"Because you disappeared." Alpha Harlan replied bluntly and swallowed hard. "I found out after your family was wiped out but I still have the feeling that you are alive. That was why I set spies to search for you. They found you first but my brother met you first."
Elara scoffed, knowing that the death of her parent might be plotted by her uncle but the approval came from the Central Nation.
"My family was lied against! They were dethroned! And this nation gave them the approval to execute them without proper investigation." She boiled up, pouring out her buckled grieves.
"You approved the execution!" She squealed at him, "Then you aren't ashamed to claim their daughter as your mate? What a King as you speaks of Royal Worth?"
Unbothered, Alpha Harlan sat next to her and placed her legs on his lap. Elara fell flat on the bed, sending back her rolling voice.
Rather than replying to her, he said to her simply, "The wounds are now clean, I will proceed to heal them."
Elara was breathing heavily as she lay but her legs were pulling away. He asked, "I meant to ease you or do you wish to go through the stress of shifting?"
Elara rolled her eyes with a hard scowl. Shifting was a no-go area for her and this pain, she wished they could relieve her, "I hate you!" She burst out instead of a proper answer but her voice just cooed out like a chirping bird.
Regardless, Alpha Harlan focused on her feet. From his hand, misty flames oozed out, he rubbed them against her foot like someone caressing a lotion on soft skin.
Elara who was looking up with hard breath felt both warmth and cold mingling together underneath her foot. She rubbed her legs together and murmured, "It is itching me."
Alpha Harlan smiled within him as he watched her reaction. Elara closed her eyes, absorbing the effect of the flames on her.
"That was because it is healing." He replied.
The silence was felt between them till he was done. Elara didn't know what to say. She had heard that some wolves have magic but she hadn't witnessed one. Due to this, she expected him to say something concerning it.
"You have a magical power? Wasn't only sorcerer and shaman could possess that ability?"
Alpha Harlan gazed at her like she was typically insane. Instead of a reply, he pulled down her legs, "Is there any part of your body that needs healing?"
She shook her head and avoided his intent gaze, "No! Not at all!"
"Good!" He murmured, then took his leave.
Upon opening the door, he paused and turned to her, "The party has commenced. If you want to survive here, I will urge you to maintain the identity Vesper gave you irrespective of anyone coming to you."
He slammed the door closed after stepping out. It left Elara in shock... Wondering if she just heard him threatening her.
Only if this man knew how much more hardship and threats she had endured and survived.
"You won't order me around, that's all I know!" She retorted.
****
The Event Hall was adorned with glittering decorations and the air was filled with laughter and music as guests mingled and danced while some guests were arriving.
The Royals were waiting patiently for their Luna to join the party. It did not exclude Alpha Harlan. He had sent two maids to lead Elara to the party after he left the room.
What took her so long to join the party?
As he stood, he focused on the entrance with an inspection gaze while drinking amidst some important guests.
Meanwhile, the two maids entered the room to meet Elara lying on the bed. She looked feverish and lacked strength.
They approached her with worries, "Your Highness, are you alright."
Elara couldn't reply. Their worried faces made her remember Freya and Fiora. Elara closed her eyes and tears dripped from the corner of her eyes.
"Your Highness, we are not ready to die. If His Majesty found out that you are crying, our lives will be at stake." One of them said.
Since they didn't know what Elara was going through, they pleaded. "We are the maids that would be in charge of your well-being as of today. My name is Yara and she is Aria." Yara introduced.
They both curtsied.
"We understand that you had a long journey today but we can't defile His Majesty's order. Everyone including the Moon Goddess will be around to welcome you to our Kingdom, Luna."
Elara was too vulnerable to reply to them. But at the mention of the moon Goddess, she gathered up her strength. "I will honor the Moon Goddess and the kingdom, you can lead the way." She said, pitying those maids who appeared like their lives depended on her.
As they entered the Hall, the pulsating music stopped as though she had a remote control to stop the music from playing.
All eyes turned to her. She held up her head high and walked through the aisle elegantly like the Queen she was. Her presence commanded attention.
Alpha Harlan with a gratified heart approached her. Following him was Alpha Vesper, however, Alpha Harlan didn't give his brother the chance to meet her first as he quickly took Elara's hand into his and walked along with her to the stage.
Blocking off any chance to meet Elara, Alpha Vesper's legs glued on his spot, utterly mortified as they both bypassed him.
What the hell has my brother told her about me? Alpha Vesper frowned, seeing that Elara didn't even give him a glance face.
"As you all know it has been years since I have been searching for my Luna. Here comes the day I found her and it is an honor to invite everyone to welcome her arrival into the Central Nation of the Moon Pack!" He said then toasted up his cup of wine, "God bless our Nation!"
The once silent hall brimmed with applauses and shouts. "God bless our King! God bless our Luna."
As they all praised, the Moon Goddess entered, accomplished her was Alpha Zephyr.
It didn't take long before Elara recognized the third Alpha. His stature and physique were similar to that of Alpha Harlan and Vesper.
Alpha Vesper immediately followed the Moon Goddess and escorted her to the stage along with Zephyr.
Completing the Triplet Alphas on the stage, together with the Moon Goddess and Elara, Royal Mother, and Queen Anara also join them.
Looking through the heads of the audience of wolves present in the hall, Elara's heart tangled with a mixture of joy and perhaps sadness. All her past and present moments lingered in her heart at that spot.
'...and what life was about to start from here?'