Everyone froze for some seconds before they recovered and cheered him on excitedly. Alpha Ramírez looked on with pride.

"So we have confirmed that he's my son everyone! Now, transform back!" He shouted out to the transformed Louis who instantly transformed into a human without breaking a sweat.

The high priest stepped forward and raised Louis' hands up to everyone. This is a sign that he had passed the ultimate test of all. They all cheered on in excitement.

"Behold your new king and Alpha, Alpha Louis!!" He shouted out loud and everyone clapped excitedly.

Alpha Ramírez crown, which had been collected earlier was placed on his head and a new flowing and shiny black robe was worn on him too. Everyone clapped excitedly. Everyone, except poor Carl.

Alpha Ramírez stepped forward to address his people. His face shining and almost bursting with pride.

"So now that it had been finalized that he is my son and the Alpha of our pack. I want everyone to support him on this journey. He can't do anything without the help of anyone. I want you all to support and love him in my absence" Alpha Ramírez said almost in a whisper and then coughed.

It seemed his health had deteriorated badly overnight and he had only managed to be around today due to the importance of the occasion.

He continued coughing that some of the chiefs had to Garner around him and take him into the chambers.

The crowd dispersed as they all continued murmuring. Each section of the crowd has a different topic to discuss.

Carl retired into the woods. His shoulders dropped, his eyes filled with unshed tears. Several thoughts ran across his mind as he trekked gently and quietly back into the woods. His only succour and haven of peace. The only place where no one gossips about him or calls him a failure. His only comfort.

Several thoughts ran through Carl's mind as he continued to take each footsteps as if it was the last. Then, a familiar voice called out to him. His beloved mother's voice.

"Carl! Carl!! Please wait it's me!" His mother, Luna Claire called out to him and he paused for a second.

"Mom please I need some time alone" He said, almost in a whisper, showing how broken he was.

"Going into the woods isn't gonna solve anything my son. Just own up to your responsibilities and accept this as part of fate. I don't want you to give up yet son. No child of mine would be a coward and -"

"Mom please! Save this talk for the next world that's if you're unlucky to have me as your son again! Then and only then, would I listen. But for now, it's too late. I've lost everything. Father's love and support, my birthright, my people, my peace! My destiny! I lost everything already and no amount of courage would bring them back to me!" Carl shouted angrily as he turned back to look at his mom, his eyes glistening with tears. Tears of pain and deep sorrow!

His mom, Luna Claire moved closer to him and hugged him tightly, not knowing what else to say. She knew he was right, and giving him false hope at this point isn't gonna solve anything. But what could she have done? He was broken and seeing your child broken isn't anything a mother could bear. She's just trying to find a way to help him break out of his sorrow.

"I'll be leaving in two days'time mom" Carl whispered, barely audibly.

"It's gonna be alright my son, I believe in you no matter what happened or what anyone thinks of you" Luna Claire said while trying to wipe off his tears. Her heart, twisting in pain.

Meanwhile, at the Chambers.....

The atmosphere was cold and sombre, or maybe slightly bubbly due to some reasons. The newly crowned Alpha, Alpha Louis and several other high chiefs including the high priest all gathered around Alpha Ramírez.

"When is he gonna wake up!" Alpha Louis asked, his mind racing as he paced around impatiently.

"In an hour's time maximum-" the high priest tried explaining and other chiefs nodded their head in response to what they just heard.

Just then, Alpha Ramírez sneezed and blood splashed on everyone's body. They all scampered around as they tried getting the stain off their body. Everyone including the newly crowned Alpha, Alpha Louis. They were afraid of getting contracted with their Alpha's strange disease. Such a love they have for their Alpha!

By the time they came back, Alpha Ramírez was stone cold dead. The high priest announced this to everyone and they all shuddered. Messages were immediately sent across the pack to inform everyone that their old Alpha, was dead.

The dead Alpha was immediately bathed and clothed in a powerful Alpha regalia and left at the front of the chambers according to the tradition of the pack. Several pack members came from far and near to pay their last respect to their late powerful Alpha.

********************

Luna Claire was on her way back home when she noticed everyone's somber mood. She wondered what had happened. These same people were happy about their newly crowned Alpha and had cheered him up. Why then are they acting strange all of a sudden? She thought as she walked closer to the Alpha's chambers.

She saw several people trooping in and out of her chambers when she got to the entrance and this made her heart beat even faster as she hoped nothing bad had happened.

Murmurs of how the Alpha had been a good man and all filled the air as she got closer to the entrance of the gate. The people who had been talking about the Alpha suddenly paused and started looking at her with worry , or rather, pity etched on their respective faces.

Luna Claire opened the gate to behold the most heartbreaking view ever. Her beloved husband, the Alpha was lying on the majestic bed, still and not moving.

"Can anyone care to tell me what happened here?" She screamed as she rushed towards her husband's corpse.