Chapter 37: Inevitable Fate (Ch.37)
~Three weeks later...
"As we await the return of our heirs, I would like to present to you all the Eclipse Fang Blade."
"This Blade has remained a symbol of authority in the Eclipse Domain and as is our tradition, it will be bequeathed to my son, Alessio Terran Lothaire as you all bear witness."
"To present this blade, it will be none else but my beloved daughter, Neveah Omega Lothaire!" Alpha King Lothaire announced and Neveah stepped into the hall,
Laid across her hands was a bejeweled sword box in which restrd the Eclipse Fang Blade, Neveah moved at a slow pace, her white cloak trailing behind her as she took her place by her father's side.
The month of the Alphas Summit was almost up and there were just three days left till the Eclipse Alphas would return to their respective territories.
In the last few days, a hunt of the young alphas had been organized and tonight was the Moon banquet where they would present their bounties before the Alpha King.
It was a ritual done to create a bond between the soon to be Eclipse Alphas, through battle and danger as well as to name the official heir to the Eclipse royal throne before all the Eclipse Alphas.
Neveah had received her father's summons to return to his side as she would be the one to place the crown on Alessio.
A duty that rightly should have been carried out by the Alpha Queen but Neveah knew her father would never pass up on an opportunity to parade his puppet princess about.
Neveah swallowed her reluctance, reminding herself that all of these would not matter because soon, she would be on her way to Eclipse Hunt, as far away from her father as possible.
She had waited patiently for an entire month and over the past month, she had found herself growing fond of the wolves of Eclipse Hunt and Eclipse Claw.
Alpha Dane and Luna Colleen were warm and loving, always concerned about Neveah's needs and every moment spent with them was filled with warmth and laughter.
Alpha Varleston was loud and boisterous, always cracking Neveah up no matter how dark her mood had been and Lucas was understanding and dependable.
Neveah had never felt so welcomed and so accepted before and she knew after tasting what it meant to be loved... truly be loved, she could never go back to her life in Eclipse Fang.
'Three days... just three days...' Neveah assured herself as she kept a calm expression.
The Alphas rose to their feet as Prince Alessio emerged from the lower mountain range, accompanied by the rest of the young Alphas.
He was bare chested, his broad, muscular chest on display, dressed in only leather pants and a cloak identical to the one Neveah wore was draped over his shoulders, however his was a pitch black color.
Neveah admitted she had never seen Prince Alessio look more regal, there was something about his aura that had changed...
Neveah had heard after the ritual hunt, the heir of the Eclipse throne would receive the Creator's blessing to lead the Eclipse territory.
Neveah allowed her gaze trail down his chest to what all eyes were fixed on.
There was glowing marking right over his heart, forming the image of an eclipsing moon.
"The Eclipse Prince obtained the Creator's blessing at the mountain's peak, we all bear witness to it..." Lucas Varleston announced as he lowered himself to a knee along with all the young Alphas.
All eyes watched Prince Alessio in awe as he strode in, each step powerful and regal and his form exuded an overwhelming aura of dominance.
As Prince Alessio strode by, the Eclipse Alphas lowered themselves to a knee one after the other, bowing in acknowledgement of the Creator's approved heir.
Prince Alessio kept his gaze fixed ahead as he walked up to Neveah and Alpha King Lothaire.
Neveah also lowered herself to a knee and bowed her head as Prince Alessio arrived before her.
"The Creator's blessing is upon the Eclipse Domain!" Alpha King Lothaire announced in pride as he placed a hand on Alessio's shoulder, nodding in approval.
"Veah... grant your brother the Eclipse Fang Blade." Alpha King Lothaire ordered.
Neveah lifted the sword up to Alessio, keeping her gaze low as he accepted the sword and then Neveah rose to her feet.
An attendant brought the heir's crown to Neveah and she took it off the platter it rested on.
This time, Alessio lowered himself to a knee and Neveah placed the crown on his head slowly.
"Alessio Terran Lothaire, my son and heir...On this day, I entrust to your care a third of the Eclipse territory to govern in preparation for your ascension to the throne... this is your father's faith in you." Alpha King Lothaire declared.
Neveah bit her lip knowing as the only other member of the royal family present, she would be the first to pledge fealty to the new heir.
"Neveah Omega Lothaire pledges my life and death to you...Your Grace. May your reign flourish under the Creator's blessings." Neveah said, bowing low.
"We pledge life and death to the Eclipse Heir, May your Reign flourish under the Creator's blessings." The Eclipse Alphas echoed, bowing low.
As Neveah rose to her feet, she slowly retreated as Prince Alessio addressed the Eclipse Alphas.
Heading away from the pavilion, her heart tightened in pain.
"We were born equals...my wolf is no less than yours, yet one was born a Lord and the other an abomination."
"One shall be King... whilst the other shall leave to forever roam the realm with no place to call home, in the end of it all... this is my inevitable fate." Neveah murmured to herself, a sad smile on her lips.