"I've been seeing lonely people in crowded rooms, covering their old heartbreaks with new tattoos. It's all about smoke screens and cigarettes, looking through low lights at silhouettes, but all I see is lonely people in crowded rooms."

~Sam Fischer, 'This City'

~~~

*Easton's POV*

Stepping out the elevator with my mother on my arm, I lead us into the large ballroom. Round tables are set up around the room, with a raised platform at the front of the room where the ceremony will take place for all to see.

The only ones who are here early are the high-ranking members of the pack. My father is talking to his Beta, Geoff; most likely about the order of the ceremony. Leon is sitting on the stage, legs tucked beneath him as he plays on his phone. I roll my eyes at that. I told my parents that 13-years-old was too young for Leon to have a cell phone, but they waved it off. Now, Leon constantly has his face stuck in the device.

"Easton!" Mateo shouts, trotting over with a large grin on his face. I smile at him, pulling away from my mother so I can hug him. Mateo cleans up nicely... well, about as nice as he can. His thick, dark curls are pulled up into a bun, and he's wearing a dark navy blue suit that adds warmth to his tanned skin. "Are you ready for your big day?"

"Absolutely," I nod, even though my inner voice is reminding me otherwise. "What about you? You excited to become my Beta?"

"Been ready since kindergarten," Mateo grins, flashing his sparkling white teeth. Mateo's been my best friend for as long as I can remember. Ever since I could comprehend that I would one day be Alpha, I knew I wanted Mateo right by my side.

Outside of my family, Mateo is the only other wolf that I would trust with my life.

"Do you think you'll find your Luna tonight?" Mateo wiggles his eyebrows, making me chuckle. "Hey, just don't lose control and mate with her in front of everyone. I love you, but I don't need to see your bare ass."

Her. Mateo also thinks my mate will be a woman.

'It's not normal for men to be mated to men.'

"That's not true," I grumble.

"Uh, yeah it is," Mateo chuckles with a quizzical smile. "I don't want to see your ass. Sorry, man."

Shaking my head, I force a smile. "I was just fucking with you," I play it off. "Um, I'm not sure if I'll find my Luna tonight. If I don't, it's not a big deal. I'm not in a hurry."

Mateo nods in understanding, and my mother clears her throat.

"Mateo Pérez," she says sternly. "I've been standing here, waiting for you to acknowledge me. Is that any way to treat the woman who has allowed you to eat half of the food in the pack house?"

"Sorry, Luna Celeste," he apologizes sheepishly, stepping forward to kiss her cheek. "You look beautiful."

My mom brightens from Mateo's charms. "Thank you very much. I figured for my last night as Luna, I should look my best."

"Easton," my father's deep voice silences our conversation as he walks over to us. His light orange-red hair, faded by the speckles of grey, is swept nearly away from his face. "The ceremony will begin in half an hour. Are you ready?"

I nod my head. "Of course I am."

'He's only asking because he doubts you.'

"Good," my father says curtly. "After the ceremony, we'll take your portrait photo for the Hall of Alphas. I already have Geoff preparing your plaque, which will be updated once you find your Luna. Please remember to greet the guests as they walk in. We want to be hospitable to our pack."

Nodding once, I walk over with Mateo to stand next to the elevators and stairs. As the members of the pack start to arrive, they all smile warmly at me when I welcome them. I force a smile on my face, pushing down the nerves that keep rising up in my gut.

'None of them really want you to be their Alpha. It's all an act.'

My stomach twists as the voice in my head beats down any lingering self-confidence. Maybe it's right, maybe no one here actually wants me to be Alpha. They're only going along with it because they feel obligated to. With that thought in mind, I look around the crowd with a new perspective. Instead of seeing my pack, my family, I see only lonely people in a crowded room, being forced to accept me as their leader.

"Easton, it's time," Mateo informs me, and I curtly nod. We walk onto the stage where my father is waiting with my mother. My mom smiles at me, pride shinning in her eyes. The wolves fall silent, watching intensely from their seats. Standing behind my father, I take a deep breath and prepare for the ceremony.

"Thank you all for being here tonight," my father begins in a booming voice. "We are gathered in this place to crown the next Alpha of the Silver Sun Pack. My son, Easton Butler."

At my cue, I step forward and stand next to my father. I keep my expression flat, not letting on how nervous I really am.

'Do you feel that?' Elias whispers in my mind. I furrow my brows, feeling a sudden tug from my chest, leading to somewhere in the crowd.

'I do... but I can't focus on that right now. I can't afford to get distracted and mess up during this ceremony,' I respond.

'But—' Elias tries to protest, but I silence our link. He can yell at me for that later. Right now, I need to focus.

My father continues his speech. "The ceremony will now commence with the transferring of my power as the Alpha of the Silver Woods Pack to Easton."

Picking up a long, slender dagger, my father drags the blade along his palm. Dark red blood fills the cut on his hand, and he hands the knife to me. Inhaling deeply, I slowly drag the blade across the palm, resisting the urge to hiss at the sting of pain. Blood trickles from the fresh cut, and I hold my hand out to my father. Our bloodied hands are joined together, and we begin to recite the incantation that I've spent the past year memorizing.

My eyes burn at the begin to glow, in the same way my father's green eyes are. Two sets of emeralds shinning brilliantly as we recite the incantation in unison. My body hums with electric waves power that spread from my arm to the rest of my body, and I feel an intense connection to the rest of my pack. Once the incantation comes to our end, our eyes fade back to their normal colors, and my father smiles widely at me.

The wolves applaud and cheer as my father pulls me into a tight embrace. My spirit still pulses with my newfound power as the Alpha of our pack.

"I'm so proud of you, son," my father murmurs in my ear, and tears prickle my eyes.

We pull away from the hug and face the crowd of wolves, who crane their necks to the side submissively. They're submitting to me as their Alpha. Pride swells in my chest, and I can't keep the large grin off my face.

The ceremony proceeds with the Beta blessing. Geoff and Mateo step forward, facing each other as they clasp hands.

"Mateo Pérez," Geoff begins. "May our Moon Goddess bless and guide you during your service as Beta. From this day forth, you are sworn to serve and protect our pack, under the leadership of our Alpha. Do you accept your role as Beta of the Silver Woods Pack?"

"I do," Mateo answers confidently, strength practically radiating off of him. Their eyes glow as the blessing is completed, and the crowd cheers once more. Glancing over to me, Mateo nods his head. I smile at him and nod back, acknowledging his place as my right-hand man.