Naynah's POV
Naylinah: Explain to me, what's going on with your wolf?
I'm in a real pickle. I should tell her I've had my wolf since I was 14.
Naynah: I... I already have my wolf.
Naylinah: How long?!?
Naynah: Since I was 14.
Naylinah: 14 years!! And you never told me!!
Naynah: I had to keep my wolf's presence discreet; no one knew, mother.
With a thoughtful expression, she sits in her chair.
Naylinah: And Athena!?
Naynah: I told her before she left for RED MOON.
Naylinah: Tell me, who else do you know this truth from?
Naynah: Aron knows too.
Naylinah: Aron, X-zan's son!?
Naynah: Yes.
Naylinah: And what does he have to do with this?
Naynah: He's my... my mate.
Naylinah: But how many mates do you have, damn it!?
Naynah: Only two, the vampire and Aron, but I rejected Kemran.
Naylinah: At least you did the right thing with that!! You have a wolf mate.
{Ava: Benson is worried about what's going on here}
Naynah: Just tell him I'm going. He can go see his father if he wants.
Naylinah: Go get ready. Tonight's your Alpha ceremony.
Naynah: But I thought I was supposed to have it after my eighteenth birthday.
Naylinah: The scandals won't stop there and start again on your eighteenth birthday, Naynah. We need to be more objective. And for this photo, we'll say that you were in a relationship with him and that you found love.
Naynah: Okay, Mom.
Naylinah: Go get ready, tonight is the big night.
I turn around and leave my mom's office, I see Aron still standing there.
Naynah: Aron, I thought you left.
Aron: I didn't want to leave without seeing you, Nayn.
He kisses me on the cheek.
Naynah: You should go, your dad will be very happy to see you.
Aron: I know he will be.
Naynah: Uh, actually, tonight is my Alpha ceremony.
Aron: Already.
Naynah: My mother thinks it's best if I start taking charge of the pack now.
Aron: I'll be there then.
Naynah: Thank you.
Aron: See you tonight then.
He kisses my cheek and leaves. I sigh and look at his back.
{Ava: He's a perfect companion}
Naynah: No one's perfect, Ava.
I grab my suitcase and drag him upstairs. What an honor to come back, but unfortunately, I missed nothing about this place. I arrive at my bedroom door and step inside, ah, the perfect image in my mind right now.
{Ava: There's the smell of mother everywhere}
Naynah: Hmm, he probably missed me.
I say jokingly.
{Ava: Surely}
I put my suitcase on the floor and suddenly look around, a memory of myself and Athenia comes back to me. That day, we went out shopping. We got home late and the rain was falling while we were dancing in the rain.
{Ava: You miss her, right}
Naynah: Yeah, I had someone who was really close to me.
{Ava: But you didn't trust her}
Naynah: If you were me, would you have trusted her?
{Ava: Yes, because if she felt I trusted her, she probably would have told the truth, but you just kept saying you don't trust her}
Naynah: I have my reasons.
{Ava: Your reasons are that you were afraid to trust and you spoke out in anger, poor thing.}
Naynah: That's true, it sucks.
{Ava: You're right, you fought with them because our ancestor was an asshole who couldn't take responsibility for his actions.}
Naynah: That's really stupid of me, I admit.
{Ava: Really stupid}
Naynah: Why didn't you tell me that? When we were in London.
{Ava: Because I'm only now taking stock of everything.}
Naynah: That's why you withdrew during her six months.
{Ava: It takes me a long time to take stock.}
Naynah: Yeah, I wonder where she is. She's been missing for six months.
{Ava: Maybe she'll be there on her brother's coronation day.}
Naynah: I hope so because she will be. I want to apologize to her.
{Ava: You don't know how happy the goddess is with you.}
Naynah: Come on, let's get ready, or Mother will come and get us with a broom in hand.
I go to my closet to get the dress I've always wanted for my Alpha ceremony. After a few hours, I'm ready. I stand in front of the mirror and see that I really look as I imagined. I'm wearing a long, low-cut black dress. The long one is ankle-length and has silver trim. I'm wearing black heels. I'm wearing black lipstick and light makeup. I've put my hair in a half-ponytail. Wow, I love how I look, just as I imagined it. I already know people are going to look at me, so I might as well add some. I hear someone knocking at the door, I hear Aron's voice.
Aron: Beautiful, are you ready?
Naynah: Yes, yes, I'm coming.
I look at myself one last time before heading for the door.
{Ava: Stop stressing, you look beautiful, and since when do you worry about what others think.}
Naynah: Thanks for the compliment. I guess everyone's afraid of something.
{Ava: Damn, we're Alphas, we're afraid of nothing.}
Naynah: That's it, afraid of nothing, afraid of nothing.
I open the door and see my boyfriend in a smart suit, with his navy shirt and jacket. And his navy pants too. He's looking at me.
Aron: Gorgeous.
He puts his arm in front of me like a gentleman. I smile before putting my arm in his. We start walking and arrive at the stairs.
Aron: You know you look beautiful.
Naynah: That's the 15th time you've told me that.
Aron: It's because I can't get enough of your beauty.
Naynah: Oh come on, it's my ceremony, so I have to live up to it. We arrive at the bottom of the steps, and as I expected, they're all looking at me. What do you expect, I'm classy? I see my mother looking at me disapprovingly, but like I said, I don't care. We walk towards her, and I stand next to my mother. My mother taps on her glass to get attention, even though the attention was already on me the moment I appeared.
Naylinah: Good evening, everyone. You all know why you're here? It's for the Alpha ceremony. You're probably wondering why I'm making someone so young become Alpha? If you're doing that, mind your own business. It's my choice, and you had no right to contradict me. And as for the rumors that surfaced, Naynah was the companion of the future lord of the vampires. If you want to know why they were connected? Then ask the goddess, and we'll begin.
After finishing her speech—I don't know how to define it—we begin the ceremony. She takes the Book of Alphas.
Naylinah: Today, I, Naylinah, restore my title of Alpha to my daughter Naynah Athènirah DELMAL. From today on, I am no longer considered the Alpha.
She opens the book to a blank page and turns it over in front of me. Jagar, the sanctifier of the Alphas, hands me a silver knife.
Jagar: My dear, you must cut your hand with this knife and pour the blood on the book. You must also deliver your sermon.
I take the knife and cut myself with it.
Naynah: I, Naynah Athènirah DELMAL, accept the restitution of the title of Alpha from Naylinah DELMAL. I swear to always protect the pack at the cost of my life. I, Naynah Athènirah DELMAL, swear to stand up against injustice and punish all who commit crimes with a price equal to death. I swear to ensure the safety of the pack.
I return the knife to its place as my name is written in the book, with the words Naynah Athènirah DELMAL,
Alpha of SILVER MOON.
The members of the pack kneel and bow their heads, showing their necks in submission. I have them reveal themselves, then they come one by one to deliver a sermon of loyalty before me. After all the members of the pack have spoken, the pack house begins to liven up. Aron comes before me, bows slightly, and takes my hand.
Aron: Can I have a dance, Alpha?
Naynah: Of course.
We start dancing. This is the best night of my life, and I'll never forget it.