HIRAM'S POV:
Today is the day of Hollis' coronation, and the entire pack is abuzz. I wake up once more miserable as ever and force a smile on my face because I do not want to be a killjoy.
Everyone at home is busy, and from my room, I can hear my mother barking orders.
"God, I need another stick. I am running low on energy," I hear her mumble as she makes her through the hall. I can tell she is coming for me, and just as I predicted, my door swings open without a knock.
"Why are you still in bed, Hiram? Do you want to kill me?" she yells as though it's a crowd of people in my room and not just the both of us.
"Privacy, Mum," I say to her as I get to my feet. She sighs.
"Please, if you are talking about what is in between your legs, I've seen it all since you were a kid, so get your ass up and start working!"
She slams my door shut before I can respond to her. I let out a sigh and head to the shower. I get dressed in front of the mirror. At that moment, a knock comes at my door.
"It's Hana," I hear my sister's voice, and I grant her permission into my room.
She opens the door, and I catch sight of her in the mirror. She is dressed up in a black flare dress that Mother had personally picked out.
"You decided to see your favorite sibling in the entire world after a million years," I say, locking my eyes on her through the mirror as I adjust my tie.
Then she sits on my bed with a sigh.
I leave my tie and turn around to face her. I walk to her, then I hand my tie to her.
"Knot it, please," I say, and she nods. Then she gets to her feet, hanging the tie around my neck. "So, what's up in your teenage life?" I ask, and she lets out a sigh again.
I am about to speak, but her mouth begins to run.
"I hate Hu officially. In my friend group, we made a pact that we shouldn't date anyone's brother, and Ruby just broke it. She isn't even dating Hu. He is just leading her on with the sex because he will never settle to have an actual girlfriend," she says with a groan. "I like Ruby, but we made a deal, so Wendy and I kicked her out of the group. See, I'm too stressed for this!" she huffs, letting go of my perfectly knotted tie.
"So, do you want me to talk to Hu about your friend?" I ask, and she shakes her head.
"I don't care what he thinks or what she thinks, I just needed someone to vent my anger at. I wonder how she will feel if I date her own brother, but I can't. He's ten!" She folds her hands into a fist.
As I look at her, I realize we might all be wrong to say Hera is the one with anger issues.
"Well, you are all dressed up pretty for today, so do not let Hu or his sneaky link get to you," I say to her. Then I plant a kiss on her forehead.
At that moment, a knock comes at my door, and it's Hera. Hana looks at me with a brow raised.
"Does she think this is Hollis' room?" Hana asks, and I chuckle lightly.
"Learn to share your favorite things and people," I say to her, and she hisses loudly.
Then she makes her way to the door, opening it with her brows furrowed.
"Mother says you two should come down," Hera says, then she glances at me before walking away.
"No one is taking me away from you, Hana, so chill." I say to her, then she sighs.
"Maybe I'm just overacting. I'm losing all my favorite people," she says, and I pull her into a hug.
"I am here for you, and you will not lose me." A smile forms on her lips, then I take her hands, walking her downstairs to the ceremony.
**
The entire house is properly decorated, and the hall is packed with guests-ranging from the beta and his family to the gammas to the members of the pack who have come to witness the coronation of the new king.
Hollis sits in the center of the room on a pillow with his legs crossed. Then a priest stands before him, muttering some words. My attention is fully on him, and deep down, I pray I never have to take this mantle. It is scary in both ways-being the king, and my brother dying.
'Hiram, you are overthinking,' I say to myself, trying to pull my mind back to reality.
"Hiram," Vera whispers, and I tilt my head slightly to see her dressed in a white dress with a rose sitting by the side of her shoulder.
"Vera," I say in a small tone. Then we stand still, trying to keep my gaze on the events of the day.
"You might want to see this," Vera says, and I look at her at once as she takes out her phone from her bag, then she shows me a video of June and Troy hanging out, laughing without a care in the world.
Seeing her happy makes me happy, but the fact it is another man behind her smile gets to me-not just another man, it's Troy. The video digs deep into my heart, breaking down every healing barrier I've built around our relationship. Without thinking twice, I walk away.
My hands find a bottle of wine, and I grab it, downing its entire content. I take another one, then I find a room to drown away my sorrows. I do not want to interrupt my brother's big day.
I think the alcohol will help, but it doesn't. All I can think of is Troy's hands on her and the way she laughs like it's nothing. Did she really love me? How could she move on easily? I question myself.
Someone knocks at the door of the room I'm in, and they open it. Then I look up to see Vera.
"Hiram, you are going to kill yourself at this rate," she says, and I chuckle with my arms wide spread.
"What's there to live for? My mate loves another man." I chug down as much alcohol as I can, then I sit on the bed, letting out a chuckle that leaves nothing but a pit in my stomach.
Vera walks up to me, grabbing the bottle from me. Then she places it on the table.
"She is out there living her best life, and you should move on too," she begins, and I lower my head, placing it in my palms. "A lot of people care about you, Hiram, and this isn't the best way to go about it. Rejection hurts, not finding a mate hurts, and your mate abandoning you hurt too, but we have to keep moving and trusting the Moon goddess."
Her words should make sense, but they do not. I want my Juniper back. I want to hold her in my arms and kiss her. To truly apologize for not treating her right, and the fact she has moved on, makes me sad, because I will never move on-not to any woman. I only want her.
"Hiram." She slides her hands onto my thigh as she calls my name, then I raise my head. "Your family loves you, and I love you, too." With this, she presses her lips on mine, running her hands between my thighs until she reaches for the outline of my pants.
I am drunk, but not too drunk to make a mistake I know I am going to regret, so I grab her hands, pulling them off my body as I get to my feet.
"You should stop trying, Vera, and if my mother sent you, then you should let her know this will not work." I walk out of the room, practically staggering.
Outside, I find Alex near an alcohol table, and I call out to her. When she spots me, she rushes to me.
"Hiram, you are a mess!" she exclaims, and I nod, trying to hold the wall for support.
"Having mates isn't easy." I try to catch my breath. "I need you to send a message to June for me, please," I say to her.
Then she sighs.
"Have you even seen her story? I think she has moved on, Hiram. Look at what she is doing to you. Haven't you had enough? We can break the mate bond magically without her, and…"
"No," I clutch my chest as I crash onto the ground, the weight in it threatening to suffocate me. "Just tell her I love her." These were my last words before everything went dark.