Chapter 144: A New Crown

ARIEL

~BBBZZZ!~

~BBBZZZ!~

I breathe out and relax as Steve brings down the tattoo needle and it punctures my skin.

Pack custom dictates that whenever someone moves up a rank as a warrior, they get a new addition.

I remember when I got my first one, a small crescent moon on the inside of my wrist, to show I was a warrior for the Crescent Moon Pack.

~The night before I was captured by Hunters.~

When I joined the Royal Pack as a warrior, I got a crown just above the moon.

For each promotion, from squad leader, to commander, and now to general, I’ve gotten an extra crown.

The tattoos extend from my wrist all the way up to the crook of my elbow, getting more intricate and detailed with each rank. If I’m not careful, it will end up turning into an entire sleeve of ink.

I smile as I realize I am going to be the highest-ranked warrior in an entire pack.

We’re set up in the gardens outside the palace, and it seems like the entire pack has turned out to see me getting tattooed.

At the back, I see the warriors, all saluting as the ceremony finishes. I see Helena and Dom, with their daughter, Camelia, asleep in Dom’s arms.

My eyes trace over Natalia and Chuck, Xavi bouncing on his stepfather’s knee. In the front row are Maria and my dad.

I see dark circles under his eyes, and he looks a bit paler than usual. He gives me a weak smile, but I can tell he’s forcing it.

I spoke to him just before we left for Spain and he looked fine then. I just hope it isn’t something serious.

He’s been my rock ever since I was little, and If it wasn't for him, I would never have made it into the Royal Pack after Xavier banished me...

I make a plan to talk to him after the ceremony. I would do anything to make him feel better.

I scan the audience one more time and find there is one person missing…

~Mom.~

~Typical.~

She’s always been against my warrior ambitions, only really cozying up to me after I became the queen.

Now I’m a general, ~THE~ general of the entire Royal Pack…and she’s nowhere to be seen.

To my left is Alex, and Steve to my right, tattooing my rank. Alex is looking away from me, his brow furrowed.

“What’s the matter?” I whisper, reaching out my non-tattooed arm and taking his hand. He still doesn’t look at me, instead scrunching up his eyes.

“It’s just…needles,” Alex mutters. “Not a big fan.”

I laugh in amazement.

“Look at you, the king, the alpha, one of the bravest warriors I know, and you’re scared of a little needle!” I joke.

“Keep that up and I’ll take away your promotion,” he says, partly serious, partly joking.

“You can’t do that—I’ve got the tattoo now! There’s nothing you can do to stop me!” I say as Steve sits back, his work finished.

I look at my arm. The new crown fits perfectly, as if it has always belonged there.

Alex takes my hand and announces to the crowd, “Rise, Ariel, queen AND general of the Royal Pack!”

I get to my feet as the assembled crowd breaks into applause.

When the ceremony ends and the guests start to file out toward the reception, I attempt to talk to my dad, but before I can reach or call out to him, he’s gone.

I feel someone brush up against my arm. I turn and see Natalia, clearly looking worried.

“Have you seen Dad?” I ask. “He seemed a little off during the ceremony. Speaking of, where the hell is Mom?”

Natalia looks away and squirms awkwardly, before saying quietly, “You might want to sit down for this.”

She guides me over to some of the front-row seats and we sit down.

“What the hell is going on?” I say, looking my sister dead in the eye.

“Mom’s…gone,” Natalia croaks. “She left.”

“What?” I say. “Why? What happened?”

“She found her destined mate,” Natalia says.

~Oh my Goddess, Dad!~

~He must be devastated!~

***

After the reception, Alex and I walk hand in hand through the gardens together.

I needed to clear my head after Natalia’s news.

Alex says I shouldn’t blame myself, but I can’t help it. I’m the one who brought new destined mating bonds into the world.

“Psst! Look over there,” Alex suddenly whispers.

He points in between two bushes and I follow his finger. Tucked into a little alcove, sitting on a stone bench, are Jo and Vivian.

They’re curled up against each other, Vivian playing with Jo’s hair, Jo leaving teasing kisses along Vivian’s neck.

They seem so content together, as if they don’t have a care in the world. They’re the cutest couple I’ve ever seen.

“I guess I didn’t completely fuck things up rebooting Fate,” I say with a laugh. “Destiny still managed to work out for some people.”

That’s when it hits me. ~Destined mates.~

Just like Vivian and Jo found love with each other, I could help other werewolves find love.

~To find new mates~.

I wronged so many people when I broke all the destined mating bonds, but now I have the chance to make it right…

I’m going to throw the biggest mating weekend ever, bringing together all the packs from across the United States to the Royal Pack.

I’ll even find a mate for my dad…I’ll show him he can find happiness again.

And finally, everything will be healed.