Selena's POVMy mother's face told me plain as words that something was seriously wrong, even before she spoke. My heart skipped a beat as I thought of everything that could have my mother worried. She was usually never worried, preferring to take everything in stride rather than worry unduly. So, for her to carry such a heavy face, the issue at stake must be very serious. "What's it, mother?" I asked her once she was within talking distance. "Hazel…" her voice trailed off. I could see she was struggling with how to break the news to me. A sense of foreboding filled me. What was it about Hazel? "What happened to Hazel?" I asked her. "Well, he's going to be crowned the Alpha King in less than a month's time!" my mother finally broke the news. I immediately became confused. Coronated as the alpha king? Hazel? How was it possible? "Wasn't he supposed to have a bride before he can be crowned as the Alpha King?" I asked my mother in confusion. "That's the problem. He has a bride!"

Mia's POVThe hostility in that one sentence had me gasping. I had met with Hazel's mother before now, and we had gotten along pleasantly. But now, she sounded like she would like nothing better than to throw me out of the window. I took some involuntary steps back. But she covered the distance as fast as I created it. "Answer me," she gritted out. "You have not transformed?" My heart beating rapidly, I shook my head. "Are you saying no, or are you saying yes?" she asked. "In fact, don't reply. I want to see your wolf now!" she commanded. There was no time I ever felt ashamed of my inability to transform than at that moment. I wished the floor would just open up and swallow me. "I said I want to see your wolf!" Hazel's mother growled. Hazel stepped forward, but a raised finger from his mother froze him. I could feel the fury cascading from her in waves that threatened to wash me out of Hazel's life. "I…I can't transform, your Highness," I stuttered. She huffed. Without a word,

Xavier's POVI received information that the hunting party would return that day, so I went to meet them. I had left them before the hunt was over, so it was only proper I helped them cart the game home. As it happened however, we had to sleep the night outside the capital city to avoid wandering the forest that bordered the city at night. It was a dangerous thing to do with all the fresh meat we carried on us. The next day, we walked into the capital city, and immediately smelled the excitement. The air hung heavy with it. Something had obviously happened. Something huge, and exciting. "What's up?" the hunt leader asked me. "Dunno. Everywhere was calm when I left," I shrugged in response. "Your guess is as good as mine." I was just as confused as he was. Just then, a man passed us. We stopped him and asked him what the problem was. "Well, Prince Hazel declared his luna yesterday,* the man replied. Was that it? I felt my heart break. So, Mia was really gone. Every of the rites

Hazel's POVThe castle was abuzz with activities once again. Only three days ago, this same buzz had been there as we prepared to declare Mia Luna. Now, the buzz was here again, but for Selena. I didn't know whether to be happy or sad. To be honest, I didn't know what to feel anymore. I was happy, for finally getting the crown and becoming the alpha king. And I was happy to be offered a seat in Silver Hands without even soliciting for it. But the condition had been to get married, and that was what had me worried. My father had told me I had to get married before I could become the alpha king, even though it was not a tradition and I was of age. And now, Silver Hands had offered me a seat in their circle without being asked, and their condition too was for me to get married. A lot of people sure want to see me get married. Why would that be? That was what had me so worried. But there were no answers, so I put it out of my head and concentrated on making sure this Luna Declaration C

Hazel's POV Who would have thought that the latter would be so naive to think I wouldn't notice the half baked plans he made. Although he almost made it past me, it appears all his efforts were futile. As I looked at him with the knapsack over his shoulder, I knew I had toavoid a fight at all cost. I couldn't afford wearing torn clothes for the ceremony, not after the taunts from other alpha kings. But thankfully, it just happened that I totally caught him off guard. Looking at his body that laid there on the bare floor, I could almost feel his pain, his body was riddled with scars and his clothes soaked in his own blood. Even now he was grunting in pain, thanks to me. I seriously would've loved to avoid such a situation but as the case appears I can't really let my heart decide for me as the Alpha king. I must be prepared to make decisions as a true alpha, else my Dad would lose trust in me.His trusted me this much to pass on his position in the first place. I looked at Xavier wit