Chapter 31: Chapter 31

The elders, Oracle, council members, royals, and some other people stood in the throne room watching Ayla and waiting for her to start the ceremony. She stared at them, wondering how they would take what she decided.

"I found my mate, a Wolf," she announced, watching for their reaction.

"That's wonderful. The high ranking or an unranked wolf?" An elder asked.

"High ranking," she replied turning to stare at her father who nodded in encouragement. She told him about her plan earlier which he tried to talk her out of but when he saw her points, he agreed but she had to convince the elders and council members.

"Then he can come with you to Lunae. We will perform the bonding ceremony as soon as possible," Elder Warren said.

"He can't come," she told them.

"Why can't he?" Asked councilman Kale, glaring at her as always.

"He is Alpha King Asher."

The people started talking amongst themselves at that statement. She kept quiet and let them talk. Her eyes went to Triton who stood beside her father, frowning heavily. She wondered how his discussion with Asher went.

"What is your plan then, Princess? He won't leave his pack for you and you have to take over the throne of Lunae as soon as you are mated," another elder pointed out.

"She has no option but to reject him," councilman Kale stated insensitively, making Aerial glare at him.

Ayla had to stay calm as she saw her mother do. Even though she wanted to lash at him for even thinking that, let alone suggesting it. Hala was calm even in the most difficult situations and she wanted to do the same.

She took in a deep breath."I won't reject my mate."

''What then will you do, Princess?" Elder Della asked.

Ayla turned to the Oracle who stared at her with her ever-knowing look on her face.

"I will go with my mate to his pack."

Angry and disappointed voices followed her statement. She could feel the anger from the councilmen and elders making her sigh tiredly. She could already see the discussion going sour.

She turned to stare at the throne, wondering if she was making the right decision.

"Let her finish!" Aerial yelled over the noise but they ignored him and Ayla frowned.

Aerial scowled and yelled again, this time with more authority. "Let. Her. Finish!"

The noise then reduced to whispers before disappearing altogether.

"I know you must be disappointed, angry, and annoyed by my decision but try to understand that Asher is my mate, the one I was born to be with, to love, and to care for, then you will see why I have to go with him."

"What then happens to Lunae?" Elder Warren asked.

"Lunae will be left in more capable hands. Someone who knows more about politics, battle strategies, and ruling the kingdom than I do."

"And who might that be?" A councilwoman asked.

Ayla turned to the person and everybody's eyes followed her.

"My elder brother, Triton," she announced, causing an uproar of voices, mostly about how men aren't supposed to rule Lunae. Triton stared at her with wide eyes.

'That is the craziest idea I have ever heard. Why didn't you tell me first?' He asked her through the mind-bond.

'I knew you would not accept my decision and I'm sorry, I should have told you.'

'The people will never accept me,' he said sadly and she frowned.

'They will but I need to know that you really want this.' He stared at her then at the people before nodding slowly.

'Then I will make sure you are king.'

Ayla turned back to the people who were still talking amongst themselves.

"Hear me out," she started.

"I know that for centuries women have ruled Lunae but that was a decision made by our ancestors. Who says that men can't be embodiments of the moon? Who says men can't be kings? 'Cause I sure as hell know that they can." She paused and saw that they were listening to her so she continued.

"Everyone is equal under the moon and this would prove that. A new king will be the start of a new era, the beginning of a new time for Lunae. A male ruler will be great for this kingdom and its future as he will rule with power and love too. I am not saying that female rulers aren't capable but males should also be given chances too." She could see the resolve of the people falter but she knew it would take more than words to fully convince them.

"The goddess will never accept this," Elder Della said, shaking her head.

Ayla was going to speak when the Oracle spoke for the first time to Della. "And how do you know that? Let the goddess decide."

"How do we know her decision?" Another elder asked.

"The new moon ceremony. Prince Triton will perform it instead of the Princess. If the goddess accepts him and a new moon is born, he will be crowned heir to the throne," the Oracle said and Ayla nodded in gratitude.

Everyone nodded in agreement. Everyone except councilman Kale had an evil glint in his eyes. He looked certain the goddess would not accept Triton.

"The Prince had already made a connection with the moon so there is no need for him to go to the moon pool. We will begin the ceremony now."

The Oracle climbed the steps to the pillar of creation and stood next to the urn.

"Come, my Prince."

Triton hesitated, staring at Ayla who smiled at him in encouragement. She was nervous but she believed in him. Triton then walked slowly to the pillar. The Oracle picked up the knife and Triton stretched forth his hand. The Oracle made a quick cut and he didn't even flinch.

Ayla remembered the ruckus she caused because of that cut.

"Put your hand into the urn."

And so he did. Every eye looked up. The air was thick with tension as they awaited what could be the beginning or the end.

One minute passed and nothing happened. Triton started at Ayla. She could barely see his face but knew that he had a sad look on his face. Ayla's heart sank and she looked up to glare at the moon.

Just then, a windy sound was heard and the red moon split into two halves. The white moon arose from the middle and brightened the place. Ayla breathed out in relief, her brother was accepted and there would be nothing stopping her from being with Asher.

Triton ran down and pulled her into a hug. She could feel how happy he was.

"Thank you," he whispered into her neck and she smiled, rubbing his back.

"You would make a better King than I would as Queen."

"And you would be a perfect Luna." She smiled.

"Long live the Prince!" A man yelled.

"Long live the Prince!" Everyone else chorused.

That continued for almost a minute before the Oracle raised her hand and silence washed over the room.

She stepped down from the pillar, her white dress trailing behind her, and stood in front of the people. Her white eyes glowed like the moon letting everyone know that she was going to convey a message.

"As the Princess said, this marks the dawn of a new era. The goddess wants you all to know that women are not the only ones capable of ruling Lunae. Your ancestors made that mistake and she overlooked them. From this time onwards, the first child of the king and queen shall be heir, male or female." She turned to Triton.

"The goddess blessings are with you. She has searched your heart and seen sincerity and genuine love for her people. Therefore, she blesses your reign with peace, fruitfulness, and wisdom." Her eyes then turned back to normal, losing their glow.

"Go home and prepare. Send word to the neighboring colonies. They should celebrate the dawn of the new era. Tomorrow will be the coronation. Prince Triton will be crowned heir to the throne of Lunae," she said and left the room as the chorus of 'long live the prince' started again.

Ayla could only grin happily, watching as her plan fell in place but nothing could beat the joy she got from seeing the wide smile on her brother's face and the waves of happiness flowing through him as he stood by the door being congratulated by the people.

"He looks so happy," Aerial said, coming toward her.

"Indeed he does. Triton was born to be king, it suits him better," she replied.

"As you were born to be Luna Queen. Unlike Lunae, the wolves are scattered all over the world. There are over a hundred packs with different Alpha's but all are governed by the Alpha King. Are you ready to bear the load of a hundred packs?" He asked her.

She nodded. "As long as I am with Asher, I can do anything."

He smiled. "Speaking of the Alpha King, he had to go back to the pack as an emergency came up. He said he will come to see you tomorrow."

"Okay, father. We have a coronation to prepare for."

She turned to the throne again. The throne she never got to sit on but it was for the best, it wasn't her place. Her place was with her mate. Then the hum met her ears. The voice of the original Oracle was whispering things as usual. She focused on the voice, trying to make meaning of the words. She could faintly make out some words 'not and time'. She shook her head and left the room.

****

Ayla was already up the next morning. Due to excitement, she could barely sleep the night before. She knew Triton was at the moon pool with some men. They said it was something about being crowned by the goddess first. She wondered if the goddess would appear to him as she did her.

She jumped down from the bed as soon as the moon came out. She pulled off her nightdress and rushed to the bathroom. She looked at the mirror.

Red eyes stared at her instead of blue. Her blue eyes always drew attention to her but the red will draw even more attention. Especially with the flaming crystals in them. Her eyes traveled down to her face and her red pouty lips. A blush coated her face as she remembered her kiss with Asher. It was nothing like she expected. The sparks that flew between them lit a desire she never knew she was capable of having. Her eyes traveled down to her body.

'We are hot!' Spark said, appearing out of nowhere.

'Where have you been?' Ayla asked.

'Just here wondering when we get to mate with Asher.'

'Spark!' Ayla exclaimed, a deeper blush coating her face. Spark chuckled and disappeared back into her mind.

"They are back!" She heard Nila's voice yell from her door making her abandon her inspection and run into the shower. Five minutes later, she was out of the shower. She pulled on a purple dress. Purple was the color royals wear on big events like coronations. It was a long handless mermaid-style dress with a slit that started from the middle of her thigh. It also had golden highlights around the top of the dress and at the end of the skirt. Ayla loved how it looked on her. She decided not to wear makeup but put on a simple gold necklace and earrings given to her by Hala. Finally, she wore golden armbands on both arms and her shoes then stepped out.

The procession would begin at the throne room where Triton would be crowned and after that, the crowned Prince would go to all the colonies with a group of guards to address the people. He will meet them at the arena of every colony.

Ayla hurried down to the throne room trying not to break her ankles in the heels she wore. Her eyes met someone she didn't expect to see awake. Hala stood beside the throne with Aerial, watching the coronation. Her eyes met Ayla who waved in excitement and Hala chuckled.

'Come up here, my moon,' Hala said in Ayla's head. Ayla walked and stood beside her mother who hugged her tightly.

"You look beautiful, " Hala complimented.

"You too, mother."

"How long have you been awake?" Ayla whispered.

"I woke up last night but asked your father not to mention it to you and your brother."

She turned to look at her father who looked away with a guilty look on his face.

"Father!"

"Sorry, Precious, she was quite convincing."

She glared playfully at him, shook her head at him, and turned back to her mother.

"I heard about everything you did and I couldn't be more proud of my little moon."

Ayla teared up a little at Hala's words. She expected her mother to be mad at her for giving up her throne.

"So, you aren't mad at me?"

"What for?"

"Giving up the throne."

Hala chuckled. "Of course not. You made the right decision for you and the kingdom."

Then Triton entered the room, dressed in a purple robe and accompanied by the oldest members of the kingdom. The Oracle stood by the end of the steps with a staff in hand. Triton stopped in front of the Oracle and knelt.

"Filii autem Lunam," the Oracle called out in Latin.

"Ecce ego," Triton replied and Ayla gaped at him. She didn't know he could speak Latin.

"Et respondit ei populus deam luna sub estis vocationem servire Nabuchodonosor regi. Hoc est consensus is?" The Oracle said.

(Under the moon goddess and her people you have answered the call to serve. Is this consensual?)

"Testor maiorum meorum quae sponte meo adsum," Triton announced and the Oracle, elders and the people nodded in approval. Ayla could only stare at them confused. Another reason why she would make a terrible Queen, she can't even speak or understand their language.

(I swear by my ancestors that I am here on my own accord)

The Oracle received the crown from a red velvet cushion carried by one of the elders.

"Then by the laws of the kingdom, and the power vested upon me by the goddess, I crown thee heir to the throne of the kingdom of Lunae," the Oracle announced in English, placing the crown on Triton's head. Triton stood up and faced the people.

"People of Lunae, your crowned Prince, Triton!" The Oracle exclaimed causing another chorus of 'long life the Prince' to begin. Triton's family congratulated him first before the rest of the people.

Suddenly there was silence as Triton's mark started glowing. His mark was a drop of water on his forehead. Everyone went quiet in sync, and Ayla shivered at how weird it was. Then the marks of everyone in the room started glowing along with his. Everyone except those that their marks were not in visible places.

"What is going on?" Ayla whispered, gasping as she felt her mark grow warm. Soon it started glowing like the rest of the people in the room.

"Our marks recognize Triton as King even though he hasn't been crowned yet," Aerial explained.

Triton's mark stopped glowing and everyone else's followed. Then the match to other colonies began.

"Do you know why I call you my Moon?" Hala asked all of a sudden as the Prince's party left.

Ayla smiled. That was one of the first memories she got back.

"It was the first time I witnessed the new moon ceremony. I was three years old then. When the white Moon came out, I was so awestruck by the beauty and I ran to you and told you that one day I would be like the moon. You smiled at my silly wish and called me your little moon," Ayla recalled, smiling. It was one of her favorite memories.

"You are still my little Moon and that would never change." Hala kissed her forehead and Ayla closed her eyes, sighing in content.

They heard a sniff and looked up to see Aerial watching them teary-eyed.

"My beautiful girls. It feels so good to have both of you in my arms once again," he said hugging them.

After he had released them, Hala turned to Ayla with a serious look on her face. "Now, about a certain Wolf mate of yours."

As if on cue, Asher stood beside Ayla with a smile on his face but when he looked in front of him to see Hala's serious face, his smile disappeared.

He laughed nervously, and muttered, "Um…."

The end.

Translation:

Filii autem Lunam: Son of the moon

Ecce ego: Here am I

Et respondit ei populus deam luna sub estis vocationem servire Nabuchodonosor regi. Hoc est consensus is?: Under the moon goddess and her people you have answered the call to serve. Is this consensual?

Testor maiorum meorum quae sponte meo adsum: I swear by my ancestors that I am here on my own accord.