Chapter 05

The celebratory atmosphere that centered around Hades as he grinned away at the crowd couldn't help but make Mikkel feel a bit annoyed. The handsome man looked so carefree and happy, a look he had often worn the past couple of years, as the young boy observed him from a distance. Mikkel did find the man attractive, who wouldn't? Everyone loved him, except Meghaal of course. He found himself being highly attracted to him, but at the same time deep down he subtly resented him.

*Flashback*

The young boy was seated on his favorite well-polished chair as he gazed at the long cold microwaved mac and cheese in front of him. The last twenty-seven days had been a blur. Loneliness grasping at his heart he continued staring at his cold food, appetite far abandoned. His parents being the only interactive company he had, had gotten him used to making it a point to catch them for at least ten minutes before they headed off to pack lands for work. However, he knew that each March would be different. Heck, he expected each March to be this way, however, he could never get used to the feeling of not seeing his parents for almost the entire month. March was the month that made his parents stay back on pack lands. The month that made them come home once a week to 'check up on their son' at odd hours when the said son was bound to be asleep.

And why?

Everyone celebrated Young Alpha Hades birthday all month.

And Aries Solar was to mentor the next Alpha in the art of war as the present Gamma. His father did do his best when it came to educating him in the martial arts, however their differing body types and drive for a fight had his father bond more with the young Alpha than his son when it came to the field of the physical arts. Even his mother who performed duties as the pack ambassador had to spend most of her time educating Hades on diplomacy and upholding pack relations. Marileona had a tendency to often call Mikkel her smart cookie. However, it always made his existence feel ironic. Even though he was the product of the pack's Gamma and Ambassador, he still failed to be smart or skilled in war. But the father and son tried their best, Aries Henderson made sure to sharpen his son's skills by opting to hone skills related to his small stature instead of following standard fighting styles.

The clucking of Aphrodite snapped him out of his lonely thoughts.

The young hen leaped up to his lap and snuggled against his lap. He stroked the hen's head fondness taking over his neutral expression.

"That's right. How could I forget you? They may be busy but at least I have you."

*End of flashback*

The ceremony was still going on as Mikkel stood up from his seat and walked around the tables at the corner, a contented smile plastering his face. Forty percent of the tables used today had been crafted by his very own hands.

He reflected on all the time he spent at his tiny porch that made the perfect makeshift studio. Tearing the wood, ploughing it, polishing it, drilling it, assembling it, polishing and painting it again, and then finally having the final product that stood proudly today at the ceremony. He knew people didn't really pay them much attention considering the lavish blue tablecloths that clothed them, but the feeling that he finally had a way of contributing to his pack couldn't help but leave an easy smile on him.

His handiwork was something and in fact, the only thing he was confident in. Something he knew he was better at than most. Meghaal had been kind enough to spend hours drafting and sketching out the ideas that wandered through his mind. Her artistic skills inked the ideas to his leather-bound book that his parents had gifted him for his 20th birthday. At times he envied his best friend, her smartness and talent were something he often craved. But he knew she had a fair share of problems handed to her as well.

"And now the Elders of Cosmic Moon pack shall bless our future Alpha reciting the ancient chants as dictated by the Lunar Almanac"

Mikkel was snapped out of his thoughts at Alpha Hesiod's proud booming voice.

Great, the Lunar Almanac again.

Mikkel thought bitterly.

"As much as I appreciate history and anything ancient. That book is way outdated and filled with crap. I could personally attest to that since I read most of it."

Megaara walked over to his with a glass of water and joined him by leaning against the wall to stare at the busy stage.

He knew what she said was true, but he also knew this was her attempt at making him feel better about himself.

This simple book alone was responsible for the horrible life he had. The book that made his pack detest him and abandon him.

The book that made him 'abnormal'.

An 'abomination' to the werewolf community.

Looking back toward the stage he finds the elders reciting verses off the said book in ancient wolvish, stretching out their hands at Hades who sat on a throne at the perfect center under the pale circle of light emitted by the vibrant full moon.

While the elders chanted, the six figures sat at the table of the Pan-Supernatural council stood up gracefully, the figure clad in white at the lead, the group proceeded towards the stage with Hades.

The white-clad figure, assumably lady Cleopatra, gently held within her palms a delicate blue handkerchief with a Tattoo template that represented their approval of Hades taking over as the next Alpha of the Cosmic Moon pack. For a pack or coven to be validated under the eyes of the other supernatural, the ratification and approval granted by the Pan supernatural council is essential.

Every coronation, the coronated leader would receive a custom-made tattoo that was designed using their affiliated community's material slogan and the number of positions they held. In this case, Hades' tattoo consisted of the number thirteen as he was the thirteenth Alpha to take over, as well as an ancient sword. The sword was placed between the two numbers with intricately woven vines climbing up each image, connecting them to each other.

Hades looked up at Lady Cleopatra with a proud smirk that showed he was more than ready to take up the role he had been groomed for.