Chapter 3 Just A Week With Him

• Back to the Present
• "For how long do we have to wait?!" One of the court members yelled. "How long do we have to wait for her to get over his death?!"
• He pushed his seat away as he started pacing.
• "You have to understand, Elder Derrick," Theon said to the official.
• "We have already given her a day. What else do you want from us?" another official countered.
• "She just lost her mate. She has just lost the Moon Goddess's gift to her. At least give her time to mourn him," Theon added.
• Derrick scuffed.
• "Time, Beta? Time?!" He questioned. "May I remind you that time is what we do not have on our side—"
• "You speak as though we are at war, Elder Derrick," a voice came from the entrance of the courtroom.
• Everyone turned. They were shocked to find Seraphine at the door. She had bathed and changed out of the ball gown.
• She walked towards them, keeping her head up as she headed for the Alpha's seat.
• Without saying anything to them, or showing any sign of wavering, she sat in Alpha's seat—the place Alaric once occupied.
• Gasps and whispers echoed in the room.
• "Tell me, Elder Derrick, is there something I do not know about? Maybe a rumor of a hell that is about to be let loose that you have not told us about?" Seraphine asked, silencing the whispers.
• The white-haired grumpy man let out a nervous chuckle.
• "Are you trying to say that I am planning treason, Luna?".
• "I only asked a question. So do tell me, are you?"
• "Of course not. I would never do such a—"
• "Then, as your Luna, mate of Late Alpha King Alaric, I command you to sit down," Seraphine said, her tone firm but calm.
• With a bitter glare in his eyes, Derrick picked up his chair and sat down.
• Seraphine glanced through the room. The whispers were now non-existent. She had gotten everyone's attention.
• She stood up from the seat and walked towards a portrait of Alaric's father and his brothers.
• "Just yesterday my husband, your Alpha, left to meet his father. We were not prepared for it. We do not even know what led to his death," She said, before turning to the men sitting at the counsel's table. "And yet here you people are, thinking of replacing him."
• One of the men tried to speak, but Seraphine interrupted him.
• "Every Alpha is accorded a week of mourning. Just a week to honor him, before a new Alpha is appointed," Seraphine said as she sat down once more on Alaric's seat. "Please, give me one week to honor my dead mate, your Alpha. And after that, we will choose a new Alpha."
• The Court members agreed to Seraphine's proposal. They took their leave, leaving only Seraphine, Theon, and Elara in the room.
• "Well, that worked out," Elara said as she leaned back in her seat.
• "Yeah, but not for long," Theon said. "That would only buy us time to think of a solution."
• After his words, followed a brief silence. Seraphine stood, staring at her mate's portrait.
• "So tell us, Seraphine, what are you going to do now?" Elara asked.
• Seraphine remained silent.
• "Well, maybe you can appoint someone you trust among the officials to—"
• "Someone I trust?" Seraphine asked as she turned to them. "You saw what they did and heard what they said, right?"
• "Yes I did, but do you have another option?" Theon asked.
• Seraphine closed her eyes as she tried to think. After a few seconds, she turned to Elara, her eyes opening.
• "I need you to take Maera and leave the pack".
• "But I can't leave you all alone here," Elara countered.
• "She won't be alone. She'll be with me," Theon said.
• "Still, I want to be here. I want to be next to you, as your sister, and as a friend."
• Seraphine sighed.
• "Fine, but you'll have to send Maera, I mean Mother, away. If the Elders want to pick a new Alpha in the pack, then they'll try to wipe my family out. I've already lost a lot of people. I can't lose you two."
• Elara nodded.
• "So if you won't pick someone, what would you do?" Theon asked.
• Seraphine turned to Alaric's picture once more. A tear rolled down her eyes as she reminisced.
• "Right now, I want to mourn the love of my life."
• ***
• A week flew by like wind across the ocean.
• Every Elder of the Bloodmoon pack was already seated. Yet the Queen, once more, was nowhere to be found.
• "Have you searched all the rooms in the castle?" An Elder asked a pack guard.
• "Yes, Sir. I have, but she is nowhere to be found," the guard replied.
• The Elders murmured among themselves.
• "I think we should hold on a bit; she'll be here," Theon said, but they all ignored him.
• "And what about you? Did she tell you she was going anywhere?" Another Elder asked Rose, Seraphine's handmaiden.
• No, Sir, she didn't say anything to me," she replied.
• Derrick flared up. He stood up in anger, banging the table with full force.
• " I knew she would do that. I knew she would run away like the coward that she is! Just like her father!" He yelled.
• "Do not talk about my father like that old man!" Elara yelled.
• "And who gave a little girl the right to talk when an Elder is talking?!" Derrick questioned.
• "The late King, Elder Derrick. He appointed her as a member of the council," Seraphine said as she walked into the room. "I'm sorry for being late, I just got the result of the autopsy run on the Alpha, and I would love for us to see it together."
• She was about to open the letter when an Elder stopped her.
• "We are not here for that now. We want to know what you have decided relating to the successor."
• "But the Alpha—"
• "No buts, Luna. We gave each other our words. You asked for a week, and we gave it to you. Now we want your answer. Who do you plan on picking to be the new Alpha?" An Elder asked.
• Seraphine sighed. She dropped the letter on the table.
• "If that's what you want to know, then fine. I'll tell you," She said and paused. "I'll invoke Ius Rematrimonii Sanguinis.”