I walked back inside the coronation hall, the music from the party was so loud that it caused my bones to rattle, with every beat pounding through my skull.
The golden chandeliers sparkled above, their light stabbing into my eyes, and the mingling scents of wine, roasted meat, and perfume suffocated me.
My posture stuttered with every move that I made,my vision swayed, and I had to press my palms against the cold marble walls just to steady myself as I staggered back in.
Immediately I stomped into the hall, Brian welcomed me with a huge hug, put on a smile Ava it's your big night he said while shaking me playfully.
But he didn't know, how could he possibly know that I had just heard the most devastating news of my life.
A news that shattered my heart… My throat tightened and my body trembled like a leaf caught in a storm.
"Brian… I need to sit down, please," I whispered, my voice broken and weak.
He noticed my hands shaking and his playful smile faded away. He guided me gently toward a chair, his brows knitted with concern. "Take this, it will help you calm down and cool off," he said softly while pressing a small glass into my hand.
I stared at the liquid. "What is that, Brian? It's whiskey Ava, don't worry I promise to take you home safe even if you get wasted he said to me while he winked his eyes at me with a mischievous charm that I would have laughed at on any other day.
My lips touched the rim of the glass, the fiery liquid burning down my throat, spreading a false warmth through my shaking body.
It was a sweet and bitter drink, poisonous, my head kept spinning and when I lowered the glass, my heart nearly stopped.
Donald. My uncle stood before me, his shadow towering over my chair. Beside him was a strange man or at least I thought so at first.
A tall, broad man, with sharp eyes and the cocky posture of someone who looks drunk on pride and false information.
Donald raised his hand and the musicians froze mid note. The entire hall fell into silence, a heavy tension replacing the music.
His lips curled into a devilish smile. "All music should be paused for the moment. I have a special announcement to make to our beloved queen."
My heart started pounding, "Ava," he called, his voice thick with mockery, "you may have defeated an old man and think that's enough for the pack to place their trust in you.
But I don't think you deserve that crown you're so proudly wearing. Not yet." Gasps echoed through the crowd. My fingers instinctively touched the crown on my head and its weight suddenly became unbearable.
Donald's grin widened. "You must prove to the pack once more that you are fit to rule. Strength against an old man is nothing.
But against your fellow young blood? That is true power. And tonight…" He turned and pointed proudly at the man beside him. "Tonight, you will face my son, Collins."
The hall fired up with whispers, the villagers exchanging eager, hungry glances like wolves scenting blood.
I stood up, though my legs trembled so badly I thought they might collapse beneath me. My hands clenched into fists and rage boiled inside me, threatening to spill over.
After the news about my father, after everything I had endured, this man dared to humiliate me again.
"How dare you?!" I roared, my voice cutting through the hall.
"How dare you, Donald, come up to me and challenge me on my coronation night? Do you have no shame?"
I pointed at Collins, my lip curling in disgust. "And who is this weakling you've dragged in to challenge me this time?"
Donald laughed darkly. "He is not weaklingly, Ava. He is my son. A young blood, the one that is strong and fearless. Capable of ruling this throne better than you will ever rule it. Isn't that right, villagers?"
"YES!" the villagers shouted in unison, their voices rising like thunder. My heart clenched, it felt rehearsed, like they had been waiting for this moment.
I frowned at Donald. "Fine. I will battle with your son for the throne. But under one condition. If I win, you will never again attempt to take this throne from me and if you dare, I will banish you from the pack myself."
"Deal," Donald smirked while extending his hand to shake me. His grip was cold, his eyes sparkling with malice. "But you won't win, Ava. Trust me. You will fail here, just like your father failed."
A twinge of anger stabbed me and my father's face flashed in my mind, pale and lifeless.
I raised my head high, anger burning in my eyes. "Let the challenge begin," I commanded.
The guards rushed forward, clearing the floor. They pushed the crowd backward, forming a circle around me and Collins. The villagers pressed in close, their breath thick in the air, eager to witness my downfall.
''Are you still wearing that crown, little cousin?'' He mocked me while coming close to take the crown off my head.
The villagers cheered his arrogance which fueled the anger in me, it shows how they all wanted me out of the throne but I, Ava will forever remain queen. My fists tightened but my legs shook like dry leaves.
The whiskey still burned my throat, and my fathers name and past experiences echoed in my head like a curse. Collins lunged first, his fist cutting through the air.
I barely dodged the blow but the strength of his swing sent me stumbling, Gasps rippled through the crowd. Is this who you call your Queen? Donald taunted.
She can't even stand straight. How can she then protect the pack? How? Rage flared inside me as my pinna passed that information down to my brain.
I spun and struck Collins across the face, but he only staggered backward then laughed. His eyes glowed with youthful confidence while mine burned with exhaustion.
Each clash ranged loud, my fists met with his flesh several times, feet slamming against the floor. He pushed me, slammed me, and pinned me to the ground.
My vision blurred for a moment and I saw my father's face looking pale and lifeless, those past pain, from when Lucas hurt me to how I lost my parents stabbed my chest sharper than any wound Collins could give me.
I screamed and shoved him off, rising with trembling arms, the crowd roared, and split between faith and doubt. ''You are weak, ava,'' Collins growled while circling me like a predator.
"Maybe I might be weak to you…" I spat blood from my lip, "but I'm still your Queen." And you would have to respect that.
We clashed again, and though I struck with all my heart, I felt my body giving in.
Each blow was slower, heavier and at last, Collins knocked me down hard, and the hall went silent as I struggled to rise up.
Donald's laughter filled the air. "This is your Queen?" How pathetic it will be if she rules this pack, she is weak just like her dead father.
And there, on my knees before the pack, I realized: if I let grief rule over me, I wouldn't just lose the throne, I would lose everything my father has worked for.