CHAPTER 321: THE MONUMENT

Natalie~

The roar of the crowd still echoed inside me, not just as sound but as a rhythm, a pulse that seemed to fuse with my own heartbeat. The grand hall was alive—filled with the perfume of blooming water lilies, Bubble’s little flourish, filling the air with sweetness so soft it almost masked the faint smokiness of palace feast waiting to be unveiled. My senses felt heightened, yet heavy, especially under the crown that pressed against my head. It wasn’t just gold and jewels weighing me down—it was the meaning, the responsibility, the name that suddenly belonged to me. Queen Natalie. Celestial Princess.

The words didn’t feel real. It was as if I’d wandered into one of the stories my father used to tell me when storms rattled the roof and I was small enough to believe in magic without question. Only now, the fairy tale wasn’t something imagined—it was mine.

Zane’s hand tightened around mine, warm and sure. His grip was firm, almost possessive, and it steadied me when my mind tried to drift away into disbelief. He stood beside me, newly crowned, radiating that raw, magnetic energy that clung to him like a second skin. Power rolled off him in waves, enough to make Jasmine, hum with contentment in the back of my mind. She purred, as though she, too, was drunk on the moment—on him, on us, on the crown that had changed everything in the blink of an eye.

We’d barely had a chance to catch our breath, the echoes of congratulations still buzzing around us, when Zane’s father—now the former king, Anderson Moor—stepped onto the dais. He carried himself with the same commanding presence as always, broad shoulders squared beneath his embroidered robes, every thread shimmering like it remembered the decades of rule stitched into it. Yet tonight, his posture was lighter, freer, though not without the gravity of what he had just set aside. For the first time, I noticed a spark in his eyes—a mischievous glint, playful and almost boyish—that seemed so out of place on a man whose very presence had always been carved from stone and steel.

At his side walked Elder Yvonne Baptiste of the Dominican Werewolf Faction. Her entrance was quieter, yet it pulled just as much attention. Her braids spilled over her shoulders like a waterfall of midnight silk, framing a face carved with the patience of centuries. Her gaze found mine instantly. It was steady, unyielding, and unbearably soft all at once—as if she wasn’t looking at me but through me, straight into something I wasn’t sure even I understood. Every time she did that, it made my skin prickle, half in awe, half in unease, like she saw a truth about me I wasn’t ready to know.

"Zane. Natalie." Anderson’s voice rolled through the grand hall, deep and rich, cutting through the fading cheers like a thunderclap wrapped in warmth. The crowd hushed instantly. He rested a heavy hand on his son’s shoulder, pride glowing brighter than any jewel in the hall. Then his gaze shifted to me, and the stern lines of his face softened into a smile that reached his eyes, warming me in a way I hadn’t expected.

"The crowns suit you both," he said, his words resonating with both authority and affection. "But before these weeks of celebration can truly come to an end, there is still one final step. A tradition as old as the moon herself."

I glanced at Zane, my heart skipping a beat. His dark brows furrowed slightly, that enigmatic mask of his cracking just enough to show confusion. "Dad, what are you talking about? The coronation was the pinnacle. We’ve accepted the thrones—what more is there?"

Elder Yvonne stepped forward, her voice a melodic hush, like wind through ancient leaves. "My king, my queen, the ceremonies have three sacred sections, though the third has long been shrouded in secrecy, revealed only to those deemed worthy by the Moon Goddess. It is the Ritual of the Moon—a binding of spirit and realm, to honor the Celestial Princess in her fullest form."

I felt Jasmine stir within me, her feisty energy bubbling up like a spark. "Ooh, sounds fancy. But what’s the catch, Mara? They gonna make us dance naked under the stars or something?" I stifled a laugh at her sarcasm, focusing on Yvonne’s words. "We... we didn’t know about this," I admitted, my voice steady but laced with curiosity. The hall had quieted now, the crowd sensing the shift, their eyes fixed on us with rapt attention. "But if it’s part of the tradition, we’ll do it. Right, Zane?"

He nodded, his thumb tracing circles on the back of my hand, sending little jolts of electricity through me. "Of course. Lead the way, Dad. Elder Yvonne. Whatever this ritual entails, we’re ready."

Anderson chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that echoed off the stone walls. "That’s the spirit, son. Follow us to the Moon Sanctum. The kingdom awaits."

We stepped down from the dais, the crowd parting instinctively, whispers rippling like wind through tall grass. Their faces were lit with awe, some even trembling as if the weight of what had just been declared pressed on them too.

Then came Alex—our boy, our little whirlwind—darting forward with the unstoppable energy of a ten-year-old. He grabbed my free hand, his wide eyes shining. "Mommy—uh, Queen Mommy! What’s happening? Is it another surprise?"

The title slipped from him so easily now—Queen Mommy. It made my chest ache in the best way. I ruffled his hair, letting myself linger in the simple warmth of him. "Looks like it, kiddo. Stick close—your dad’s about to be even more kingly."

Behind us, Sebastian and Cassandra fell into step. The torchlight caught in Sebastian’s black hair as he arched a brow, smirking like the world was his stage. "Oh, perfect," he muttered. "More rituals. Because nothing says fun like chanting in the moonlight. Zane, if there’s a blood oath involved, I’m bailing. I do actually have a business to run, you know."

Cassandra elbowed him sharply, though her lips twitched with amusement. Her amber eyes gleamed. "Don’t be dramatic. This is sacred, Seb. After everything Kalmia’s dragged us through, a little moonlight ceremony might be the least terrifying thing we’ve faced."

Zane shot Sebastian a mock glare over his shoulder. "Keep running your mouth, and I’ll make you my royal jester."

Sebastian only grinned wider, clearly pleased with himself.

The procession carried us deeper into the palace, winding through corridors where torches threw restless shadows that stretched and swayed like living spirits across the carved stone walls. My brothers—Jacob, Tiger, Eagle, Bubble, and Fox—moved with us, flanking our group as guardians. Their presence was like a low hum in the air, steadying me.

Tiger’s heavy steps were silent but certain, his golden hair catching glints of firelight, his eyes sharp, grounding. Eagle was watchful as ever, his long black hair flowing unnaturally, silver eyes scanning every corner like nothing could escape him. Bubble hummed some wordless tune under his breath, a cheerful counterpoint, his pure white hair glowing faintly like sea foam. And Fox, with his untamable fire-red hair and golden eyes that burned with constant mischief, looked as though he was suppressing the urge to crack a joke at every turn. Jacob on the other hand was calm, too calm like he was holding back the urge to cry.

At last, we emerged into the Moon Sanctum.

The courtyard lay open beneath the sky, bathed in silver light. Ancient stone pillars ringed the space, etched with runes that pulsed faintly as though the moon itself breathed through them. Above, the stars glittered sharp and endless, like old friends watching. At the center stood an altar of stone, upon which rested a crystal basin filled with water that shimmered as though laced with light. Around it, the kingdom’s elders waited in a solemn circle, their robes whispering against the flagstones as they shifted.

The former king stepped forward, his expression weighty, his voice carrying with it the tone of command and history.

"This ritual," he said, his words steady as iron, "is to recognize Natalie not merely as our queen, but as the Werewolf Goddess in mortal form—the Celestial Princess, embodiment of the moon’s grace. And in doing so, we honor all of you. Eternal statues shall be raised in the heart of the realm, to stand for generations."

My breath caught, Jasmine’s howl of disbelief echoing inside me. "Statues? They’re turning us into a monument, Mara! We’re going to be worshiped!"

I blinked at Anderson, at Yvonne, then at all the other elders, struggling to breathe.

"Wait... what? A monument? Me? Statues—of all of us? Zane, and even my brothers? That’s... insane."

Zane stiffened at my side, his jaw set, a low growl vibrating deep in his chest. "Dad, you can’t be serious. Natalie is already our queen—our everything. But statues? Worship?"

Yvonne lifted her hand gently, her gaze finding mine, soft but unwavering. "It is prophecy fulfilled, my queen. Your are the daughter of our moon goddess, your wolf is no ordinary wolf either—pure white, larger than any alpha. She carries power older than our understanding. The moon goddess sent you to us and we have accepted you with all our hearts. This ritual only seals it, blessing the kingdom through you."

Jacob stepped forward, his calm aura rolling out like a tide, steadying the storm in my chest. Just standing there, he was a force—unshaken, timeless. At his side, Easter lingered with quiet grace, her eyes soft, urging me on without a word.

"My little moon," Jacob’s voice broke the hush, low and resonant, carrying like wind across still waters. "We have waited longer than mortals can imagine for this. Never—across all your lifetimes—has such an honor been placed in our hands. But today, humanity has risen to meet us. Do not fear their devotion. Accept it. Together, we will seal this land with our blessing—for they have chosen to honor us."

Tears pricked my eyes. The love surrounding me—the kingdom, my family—it hit like multiple waves. Zane pulled me close, his lips brushing my ear, his voice rough with conviction. "Natalie... my love. If this is what they need, then we’ll give it to them. But to me, you’ve always been my goddess."

I nodded, swallowing hard. "Alright. Let’s... let’s do this."

The elders began to chant, their voices weaving a low, resonant harmony that thrummed through the earth beneath my feet. Yvonne dipped her hands into the crystal basin, droplets of moon-touched water dripping between her fingers. She lifted her voice, solemn and clear:

"Natalie Cross, Celestial Princess—do you accept your divine form? To live among us as the Werewolf Goddess, guiding us with light and power?"

My body trembled, but Jasmine surged forward, her strength flowing into me. My answer rang out, steady and true. "I do. For the kingdom, for my family... I accept."

Light burst from the altar, wrapping me in white fire. Jasmine’s form appeared beside me, her colossal frame glowing like starlight, her fur pure white, brighter than any wolf I’d ever seen. Gasps rippled through the crowd; howls broke the night air. Zane’s wolf, Red, roared in response inside him, his grip on my hand tightening as though anchoring us both.

Yvonne’s voice rose above the awe.

"And now, we honor them with eternal statues! In the grand square, carvings of Queen Natalie, King Zane, Mist the Wolf Spirit, and the Guardians—Tiger of Earth, Eagle of Wind, Bubble of Water, Fox of Fire. Symbols of prosperity forever!"

The ground quivered as mists swirled up, shaping before our eyes into visions of those statues. My own likeness appeared draped in flowing robes, Jasmine at my side; Zane crowned, commanding; Jacob serene; Tiger strong and unyielding; Eagle with wind etched into his form; Bubble laughing with waves curling around him; Fox alight with flames in his gaze. The sight was overwhelming—humbling.

Tears spilled down my cheeks. "Brothers... let’s bless them. As promised."

Tiger bowed his head, his deep voice steady. "Earth yields to you, sister. Strength and soil to sustain." Vines erupted across the courtyard, flowers bursting in radiant color.

Eagle’s whisper followed, riding the breeze. "Winds will carry fortune, storms will pass you by." A rush of air lifted petals into a dazzling spiral.

Bubble laughed, raising his arms. "Water flows in abundance! Rivers full, rains gentle." The basin overflowed, spilling harmless streams across the stones.

Fox grinned, golden eyes flashing. "And fire warms your homes, fuels your passions." Sparks bloomed into shapes of hearts before fading into the air.

Jacob’s voice was last, quiet yet immense. "The spirits unite. We promise prosperity, peace, love—for generations."

Zane kissed my forehead, murmuring against my skin. "My queen... my goddess. Look at what you’ve done."

Sebastian broke the heavy silence with a clap. "Well, damn. Statues? I’m jealous. Can I get one too? Maybe fangs bared, cape blowing dramatically?"

Cassandra groaned, swatting him, though her smile betrayed her pride. "Ignore him, Natalie. It’s beautiful. You’re beautiful."

Alex flung his arms around my waist, nearly knocking me over. "You’re a goddess, Mom! Does that mean I get powers too?"

I laughed through my tears, hugging him close. "Maybe one day, kiddo. Right now, I’m just trying to breathe through all this love."

The kingdom erupted, cheers and howls shaking the very stars. Anderson came forward, pride written in every line of his face as he embraced us both.

"You’ve made us proud. The ceremonies end tonight—but your reign begins."

Yvonne bowed low, her voice reverent. "Goddess Natalie. King Zane. The moon smiles on you."

As the light dimmed and the courtyard quieted, I leaned into Zane’s chest, my tears blurring the glow of the statues. My heart ached with joy so fierce it almost hurt.

This was forever. Loved, blessed, eternal.