Chapter Twenty-Four

We both awaken at the same time and get ready for breakfast. We get to the dining hall and his family is already there. We didn't talk much just ate. Instead of going up to the office we moved to the board room on the first floor. Many of the pack elders and other council members were already seated. They all greeted us as we came in. A lot of commotion starts coming from the hall. The Beta and several guards appear at the door. They bring him in and sit him at the table in the middle of the room. They bring his wife in and seat her at her place with us at the council table. One of the pack elders stands and starts reading the charges being brought up on the Beta. His wife starts crying asking him how could he do this. And then they ask him, How do you plead?

"Not Guilty."

The elder says, ok that's proceed with the evidence. Caleb steps forward with the recording and signed testimonies. The elder plays the recording for everyone to hear. The Beta just stares at the floor. Then he reads the testimony from the wolves. The Beta looks so mad. He has turned red. The elders and council members talk amongst themselves. They hand their decision to the Alpha. He looks at the Beta.

"Beta please stand. You are guilty and being charged with conspiring to commit murder and murder for hire of the future Luna. Now since she was not the Luna at the time you will spend life in prison instead of the death penalty."

The Beta screams out.

"If Caleb would have just rejected that girl instead of my daughter everything would be fine. None of this would have happened."

In an instant the Beta reaches behind his back. He pulls out a gun and fires it several times. He missed me. Wow, that was close. One of the guards takes him down with a bullet to the neck. Luna McClay is screaming. Oh No! The Beta missed me but he shot Alpha McClay in the head. He is sitting there slouched over in his wheelchair. All the guards are running over to assist the Alpha. But it is too late. The Alpha is dead.

We are in the Alpha's office trying to wrap our heads around what just happened. I can't believe the Alpha; Caleb's dad is gone. I wish they had checked the Beta for a weapon before they brought him before the council. Luna McClay is still in tears. Caleb and Evan are hugging her. It won't be long before the whole pack knows the Alpha has been murdered and that our Beta is also dead. Several of the council members come into the office.

"We are sorry to bring this up, but it is for the wellbeing of the pack. We need to have the coronation ceremony. And soon. Without an Alpha our Pack is weak."

Luna McClay and her sons look at them.

"We have to do what is best for the pack. Set the coronation for tomorrow morning. We will appoint the new Alpha, Luna and Beta. Sunday will have Alpha McClay's funeral. Saturday evening will be the start his viewing in the palace chapel."

I look at Caleb and he comes over to me.

"Erica are you ready to become our pack's Luna?"

I have to be. I just didn't expect it this soon. Everything has been a whirlwind. The pregnancy, the wedding, and the Alpha's death. Now tomorrow I will become the Luna of the Blue Moon Pack at only 18. I am really nervous. I know Luna McClay will be here to offer her help but everything still rests on us.

"Honey, we can handle it. We are a team. If you want any dinner go on down and get something. I don't think we feel like eating anything."

No. I don't think I could eat anything. So, we head up to our rooms. We get our showers and I don't have to cover Caleb's wound it has healed. We get in bed and try to get some sleep.

Morning comes way too early. We haven't had hardly any sleep. Caroline and Carrie come in with some food.

"We heard y'all didn't have dinner. So, we brought a few things up. Hopefully y'all will feel like eating something. We will be back shortly to help you get ready."

Caleb and I both eat a piece of fruit. He goes into the bathroom to shave and I go into my closet. I start looking through my dresses. I have a beautiful dark blue one that I think will do perfect. I take it and a pair of heels into the bedroom. Caleb comes out of the bathroom and into his closet. Carolynn comes in and starts on my hair and makeup. She finishes quickly and helps me get dressed. It is a little tight from my growing baby bump but it should be fine. Caleb comes out dressed. So, we head down the hall to meet his mom. She looks beautiful but her face is swollen and a little red from all the crying.

"I had to give them a suit to put on the Alpha for his funeral. It was so hard looking through his clothes."

We all hug her and head to the second floor for the coronations. There is a balcony off the front of the palace that important announcements are done from. The whole pack is in attendance. One of the pack Elders steps out in front of the crowd. He explains the events that have taken place and that we are having a coronation this morning. Caleb's mom steps over beside the elder. They take out a bible and call Evan McClay out to the balcony. At this time, we are coronating Evan McClay to the position of Beta. He places his hand on the bible and repeats after the elder and accepts his new role. Then walks over beside his mom. Next Caleb McClay will you come out here please. He stands in front of the elder with his hand on the bible and repeats after him. Caleb also accepts his new role of Alpha and they place his father's crown on his head. Caleb walks over beside his brother. Then they call for me. I walk out and place my hand on the bible and commit to serve the Blue Moon Pack and accept my role as Luna. Caleb's mom now steps toward me and says that she relinquishes her crown to me. And she places it on my head. Caleb and Evan join me in front of everyone and the elder announces us as the new heads of the pack. Everyone howls. It sent chills down my spine. We wave to everyone and leave the balcony.

Caleb and I go into the office to handle somethings before we go down to the chapel to view his dad. His mother stops by and tells us that she is going on down. We hate having to work on Saturday but with everything that has happened we have a few things to do. We then head up to our room to change out of this formal attire and something more appropriate for the viewing.

We head down to the palace chapel and meet up with his mother and brother before the pack shows up for the viewing. Caleb and I walk to the alter where his father's coffin is. He looks very peaceful. I hate that his life was cut shorter than what it was going to be. I'm just glad he didn't suffer and no telling how bad off the cancer was going to be before it took him. It had already put him in a wheelchair. He was a great Alpha and his pack loved him. We stand around the coffin a little longer then, they tell us its time to start the viewing. So, we return to our chambers.

Caleb there were a lot of people out there for your father's viewing. That has to make you proud that the pack thought so much of him.

"It does. He was a good man. And he always took care of the pack. I just wish he could have met his grandchild."

Now he can look over us all.

"I hope I make him proud."

Caleb you will. I go take a shower and get ready for bed. Caleb gets ready after me. We lay down and it is silent. I know he is upset over the loss of his dad and nervous about his new role in the pack. He rolls over facing away from me. I start rubbing his back and his neck. That was always relaxing to me. I feel his muscles start to relax. He was so tense. I keep massaging his muscles until he falls asleep.

I wake up to Caleb kissing me.

"Thank you for the massage last night honey. It really helped. I love you so much. Well, lets get today over with."

We get dressed in our funeral clothes. Caleb in a black suit and tie. I'm wearing a plain black sheath dress. Don't want anything fancy. Simple is best for a funeral. We all meet downstairs in the dining hall. Everyone is just playing with their food. No one is in the mood to eat. Mrs. McClay's maid comes in and places a black hat and veil on her. Then we all head to the chapel. Outside the doors are flower arrangements from the pack. The doorman says they are on the front steps and left at the palace gate also. We go in and are surrounded by more flowers. We walk on to the coffin and view our late Alpha one last time. The funeral will only have the elders and council of the pack with their families. Also, the palace staff and security are invited. We take our seats in the front of the chapel and everyone else starts filing in. The palace minister begins the service. He talks of how great a man the Alpha was and how he always put his pack first. And that he was so proud of his two sons; Caleb and Evan. That he had been molding them even as children to one day carry on for him. And how his wife always supported him and worked just as hard as he did for the pack. He talks of God and all he has blessed us with and ends with a prayer. The pallbearers which are eight of our highest ranked guards step forward to carry the coffin to the hearse. We follow behind the coffin out the front of the palace. They place his coffin into a horse drawn carriage. We didn't have many horses but did still have 2 black ones that are a little up in age but still look nice. Thanks to the great care of the stable hands. They went forward as the suvs pulled up to take us to the palace cemetery. We got in and followed the carriage. After a few minutes we arrived at the burial grounds and they had placed many of the flowers around the grave. We all walk over to the gravesite and watch as they carry the late Alpha's coffin over. They gently sit it down, bow their heads and kneel. They then walk behind us. The minister starts talking. Mrs. McClay is crying, Caleb takes her hand. I know this is hard on her. I can't imagine being without Caleb. The mate bond is a very strong force. When something happens to your mate it weakens you. She has been very strong through all of this. I can understand her breaking down. The service is over and they tell us we can return to the suvs. Caleb's mom says.

"Let's wait until he is in the ground."

So, we agree to stay. We watch as they lower the coffin into the ground. We all hug Mrs. McClay. And head back to the suvs.