A CEREMONY

Chapter 15

The Ceremony

ELEANOR'S HOUSEHOLD

“How could you allow that wench steal the spotlight from you?! How could you?!” Eleanor yelled on top of her voice.

She paced the whole room, kicking items out of the way as she did.

Athena jerked the moment her mother threw something over her head, while she sat.

“Mother! Do you want to kill me?!” She asked, standing to her feet.

Eleanor looked at her, dead in the eyes.

“You are supposed to be the Luna, not her!” She spat.

“What if we become her allies and work together?!” Athena said, infuriating her the more.

“How dare you suggest such a thing?! We can't be allies with someone as filthy as her!!” Eleanor yelled, her eyes almost red from shouting.

Athena shifted uncomfortably on her chair.

“What should we do now?! She has stolen everything from me.”

Eleanor drew closer, a smirk spreading across her face.

“Let us spread rumors about her, then the pack will reject her and you'll become the Luna.”

“Isn't that too risky?!” Athena asked.

Eleanor slammed her fist on the chair nearby.

“Nothing is too risky. She stole from us, we must make her pay.”

A smirk played out on Athena's face, “when do we begin?!”

Suddenly, someone knocked at the door and both of their faces turned towards the door.

They exchanged glances instantly, looking as though something was amiss.

“Are you expecting someone's mother?!” Athena asked, motioning towards the door.

Eleanor shook her head and urged her to open the door and see who the person was.

She peered through the hole on the door and saw the alpha's men standing outside the door.

She ran back to her mother quickly, almost jumping on her.

“It's the alpha's men!!” She announced and quickly, they both rushed to the door and opened it.

Eleanor pushed Athena back inside, “go put on some make-up! Who knows what that wench has done!”

Without questioning, Athena rushed back inside to apply some make-up, while her mother received the guests.

“Please come in…” Eleanor said with a bold smile, opening her door wide for them.

“No, we can't come in, we were sent to…”

Eleanor didn't let him finish, “are you here for my precious little girl, Athena.”

Immediately, Athena appeared behind her, all set up, with bold smiles all over her face.

Eleanor didn't waste time to present her daughter before them, thinking they came for her.

The alpha's men looked confused at the way she was acting. They just watched her and waited.

“Look at her, she'll make a perfect Luna.” Eleanor said, holding her shoulders. “I'm sure you came for her…”

They looked at themselves, and shook their heads.

“No, my lady. We came to deliver the alpha's message to you.” One said, giving them the letter from the alpha.

“We'll be on our way now.” Another added as they turned and left.

Eleanor and Athena looked unhappy, but they quickly opened the letter and saw the message.

AN INVITATION TO THE ALPHA AND LUNA'S CEREMONY

Below it was the alpha's seal, properly placed.

She looked at each other and Athena frowned, but her mother consoled her, leading her back inside.

“This could be our chance and we have to make the best out of it.” Eleanor said, looking straight at her.

“What do you suggest?!” Athena asked, folding her arms over her chest.

“We have to draft a plan! A plan to crush her!” Eleanor said and they both smiled at each other, nodding in agreement.

___

Adelaide’s POV

“L–Luna…?”

The word reached me before I even stepped fully into the hall.

I stopped. The voice sounded familiar but yet, I couldn't tell who it was.

Slowly, I turned, my heart skipping in a way that felt unfamiliar.

Standing a few steps behind me was Rhoda, wide-eyed, smiling, breathing hard like she had rushed just to see me.

“Rhoda?” I breathed out, I couldn't believe she was the one before me.

How the hell did she get in just like that?! How did she come here?!

She rushed forward without waiting for permission and grabbed my hands, squeezing them tightly.

“It’s really you,” she said, her voice shaking with excitement. “You look…” she paused, eyes shining, “—you look like you belong here.”

I laughed softly, I couldn't say I sounded nervous, but I did anyways. “You called me Luna,” I said. “How did you even know to be here?”

Her smile widened. “The Alpha invited me,” she said simply, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

That surprised me.

The Alpha… invited her?

I searched her face for answers, but Rhoda only looked happy, purely, genuinely happy for me.

I swallowed whatever questions tried to rise in my throat and only nodded.

“Oh,” I said quietly. “I didn’t know.”

“I didn’t believe it at first,” she continued excitedly. “I thought someone was playing a cruel joke on me. But when I saw the seal…” She shook her head in wonder. “Adelaide, you’re really the Luna.”

I smiled, though it didn’t quite reach my eyes.

We walked together toward the grand doors of the ceremonial hall, laughing and gisting.

“You know when I told you to go, that the moon goddess might favour you, you didn't believe me…” Rhoda started.

I kept mute as though I didn't hear her, but then she pinched me from behind.

“Uhch!” I screamed that even the maids flinched when they heard me, but they quickly bowed, not wanting to gaze into my eyes directly.

Rhoda would never change, she's still that carefree girl I've always known.

“You can never change!” I said, pausing to look at her.

She laughed, covering her mouth with her hands.

“I'm sorry, my Luna…” she said, bowing in a way that cracked me up.

I dragged her up as we went to the hall.

The guards opened the doors, and the noise inside rushed out to greet us, voices, laughter, whispers.

And then… silence.

It happened the moment I stepped in, it looked as though they had been expecting me.

All eyes turned.

I felt them before I saw them. I could feel the curiosity in their gaze, but I swallowed hard, maintaining my posture.

The noblewomen among them paused mid-conversation, and even the elders straightened. No one was left out.

And then I saw her, my stepsister.

Athena.

She stood beside her mother, dressed in a pale blue gown that was shiny and catchy.

This was the only time I've seen since the day I was crowned Luna.

Did Kaius invite them too?! What was he trying to do?!

Her lips were curved into something that almost looked like a smile, but her eyes burned. I saw the way she looked at me as though I was a thorn in her flesh.

Her fingers clenched at her sides as she watched me walk in, Rhoda beside me, my head held high even though my legs felt weak.

I didn’t look away. I refused to.

The ceremony began with music, low with steady drums that echoed through the hall.

My heart started beating loud in my chest, the moment I saw Kaius staring at me, his hand stretched out to receive me.

“Your majesty.” I greeted, bowing before him.

“My Luna..” he said softly, kissing my knuckles.

My Luna?! Did he just call me that?! This was the first time he has ever called me that.

This could just be one of his stunts to gain public favour.

The elders spoke in turns, offering blessings. I listened, but my mind drifted.

Until Eleanor stepped forward.

“My King,” she began, her voice smooth, almost sweet. “And honored members of the council.”

She turned slightly, enough to include me in her line of sight. “Today is a day of Fate. A day chosen by forces greater than us.”

My chest tightened.

“However,” she continued gently, “one cannot help but wonder…” She paused and looked at me. “If Fate, perhaps, made a mistake.”

The crowd grasped and whispers erupted.

I felt it, every judgment crashing down on me.

“After all,” Eleanor added softly, “the role of Luna is sacred. Demanding. Not everyone is… prepared for such responsibility.”

I lowered my gaze.

Not because I agreed, but because I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me react.

“That is enough.”

Kaius’ voice rang out through the hall as he stepped forward.

Eleanor stiffened.

“You will apologize,” Kaius said, leaving no room for argument. “Now.”

Shock froze the room.

Eleanor blinked once and slowly, she turned fully toward him, forcing a smile that did not reach her eyes.

“If my words were misunderstood,” she said, bowing her head slightly, “then I apologize.”

Her lips formed the words, but her eyes screamed hatred.

Kaius’s gaze drifted back to me, before he looked away.

The ceremony continued, but something had changed.

Afterward, as people slowly dispersed, Kaius approached me, his presence overwhelming.

“Be more careful,” he said quietly. “I will protect you… but only so much.”

I nodded, unsure what to say, before my gaze drifted to Athena and Eleanor, who stood not too far away.