7

Imogene's POV

I know, I know. 

You are obviously shocked, but so I am. I don't know where I got that authority from and right now in the silence of this room, I was starting to regret it.

What if she didn't do it? What if Arizona didn't go on her knees and apologize to both Avery and everyone in the room like I had just commanded?

That will just confirm I wasn't fit to be Supreme Alpha of this pack and I wasn't about to let that happen.

So, I thundered a second time after Arizona whispered “I apologize.” I wasn't satisfied with that.

“I won't repeat this statement. Go down on your knees and apologize to Avery as well as everyone in this hall for disrupting their peace, now!”

My patience was running out and I willed myself to stay on the stage to avoid violence.

Arizona turned to look at me with surprise written all over her like she had not thought I was serious or would tell her to do a thing like that.

Well, she called this up on herself and I was in no way ready to pamper her. I glared at her in the tension and she immediately turned her face from me towards Orion who only shrugged and shook his head to show he wasn't ready to defy me either.

“I warned you.” He mouthed and she eyed him butterfly before finally turning to Avery. 

I watched her blush in embarrassment as she adjusted her ball gown to a comfortable state and went down on her knees.

“I apologize, Avery, and everyone present for causing this disruption in such a happy ceremony.” She finally muttered with her head down and I sighed in relief.

I tucked back my wolf nails and willed my eyes back to its normal color as I cleared my throat and stretched my gown in nervousness. Now that went well, didn't it?

I paused my movement when a single clap sound from the back caught my attention. I turned in that direction to see my dad, clapping and smiling at me, I smiled back at the same moment that more wolves joined him in an ascending order and in the next second the whole hall was cheering and clapping.

I scoffed in disbelief, obviously happy that my dad was proud of me as he began to walk out to the stage to meet me, leaving the claps and cheers for the others to continue as he walked out.

My eyes were on him the whole time. The man who had changed my life. The man who had made me who was nothing amounted to something. The one who had taken me in and dressed me. I would forever remain grateful to him, I knew that.

I bowed to him when he got to the stage, but he pulled me up and hugged me instead then whispered in my ear, “I'm proud of you, daughter.”

I fought the urge to blush that came with those words and smiled instead as I bowed again. “Thank you, dad.”

The cheers and screams from the crowd was louder now and as he kissed me on the forehead and walked to the microphone and cleared his throat.

When I saw this, I raised my hands and the noise died down when they saw my hands up and that their supreme Alpha was ready to speak.

“Happy Full Moon to the Wolves of Imogene Pack.” My dad growled into the microphone.

“Long live the Supreme Alpha.” The pack chorused.

“At the end of tonight's event, those cheers would be directed to another.” The crowd broke into screams of joy and excitement while I smiled a few feet beside him.

“The greater part of you doubt that Imogene is my daughter, but think again. Why did I decide to name her after this great Pack, Imogene Pack? Think about these things.” He said and the crowd broke into a brief murmur.

That rich deep laughter I enjoyed emanated from my dad as he watched everyone and the pack suddenly laughed with him.

“It is with great joy that I declare this ceremony open.” he said again and the crowd broke into excited screams.

“In a few minutes, the priest will be here and so will the full moon, then we will all move outside for the traditional rites to be finalized.

“Happy Full Moon to you all.”

“Long live the Supreme Alpha.”

The music resumed its soft playing as my dad hugged me again before leading me down the stairs and into the crowd.

I could see Avery from the corner of my eyes having a conversation with Sophia, and for the first time, it dawned on me that he was a man and would have obviously fought for himself if I had not stepped in.

I just hoped he didn't feel like his pride had been stepped down a bit because a woman stood up for him.

I was no longer a mere woman, I was soon to be Supreme Alpha of the Kingdom and it was my duty to stand up for every wolf of these packs.

My eyes glanced around the crowd as I waved at those who waved at me and smiled at those who did the same. Behind most of those smiles, the hatred and distrust most had for me was still there and I could see beyond those smiles as I wondered what I could've done to them.

“Envy, Imogene.” My dad suddenly spoke beside me and I turned to look at him with an eyebrow raised.

I definitely wasn't talking to him, so how was he responding to me?

“Yes, that's exactly why they have those plastic smiles on their faces. Almost everyone in this hall wants this position you are about to acquire.” he continued and got two glasses of wine as we walked, then extended one to me.

We clicked our glasses as he looked at me proudly while I blushed under his gaze.

“Come, dear. There's something I need to show you.” He whispered and led me out of the hall into the corridor.

“Something that every Supreme Alpha must see. One that will help you rule and you will obviously pass down to my grandson.” 

Speaking of grandson's, I had to make sure to call home and find out if my son was still in one piece. I was a mother before I was Supreme Alpha.