*****Erika''s POV*****


    It''s okay, Rika." Pa wiped my tears for the umpteenth time.


    It was my coronation day and not even my brother or dad was avable to stand by me. I appreciated Kat and Pa for being here, I truly did but even they understood my reason for crying.


    I wanted one person from my family or even two of them if possible. I wanted my brother and father. But I could not get either of them today of all days. Jace and I used to talk about how we would stand together on the day I would be publicly announced as the Alpha of Iron w.


    But today, it was just my friends. My friends. I wanted to cry myself to oblivion. Pa kept wiping every tear that dropped, Kat on the other hand was trying to be fine but I also knew that she was pained.


    "He''s not picking up his phone." I said, still worrying. "Why is he not picking up his phone? Is he still angry with me? No, don''t answer that. I know he''s still angry with me." Tears fell as an audible sad sigh left my lips.


    "It''s okay both of you." Pa wasforting Kat and I.


    I turned to see that tears had dropped from Kat''s eyes. She was missing him and also worried about him. I turned my back to the vanity mirror and allowed Pa keep working on her magic.


    "I''m sorry." I apologized to her. My tears kept ruining the makeup she was doing


    for me.


    "It''s okay, I know how you feel, it''s not your fault." She patted my cheek gently andfortingly.


    The room went silent as she dutifully applied makeup on me. My thoughts ran wild, I could not go but think of what Elder Grigshade had said to me thest time he was here.


    It had sounded like a threat and this morning, I''ve had to alert most of the guards to keep their eyes sharp and their ears to the ground. I wanted nothing to go wrong, except for the fact that none of my family member would be there, nothing else should be wrong.


    "There, I''m done. Simple yet ssic, just as Her Royal Highness wants it." I heard the smile in her voice.


    I knew what she was trying to do, she was cheering me up, and to oblige her, I smiled. "Thank you, P."


    "You''re wee, Your Highness." She did a courtesy bow.


    I chuckled, shaking my head. I turned to Kat. "Hey Kat."


    She turned to me, I stood to pose for her. "How do I look?"


    She also got the point of what I was doing. "Her Royal Highness looks every bit of


    the royalty she is. My newest Alpha." She too stood and did a bow.


    The three of us looked at each other and closed the gap to hug ourselves.


    "We will all be fine." Kat encouraged.


    "Yes, we will." Pa agreed enthusiastically.


    "We have no choice than to be." My voice trembled a bit, it was low.


    We released ourselves. Kat sat and allowed Pa make her up too.


    "I wonder who I''m looking gorgeous for?" She whined.


    Pa yfully hit her with one of the brushes. "Me and Rika."


    She chuckled. "Fair enough."


    When Pa was done with Kat, she attended to herself and soon, she was done.


    A knock was heard on the door as we were finishing up.


    "Come in." I invited.


    "Your Highness, everyone is waiting for you." It was Melissa.


    "Let them wait, the Alpha is worth waiting for." Pa replied.


    "Okay, My Lady." Melissa bowed and left.


    "Let''s go." I proceeded to the door in my ball gown.


    The ceremony was taking ce in the ballroom and every resident of Iron w is


    mandated to be there. I had also instructed some of the guards to station themselves at my father''s door and my door.


    I did not want to take chances and


    allow some strangers into my room, ransacking and finding the


    document Jace had left for me. was particrly suspicious of Elder Grigshade, he might want to y some very funny game.


    Also, I had to be watchful and careful of what I ate of drank.


    "Girls, we have to careful of what we eat or drink here. Enough though every food and drink was made here in this pack, we can not guarantee that they will be totally harmless to us. Who knows what today might bring, we have to be prepared." I whispered the warning, making sure even the guards that were escorting us to the ballroom could not hear us.


    "I do not need to be told. Beneath my gown, is a pen knife. Easy to throw, quick to sh." Kat revealed.


    I quirked a surprised brow. "When did you get that in there?"


    "We''ve all got to survive, Rika. After myst attack experience, I do not want to be caught off guard ever again." She replied.


    "Now that''s some smart move." Pamended. "I have my fist, and that should be enough."


    I heard the slow music wafting from the ballroom. I paused. "Are we ready?" I looked at both my friends.


    "Ready as I''ll ever be." Was Pa''s response.


    "I guess I am." Kat was putting on a ''don''t mess with me'' look.


    The three of us already knew how this day might y out, it was a dangerous


    time. We needed to be careful. We had all survived one attack or the other, and we were more careful and alert for it.


    I had no idea what woulde up during this period, neither did my friends. I could not vouch for the members of this pack and say they were all innocent. I was yet to Know who was behind all these atrocious acts and until then, I would do anything in my power to keep everyone safe.


    “Right. Now, let''s go in and get this over with."


    Hands linked, the three of us walked into the ballroom.