CHAPTER 8

Kara's P.O.V

We followed Eliara and Auriana to the chapel. From the entrance, I could see that the whole place was packed. Eliara, Auriana, Rissa and Ellie all entered before us when the Chief Elder, Rayna, walked unto the dais to begin the ceremony. Korra and I entered first to stand on the further right of the Chief Elder. Then the Chief Elder announced the entrance of Kiara. Every wolf who was seated stood and then we bowed in respect as she walked up to the dais to stand in front of the Chief Elder. Everyone except my sisters and I as well as the elders, then sat back down.

"Today, we have all gathered here to witness a new leader rise into her duty and responsibility. (Kiara knelt down before Chief Elder Rayna. Rayna then removed her crown from her head and handed it over to another elder, Caius. Then motioned for another elder, Maryse to hand her a brass bowl, which contained the collected blood of all the Alphas as well as dirt(sand) from their territories as a sign of submission while another elder handed her the moon goddess athame. I stepped forward and poured vial of dirt (sand) our territory into the bowl. Rayna then handed Kiara the athame for Kiara to cut her hand.) Do you, Kiara Silver accept the title as queen of all werewolves? To uphold the law and to rule with justice and fairness and not let emotions cloud your judgment? To protect and defend your subjects?" Kiara cut her palm then and let her blood drip into the bowl as she answered.

"Yes, I do." She handed the athame back. The elders then mixed the blood and dirt together. Auriana then stepped forward and set the items in the bowl on fire with magic to cement vow then the bowl was set aside. Rissa and Ellie then stepped forward with two large cushions in their hands, which bore the royal scepter and the queen's crown. Rayna took the crown and placed it on Kiara's head.

"Then by the power vested in me as Chief Elder, I crown you as queen and ruler of all werewolves." Kiara stood then and accepted the scepter from Rayna before turning to face everyone.

"Wolves, I introduce you now to your new ruler, Queen Kiara Karen Silver." Maryse announced. We all then genuflected before Kiara in submission and respect.

Kiara's P.O.V

We are currently at the after-party, waiting till the moon rises. Then I will shift for the first time in front of everyone because that is when the full power as queen will be placed on me by the moon goddess. I was currently speaking to one of the Alphas and his Luna when I felt someone tap my shoulder. I politely excused myself and turned to see Alexander and Raelynn standing behind me.

"Alec, Rae. Oh my God, it's so good to see you." I said, hugging them.

"It's good to see you too, Your Majesty." Alec said in a teasing voice. I chuckled.

"Ok, I still can't believe you are the queen. I mean, how did we not know you and your sisters were royal wolves when you were with us?" Raelynn said.

"We were undercover, Rae. So we had to mask our scents as royals and change our surnames so we could blend in. Why do you think we never wolfed out around you guys? If we did, you'd have found out." I explained.

"Ok, but why were you undercover?" Rae asked.

"For our protection, it's part of how my parents died. Anyway, we have a lot to catch up on."

"Yes, we do."

"Why don't we step outside? I need to take a breather anyway. If I stay here any longer I might suffocate." I said as I lead them out of the ballroom.

"I see that hasn't changed." Alec said with a chuckle. We went out into the gardens and sat in two of the garden swings facing each other.

"Wow. The castle is even more beautiful than I thought. Kara and Korra took us on a tour around. It's really awesome. They didn't bring us here though." Raelynn said, relaxing into the seat of the swing.

"That's because it's outside and they only toured you on the inside. Wait till you see the training yard or the other gardens and the other outdoor spots. Some are best seen in the day, others in the night like this garden for instance. Look around and look at the flowers." They sat up and looked around at the flowers.

"Whoa. How did we miss them?" They both asked.

"Pretty amazing, right?" Maybe if you want I can give you some of the seeds to take home and grow."

"That would be great, Kiara. At least then I'll have something to do at home when Alec isn't around which is most of the time."

"You're welcome. Now tell me, did he pop the question yet or do I have to make him do it in front of everyone?" I asked.

"Yes, I have and we're already married, thank you very much."

"That's great. So why wasn't I told? You had my number and my email. I may not have been able to come but still don't I as your best friend deserve to know that my best friends are getting married? (They started to stutter trying to find an answer for me. I bit my lip to keep from laughing at their expense till I couldn't hold it in anymore.) Guys, chill, I'm only trying to get you flustered. I already knew, you sent me an invite a year after I came back home, remember? I knew you forgot you did." They both glared at me as I continued to laugh at them.

"Ok, so not cool. I thought you've given this up." Alec said, trying not to smile.

"Nope, never. I love you two too much to stop."

"One day, we'll find a way to get you back for it." Raelynn said, smiling.

"Not a chance. I have eidetic memory, remember? I don't forget stuff. Why do you think I have a GPA of 5.6?" I said with a smug smile.

"Whatever, I'll still get you back some way." Rae said.

"You're welcome to try. I'm really happy for you guys, you're great for each other. Which I'm sure why I can hear two heartbeats coming from Rae. Hers and a tiny one." I said with a sly smile. I had a feeling they didn't know yet.

"Wait, what?" They both asked in surprise. I was right, they don't know.

"Yeah. Alec, close your eyes and focus your hearing on her." He did as I said. His eyes opened wide in surprise like Rae's who had also focused her hearing.

"Oh my God, I'm gonna be a dad." Alec whispered.

"Yeah and I'm going to be a mom." Rae said with tears in her eyes.

"Whoa, Kiara, how- how?" Alec stuttered.

"I heard it when we were inside, in the ballroom." I said softly.

"Wow, over the music, the many voices that were talking at the same time and the multiple heartbeats in the room. How is that possible?" Rae asked.

"My mom taught me how to be able to detect different things at once with my hearing. A baby's heartbeat is very different from that of grownups and each baby has its own unique heartbeat." I explained.

"Wow, that's incredible. We came here to celebrate one of the happiest days of your life and instead you've made us the happiest people right now. How do you do that?" Rae asked with a smile.

"It's that's how she naturally is and that's why we love her." Alec said with a smile matching Rae's. I smiled as well.

"Kiara, really, how are you doing with him here? (I gave a look.) It's okay, Alec knows but I didn't tell him. Nick told him himself."

"I'm still a little mad at him for doing that but like you told Rae it was his decision." Alec said.

"Yeah. I guess I don't know how to feel. I mean I'm happy that he's found someone to be with, someone who makes him happy. But it also hurts to think that I wasn't enough for him. Either way I can't do anything about it." I shrugged as I spoke. I then felt the presence of someone else behind us. I looked up and turned to see Nicholas standing there with his hands in his pockets.

"We'll give you two a minute. I'll tell Kara where to find you." Alec said then stood up with Raelynn and went back inside. Nick then walked over and occupied their previous seat.

"Hi." He said

"Hi." I replied. There was a moment of awkward silence then. I chuckled a bit then finding the situation a bit funny.

"What? What's funny?"

"You. After 3 years since everything, all you can say is 'hi'. Well then, since we both have nothing to say, I'm gonna go back inside."

"Maybe, if you had answered any of my calls and texts, we'd have something to at least say to each other."

"Yeah, well whose fault is it that I didn't answer any of those calls and texts? You know what I can't do this right now. I have to get back inside." I stood up and turned to walk away.

"Why? Why are you doing this?" He asked, also standing up.

"Why am I doing what?" I turned back to face him.

"This. Anytime it comes to talking about what's happening between us, you walk away."

"Nothing happened and nothing is happening between us so there's nothing to talk about. That's why I walk away, because there's nothing to talk about."

"According to you, there isn't but there is. Fine, that aside for now. Why haven't you told anyone what happened? For three years, I've been wondering why your sisters, my sister, our friends haven't spoken about it."

"First of all, as I've already said, nothing happened. And second, it's none of their business."

"None of- What are you trying to do? Trying to make me feel guilty, so that when it comes out everyone will believe that you're the better person? What are you playing at?"

"Is that the kind of person you think I am, Nick? You think I'm doing this so I'll be seen as the victim if what you did comes out? Is that what you think of me? Wow, just when I thought there's no other way you could hurt me again, but you just showed me another way to hurt me."

"Kiara, I..."

"So you would rather I tell everyone something that could very well turn them against you? Nick, other than my sisters, Carissa and Elissa, you've known our friends and your twin longer than I have. You know that rejecting your mate without a reasonable cause can turn your people against you, especially if your people know the kind of person your mate is. What kind of a person would I be if I turned your own family against you? You know that your family and your pack loves me like I was part of them, why would I do something that would make them angry at you? They may not be able to hate you but they can be angry at you, angry enough to distance themselves from you. Why would I want to do that to you? Why do you care why I haven't told anyone anyways? You have Amara by your side now. She's a great girl and I see the way she makes you happy. Why are you still pursuing this issue? Don't break her heart the way you broke mine. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back. I've been away for far too long which is rude of me as queen and host." I then walked back inside leaving him standing there. I stopped in the hall before entering the ballroom and leaned against the wall. I closed my eyes and breathed heavily and shakily, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall.

"Hey, Kiara, you ok?" I heard Nicki's voice ask. I opened my eyes to find her looking at me in concern. I let out a soft breath.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Then why do you have tears in your eyes?"

"I was just remembering my parents and wishing they were here. I just came back from their favorite garden." I said, telling half the truth.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's okay. You didn't do or say anything wrong. What are you doing here anyway?"

"I was coming out to look for my brother. You haven't seen him, have you?"

"Yeah, I actually passed him on my way back inside."

"Mmmm.... Kiara, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, sure."

"What's going on between you and my brother?"

"What do you mean? There's nothing going on between your brother and me."

"I'm not stupid. Ever since you left California, anytime something about you comes up in our conversations, he tries to change the subject. I also noticed a lot of texts and calls to you which had not been answered on his phone. Now, what is going on?" I felt Nick's presence beside us then.

"Then you should be asking him about it, Nicki not me. I have to go back inside. It's almost time for the last event of the evening. I'll see you." I then left her and entered the ballroom and joined my family.

It was time for me to shift. I followed behind the elders who led me through the forest over to a cliff which overlooked a clearing where everyone had gathered. The elders then stepped back behind me. I took off my shoes and accessories then I looked up at the full moon and breathed in. I then willed my body to shift into my white wolf. My clothes morphed along with my body instead of ripping like a normal wolf's clothes would. Minutes later, I was standing on four paws facing everyone. I could see the awe on most of their faces at the sight of my wolf. Drawing air into my lungs, I threw my head back and howled loudly to the sky. Every wolf shifted immediately and bowed down in submission. The coronation was now fully complete.