Chapter 172 The Coronation Preparation
Alberto lay quietly on the bed while his eyes remained fixed on the ceiling above him. The faint scent of herbs lingered in the room as Mira moved slowly beside him, adjusting the cloth placed against his arm. His breathing had steadied, yet his expression remained distant, as though his thoughts were far from the quiet space he now occupied.
Mira glanced at him briefly before returning her attention to the bowl of crushed leaves in her hand.
“You should not keep everything locked inside,” she said softly.
Alberto did not respond immediately.
His fingers curled slightly against the sheet.
After a moment, he spoke.
“I am not keeping anything locked.”
Mira lifted her gaze toward him.
“You threw things across the room and asked them to leave.”
Alberto exhaled quietly.
“That does not mean I want to talk about it.”
Mira stepped closer to the bed.
“It means you are hurting.”
Alberto turned his head slightly away from her.
“I have every reason to be.”
Mira nodded gently.
“Yes, you do.”
She set the bowl aside and folded her hands together.
“But you also have a chance that many people never get.”
Alberto’s brow furrowed slightly.
“And what chance is that?”
Mira met his gaze.
“The chance to know your father.”
Alberto let out a quiet laugh that held no humor.
“I already know enough.”
Mira shook her head slowly.
“No, you know the part that hurt you.”
Alberto’s jaw tightened slightly.
“That is the only part that matters.”
Mira studied his face carefully.
“Is it?”
Alberto remained silent.
Mira continued speaking.
“There is nothing in this world more painful than losing a family you never had the chance to know.”
Alberto’s eyes flickered slightly.
“And there is nothing more valuable than the chance to build that bond when it is still possible.”
Alberto looked back at the ceiling.
“You expect me to forgive him just like that?”
Mira’s voice remained calm.
“No.”
Alberto turned toward her again.
“Then what do you expect?”
Mira paused briefly.
“I expect you to give yourself time.”
Alberto frowned.
“And then what?”
Mira’s expression softened slightly.
“And then you decide whether holding on to that anger is worth losing the moments you could have with him.”
Alberto’s gaze lingered on her.
Mira stepped back slightly.
“You do not have to accept him immediately.”
Alberto remained silent.
“But you should not shut him out completely.”
Alberto looked away again.
“He had years.”
Mira nodded.
“Yes.”
Alberto’s voice dropped slightly.
“And he chose to stay away.”
Mira walked toward the small table and picked up a cup of water before handing it to him.
“Sometimes people make decisions out of fear or guilt.”
Alberto took the cup slowly.
“That does not make it right.”
Mira agreed quietly.
“No, it does not.”
Alberto drank a small amount before setting the cup aside.
Mira continued.
“But it also does not mean they do not regret those decisions.”
Alberto’s expression softened for a brief moment before hardening again.
“I am not ready.”
Mira nodded.
“That is fine.”
She turned toward the door.
“But do not close the door forever.”
Alberto watched her as she moved away.
The room fell silent once again.
His thoughts lingered on her words.
Time passed slowly over the next few days.
At first Alberto avoided any interaction with Gilat.
Whenever he saw him in the distance, he turned away or remained silent.
Gilat did not force himself forward.
He kept his distance while watching from afar.
Fernando observed the situation carefully but did not interfere.
Lucia remained aware of the tension but chose to give Alberto space.
As the days passed, small changes began to form.
Alberto no longer avoided being in the same space as Gilat.
He did not speak much, but he no longer walked away immediately.
Gilat took those moments as quiet opportunities.
He would greet him softly.
“Good morning.”
Or sometimes simply nod in acknowledgment.
Alberto responded with brief nods of his own.
Nothing more.
But it was something.
Mira noticed the shift.
She said nothing, but her eyes carried quiet approval whenever she saw them in the same room without conflict.
A week passed.
Then another.
One morning Alberto stood near the training grounds while watching several guards practice.
Gilat approached slowly.
He stopped a short distance away.
“You have improved.”
Alberto glanced at him briefly.
“Training never stops.”
Gilat nodded.
“That is true.”
Silence followed.
Then Gilat spoke again.
“I remember when you first learned to fight.”
Alberto’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“You were watching?”
Gilat nodded.
“Yes.”
Alberto studied him carefully.
“You never stepped in.”
Gilat lowered his gaze briefly.
“I wanted to.”
Alberto exhaled quietly.
“But you did not.”
Gilat looked back at him.
“I was afraid.”
Alberto frowned.
“Of what?”
Gilat hesitated.
“That my presence would bring more danger to you.”
Alberto remained silent.
Gilat continued.
“I thought staying away would keep you safe.”
Alberto’s expression shifted slightly.
“And did it?”
Gilat’s voice softened.
“No.”
The honesty in his tone lingered between them.
Alberto looked away.
“You made the wrong choice.”
Gilat nodded slowly.
“I know.”
Another silence followed.
Then Alberto spoke again.
“You cannot change the past.”
Gilat shook his head.
“No.”
Alberto glanced back at him.
“But you can decide what you do now.”
Gilat’s eyes held a quiet hope.
“I would like that chance.”
Alberto did not respond immediately.
Instead, he turned his attention back to the training ground.
But he did not walk away.
That alone spoke enough.
Over the following days, their conversations grew slightly longer.
They spoke about small things at first.
Training.
The pack.
Simple observations.
Nothing too personal.
But the distance between them began to close.
Fernando noticed the change.
One afternoon he joined them as they stood near the courtyard.
“You both seem to be getting along.”
Alberto glanced at him.
“It is a work in progress.”
Gilat gave a faint smile.
“I will take that.”
Fernando nodded.
“That is more than enough for now.”
Alberto leaned slightly against the wooden railing.
“We will see.”
Another week passed.
The bond between Alberto and Gilat continued to grow slowly.
It was not perfect.
There were still moments of silence and hesitation.
But there was also understanding.
One afternoon they sat together with Fernando in the open courtyard.
The sun hung low in the sky while a gentle breeze moved through the space.
Fernando spoke first.
“The pack has been stable for the past few days.”
Alberto nodded.
“That is good.”
Gilat added quietly.
“But stability does not always mean safety.”
Fernando looked at him.
“You think something is coming?”
Before Gilat could answer, footsteps approached.
Darius entered the courtyard.
His posture remained steady as he approached them.
“Alpha.”
Fernando turned toward him.
“What is it?”
Darius glanced briefly at Alberto and Gilat before speaking.
“There have been developments.”
Fernando’s expression grew serious.
“Explain.”
Darius crossed his arms slightly.
“There are signs of division within the werewolf clans.”
Alberto frowned.
“What kind of division?”
Darius continued.
“The weaker packs have been infiltrated.”
Fernando’s eyes narrowed.
“By who?”
Darius held his gaze.
“Maleek.”
The name carried weight.
Gilat spoke immediately.
“I suspected as much.”
Fernando looked at him.
“You agree?”
Gilat nodded.
“Yes.”
Alberto leaned forward slightly.
“What does that mean for us?”
Darius answered calmly.
“It means we cannot delay any longer.”
Fernando’s expression hardened.
“You are suggesting the coronation.”
Darius nodded.
“Yes.”
Gilat spoke again.
“He is right.”
Fernando looked between them.
“If the clans are weakening then we need to unite them.”
Alberto considered their words.
“And the coronation will do that?”
Darius nodded.
“It will strengthen your position.”
Fernando exhaled slowly.
“Then we prepare.”
Alberto looked at him.
“You are certain?”
Fernando met his gaze.
“We do not have a choice.”
Gilat added quietly.
“The longer we wait, the stronger Maleek becomes.”
Alberto nodded slowly.
“Then we move forward.”
The decision settled between them.
Preparations began immediately.
The pack grew busy with activity as plans were put into motion.
Messages were sent to allied packs.
Arrangements were made for the ceremony.
Guards increased their patrols around the territory.
Alberto remained involved in every step.
Gilat stayed close, offering guidance when needed.
Fernando handled the leadership decisions with firm resolve.
Lucia oversaw the internal arrangements.
Mira ensured that everyone remained in good condition.
The days passed quickly.
The atmosphere within the pack shifted from tension to focused determination.
Then the final day arrived.
The day before the coronation.
The sun had already begun to set when Alberto finished his duties.
He walked through the corridor quietly, his mind occupied with the events ahead.
A voice called out from behind him.
“Alberto.”
He turned.
Rowan stood a short distance away.
His expression carried a seriousness that caught Alberto’s attention.
“Yes?”
Rowan stepped closer.
“I need to speak with you.”
Alberto studied him briefly.
“What is it?”
Rowan glanced around before lowering his voice slightly.
“Not here.”
Alberto’s brow furrowed.
“Then where?”
Rowan met his gaze.
“My room.”
Alberto hesitated for a brief moment before nodding.
“Alright.”
Rowan turned and began walking down the corridor.
Alberto followed him quietly.
Neither of them spoke as they moved.
The weight of the approaching coronation lingered in the air.
As they reached Rowan’s door, he paused briefly before opening it.
“Come in.”