DUSK.
I managed to take my eyes off her smile, which was a very beautiful one.
She was such a person that everything about her depicted calm and peace.
I bit into the sausage roll since my stomach had started to make little hungry sounds.
All was silent between the both of us, and I didn't like it, so I decided to think of something to say.
"How's Lucius? Is he still having trouble sleeping?" I asked, and she bit her lips.
"Hm, I'd say yes. He doesn't want to rely on me; I understand that's how Alphas feel; they don't want to depend on anyone, but he's still having trouble sleeping. It was late in the night when Ethan called me, saying the Alpha had called for me." She said, and I looked at her.
"Shouldn't you be helping him sleep right now?" I asked her, and she laughed.
"He hasn't called for me yet."
"Oh." I said and continued to eat, then I looked at her. "Are all wolves and coyotes like this?" I asked, and she raised an eyebrow.
"You mean soothing a person to sleep?" She asked.
"No, your skin." I said, and she laughed.
I had noticed Athena's skin was pale and white, almost like she didn't have enough blood.
"Most of us. Not all of us, though." She said, looking at her hands. "By the way, you know Ariadne, right?" She asked, and I nodded.
"Yes, why?" I asked in confusion.
"Is she always like that? Always jealous and scared someone would take away the Alpha?" She asked, and I laughed out loud.
"You noticed her already?" I asked, and she smiled.
"Yes, she didn't stop staring at me and saying all kinds of things to that other one who's always doodling behind her." She said, and I laughed again.
"That's Ariadne. She's always like that."
~
The days flew by, and it was the day of Lucius' coronation. He looked like he had slept well, and we had Athena to thank. She had been at his every beck and call so he could sleep.
The Elders had been grumbling all day because Lucius had said strongly that he was going to be crowned first before getting a Luna. That was something that had never been done.
A Luna had to be present, but there was nobody to go up against Lucius.
The coronation started, and the people began to fill the throne room. I and the important ladies in the palace stood on the right side of the great throne, and the great warriors all stood flanked on the left side of the throne.
The people all seemed anxious, and after some moments of waiting, a trumpet was blown, the great double doors opened, and Lucius walked in.
He had worn clothes that depicted royalty, and even I could not deny that he was quite striking with his looks.
As he walked, I could see the Alpha in him; he was destined to rule the packs in the kingdom.
The people were awed, and I looked at the seven different packs that existed in the kingdom.
Only one pack was allowed to stay on the Palace Grounds, and that was the True Alpha's pack. The other packs were minor packs in the distant parts of the kingdom.
And they were all present to witness the coronation of their new Alpha King.
Lucius walked majestically across the floor and stood in front of the throne with his chin lifted high, eyes sharp, and hands behind his back, depicting strength, honour, and power.
The eldest wolf in the True Alpha's pack came while the crown was brought on the golden cushion behind him.
He was very quick with his words, and finally, he said the words everyone wanted to hear.
"In the name of the Moon Goddess, I declare you Lucius Ullok, Son of Rufus Ullok, King and Alpha of the Bronze Prey Furs, the seven packs, and the Kingdom of Colchis as a whole!" He said, and applause rang out as the crown was placed gently on Lucius' head.
"Long live the Alpha!" Everyone chanted the words, and shortly after, Lucius gave his speech, his first speech as Alpha of the Kingdom.
After that, prior to his request, I accompanied Lucius in the royal carriage, where he paraded all through the town with the people bowing and recognising him as Alpha.
~
It was evening when we finally returned to the palace. Lucius was exhausted, and so was I. It has been a really slow and exhausting ride across town.
"Stay with me tonight." Lucius suddenly spoke, and I looked at him.
"With you?" I asked, and he nodded.
"I've been depending too much on Athena. I should try to face my dreams. But it'll be better if I have someone with me." He said, and I looked away.
He wasn't demanding; he was asking.
I went with him to his new quarters as Alpha. It was the second biggest in the palace, and Lucius only took those quarters because he wanted to keep his father's quarters, which were the biggest, the exact same way they were.
However, late in the night, Lucius woke up panting; his eyes were red, and his claws were out.
"Lucius." I called Sofly.
"I cared! I did!!" He shouted, and I left the room to call Athena.
She came immediately, and by then Lucius was calm and back to normal.
When he saw her, he laid down in his bed, and she spoke softly to him, telling him he didn't need to be afraid and that nightmares were only our fears eating us up on the inside.
I watched her soothe him to sleep and was amazed by how much power her words had.
After Lucius fell asleep, both I and she left the room so we wouldn't disturb his sleep.
~
The next day, a scream woke me up, followed by another, and then another.
I jumped out of bed, left my room, and ran in the direction of the noise.
It was in the royal kitchen, and lots of maids were crowded there.
When I squeezed in between them, what I saw made my blood run cold.
On the floor was a werewolf lying in a pool of blood.