ATLAS’S POV
Almost an hour before the coronation that would be held in the White House, I was called by my parents to have a private meeting with them in their chamber. The Luna was all smiles as I approached them. They were seated on the thrones, looking very powerful as usual.
“Atlas,” Luna Serene called my name sweetly.
“You called for me, father, mother?”
“Yes,” Alpha Frank answered. “The coronation will happen tonight, and we want to make things clear with you before it happens.”
“Things?”
Luna Serene gave me a nod before they glanced at each other. My attention was then piqued. It wasn’t every day that I got to speak with my parents, and whenever they would ask for me, I would always sense that they had planned something or had a favour to ask for me. Either way, I began to feel uncomfortable as I stood in front of them, waiting to hear what they had to say.
“Since you will become the new Alpha of this pack, you will then need to have a Luna that will help you co-lead, and bear an offspring that will be an heir to the throne,” Alpha Frank stated.
Luna Serene clasped her hands together, looking so enthralled by something. “That is why I and your father have decided to make a list of some potential bride candidates for you to choose from. These ladies will be coming from powerful packs like ours and should be the right fit to become the new Luna.”
“What do you think, son?” Alpha Frank smiled at me. “We can assure you that we will match you with the most deserving woman. Your mother will personally handpick from a long list of women. We should be able to obtain their backgrounds sooner.”
“I have a mate,” I intoned as I looked at them in a serious manner. “We don’t need such a list. I only need to wait until Tessa gets to feel the mate bond and-”
“That girl isn’t capable of becoming your Luna, son.”
“Your father is correct.” Luna Serene stood up. Her expression changed. “I won’t allow a weakling to become the next Luna of this pack, let alone someone who has a complicated family bloodline.”
My hand formed a fist. I did not like the way they insulted Tessa in front of me. Sure, she may have been different from the rest of us, but it wasn’t a reason to downplay her. She was still my mate, and the only woman I wished to become my partner.
Knowing that my parents had planned this out ahead of time without telling me made me sick. I was already at the right age to handle this matter in my life, yet they felt entitled to manipulate me as if I was just five years old and needed total guidance or else I would be influenced in a bad way.
“I appreciate what you’re trying to do for me, but allow me to decide on my own, father, mother,” I managed to say calmly. “If she gets to feel the mate bond and it isn’t me who she feels it for, then we can do that as another option. But for now, I can’t accept it.”
Luna Serene groaned in frustration; her eyes smouldered as she looked at me in total disbelief. I understood she had high standards when it came to the next Luna, but disrespecting the moon’s fate and my decision were another thing for me.
“That is why we ask you to reject the girl as early as possible, son. Look at your behavior! You’re not being rational,” Alpha Frank said, his voice filled with disgust. “Had I known this would have happened, I should not have let her live on this land. That girl will only ruin our dreams for you!”
“It’s not too late, Frank!” Luna Serene beamed out. “We can still do something to correct this!” she said angrily, and then looked at me. “We have to do anything we can so that our son won’t be in trouble.”
“Mother, stop!” I raised my voice, which silenced the two of them.
“How dare you shout at us that way?!” Alpha Frank’s voice thundered inside the chamber.
“You see that, Frank? That’s what he gets for hanging out with that girl! He starts to disobey us!” Luna Serene yelled hysterically. “That girl lived in human land, and there’s no doubt she’s trying to influence our son to adopt this behavior!”
I shook my head as I looked at my mother in disbelief. My mate didn’t do anything at her. However, even Tessa’s shadow seemed to be so offensive to her. She sees her as a threat because she came from human land.
But I don’t see Tessa that way… and I will do anything to protect her, even if it means defying my parents, who thought wrongly about her.
“Regardless of what you say, my decision won’t change,” I said firmly as I clenched my teeth. “You can delay that idea about the list of bride candidates. I will only reconsider if Tessa figures out I’m not the one she wants.”
After saying those things, I left the chamber with a heavy chest and was sick to my bones knowing I had manipulative parents who wanted to control me.
***
“Lots of things are going to change after the coronation,” said Cohen who was seated next to me as we waited for the coronation to begin.
The event was held in the White House’ vast event hall, and all of the leaders in the households were here to witness it. I would become the new Alpha of the pack after this night, but I could not force myself to be happy after the conversation I had with my parents.
Sitting on the center platform were my parents, who seemed to happy seeing the pack members reunited all over again. My mother loved grand balls and events where she could show off her elegant side, and as the years passed, I’ve come to hate that attitude of hers.
“I’ve heard from my father that the Luna is hiring someone to background check some elite she-wolves from other packs, and choose who will be the best bride candidate for you,” Cohen remarked with a smirk on his face. “It will be better to go along with it, and let Tessa stay out of your family.”
“What did you say?” I growled lowly.
He looked at me warily. “I said to let my mate stay out of your family. Your parents hate her.”
“So you want to manipulate me too to your advantage?”
He chuckled a bit. “Telling the truth is far from manipulation. You should have known better.”
Anger coursed through me as he looked at me like he wanted to challenge me. The old Cohen who used to be my best buddy was already gone, and I could not stop myself from hating this guy since the mating season. He was getting on my nerves, and obviously pushing me to hate him more than I could. I wondered how we would be able to work closely after the coronation. Alpha needed to be with his Beta all the time to deal with so many pack affairs, but having him around made me so fucking disoriented.
Really, your best friend becomes your best enemy. I didn’t believe such saying until now.
As much as I wanted to pick a fight and let him know of his place, I decided to ignore him. A few minutes passed and the Alpha started his speech while facing the crowd. He looked an optimistic leader, and was patronized by many werewolves out here. But they didn’t know the real him behind the facade he had.
“I’d like to call on Cohen Brookes and my son, Atlas Edevane, for the acceptance of roles…”
Cohen stood up first, and turned to me. “Come on, new Alpha.” Then he smirked.