chiara, who were dressed in their own ball gowns, in her favourite colour. The girls smiled warmly at her, Nairi pping her hands excitedly and Chiara holding her thumbs up, cheering her on.


    "You''ll be fine. And after tonight, you can put your hoodie and leggings back on," Damon mind-linked her with a smirk.


    A pouted as they descended the stairs. "Hmm, but you prefer me in a skirt.." She replied, fluttering her eyshes.


    "I prefer you in nothing," Damon purred in her mind causing her to p his arm yfully.


    "I don''t think you''d allow me to walk around naked." She smirked back. Damon''s face dropped, and she could tell he was picturing just that and everyone ''fawning'' over her.


    A found herself rxing. She smiled gratefully to him and took a deep breath in as they approached the double doors to the hall where music from the band could be heard. The doors opened, and the room full of people stilled to the grand entrance of the Alpha King and Queen. A stared at the new faces she was yet to meet and rule over. These were the men and women, Alphas and Lunas in charge of packs around the country along with their guards.


    Damon''s hand pressed into her lower back, a smallforting gesture that spurred her to life and guided her through the path of people. All eyes were on them, or more specifically on her. But A kept her gaze ahead, staring at the two thrones meant for them. To one side of them, she could see Alpha King Magnus and Alpha Queen Lilian, who bowed their heads towards them. A gulped, looking at Magnus'' stern face, but when her gazended on Damon''s mum, she rxed, seeing her kind smile.


    She had fond memories of both Magnus and Lilian as a child, but many years had passed since then. She wondered if they were happy with their son with someone who seemed to lure anything dangerous near her and the pack.


    "Stop worrying. My parents love you," Damon murmured through the mind-link.


    "That should be thest thing on your mind right now," Malia piped in, "You''re in a room full of the country''s leaders."


    That was true. A stopped thinking about such ''minor things'' inparison to proving herself to a bunch of Alphas and Lunas. From ncing at a few faces, she was certain that they weren''t happy with such a young couple as their King and Queen. But, if they were the strongest among the northern territories, then they couldn''tin. If they were so unhappy, then they could always challenge them. Now, she felt confident more than ever that she could take on anyone and defend her throne.


    A and Damon sat down on their thrones, and the hall erupted into apuse of pping and yelling. After they settled down, each Alpha and Luna lined up to greet the new Alpha Queen, introducing themselves and the pack they control. It was a lengthy task, but it needed to be done. A found herself enjoying some introductions more than others, most likely due to their hostility and arrogant personas.


    By the time they finished, A felt her butt cheeks were numb and her back aching from keeping such a stiff posture for a few hours. More champagne was poured and passed along to everyone, including A, who took a sip before stepping away from the throne. With one hand holding the crystal champagne flute and the other resting in Damon''s outstretched hand, they walked towards the centre of the room. Damon retrieved her ss and passed it onto a waiter''s tray who was passing by swiftly, making A follow the drink longingly with her gaze.


    The band started to y once more, and A looked back at her mate while others in the room began to back away from them. Damon bowed, followed by outstretching his hand once more in which she ced her hand in and curtsied. The pair stepped towards each other like they rehearsed and began to waltz across the floor. A''s gaze was locked with Damon''s, and she found herself rxing in his arms, letting him lead the way and forgetting about the others in the room.


    The dance flew by so quickly that it took A a moment to realise they had stopped, and the sounds of her surroundings became clearer once more. Everyone was pping to them and others who had joined them in their dance. Damon winked and kissed her on the cheek, taking his time as he leaned away from her. As soon as they parted from each other, A found herself surrounded by people.


    After much chatting, it was apparent that A and Damon each had their own duties of entertaining their guests. The pair were slowly separated from each other, but A kept checking in on him through the mind-link or their bond. He asionally would e to her rescue'' pulling her away from people that took too much of her time and energy.


    But now, she was in the middle of a group of Alphas she really felt like pping. Unfortunately, Damon was in the midst of a deep discussion with his mother and father and was led away outside of the room for privacy. A tried to tune in on the bond, but he blocked it!


    "Maybe you should be concerned that they don''t like you," Malia snickered. A sighed, then covered her mouth. The men were staring at her intently. Did they ask her a question? In thest ten minutes, they had been in a discussion she felt no need to partake in, but it seems she should have been paying attention.


    A tilted her head to the side, "I''m sorry I missed what you said."


    "Is it true that you worked together with vampires to take down the hunters?" Said one of the Alphas whose name she had already forgotten. She would call him Alpha A for now.


    "Yes, it is true. Gabriel-"


    "That cannot be correct. The hunters are still running about killing creatures," Said another Alpha, interrupting her. Hmm, Alpha B? For rude bastard?


    "We did not take down all of the hunters just-"


    "I think it''s quite extraordinary that you managed to get the king of all vampires to help you," Alpha C interrupted. He eyed her from head to toe, making her seethe and grit her teeth together. "Did you use your feminine wiles? You are quite the beauty; even a vampire would be.."


    A stepped forwards, straightening her shoulders, and red at him. She did not say anything, but she watched as the Alpha shrunk, struggling to keep his head up. She raised a brow at his insolence, but his shaking form soon bared his neck to her.


    "Why are they so rude?" Malia growled.


    "Because they are testing me," A replied with a sigh. It was so tiring. What was the point? Were they seeing what sort of a leader she would be?


    "Then why did you say you took them down?" Said another Alpha, who stepped forwards, moving Alpha C back and continued the discussion.


    "Why would you work with vampires? Are werewolves not enough? It must have been awful working with such creatures-" Alpha A rambled on.


    "I only agreed that we worked together with vampires. I never said that we took down the Hunter''s Association." A interrupted and red at all of them, unknowingly revealing her golden eyes. "If you had not been so rude in interrupting what I spoke, then you would have heard the correct information. And Ipletely disagree; working with the vampires was very beneficial. It showed that we could work together towards amon goal, which I believe you would all agree can help in the future for all creatures if we took down the Hunters Association."


    The Alpha''s instantly bared their necks, unable to respond. A watched them, her eyes still a golden colour. "You should do well to remember who your Queen is," She said firmly before turning her back on them and walking away. Power coursed through her body, making her feel invincible as the guest''s parted way for her, baring their necks to her.