Her Place

THERON

The first stage of the legitimacy rites was held in the old hall beneath the main pack house. The smoke from the burning incense filled the air slowly, as the Elders stood along both sides of the altar, discussing in twos.

I glanced at my side, Caden was sitting on a high chair, his hands clasped tight in front of him, trying hard not to fidget.

My little boy was anxious.

I walked towards him, ruffled his curly hair, and he hugged me, his little hands clutching my belt.

I glanced at the door for the fifth time since I walked in, Maelis should have been here by now.

I was told a few minutes ago that Luna must be present during the first rites, and I told a maid to call her down, but she hadn’t come down.

Was she sulking because I didn’t believe her pretense?

Inhaling slowly, I mind-linked her, waiting patiently to connect. At first, I creased my brows, wondering why it was difficult to reach her.

Then after a while, I felt her wolf, and passed my message to her, “Where are you? The rites are about to start, get here now.”

I waited patiently for a reply, but the link between us started to thin out until I couldn’t feel her anymore.

Did she just disconnect the link between us?

I clenched my fist, gritting my teeth slowly. Maelis has been really proving difficult lately. What exactly is her problem?

‘She’s changed,’ Raph, my wolf whispered, unable to hide the pain in his voice.

Maelis never missed these things. Even when the pack barely looked at her or when she had every reason to stay away, she still showed up and stood in her place without a word.

She was always obedient, and respectful… she’d do everything to please me, but what was this distance?

Today the seat meant for the Luna stayed empty, and the space felt louder than it should have.

Nerine limped towards me, her cheek slightly colored as she whispered in my ear. “Are we really going to wait for Mae? I don’t think she’s going to come.”

I glanced at the door one more time and sighed. Before I could reply, Nerine continued. “I know she’s angry with me,” She hung her head low.

“Don’t say that.”

“Yes.” She breathed out in guilt, her fingers clasped together. “Mae has always hated me. Maybe I should leave after the rites are over.”

My brows knitted. “And our son? Mae doesn’t have a right to anything, I am the Alpha, and I would choose who stays and who leaves,” I growled.

Nerine swallowed hard and grabbed my elbows. “I am sorry Tee, I didn’t mean to anger you.”

Just then, the head council cleared his throat.

“Alpha Theron, the Luna is absent again. What should we do?”

“Let’s begin without her. The Luna is unavailable for now,” I paused, recalling the lie she mentioned about being sick.

“She’s unwell at the moment,” I blurted out, and Nerine gasped silently beside me.

Yes, I too was surprised that I was trying to cover up for her.

One of the elders frowned. “Is she unwell enough to miss the opening of her own stepson’s rites?”

The word stepson sat wrong in my ears, but I didn’t budge, instead, I replied. “Shall we begin the ceremony before the auspicious time passes?”

They all grunted in agreement and began the ceremony.

Nerine stood close at my side with one hand resting lightly on my arm like she needed the support. Ever so often she shifted her weight and winced slightly in pain. She had told me the heel still hurt from earlier, and I noticed how she limped.

My mind kept going back to how I had met her on the floor. For a brief moment, it felt like my heart was about to explode, I couldn’t stand Nerine being in pain.

On the other hand was Maelis, she was equally on the floor and claimed she was in pain. The sad look she gave me when I told her to stop pretending made me twitch my lips.

Maelis had always known how to make herself look pitiful when it suited her, and today was no different. She had caused a scene, left Nerine hurt, and then disappeared to her rooms like the victim.

I told myself I would deal with her the moment this was over and remind her where she rightfully belongs.

Today’s ceremony was split into two parts, and the first part of the ceremony began in the late afternoon thanks to Maelis, and it finished without trouble.

The elders spoke the required words over Caden, and he answered clearly just like we practiced briefly this morning. But the little boy got nervous over a few ceremonial acts that were supposed to be carried out by him alone.

I put my hand on his shoulder once and felt him straighten under my palm. The small weight of his trust settled something in my chest, and I beamed with pride.

He was my son after all.

The second part began before the sun began to set. The head of the council of elders came forward and lifted the carved wooden box that held the ancient whiskers.

These ancient whiskers have been passed down through generations. It was the part where the soon-to-be heir would shape-shift into his pup form, and then a fragment of the ancient whiskers would be embodied into his growing whiskers.

“The second binding needs both the Alpha and Luna,” he suddenly said. “The Luna has to take the whiskers of the descendant line and join them to the child’s. Only then does the connection hold.”

The whole hall began to murmur, and everyone knew what that meant.

If the Luna isn’t here, this rite can't be performed. Now that I remembered correctly, my mother performed these rites on me because she was the Luna.

“Tssk.” I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

Just when we needed Mae, she was nowhere to be found.

Just then, Nerine stepped forward before anyone else could speak.

“I’ll stand in,” she said softly. “If the Luna can’t.”

A few elders glanced at each other in disapproval but no one objected.

Strange.

Maybe the pack had already started accepting the shift even if the title hadn’t changed yet. Nerine stared at me for approval, and I gave a short nod.

“Nerine and Alpha Theron should step forward,” the elder said, and we walked towards him.

Nerine let go of my arm and moved toward the table. The box sat open between the head council and Caden. Nerine reached for it, her fingers hovering just above the ancient whiskers in fear.

Just as she was about to bring a fragment out, the heavy doors at the far end of the hall slammed open, and every head in the room turned to see who had disrupted a sacred moment.

Maelis.

She moved slowly, down the aisle, Her face was pale, almost grey under the light, yet her chin stayed high.

Maelis had worn a black flowing dress with her black Luna robe which was only worn when a pack royalty died.

Everyone stared at her, their eyes wide in shock at such audacity. She didn’t look at the elders, and she equally didn't spare me a glance.

Her eyes stayed fixed on Nerine, cold, and you could see the obvious disdain in them.

Maelis stopped a few steps from the table, swept her cold gaze toward the whiskers then spoke calmly.

“I am here now, step down from there, let me perform my duties as your luna.”