Chapter 17

KEVIN

"Today, we are gathered here under this blessed night to witness the coronation of our new Alpha and Beta of Greenville. Kevin Manchester and Gabriel Herald."

So were the words of the elderly man positioned between Gabriel and me. His skin was wrinkled, and his hair adorned in gray, one could tell he was nothing less than a two-year Millennium old werewolf. He stood above us while our knees stood against the wooden floor. We were on a stage, in a large ballroom-like room where majority of my Pack Members were gathered. All dressed in elegance. The men took joy in suits and the women slaying in their dazzling evening gowns.

I could see a bright smile adorning on Gabriel as he faced the crowd but all I did was searching through the crowd for only one person. Claire. It's not like I cared much about this coronation, but it would mean a lot if she at least attended.

"Here, drink this." The old man's fragile voice tousled my thoughts. Only then did I realize that two young women were busy drawing colorful tribal paintings on my chest while I was offered a wooden bowl. One which contained this liquid which reeked.

I glanced at the old man whose eyes simply beckoned me to have this drink.

"What is this?" I questioned while I stole a glance at my Beta who was already busy drinking from his bowl.

"This is Greenville traditional herbs made for every new Alpha of the Pack. It helps strengthen the connection between you and your Pack Members." He explained lucidly in a soothing voice.

"I'm not drinking this shit." I chorused in the lowest voice while the old man's face morphed into worry.

"It is mandatory you drink this, Alpha." He whispered. I frowned as I stared at the despicable liquid again. I didn't even care that the eyes of my Pack Members were on me.

"And I said no!" I almost pitched.

"Kevin don't be stubborn and just get this over with!" Gabriel's voice cautioned in a whisper while he faked a smile to the curious crowd. I glanced at the old man and his bowl of herbs again before collecting it with a sigh. To my surprise, the herb didn't taste so bad like I had expected. I couldn't decipher its taste to be precise, but I felt it spreading instantaneously throughout my body. I could feel the connection between my members, and I thicken. Although I didn't want it, but my love for them grew in a divine way.

"Both of you shall now rise to read your vows of honor to Greenville." The old man said in his soft voice while Gabriel and I arose barefooted. We stood side by side with our chest still bare and honestly, I found it quite discomforting. Only my mate and close people had the privileges to have a view of my perfectly built chest not some ladies at the back end. Eyeing us like a seductress. But in the end, I have to complete this ceremony for Gabriel to help me.

The same women came to us again, quietly wearing a tribal green robe around us while two men offered us a scroll each. One which obviously beheld this BELOVED vow of honors. As I opened its page reluctantly, guilt started to haunt my soul as I read through those words.

"I, Gabriel Geraldton." Said my Beta as he held the scroll with pride and a smile still retained.

"As the Beta of Greenville Pack hereby vow to protect—"

I continued to stare dumbfounded as Gabriel spoke those written words eloquently. With every second that wavered by, with every words that toured out of his mouth, my conscience judged me. This vows were promises I knew for surety I can't keep. My fingers trembled upon the page in my hands, I felt a cold feeling haunt my spines, my eyes twitched as I glanced across the crowd patiently listening to Gabriel's vow of honors. My heart thumped louder with each second and in that unprecedented moment, my lips parted.

"I can't do this!" I announced, cutting Gabriel off midway. I could hear indistinctive chatter amongst the crowd, but I cared less.

"May I ask what's wrong, Alpha." The old man muttered by my side but instead I wrapped the scroll hastily and tossed it to the floor.

"I can't fulfill those vows!" I pitched again while Gabriel inched closer to me.

"Kevin, this is not the time to employ your craziness!" He growled. "We're almost done with this, so you better get your shit together!" He added before rewarding the crowd with a superficial smile again.

"I said I can't do it!" I hollered again, this time attracting everyone's full attention to me.

"Kevin!" Gabriel growled again but I ignored.

"I would be lying to you all if I say those written vows." I mentioned as I stepped forward. "I can't make vows I can't keep!"

"Keeevin!" Gabriel growled again but yet again I ignored him. I stared at the crowd who were obviously in confusion and patiently waiting for my words. But deep down, I didn't know the right words to say.

I wondered what my Father would say if he were here or what my mother would do. I smiled sadly at the wooden floor before facing them again and then my eyes found her. My mate, Claire. There she was, glowing in her dazzling blue evening gown and her eyes meeting mine. Something was different about her face though; her expression wasn't judgmental but instead they expressed genuine support.

My heart leaped for joy and like magic my lips parted again.

"I'm sure majority of us here, knows me by now." I started. "Kevin Manchester whose father was killed by the Lycan for treason. Ever since, I've been called all sort of names, I've been rejected and discriminated amongst the society. I'm sure none of you here thought I would be Alpha someday. Some of you here didn't even want me to be one but look at me now." I paused with my gaze still retained at my mate.

"I may be a ruffian, a smoker, a rebellious werewolf, the son of a traitor and many other despicable things. I may not be able to fulfill your vow of honors, but I can assure you all one thing," I swallowed my saliva down my throat. "I will lay my life just to protect Greenville, I will fight for Greenville in times of danger and I'll stand by Greenville in times of good and even in bad because, we are a PACK." I paused again seeing a smile birth on Claire's lips.

"This is my vow of honor to Greenville and nothing more."

I glanced at Gabriel whose eyes had hints of unshed tears and a warm smile gracing his lips. I heard a clap amongst the crowd, from my beloved mate and soon the others joined her.

"You have spoken well, Alpha." The old man whispered by my side. Although I couldn't get a glimpse of his face, I could tell there was a smile of admiration.

"Let the celebrations begin." The old man chirped, and immediately gentle music echoed throughout the room, Deltas roamed about dressed in an official white and black with trays of champagne elegantly poised on their palms.

I alighted from the stage while Gabriel did the rest of the finishing touch. My gaze was purely still fixated to Claire and my legs were inadvertently approaching her. With every step I took towards her, my confidence boosted. She saved me once again, and the fact she attended my coronation ceremony means she was giving us a chance.

Unfortunately, that sweet thought changed the moment Rose abruptly appeared in my front. Here she was, dressed beautifully in a red deep v neck gown.

"I must say, you look perfect, Alpha." She mentioned softly but my attention was diverted. I saw disappointment rebirth on Claire's face before she disappeared amongst the crowd. I almost chased after her but then my eyes found Jerry, his eyes taming us.

I had to choose between my mate and Rose.

"And you look absolutely wonderful, milady." I courteously replied with a wide smile.

"May I have this dance?"

Her eyes twitched for a second before she nodded.

I gently took her hand while the other rested on her waist. As our heads swayed to the tunes of music, gawking at each other like a child seeing fireworks for the first time, I could feel his eyes burning holes at us.

At the same time, I felt a burning sensation of pain rage in my chest. My mate was hurt but here I am, dancing with another lady. Tonight was the chance to make Claire mine once and for all but in the end, things didn't go as planned.

#############

IMOGEN

So here I was, my ears entertaining the tunes of classic music under this beautiful dim lights. Glasses of Champagne glittered as they toured about the room in the hands of Deltas dressed finely in official white and black. My eyes easily found the new Alpha amongst other couples dancing. There he was, dancing and smiling with a lady I wasn't sure I knew. Probably one of those Black Moon members. Could she be his mate? I asked within myself as my eyes refused to waver off them.

I've loved Kevin ever since I've known him or it should be better said, I've always loved him for his position and nothing more. But then after his father's heinous crime, everything changed. Power changed hands into Jason Manchester, and then my taste wavered to Jerry. Hoping that one day when he becomes Alpha, I shall be his Luna.

Unfortunately, that plan changed course again. Kevin had claimed the Alpha position he was destined for. Except that I wasn't his mate. Yet I still wanted to be close to him, mate or not. As far it gets me to be the Luna of this Pack.

All my life ever since my parent’s death has been being used and I was so tired of that life now. I craved to rule, I crave to use those worthless beings who took their turns using me. And at this point, I don't care whatever I have to do just to have that power. Even if it means terminating this lady out of the picture.

A devilish smile arched on my lips at those thoughts blossoming within me but then my attention got diverted. My eyes darted to the bar at the far end of the room where Claire busied herself drinking recklessly. My smile was easily replaced with a frown as I gingerly walked towards her.

"Claire?!" I pitched in concern as I neared her, my right hand resting on her shoulder. "My goodness, look at you. You're drunk!" I gasped immediately she turned to me with tear coated eyes. Her make up were obviously ruined at this point and she still held a glass of alcohol. My frown deepened as I wondered what went wrong.

"I'm not drunk!" She retorted, flinging my hand off her.

"Claire, you don't look fine!" I stated and she burst into tears again. My curiosity peaked on a higher note at this point, the Claire I knew was a cheerful lady not one who was looking like a fatal mess.

"How should I be fine?!" She cried clumsily, her eyes bonding with mine. "How should I be fine when my mate is busy flirting with another lady!" She gestured without a glance towards Kevin.

"Kevin is your mate?!"

"Yes!" She cried.

My breaths ceased in my throat; my eyes widened as my lips parted from horrific awe. The daughter of the Lycan was mated to Kevin! A pathetic Alpha like him.

My hands curled into a fist as rage began to course through my veins. My only chance to becoming Luna of this Pack was going to be thwarted by Claire. How could the moon goddess in the infinity of her wisdom mate two wrong poles together?!

"This is bad..." I mumbled in oblivion whilst wondering why Kevin chose this lady over Claire. Either ways, I needed to get Claire out of the picture too if I ever want to be Luna.

I was still dwelling in my thoughts, when Claire staggered off her seat, clumsily trailing towards the exit.

"Cla—" I almost chased after her but then I found Jerry at the opposite end. There he was, dressed elegantly in a tuxedo and a glass of champagne dangling between his fingers as he stood against the wall. The look on his face wasn't so entertaining too, he had this monstrous look boring holes at Kevin. As I walked briskly towards him, I wondered how he was even here. The last time I checked, he was supposed to be in prison alongside his friends.

"Looking good, Jerry." I chirped as I approached him.

"What do you want Imogen?" He responded icily with his deadly look still on Kevin.

"I'm actually surprised you're here," I chuckled. "I thought you should be in pr—"

"Prison." He cut me off. "That bastard released me this morning and believe me I was just as surprised as you are but now, I understand why he did this."

"Why?" I asked as I glanced at Kevin for a brief moment.

"That bastard! That son of a traitor is publicly flirting and dancing with my mate!" He yelled while the glass in his hands broke into pieces. I could see nothing but rage burning in his eyes, his breaths were escaping like a storm and his palms were curled into a fist.

"I can't take it anymore! First he killed my father and now he's stolen my mate!" He barked again. "I won't allow this!" He hollered and brushed past me, but I briskly held him back by his arm.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I queried sternly when deep inside, I was greatly surprised Jerry had a mate. One Kevin was openly flirting with.

"Whatever you have in mind is definitely not the best thing for you right now. Look, he's surrounded by guards."

"I don't care!" He barked at me with predatory looks. His voice pulling the attention of few others around us.

"Rather than jump into a fight you'll obviously lose why don't you pay him back in his own coin." I flashed him a sinister smile with my grip still clutched on his arm.

"What do you mean?" He frowned whilst the anger in his voice relatively writhed.

"Do you know, Kevin has a mate." I whispered. He arched an eyebrow upwards. "Claire."

His eyes exclaimed as his mouth went agape.

"A little payback won't hurt." I winked before walking away. Leaving his dumbfounded status to ponder on my poison.

This was the perfect ingredient to become Luna.