Chapter 79

• HAERA It has been hectic but thrilling. It got really overwhelming at some point but who was I to complain about the extravagant preparation for the joyous celebration that had been one of the oldest traditions of the woodlands. Naming an Alpha-born child. Of course, I have a name already but that doesn't change the fact that I wasn't named by my biological parents whose blood I carry. So today has been fixed to be my official naming ceremony. As if that wasn't enough to give Moonstone pack enough glitter and kick to be in a celebrating mood, my Papa had fixed this same day to be my coronation day. I would be crowned Princess tonight. Excitement flowed through me like my blood itself but it was still exhausting. Different vibrant colors of beautiful dresses, sparkling pieces of jewelry, pretty Footwears, and several sets of every makeover kit that beautify a princess. I was literally swimming and bathing in luxuries. A knock on the door to my chambers made Opaline hands stop massaging my hair. Opaline had become not just my friend but my personal maid these past few days. She called whoever was at the door in, while she continued styling my hair. "Your newly made Traditional Outfit is ready, Princess Haera." The maid's statement made me happy because I had been dying to have a glimpse of the dress. According to traditions, an Alpha born child must be dressed in a red flowery robe or dress that had been passed down by the ancient Alphas but I couldn't wear my family naming robe because I had outgrown it as the robe was made for newborns which I obviously wasn't. So, My momma took it upon herself to use her hands to make a robe-like dress for me to wear instead and she hasn't allowed me to see the fabric nor the progress of the dress ever since she started. I parted the silk pieces of cotton that separated my bedroom chambers from the view of the maid. I dashed to touch the beautiful red fabric that had been wrapped up like it had been made for royalty. "Isn't this the silkiest dress ever, Opaline? The mere appearance of the dress had me cooing. Momma had used the same material of the ancient robe to make this beauty for her new daughter which was me. "It'll look beautiful on you, my darling." My momma's voice reached my ears before she entered my room as elegantly as the most glamorous creature ever liveth. I jumped on my mom without thinking twice, covering her face with kisses while she laughed loudly and happily. "Can you hear the party outside?" My momma questioned before leading me to sit in front of my mirror. She took the brush from Opaline and began styling my hair herself. "It's been going on since the first daylight. How could I have missed it." I responded cheerfully like a newborn that I was supposed to be today. I had to ask a maid why the party started that early when the coronation was stipulated for the night under the moonlight. "It's the tradition, Princess." The maid had said this morning, explaining how newborns were to be brought down by their mothers at night while the party itself usually begins way before then. "We'll be moving to the venue soon, My darling." My momma's voice brought me back to the present and I nodded to acknowledge her words. My hair was weaved by my mom before I was dressed up with the help of Opaline. My face was powdered by my mom and when she finished, I could hardly recognize myself. "I think the pack members would believe that I'm your daughter with this new look." I muttered slowly. I might have been welcomed elaborately and warmly but a part of me still felt uncertain about what the pack members thought of me. I mean, Some of these people had bullied me while I lived here before. "They know better now, Haera and you'll get all the answers you seek when the bond between you and your pack members opens up tonight. It's almost time." Dezra chipped in to calm my nerves even though she hasn't been talking to me like she would usually do whenever a party was being organized. She was partially mad at me but she'd to understand where I was coming from. "You are about to be crowned as the Princess of this pack. The least you can do is show your people that you do not have low self-esteem. You're my daughter....do not forget that." Momma counseled, assuring me that I was more than I was letting people see. To me, that meant I was way worse than what everyone was seeing although I knew that wasn't what my mother was explaining to me. "I'm delighted you are my mother, Momma." We hugged again and I could hear her sniffing to hold back her tears which I assumed to be tears of joy. I inhaled her sweet scent as she did mine. The sound of the ancient horn forced me out of my momma's arms. "The time is upon us. We must move to the venue, Haera." My momma informed me as she helped me to my feet, treating me like a baby. "I was meant to carry you out in my arms but I guess we can skip that tradition since you are a grown woman now." This time, my momma made fun of the situation and we both laughed heartily before leaving my chambers to the open field which had been transformed into a colorful party arena. The maids led the way while my momma walked hand-in-hand and side-by-side with me. I was nervous but I felt safe with the strong woman that gave birth to me by my side. "I present to you, Luna Elena and Our Princess." Someone I couldn't see announced to the pack members that had gathered in the field as my momma and I walked in. I matched every step my mom took because I was scared I might fall to my face if I didn't imitate her boldness but that fear vanished when I saw the beautiful decorations that were used to beautify the venue. And to crown it all, I couldn't sense hatred from the pack members that had risen to the feet to welcome their Luna and me, their Princess. My nose could only perceive the sweet scent of love and admiration. My eyes were shifting from one face to another and I nearly forgot to walk. Thankfully, my momma was guiding my steps to the three golden chairs that were positioned right in the middle of the clearing. My papa was waiting there with a huge smile on his face....a face I had grown fond of. As soon as I stepped onto the podium, the pack members began to shout in unison and I liked it. I had never felt so much joy from hearing a bunch of people making noise before. "Welcome, little one." My Papa whispered to me as he took both my hand and my mother's hand in his. I stood to my Papa's left while my mother was by his right-hand side. The three of us faced the pack members and the noise became louder. The ritual began after my Papa led me to the throne on the left of his. I didn't understand most of what was being done because I had never been the center of attention before but what I knew very well about the ritual was the part of it where my parents would have to mix a droplet of their blood into a cup that was used for that purpose alone. My parent's blood was mixed with fresh water from the pack lake before it was handed to me. I took the cup to my mouth and I was to gulp the content swiftly but my eyes caught a face amidst the crowd...a face with a funny expression that almost made me choke on my saliva. "Go on, child." Worry could be heard in my papa's voice. He must have been thinking I was scared. Unknowingly to him, I was about to laugh at the fruitless effort of the guy that caught my attention to get the interest of the pretty lady beside him. I quickly emptied the content of the cup into my mouth and down my throat because my parents were becoming afraid. I watched my father leave his seat and my eyes remained on him as he walked toward me. My father took my right hand, pulling me from my sitting position and presenting me to the Pack members as his daughter. "Members of the Moonstone Pack, I hereby present to you, my daughter whom I had named officially Namia Haera Amanisa." My Papa announced and my shock was indescribable by mere words. "Long live the Alpha's daughter!" The guy I saw earlier raised and the pack members followed suit, chanting those words over again and again. I stared at my father with tears glistening in my amber eyes. "Do you think your mother and I would miss the chance to name you ourselves? No darling." Those words were more than enough to break the dam of tears in my eyes. I felt my momma's presence behind me which made me sob loudly. It was happy tears that I couldn't stop but I knew no one expected me to stop anyways. "Namia Haera Amanisa! Wow. Chic...." I sobbed harder into my Papa's chest when my wolf called my new name through our mindlink. "Namia, Do you know newborns cry after they are named? Your tears just showed the pack that you are indeed our daughter." My momma explained sweetly. My parents released me when my father's Beta appeared with a crown that had me gasping for precious air. I remember the day I said Ilvira's Luna crown was the most beautiful. I would take those words back without hesitation because this crown was more than beautiful. I was told to kneel in front of my dad as he crowned me Princess of the Pack. That was when the connection opened up between the pack and me. I could feel everyone irrespective of the large population. I could feel their admiration for me although some pitied me, it was all good. "This is overwhelming, Namia." My wolf stated when she experienced the invasion of our minds. It was absolutely overwhelming but that was the weight I had to bear as the princess of the pack. "Finally, Welcome Your Princess! Princess Namia Haera Amanisa!" The voice didn't reach my ears as I expected, rather I heard it clearly in my head. My Papa's voice was the first voice I heard in my head before the agreement of the pack followed shortly and confidently. "If I may have this dance, Princess Namia." It was him again. The guy I noticed earlier bowed to my parents before offering his hand to me. His hair was longer than that of most men and I almost turned him down until my eyes shifted to his eyes. His eyes were captivating although mischief was twinkling in those same eyes, yet I couldn't look away from his turquoise green orbs. I didn't know when I placed my hand into his outstretched palm. He was taller than me but I managed to admire the outline of his face without missing a single detail, not even the slight cut on his lower lip. He was an attractive man and his long hair added extra flecks of beauty to his handsomeness. "I must be fucking breathtaking, Princess Namia." My dance partner mumbled like an idiot but his aura said otherwise. I perceived unmistakable strength and even though he caught me checking him out, I couldn't be bothered. It was a crime to be that attractive anyways which meant I was no criminal. The drums and other instruments soon began playing a sweet slow melody for us to dance to. I wasn't the best dancer but this strange guy managed to keep my feet in perfect sync with his. We danced in silence for a while before my Papa called me to introduce some of his court officials to me. I was stunned that Dezra didn't share her complaint when I was dancing with a guy that wasn't our destined mate. I would have asked her but I decided to let the sleeping wolf lie. "Come on, Haera. Let's go eat dinner with the court officials. You have to start getting used to these people." My momma informed me before ushering me back to the palace that had become my home. Some of the pack members greeted me as I walked past them, referring to me as Princess Namia and I loved the sound of my new name. I made a mental note to ask my parents what my new names meant and why they chose them for me. I quickly went to change into another dress that wasn't a ceremonial one before joining my parents and my father's court officials at the dining hall. My arrival was acknowledged respectfully and I sat on the empty seat beside my father while my momma occupied the seat opposite mine. There was another empty seat beside me which made me wonder who the extra seat was for. Dinner was served and everyone began eating, making me assume we weren't expecting any other person until he barged into the dining area with the same mischievous spirit I noted earlier. "Apologies for being late. As the life of the party, I couldn't leave without a prior goodbye." The long-haired guy whose name I still didn't know, said as he showed respect to everyone at the table before taking the empty seat beside me. "I see you didn't change a thing about you, Basil. It's nice to have you back in the lack, lad." My Papa chatted with the mystery guy he just called Basil like he was my father's long-lost son. I liked Basil's attitude because it was funny and it was clear everyone agreed with me because after Basil arrived in the hall, we all began to laugh at his hilarious Jokes. "He's a clown." Dezra grunted in my head but I couldn't sense dislike from her, unlike the first time we met Tybalt. "Haera, I'd like you to meet Basil, my Beta's son. I have assigned him to show you the customs of the Ancient Aloha born and everything you need to know about who you are." My Papa declared and I couldn't be happier. Which lady wouldn't be happy if they had a funny, mischievous, and charming young man as a teacher? I turned my head to Basil to catch a glimpse of those pretty orbs but my eyes fell to his silly grin instead. Oh, wow...just wow. How can a grown man be cute? Actually, Basil was cute in a manly manner and I was anticipating the fun things I would do with him when I get to know him better. I couldn't help but wonder amusingly.