Her wolf howled with pain and heartbreak, mourning their mate. Reana's whole body trembled violently. One couldn't tell if it was from enduring the soaring pain in silence or from withholding her wail.
Hale had no relatives. He was an orphan, so she was the only family he had. They were two orphans and now he'd left her too.
"Clear the path! The healer is here!"
Reana heard the distant shout but she knew it was too late. The healer came too late. There was nothing the healer could do.
"I'm sorry, Luna Reana, he's no more," the healer reported with regret and guilt. If she hadn't come too late, perhaps she could have saved him…but she spoke too soon, because the moment she tried to investigate the cause of Hale's death, she found out she couldn't.
"The cause of his death is unknown. I've never seen a thing like this before," the healer replied to the Alphas who asked about the cause of Hale's death.
For this reason, the Alphas suggested that Hale be buried as soon as possible, fearing that he could have contracted a deadly disease. The pack members didn't reject this suggestion as they immediately took care of Hale's funeral.
Reana didn't stop them either. The soulless Luna sat on her designated Luna seat, beside her empty Alpha's seat, her eyes blank and distant. She'd stopped crying and her mind was frozen. The warriors still stood around her, not letting anyone near her - Kira made sure of that.
Kael watched this unfold with a tiny smirk. While he and his mother had nothing to do with Hale's death, it would be foolish of him not to take advantage of such an opportunity. He made his way to where the Elders congregated, wearing an expression of grief on his face.
"It is disheartening that my little sister had to go through such a devastating loss again. Having lost so many people in less than six months, I can't say I know how much she's hurting, but one thing I'm sure of is that the moon goddess knows best." Kael paused to take in everyone's expression before he continued. "While it is not ideal to encourage her to take a second chance mate right now, unfortunately, we have no other choice."
"But Kael, she just lost her mate and isn't in the right frame of mind for that right now," Elder Collins protested with a frown.
"It's sad, really. But what other choice do we have? All the Alphas from the region purposely made their way down to our pack for this wedding and coronation. They prepared gifts for us. Even Alpha Snow from the southern islands sent a representative. If we cancel the ceremony, we risk angering them. Our reputation will be in jeopardy."
The elders didn't seem convinced, so Kael brought up his next point. "More importantly, we can't crown an Alpha without the presence of other alphas! The pack can't remain without a leader for another year. Now that all the alphas are here, this rare opportunity cannot be wasted."
The Elders had a thoughtful look on their faces. Kael was right. This opportunity could be wasted. Their Black Moon Pack had been without an official leader for six months now, and they could no longer afford to leave the vacancy blank.
"What should we do after this? Are we picking out eligible men for her to choose from?" Elder Jaxson inquired. He didn't like the sound of that, but they truly had no choice here.
Kael shook his head, "My sister is grieving and absent-minded as it is. Even if you put three men in front of her, she might not be able to pick out any. So, I suggest Hale's friend, who is also the pack's beta. With him taking Hale's place, Reana will be in good hands."
Everyone considered it and slowly nodded. Beta Ryan was Hale's childhood friend and also the beta Alpha Hale chose. So far, Ryan had no scandal or known history of misusing his power as a warrior. If anything, he had good character and would definitely treat Reana fairly.
"But he already has a mate," Elder Collins pointed out.
Kael sneered inwardly. He had ordered Ryan to reject his mate already. But he only sighed. "Ryan knows he needs to do his duty for the pack. So will the Elders bring up this matter to her?"
"We will," Elder Collins said grimly.
+++
"...so, for that reason, we have decided that Luna Reana will choose another man to become her mate. She will be safer in Beta Ryan's–"
A soft chuckle suddenly erupted from the silent Reana. She had not said a word since her mate died. Even when he was taken away to be buried, she didn't flinch, and her reaction got the people worried. But suddenly hearing her give an unamused chuckle startled them.
"Aren't you all being a little too heartless?" she suddenly asked, her expression growing frosty. She wasn't the daughter of an Alpha for the grandeur and perks that came with that title. She was raised to be a leader, so when she rose from her seat, striding towards Elder Collins in long, purposeful strides, she looked domineering, fierce, and fearsome, sending shivers crawling through their skin.
Even the Alphas couldn't help taking a sharp breath. Reana looked like she could kill someone with just a glare.
As for Reana, her numb mind was reeling with every negative emotion. Her mate just died without a known cause and they wanted her to take another mate? And Ryan of all people? What was she, a pushover?
Moreover, what was the point of an Alpha? Wasn't he just a figurehead?
She stood tall before Elder Collins, her sharp and clear eyes holding him in place as she spat. "My father, Alpha Roughman, entrusted me with this pack's leadership, and I honored our traditions and gave you an Alpha. But he was murdered before your very eyes..." Reana's piercing gaze swept through the crowd. "Do you expect me to forget my grief, ignore my desire for justice, and accept another mate? Do you think I'm easy to bully?"
As Reana spoke, the warriors poured out, standing gallantly behind her. She was their comrade, their beloved Alpha's only surviving child, the one who had been blessed by her father and grandfather from birth to rule this pack!
The warriors watched her go through hellish training day and night in the hands of her father and six brothers just to become the perfect leader for this pack, so any form of disrespect to her would not be tolerated! They had already failed her twice - when they couldn't protect her family, and her mate, and they weren't going to fail her for the third time.
Elder Collins quickly shook his head, that wasn't their intention. They wouldn't dare to bully her. But before he could explain, Reana continued,
"Am I not allowed to mourn him?"
Reana wasn't yelling. She was calm and collected but her aura, her strength, the death glare didn't let anyone, not even the Alphas from the other packs take her lightly. After all, she had a Luna wolf, one they'd not seen for many years.
The Elders lowered their heads in shame. Perhaps they were too forward and should truly give her time to heal.
Seeing how remorseful they looked, Reana finally stopped chastising them. Knowing the elders, someone must have put the idea into their heads.
Squaring her shoulders, she proclaimed; "I, Reana Roughman, hereby declare with unwavering resolve and unshakeable authority: I shall not be swayed by circumstances and misfortunes…
"...I am the rightful heir to the leadership of the Black Moon Pack, and I claim it now. I will lead this pack, and I will do it alone. I shall become the Alpha and Luna Reana of the Black Moon Pack! Let all members, from the lowest to the highest, know that I, Reana, have spoken. I will protect, I will defend, and I will guide this pack to greatness, just like my father expected."
Everyone present exchanged weird glances, seemingly taken aback by her bold declaration. It was not their custom and tradition for a woman to become the Alpha.
They could turn a blind eye to her ruling alone for a while, as the Luna with a Luna wolf, but being the Alpha and Luna forever, that was preposterous. She would need heirs to take over after her!
As if she read their thoughts, Reana added, "...for now."
Meanwhile, a certain someone had a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he watched from the crowd.