Eero’s perspective
I was leaving Meredith’s death and Serra behind as days passed by.
Both Claudius and Caspian were busy training all the new deltas and warriors we got from Moon River. I, on the other hand, was busy with the preparation for Claudius’ and my mating ceremony.
“Luna, are you still with us?” Cielo asked. She was even waving her hand near my face. I blinked a few times before focusing my eyes on her.
“Luna, we were asking whether you'd like lilac or baby's breath in wrapped around the ceremonial arc.” The organizer repeated her question. She showed me the sample arcs on her iPad.
“And what flowers are we going to use as centerpiece for the arc? And on the tables at the reception as well?” She added another question before I could grasp my head on the first one.
“Uhm…" I glanced at Cielo.
“Do you think you could be with this? I’m not really good with flowers. I don't know what works best with each other.”
Cielo took the iPad from my hand.
“I think baby's breath works well for the ceremonial arc. For the tables at the reception, we'd prefer anthurium and birds of paradise,” Cielo decided right on the spot. I didn't check what those flowers look like because I trusted Cielo’s judgment.
“I’m sorry, but can I excuse myself for a while?” I asked.
“Sure, Luna. We’ve been sitting here for a while. Everyone could use a little break,” the head organizer said.
I opened the fridge in the kitchen for a glass of cold water. Before I could take the pitcher out, Cielo came to me.
“Don't get me wrong, Cielo. I’m excited about the mating ceremony. It has always been my dream to organize my mating ceremony but...” I shut my eyes as I couldn't find the suitable words.
“You're overwhelmed by the time and efforts it requires?”
I snapped my finger. She just put the right words in my mouth.
“I know that all of this could be exhausting, Luna… but I also noticed something.”
“Huh?”
“You're bothered with something. What is it that occupying your head?”
“Has there been an Alpha Queen at Regulus?” I asked.
“Alpha Queen? I don’t think so. The realm always had a Queen, the wife of the Alpha King, but never an Alpha Queen.” Cielo moved her head to the side, her eyebrow furrowing. For a moment Cielo sounded so sure until she stopped, recalling something.
“Oh, the realm almost had one.”
“Really?” I asked, excited to hear about it.
“Alpha King Asael had two children. His firstborn, a girl, was called Princess Onora, and then his second born, Prince Aramis, the heir of Regulus.”
I stared at her in confusion.
“Prince Aramis? Who is he? Isn't the heir supposed to be Claudius' father? Luzeres was his name, was it not?” I was confused.
Cielo glanced outside, telling me that this is a long story.
“Alpha Claudius' father Luzeres is not the biological son of Alpha King Asael Xerxes.”
“Huh? I’m sorry, but I can't quite catch up.”
“Prince Aramis was fated to a she-wolf born to the family of Xerxes’ archenemy. Alpha King Asael wanted Prince Aramis to reject the woman, but the Prince didn't. He marked her instead.”
“And then?” I urged her to tell me more about it.
“Prince Aramis was expelled from the realm, leaving no heir in Regulus. It should have been Princess Onora, but she is a woman.” There was a sad smile on Cielo's lips.
“And the realm ruled by men for centuries will never let a woman be their Alpha. So Alpha King Asael chose another heir, one who isn't blood-related, but his most-trusted.” She continued.
“And that is Claudius' father, Luzeres? Last time you told me Luzeres were killed together with Alpha King Asael by Codrus, Asael’s most trusted right hand and beta... What about Princess Onora?”
“I believe she is well and safe in Osiris with her mate, the Alpha King of the second kingdom.”
If the old woman's prophecy was true, did it mean that Princess Onora would ascend the throne soon?
“Is she going to claim back the ruling right? What's going to happen to Claudius then?” I whispered to myself.
“What is it, Luna? Are you saying something?” Cielo noticed my mouth moving.
I immediately shook my head.
“Why did you suddenly become so curious about Regulus and the Xerxes family?”
For a moment, I contemplated whether I could tell her about the prophecy. In the end I chose not to. It'd be better to keep it a secret, until the old woman's first prophecy of me getting pregnant a week after the eclipse and my mating ceremony with Claudius became true.
“I just want to know, Cielo. Claudius aims to take back the realm from Codrus.” I stopped talking for a fleeting second. “It won't hurt if I know a thing or two about that place and the lycans that once ruled it, especially that they are Claudius' family as well, in a way.”
“That’s really thoughtful.” Cielo smiled and then changed the topic. “I didn't know what to give you for your mating ceremony. Though, I still have a lot of time. I thought it will never be enough, but now I know what I can give you.”
Cielo led me to her room, which was on the left wing of the pack house.
From underneath of the piled clothes in her drawer, she took out a small wooden box and handed it to me.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“When I fled the realm with Claudius, this is the only thing I can bring with me.”
On top of the wooden box was a sigil. A howling head of a dire wolf was in the middle of what seemed like a shield.
“It's a music box. Go on and open it,” she encouraged me.
And when I did, an intense sound of both drums and cello welcomed my ears. The sound awakened something in me. It felt like I was always meant to hear these instrumentals.
“Those sounds are usually played when the Alpha King walks towards his throne in every formal event in the realm,” Cielo explained.
“Thank you Cielo. It means a lot.” I accepted the box gladly.