9

Orion's POV

Yes, I watched her leave.

I tried to follow her, tried to calm her down but as usual, Arizona wasn't one to be calmed and there was no I was going to shift now and follow her into the forest.

She was a high ranking wolf after all, almost higher than I was which meant she could take care of herself, right? She didn't even look like she needed someone to look after her.

I had to wait for this coronation, I needed Imogene to see that I was on her side, it was all I could hope for and my barren wife would not stop that.

The past no longer mattered, all I needed now was to confirm her was my son and we would be good. Share parental rights, be good. After all, he would inherit his mother's position which was obviously higher than mine. What else could a father ask for?

I strolled back into the party and snatched a glass of wine from the counter. As I drank, my mind suddenly drifted to my mum.

Where was the aged woman? Had she stayed back from the ceremony after pursuing me from the house? How come I had not seen her around since I got here?

Typical my mother, you would see her everywhere, hunting you and discussing with every person she can find. I wonder what happened? I would understand if the shock of Imogene's new position had taken a toll on her.

Everyone was in as much shock as she was.

I sighed deeply and took another sip of my drink.

As much as I regretted letting Imogene go, if I had kept her back with me, she wouldn't have gotten the position she was about to occupy and I hope she understood that and forgive whatever malice she had in her against me.

"The full moon is almost here. Let's all move to the town square." Someone announced into the microphone and everyone growled in excitement as they all ran out towards the event venue which was just a distance.

I sighed and stood up from my seat and headed outside with the crew.

I could hear the drums from where we were coming from, the traditional dance had begun and in a few minutes, my rejected mate would be crowned Supreme Alpha. For the first time, my Aloha title felt so small.

"Hello brother."

Sophia.

I knew her voice anywhere.

"Please don't sing I told you into my ears, not today." I warned her and she shrugged.

"That would be wasted efforts. I don't have any business with you, I'm just here to cheer for my rejected friend." She spat annoyingly and I sighed deeply.

"Will I ever breathe?" I asked myself but she was quick to respond.

"No! Never! How can you breathe when the rejected stone has become the Supreme Alpha? How? I will remind you of this failure everyday, because I told you, didn't I?" She added angrily.

"The first thing I said when you called my name was that you shouldn't remind me that you had told me. You just did."

"It doesn't matter, Orion. You have lost this one because of you and your mum's impatience and it's totally on you." She rolled her eyes on me and I sighed.

"She's your mum too, remember? Our mother."

"Whatever!" She scoffed. "I can't believe I belong to such a shortsighted family." She muttered just as we got to the arena together.

As we had heard from a distance, the traditional dancers were already doing their thing.

"Speaking of mum, where is she? I haven't seen her since the ceremony began." Sophia noticed.

"Oh well, I have been searching with my eyes too, but I haven't seen her."

"Hmmm... I hope she is doing something reasonable and not what the thing in her head tells her." Sophia muttered and I laughed.

She was unbelievable.

"And your sweet sweet wife, where is she?" Sophia mocked and I turned to look at her.

"What? What did you do when you were supposed to defend her? You just stood there watching."

"I warned her, Sophia. I don't know why I have to explain everything to you." I said loudly through the screams of excited dancers, drummers and onlookers who were already screaming their hearts out from the excitement.

"You made a vow to her despite all my warnings so you should stand with her in times of trouble."

"I made a vow to Imogene too." I said quietly and she turned to look at me. I saw the laughter coming in her eyes before she actually laughed.

"Unbelievable. A vow you broke a long time ago."

"I'm going to repair it." I retorted, more to myself than to Sophia.

"I wish you luck. If you think a woman's heart is that simple, then I'm sorry, you are in for a whole lot of lifetime stress." She added just as someone spoke behind her.

"And how long will it take me to win yours?" 

She turned to the voice and smiled, laughed even as she placed her hands in the hands he offered.

Avery.

I thought he was the Supreme Alpha's betrothed. 

"If you'll excuse me, Aloha Orion, to take this one away." He said and she laughed.

"This one that is tired of me already? Please, take me away." She said in-between her laughs and Avery led her away.

My attention turned back to the crowd.

"Today is a special day in Imogene pack." The Supreme Alpha began and everyone screamed in excitement. 

"We've had a lot of food and drinks but now is the appointed time while the full moon is still out. I present to you, the new Supreme Alpha of this kingdom." He growled and everyone growled with him as Imogene stepped out wearing just a material to cover her breasts and her privates.

There was silence as the Supreme Alpha beckoned on a servant and a drunk was brought.

Red.

Blood.

To show covenant.

Imogene knelt and opened her mouth wide as the contents of the cup was poured into her mouth and she gulped without closing it.

Then the Supreme Alpha shifted, and after she swallowed the last drop of blood, she was to shift too so the pack would see if her wolf had been transformed to that of a Supreme Alpha.

Only once had it happened in our history that a man had not transformed after drinking the blood. The blood has rejected him instead.

I crossed my fingers and bit my lips as everyone watched Imogene, groan loudly as she began transforming. They were waiting, watching, to see if she would break history again.

And finally, she shifted completely into her full wolf form which was pure white. She would be the only female wolf in the kingdom.

I sighed in relief and uncrossed my fingers.

The pack broke into growls of excitement as both the new and old Supreme growled.

They were covered as they shifted back to their human forms and Imogene was presented and declared Supreme Alpha.

After this, meats and drinks and more food followed. It was a celebration and it had to be celebrated. 

Then I noticed something wrong. Someone had come to whisper something into Imogene's ear and she had suddenly jumped off her seat and ran out with them. 

I ran to the nearest guard.

"What's wrong?"

"Her son. He is missing."