Chapter 179

Chapter 179
Alexander's POV

I tried to fight the nerves as I watched Renée slip through the other door to the grand hall after kissing me and wishing me luck.

The past several weeks have been a lot to handle. After settling everything with Stella's parents and her funeral, I barely had time to breathe with all the coronation and wedding preparations.
We went for several fittings and I had to go through several... well, teachings, I guess, for the coronation ceremony.

And now, after everything, it was finally happening. I was actually about to be crowned King. It felt so surreal, I almost couldn't believe it.
I think reality finally dawned on me when Renée wished me good luck and disappeared from my sight, leaving me alone behind the tall doors, save for the guards studying behind me.
I straightened my suit, tailored with the pack insignia and made sure I looked perfect. My eyes lingered momentarily at the cufflinks I had on, It was crested with the pack symbol. I was doing this for all of us.

In a few minutes I was going to walk down the middle of a crowded hall, filled with dignitaries, pack members and citizens of note, to the dais to get my crown.

My happiness knew no bounds, yet I couldn't bring myself to smile. My father should have been here. He's supposed to watch as I become crowned and look at me with the most pride in the entire world but he can't. And it sucked.

I wasn't complaining though. I had my mother, my lover and my friends, and that was more than what I could ask for, and I was so grateful for that.
Yet, there was still this lingering feeling of loss, like there was someone missing and it wasn't a pretty feeling.

A solemn but uplifting orchestral piece starts playing and it knocks me right out of my thoughts. It was time.
I sucked in a deep breath and schooled my expression.

I can do this.

The doors swung open and everyone rose to their feet and suddenly, all eyes were on me.
I moved slowly but gracefully, my eyes trained on the dais in front of me.
This was it, the moment I had been waiting for all my life.

Embarrassingly enough, goosebumps sprouted on my skin. Thank the goddess clothes exist. My face was not a mirror of my emotions at that moment.

I finally made it through the crowd and ascended the stairs of the dais, where the newly appointed head of court, Lord Nadia Carrington, was waiting for me.

I swallowed as I stopped in front of her, bowed and sunk to a knee.

Lord Nadia spoke the words of the oath for coronation.
"Alexander Dekker," she called my name and I reflexively straightened.
"Do you solemnly swear to uphold the laws of this land, protect our city through peace and turmoil, lead with justice tempered by compassion, and honor the bonds of the pack?"

"I do solemnly swear." I answered, my voice steady.

"Then, say after me," she started and she read the oath and I repeated after her as I should.

After that, she lifted my father's sword, a symbol of legacy and leadership. It was a symbolic tradition that was done using your predecessor's sword.

With the sword, she touched my shoulders. I almost felt the presence of my father from the small act.
"By the authority vested in me by the traditions of our land, the will of the pack, and the spirit of the moon goddess, I crown you, King Alexander Dekker, the ruler of this city and leader of our pack." she finally finished, placing the crown on my head.

I rose to my feet and she curtsied, before turning away.

The crowd erupted in applause.
I turned to them, my eyes searching the front row and there they were.
Renée, my mother, Dylan and Emma, all clapping and smiling.
Well, my mother was already in tears.

Finally, I smiled.

"ALL HAIL KING ALEXANDER" Dylan suddenly yelled and I laughed as the pack members howled in unison.

I descended the dais as Renée basically ran to me, my mother in tow.
"I'm so proud of you" she yelled through the noise as she wrapped me in a hug.

"Thank you" I whispered in her ear before she pulled away from me.

Almost immediately, my mother wrapped me in a warm hug, as she cried tears of joy.
"You did it, baby. Your father would be proud" she said and I had to bite my tongue to control my emotions.

He really would.

Dylan wrapped me in a brotherly hug “Congratulations man. You finally did it” he said and I smiled.

“I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you” I said and he smiled in response.

Emma managed to whisper “Congratulations” to me before Dylan basically screamed.

“TONIGHT, WE FEAST!” he yelled and the cheers got even louder.

I laughed as I wrapped my arms around Renée's waist.

I was finally King.
I felt like I had finally found peace with the loss of my father at that moment. I could almost see him smiling at me.

Slowly, the guests dispersed from that room to the next one, already prepared for the feast.

Dylan, Emma and my mother basically disappeared from our sights. Talk about event planners.
My mother specifically was obsessed with perfect parties.

Renée and I slowly made our way there too, guards in tow.

“Is it heavy?” Renée suddenly asked, staring at the crown on my head.

“Wanna try it on?” I asked, already reaching for the crown, before she swatted my hand.

“No! Are you joking?” She said, her eyes widened.

“Why not? It's yours as much as it's mine” I said and watched in amusement as her cheeks grew red.

“Don't do that!” She exclaimed as she looked away, a small smile gracing her lips.

“Fine, fine” I said, with a smile of my own.

“So?” She asked, staring at the crown again. She really was curious.

“Well, you know what they say. Heavy is the head that wears the crown” I said, almost teasingly.

She immediately started to laugh.
“Trust you to be dramatic with something like this” she said and I chuckled.

“It's moderately heavy. Heavy enough to know I have something on but not so heavy that it weighs me down” I explained and she nodded.

The music of the next hall filtered through the doors as we neared it.

Dear goddess. What has Dylan done?

Just as the guards opened the door, I heard my name from behind.
That voice.
No. Bryan.
I turned around immediately, my eyes wandering for a fraction of a second before they landed on him.
But it was too late.

I heard her screams before I felt it.
The guards charged at him as I slowly sank to the floor, Renée catching me in her arms. Everything slowed down.

He shot an arrow, straight to my chest.
Who even shoots arrows anymore? I almost laughed.

The music stopped.
My mother's screaming…
Renée crying…
Dylan yelling…

In between it all, I felt myself drowning, choking. Wolf
sbane. Straight to my chest.
I couldn't breathe.

Fuck.
Just as soon as everything starts going right, I die.

How poetic.