*Landon’s POV*

Okay. If I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it with my head held high. I can't let them see how much they destroyed me. I need them to think that I'm fine on my own; fine without them. I can do this. I got this.

My repeated mantra to pump me up comes to an abrupt stop the moment elevator doors open. They open directly into the open ballroom, and dozens of eyes instantly fall on me. Not even two steps out of the elevator, and I can hear handfuls of whispers with my name mingled in.

Well, shit.

I force myself to keep walking, pretending that my heart isn't pounding a mile a minute. There are round tables covered in satin linens around the room, with various wines being served to the guests. Curious. At Easton's coronation, the chairs were set into rows facing the stage. This seems a lot more.... laid-back. At least, it would be for anyone that isn't returning to the pack they were banished from for the first time in years. A pack that is currently eyeing me both warily and curiously, making my palms grow clammy.

I can do this.

I can do this.

I can do this.

I can—

Nope.

I duck past a corner, hiding from the prying eyes, despite that strange pull that's wanting to lead me back to the main room. Letting my back rest against the wall, I release a breath I didn't even realize I was holding. After taking a few minutes to calm my breathing, I take a look at my surroundings.

The Hall of Alphas. Despite everything within me screaming that this is a bad idea, I stumble down the hallway. Heading towards the end of the hall, I slow when I see the picture of Silas. His stance is tall and proud. His expression can be interpreted as rigid and stoic, but I knew him well enough to recognize the twinkle he held in his eyes. Below him is a plaque with his title.

Alpha Silas Butler

Served: 1988-2010

Luna: Celeste Butler

My heart clenches at the sight of him looking so gorgeous in his pressed dark blue suit, his red hair swept gracefully away from his hair. Easton's smile is bright like it always was, reminding me how much warmth he brought with one simple smile. My fingertips trace the photo, moving along the curves of Easton's face. Looking downwards, I read the plaque displayed below his photo.

Alpha Easton Butler

Served: 2010-2014

Luna: —

My stomach drops.

They removed my name.

No... that's putting it lightly. Someone scratched out my name. It looks like someone look a knife to the laminate plaque and violently carved over my name until it was impossible to decipher it. I shouldn't still be surprised by stuff like this. I shouldn't still be hurt. But fuck, I really am.

Easton, I really wish you were here. You wouldn't have put up with this shit.

"Oh! Hello," a delicate voice makes me jump. I turn to see a stunningly beautiful woman standing several feet away. She has dark brown eyes framed with long eyelashes and a bit of makeup. Her wavy caramel hair falls to the middle of her back, brushing against her delicate tanned skin. She's wearing a light pink dress that cascades elegantly to the floor. She's smiling as she takes a step towards me. "You're Landon, right?"

I slowly nod my head. "I am. And... you are?"

The woman giggles lightheartedly. "Sorry, how rude of me. I'm Roselyn. I've been really looking forward to meeting you."

My eyes widen. Roselyn.... the next Luna. Wait, she's been wanting to meet me?

"Why?" I ask bluntly, making her blink at me. "Why would you want to meet me? Why would you even invite me here? In case you haven't received the memo, I'm not very well liked around this pack. If you're going to be an effective Luna, you really need to learn more about your pack."

I expect her to get angry with me, or maybe flush with embarrassment from me calling her out. Throw me out, shout at me in front of everyone. Order the warriors to beat me up.

But she doesn't. Instead, she actually laughs in response. And not a condescending or fake laugh. A real laugh, one that makes her eyes twinkle. Surprised, I watch her take a breath to calm her laughter.

"You're right," Roselyn nods, making me raise an eyebrow. "I do have a lot to learn about this pack. Two weeks wasn't nearly enough time to prepare before springing the news on me that I would be introduced as Luna at this coronation. I've only been Leon's mate for a few months, and I didn't exactly spend that time studying up on the pack," she admits with a shy smile. "But I do know about you. At least, I know what Leon has told me about you. And I would like to get to know you better."

I stare at her, dumbfounded. Is... is she serious? She wants to spend time with me outside of the coronation? But that would require her leaving the pack grounds every so often to meet with me. Unless they lifted the ban and allowed me to routinely enter the pack. That would require the head family getting over their hatred towards me. But judging by the way my scratched out name hasn't been mended, I doubt that's the case. Roselyn's gaze follows mine, landing on Easton's plaque. She winces, fiddling with her fingers nervously.

"One of the first things I'm going to do as Luna is get that plaque replaced," Roselyn stammers. "What happened to you... it wasn't right. You suffered a loss, as well. It wasn't your fault, and it's not right that you should be punished for it."

My eyes snap up to hers, and I can feel the faint glow behind them. "You weren't there," I spit through clenched teeth. "How can you possibly say it wasn't my fault when you weren't there?"

"Because I saw the way you were staring at his portrait just a few moments ago," she says softly. "The love and devotion you held in your eyes... if you were truly to blame for Easton's death, you wouldn't have been looking at him like that. I believe that you loved Easton, and what happened was a tragic accident that hurt everyone."

Tears well up in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. Swallowing them back, I cast my gaze towards the ground.

"Anyway," Roselyn starts up again in a much lighter tone. "There is so much I can learn from you! Even though you were Luna for only two years, you managed to get a new school for the pups built, correct? That's what Leon told me, at least. That's a huge accomplishment! I hope I'm able to make that big of a difference as Luna. I know this situation isn't ideal, but I would love if I could sit down with you and pick your brain for ideas!"

I mindlessly nod my head, not really understanding what I was agreeing to as my mind was still swirling with her previous testimony.

'It wasn't your fault, and it's not right that you should be punished for it...'

'...I believe that you loved Easton, and what happened was a tragic accident...'

Similar words have been said to me by my family, but it hits way differently coming from a member of the head family. Coming from the woman taking my place as Luna. I barely register Roselyn's beaming smile before she's tugging on my arm, leading me back to the main room. I let her pull me along, the numbness still spreading throughout my body. I don't even know how I end up in a seat at my family's table, with all their eyes on me, watching me with worry.

"Landon," Lia hisses lowly. "Hey, snap out of it. What's going on with you?"

Lifting my head up, my gaze meets my sister's concerned one. Her choppy blonde hair is pinned back tonight elegantly. She's wearing a bit more makeup than usual, with smoky eyes and a bit of blush dusting her high cheekbones. The dress she chose for tonight is long and black, the ends of it barely brushing the ground. I want to tell her she looks lovely tonight, but my head is pounding from my earlier conversation with Roselyn. Instead, the words that come out are:

"I really need a drink."

Enzo hesitantly pushes a flute of champagne towards me, which I quickly down. The sweet alcohol slides down my throat, and I reach for another glass before doing the same. I manage to throw back three glasses in total before my mother reaches across the table and holds my arm, preventing me from taking a fourth as she looks at me with that motherly worry that makes it impossible to defy her.

The three drinks do an okay job of relaxing me, although it's not quite enough to make me feel tipsy. However, the desire to drink more only grows the moment Silas Butler steps onto the stage at the front of the room. His red hair now has streaks of grey that have down spread into his beard.