The First Star (Book Two: The Star Series)

The Coronations

I walk out towards the ball room once again. I'm standing off the stage to the left and when I look across the stage I see Ariel, Axel, and Jenny standing there. Ariel blows me a kiss and Jenny waves. I peek around the curtain and am suprised by how many people are here. "Oh my goddess that's alot of people." I say to Kane. "Of coarse there is alot of people. All the alphas, lunas, and top warriors of every pack will be here. Not to mention all the unmated females. They are gonna want a shot at the new King." He says as I glance back at Ariel.

She is my world. She has been by my side since my first memory. Anytime I was going to do something stupid she was there to either stop me or getting punished with me when I didn't listen. She's my best friend and I don't know what I would do with out her. "We will see about that." I say to Kane.

Everybody in the audience starts to clap as my siblings walk on stage and take their seats next to mom and dads thrones. They all look great. They are all wearing their crowns. And I reach up to my head. "Crap. My crown." I say. "Don't worry. Your about to get a new one." I turn around and see Shasta standing about five feet away. I glance back at Ariel. "If she knows Shasta is here things are going to get ugly. What do I do." I ask Kane. Ariel smiles and waves at me. "Don't worry about it. She obviously cant see her. Otherwise she would have already been over here. Just get rid of her." He says.

I step over to my right where Ariel wont be able to see me. "What are you doing here?" I ask her. "I came to see you be crowned. You know you've always been my king. And I just want you to know that anytime the king needs anything, and I do mean anything, all you have to do is call." She says as she is walking up closer to me. She reaches up and traces her hand across my chest. "Shasta, I'm sorry but you know Ariel is my mate." I say but that doesn't stop her. Her hand slide lower and touches me where nobody has yet, as me and Ariel were waiting.

"This is wrong. I have a mate. I cant do this." I say and step back so shes not touching me. But not quick enough before she presses her lips to mine. And I let out a moan. "What the hell was that. I cant be doing this." I say to Kane. "And why not. I know Ariel is our mate but I don't feel disgusted like I do when other girls touch me like I usually do." Kane responds. "No. I wont betray my mate." I say as I break the kiss and step back. Shasta bites her bottom lip seductively. "Just remember, anything." She says and turns and walks away. And I cant help but watch her ass as she walks away.

I shake my head. "I don't know what the hell that was but it never happens again." I say to Kane. "I don't know. I mean we have our mate. She loves us and once we mate we will be together forever. There has to be a reason that her touch doesn't negatively affect us like all the others. Maybe we should explore this." He says looking curious. "No, never, and I will make sure this ends right now." I say and step back to the stage to see Ariel. She looks at me and I can see shes wondering if I'm ok. I smile at her and she nods.

Then the crowd erupts as dad and mom step on stage. Everybody bows and mom heads to her thrown and dad steps up to the microphone. "Welcome everybody. Today is the day that I will be turning my reins over to my oldest boy, Johnny. He is smart, he's an excellent warrior, and I have taught him starting at a young age how a king is to conduct himself and everything he is responsible for. He will be a just and wise ruler. And he will do anything it takes to make sure that each and every pack prospers." He says and everybody claps. "Johnny, please step up." I stand up straight and head to the center of the stage. I kneel down in front of dad.

He takes out the ancient knife that has been used during every coronation for the past few hundred years. "Do you Johnny Starr Jackson promise to protect every member of this kingdom and rule fairly and without prejudice?" He asks and I proudly and loudly respond. "Yes sir." Dad takes the knife and slices his hand. He then reaches down to me and does the same. He grabs my hand that he cut with his cut hand. "With this blood transfer I am transferring all my authority to you. You will know be the Alpha of Silver Falls Pack and the King of the whole kingdom. Do you accept." He says. "I do." I say.

Dad reaches up and takes his crown from his head. "Wear this crown with pride. For this crown may feel like a burden at times but you have the power to make anything possible. And you have a chance to make everybody's life a little happier and easier if you rule with a kind and caring attitude." He says as he places the crown on my head. And once again the crowd goes insane. I stand and step up to the microphone.

"Thank you all for joining me for this special occasion. I want you all to know that I am here for you all. And I hope to get to know you all a lot better. And I will do whatever needs done to make sure every one of you are taken care of and happy. Anything you need, I will be available at all times." Everybody claps again then bows. "I would like to introduce you all to a few other people that are going to be very important in running this kingdom and I want you all to know that if for any reason I'm not available they will be able and willing to assist you in any way they can. First of all I want to introduce everybody to my cousin, and now the new beta, Axel." He walks onto the stage and waves to the crowd.

"Secondly, I would like you all to meet the new delta, a lifelong friend of mine, Jenny." She does the same and walk on stage waving. She stands tall next to Axel. I turn around and see my family all now seated behind me. "Thirdly, my family is your family. My family, no matter what position they hold, will always be there for anything." Everybody waves and I can see the girls are loving the attention. I look back to the crowd and my eyes catch Shasta. She waves and lick her lip. I quickly move my gaze away from her.

"And I have one more announcement. And this may come to a surprise to everybody as this is not how thing were set to go today." I say looking back at mom and dad. Dad looks worried but mom has a smile on. I already know that she knows where this is headed. "I would like to introduce you all to one more person. This is the most important person in the world to me. She has always been there for me and she will always be there for everyone of you. I want to introduce you all to my best friend and mate. And your new queen, Ariel." Ariel walks out and she is beaming with pride, happiness, and love. I hear the gasps from the crowd but I don't care.

Ariel walks up to me and I place my lips on hers. Mom taps my shoulder and I turn around. She motions for me to sit so I do as she says. Ariel kneels in front of my mother. "Do you Ariel promise to care for every member of this kingdom as if they were one of your own? Do you promise to be kind and fair to all? And do you also vow to do whatever is needed to protect those who you rule over?" Mom asks. Ariel looks mom in the eye as she speaks. "I do Luna." Dad steps up to mom and hands her the knife. And mom follows the same steps dad did with me. Mom takes the crown from her head and places it on Ariels head. I stand up and go over to stand next to Ariel.

I place my arm around her waist as we look out at the crowd. Everybody bows but my eye catches Shasta. She is bowed but not as low as the others and boy does she look pissed. "Well, serves her right for trying to cause problems." I say to Kane but he scoffs and retreats in my head. Dad then speaks up behind me. "I introduce you all to the King and Queen." He says. "And now if you would all remain in your seats. Seeing as your new queen has already been introduced and appointed I believe it is time for the mating ceremony."

Grandpa John now steps to the stage and me and Ariel turn towards him. Mom hands him the knife and he begins. "We are here to witness the love and joining between these two young ones. Do you both promise to love one another for all time. To be loyal, faithful and do whatever is needed to protect the other.." "We do." We both say in unison and look over at each other and she giggles. Grandpa continues. "The mate bond is a powerful thing. Once you complete the process you will be tied together for the rest of your time here on earth as well as the next life. You will feel each others pain and happiness. Your link will be stronger than any other links you have." He takes my hand and slices open the same spot dad did and does the same with Ariel. He places her hand in mine. "With the transfer of blood you are transferring half your soul. You are now connected forever. Once you are each marked the bond will be complete."

I turn towards Ariel and kiss her passionately. And everybody cheers again. "Now, I am happy for everybody to stay the evening and enjoy the festivities. There will be food and dancing. Enjoy yourselves. Me and your queen will join you all after awhile as this has been a very busy day for us. We will take our leave for awhile to rest." I say. "Yeah we all know what that means." Rocky yells from the audience and the room is filled with laughter. We reach Ariels room and I press my lips to hers. "So, I'm gonna go and shower real quick then we can." I start but she stops me.

"Take your time. I need to shower too and I really would like some rest. I wasn't expecting this to happen until tonight. Would you be upset if we still kept the original plan and head to the cabin after the party?" She says worried. "My love, I would do anything you ask. I completely understand. But you better know that the longer it is the more I'm going to want you." I whisper in her ear. "I'm counting on it." She says and winks and goes in and shuts her door.

"What are we waiting for? Why arent we marking and mating her right now?" Kane complains. "She wants to wait to go to the cabin. If that's what she wants that is what we will do. We've waited this long a few more hours wont kill us." I say and walk up to my room to shower. After about an hour I go back down and meet Ariel to rejoin the party. We spend the evening dancing and laughing with our friends until it's almost midnight and I can barely control Kane anymore. "Are you ready to get out of here?" I whisper in her ear. "Oh I thought you'd never ask." She says and we head through the woods to the cabin.