Chapter 39: Chapter THIRTY NINE — CORONATION DAY SURPRISE
Candace
"My Lady, you look so supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!"
My eyes widened in shock as I spun around to see a bright smile on her face.
"How did you learn that?" I giggled.
"I learnt it yesterday for you." She beamed at me.
"Thank you," I smiled back at her and turned to study myself in the floor-length mirror attached to my closet.
With each day, Bree was slowly breaking down the walls around me heart. She was slowly becoming a friend—my friend. Could I trust her?
I pushed the thought into a closet in my mind and locked it. I would brood over it later.
Today, I would be coronated at Luna of Gracespring Pack, three years after my father was killed for being a traitor. I would be crowned in this very Pack that called me murderer and treated me worse than the scum on the earth on that day.
I stared at the ceiling, a large lump sitting in my chest.
"Can you see me, Father? I hope you’re proud of me." I whispered, shutting my eyes tight to rein in the tears.
Cookie barked on the bed where she was playing with her toy, and Bree giggled behind me, clapping a hand over her lips. "You agree, right, Cookie? Our Luna looks like a goddess."
Her comment warmed my heart, and I couldn’t resist responding with another smile as I opened my eyes. "Careful, I don’t want the moon goddess getting mad at me,"
Bree’s chuckle filled the room with warmth. It was so refreshing to see someone else, aside from Star, be happy for me. The gorgeous woman in the mirror staring back at me did not look like the girl treated like vomit and dirt in the past few years.
My silver blue dress was regal, the bodice tight and gripping, clinging to every part of me. The neckline was adorned with silver crystals that caught the light as I moved.
The crystals also lined my waist. The dress flared out then, with several layers and ruffles around the waist, pooling around me.
My shoes were a deep blue rhinestone pair, my hair was gracefully pinned by Bree in twists and braids, and a giddy feeling surged through me at the thought of wearing the crown.
Even if it was just for a few months, I would be queen.
You deserve this and more, Candy. We’ll clear your parents’ name and avenge River, I promise.
Thanks, Star.
I had come a long way. Tonight, I would be Luna; it was my one shot at power, and I had to make the best use of it. Finding the truth was the only way to get the triplets to believe me anyway.
My gaze dropped to Reign’s lips. I knew I shouldn’t think about it. I knew I shouldn’t want them — not after everything, not with everything still hanging between us like an unhealed wound.
And this was the even the wrong place and time to think about them. Yet no matter how many times I reminded myself through the night, my traitorous heart refused to listen.
I winced at the memory of slapping Ryker last night. I hadn’t meant to, goddess; he had been furious. But he deserved it.
He called me a slut and, even worse, trampled on my father’s name. I would not stand for that. I was going to be their Luna, and whether the triplets liked it or not, they would have to respect me.
"Please take good care of the cookie, Bree," I muttered, turning to face Bree.
"Yes, Luna," Bree replied, bowing her head low.
After giving Cookie a few belly rubs, I stepped out of the room. A train of maids and guards lined the hallway; their heads bowed to me.
Unlike Bree, though, I could see the look of contempt on their faces. They weren’t happy about this. Just like the triplets weren’t but they didn’t have any choice.
I lifted my chin with dignity anyway, as we stride down the hallway towards the entrance of the packhouse.
The guards ushered me into the limo, and in some minutes, we arrived at the pack hall that night, where the coronation was taking place. The car park was full. Alphas and dignitaries from packs all around us were in attendance.
"Announcing the arrival of Lady Candace Pendragon!" The herald at the door announced just as the doors pushed open, letting me in.
The hall was brightly lit, filled with hundreds of heads that turned to watch me walk down the aisle; their disgust and anger were so strong that it had my skin crawling.
It took everything I had in me to hold my head up despite the burning stares moving over my body. I was done hiding.
I would not run away from this.
My mates were already at the altar, dressed in matching ceremonial midnight blue suits, the officiator standing before them. They had their backs towards me, and none of them even bothered to glance at me when I stepped up beside them.
The rejection stung so bad. Ragnor’s shoulders stiffened, Reign’s boot tapped against the floor, and Ryker’s hands clenched and unclenched at his sides.
They knew I was here. The mate bond hummed between us but they chose not to acknowledge me.
Fine, play it that way, I thought with a scoff, keeping my head held high. I could practically feel the heated gazes of everyone in the pack hall, burning on my skin.
I glanced slightly over my shoulder to see Alpha and Luna Pendragon, seated in the first row on our right, holding each other’s hands.
The ceremony soon began, and the officiator, an elder in the pack, stood before us, announcing to the hall. I held my head up high as the triplets were sworn in as one.
"Do you, Ragnor, Reign, and Ryker Pendragon swear before the moon goddess, to shoulder the responsibilities of the pack and to always bear the interest of Grace Spring as the Alphas and forbearers of this great pack?"
"I do," All three of my mates announced, bowing their heads.
The officiator then placed a crown and a robe on each of them. This was it; they were officially Alphas of the Grace spring pack. The hall was so silent that a pin would make a resounding bang if it dropped to the floor.
The elder then moved, coming to stand before me. Before he could speak, though, the voice of the herald at the door rang through the quiet hall.
"Announcing the arrival of Lady Deidre Sinclair!"
What? Star howled in my head. I whipped around to see Deidre walking down the aisle, dressed in a purple regal gown very similar to mine. In fact, too similar to mine.
My heart thudded hard against my chest.
The murmurings in the hall grew louder. Goosebumps pricked the nape of my neck as I felt the stares shifting to Deidre.
Her eyes met mine, a smug smile tugged at her lips then it disappeared behind a blank, composed expression so fast I might have doubted myself. I didn’t. What did the hell was going on?
