THE LYCAN THRONE; RISE OF A QUEEN

PROLOGUE I

_ADIRA_

With my hands balled in fists, lungs burning from the lack of oxygen, and palms sweaty like those of one who is from running a marathon, I master the courage to get on my knees and bow my heavy head in readiness for the Augur to place the crown on my head. I should be happy, smiling even but even with the whirlwind of emotions rushing through me, no joy is present, every emotion coursing through my veins is negative, dark like the blood of those whom I had had to subdue just to get to this moment, I keep telling myself that it was all necessary, that every life I had taken was all for mine and my families survival, that's what I want to believe but deep down, deep down I know it just a lie I'm feeding my twisted mind in order to harsh the shadows lurking deep within that keep threatening to reveal themselves for all to see.

"Adira Kella Kingston-" The Augur speaks but I pay no attention to anything he's saying, regardless of how amplified his voice is due to the lavalier microphone fixed to the white silk robe he's wearing, the sound is muffled when it reaches my ears, almost a whisper making it hard for me to make out the words he is uttering.

Shifting my head to the side in an attempt to release the ache in my neck, I catch a glimpse of the Augur's face, and judging by the level of intensity on it, I know without a doubt whatever he is saying is important and I should imprint each one of his words in the back of mind in the events that I need to use them but I can't focus, my body is here, kneeing on a podium before the great Augur while multitudes watch, some with excitement to have me as their queen and others with a mixture of fury and envy as they abhorred the mere thought of being led by a woman, but my mind isn't present, it remained behind in that godforsaken hallow place I had entered once and it refused to leave with me and instead of cooperating to fulfill my end of the bargain, it decided to torture me with constant flashbacks of what I saw in there.

The day I entered that hell hole everything within me changed, and for the first time, I wished I could trade the harrowing memories for the shadows that lurked and tormented my soul for most of my life.

"Adira," The Seer whispered as though noticing that my mind was not as present as my body.

Shifting a little, I averted my gaze ever so lightly allowing myself to focus on the pair of crystal translucent eyes that were already on me. He uttered no words but his eyes were loud and clear asked if I was alright or if I needed a little space to breathe, it was all I wanted, to step out of this hall, no, the sores of my feet itched begging me to run, throw the two accoya timber doors open and bolt not ever sparing a glance at the agonizing life I was being forced into. I thought I was ready for this but I was wrong, no amount of intense training was ever going to prepare me to fill my father's shoes, they were like giants, and I'm but a small ant praying they don't crush me.

Reminding myself to breathe, I sucked in a deep breath filling my starved lungs with oxygen then did the one thing every fragment of my body was practically begging me not to do, I shook my head no. I was not going to let myself entertain any devil-or-glory thoughts, I had worked too hard to get where I am now and too much was at stake, it wasn't just about what I wanted anymore, the survival of those I held dearest to my heart hang on my shoulders, even though I am but an ant, I need to subdue the giant and step into his shoes, It is the only means to survival, I'm backed in a corner and the devil is standing a hair's breadth away ready to hurl me back into the rattrap if I dare try to escape.

Nodding ever so slightly I was almost certain I wouldn't have caught the gesture had I not had my attention focused on him, the Augur proceeded with the ceremony.

Sucking in more air quietly inhaling and exhaling, I forced myself to focus on anything but the emotionally agonizing events that had transpired over the last few days, and for a second, for just a bloody second my mind went blank and I thought I had the world by the balls, staring down as it laid at my feet, begging for my mercy, but in a trice, all that was gone, snatched away from my grasp like an old defenseless lady whose purse just got mugged and watched the thief run away helplessly, I was gripped by the neck and yanked back to reality, a wave of different emotions crashing against one another like ships at war and leaving to suffer the repercussions of them tearing at each other.

It had only been a couple of months but it felt like decades had passed, I felt like an old woman reminiscing over the days of her past life, when she felt free, however, I was never free, it was merely a facade to make me believe the life I was born into was not as bad as it seemed, that the responsibilities weighing on my shoulders wouldn't be as they are now, forcing me to my knees to bow before them instead of it being vice versa only, I'm making them bow to me by resolving them.

The dull pain in my neck returned and I shifted it in an attempt to make myself more comfortable even in the slightest sense. The corset beneath the dress specially picked by my mother to celebrate this joyous occasion squeezed my lungs and made it unbearable for me to breathe, I had asked the maids to not make it as tight but per my grandmother’s words, ‘a queen ought to be snug’ and snug I was but all at the expense of my comfort. Nevertheless, it was a small price to pay, almost insignificant even compared to what I was going to endure at his hand all in exchange for the one I held dearest to my heart.

He stepped back a little and he picked up the crown from the velvet pillow before returning to his position and lifting it over my still bowed head.

“O Goddess of the Moon, we invoke your blessing and protection upon this your chosen servant, who is about to receive the crown of the werewolf realm. As you shine your light upon her, so may she shine her light upon her people. As you rule the night with your power and grace, so may she rule the day with her wisdom and justice. As you are the mother of all werewolves, so may she be the mother of all her subjects.

Grant her the strength of the wolf, the courage of the hunter, and the loyalty of the pack. And as she wears this crown of palladium, crystals, and fur, so may she wear the crown of your favor, and love. So mote it be.” The Augur’s words reached my ears and I closed my eyes whispering a silent prayer asking for strength to take on the challenges charging my way.

When the strands of my perfectly brushed hair came in contact with that of the palladium object that signified power, my heart sank to the pit of my stomach, this was it, I had officially traded my freedom for the soul of another, the soul of one whom I loved, one I knew would do the same for me without even thinking about it, they are selfless like that, especially when it came to matters that involved me.

“All hail Her Grace, Queen Adira Kella Kingston, Daughter of late King Dashiell Grant Kingston and Rosalie Laurent Kingston, First of Her Name, Queen of all werewolves and Protector of the realm.”

With that, a hand helped me to my feet, and I nodded curtly at the Augur before turning to face the multitudes of people who were now on their feet with bowed heads.

“Long Live the Queen.”

I can hear them chanting but I am fixated on the mesmerizing oceanic orbs that met mine and now I'm unable to look away, even without words I can hear them screaming in my ears, they have made a decision, to stay and make my life hell but I won't let that happen, I will erase him. By plunging his filthy hands into my chest and ripping out my heart twice in a row, he killed not just me, but my soul as well and I will not forgive him, not this time. I knew I should have never let my guard down and trusted him again, however, this time was not going to be like the last, he hurt me and was going to pay for it, I am not going to be the silly girl that cried her eyes out, I am going to obliterate his existence, but not before I give him a taste of his own medicine.

I too will rip out his heart and stab it a million times, like he did mine.

He started this war, and I will finish it, his annihilation will be my prize.