Slowly waking up I reach for Lucas, only to be met with cold sheets.

Oh right. I told him to leave before the girls got here.

Sitting up and stretching I hear a commotion outside the door.

"We have to wake her up! We need as much time as possible to get ready! This coronation has to be perfect!"

"Shh. Keep your voice down. You might wake her up before it's time."

I open the door to be met with several faces.

"Good morning girls! Are you going to help me?"

Everyone nods their heads as they file into the room.

Aella walks in last with a mug of coffee in her hands.

"I thought you might want this before preparations start."

"Thank you Aella! You are a lifesaver. I can't function without my caffeine."

Drinking my cup of liquid magic, I watch as a vanity table is set up and boxes of makeup are brought in, along with different hair products.

Adaline speaks first when everything is set up.

"This is going to work just like it did when we got ready for the ball. Only difference is that we are the ones getting you dolled up. Are you ready?"

Downing the last of my coffee I say a simple yes.

"Great! First is a bath in rose water. Lenna and Kendra will help you with that while we get the rest of everything prepared. So phase one is a go!"

Lenna and Kendra usher me into the bathroom as they fill the bath with water and place rose petals in it.

"Why the roses?"

"Rose water helps with hydrating the skin and gives an almost glow to the skin."

"Alright makes sense."

Lenna and Kendra scrub and scrub my skin till it turns almost pink and wash my hair till it feels smooth as silk.

Wrapped in a silk robe, Kendra dries my hair while Lenna helps moisturize my skin. Kendra straightens my hair saying it will be easier to work with.

When I finally walk out of the bathroom, 2 hours have passed. 2 hours!

Makeup is next and the girls decided on a warm brown undertone with a gold glitter layer on top, saying it will make my eyes stand out and balance the look with the dress. Simple eyeliner is applied after the eye shadow, making a small wing quickly followed by mascara. Lip color was difficult to choose and the girls stood arguing about it for what seemed like forever. They decided on a neutral pink lipstick, to make my lips look bigger than they really are.

Hair was another long discussion and ended up with me getting my hair curled, woven into a massive yet loose braid with diamonds and ruby clips placed throughout.

After my hair and makeup was deemed ready, the girls had me put on something simple to go over to the pack house, castle whatever, in for the dress.

I place a pair of black ripped jeans on and a red and black flannel on, careful to not mess up my hair and makeup.

Before we step out of the room, someone's phone rings. Aella quickly digs through her tote purse, holding all the binders of information for today.

"What do you mean you don't have the seating chart? You were supposed to have all this taken care of last week! We sent you the copy! Yes I'm with her. I'll ask. I said I would ask!"

Aella runs a hand through her hair and lets out a frustrated sigh.

"Audrey. The person in charge of placing the seating cards somehow lost the seating chart we gave them. They want to talk to you about it."

"Hand me the phone Aella. It's okay. Don't stress."

Aella hands me the phone and I here shouting as I raise the device to my ear.

"Hello? Who am I speaking?"

This is Justin, the head Omega. Luna Queen, I'm so sorry but the seating chart has gone missing and no one can seem to find it. We were placing the name cards on the tables but now we don't know where anyone is supposed to sit."

"Justin right? Give me one moment please."

I pull the phone from my ear and I look at the clock on the nightstand. 3:30. The coronation starts at 5:00. Plenty of time.

"Girls? We need to go to my office. Aella bring the binders with us."

The girls and I make it to the pack house and my office in record time, all while I'm reciting to Justin the seating charts for each table. Sitting in my chair I open my computer to print a new copy of the seating chart for Justin and the other Omega's helping with the preparations.

Finding Justin was difficult but once we found him a sense of familiarity flowed through me.

"Oh thank you so much Queen Luna! I don't know how this happened!"

"It's no problem really. Thank you for doing this and making sure everything is going smoothly."

That's the moment Justin looked up from his bow. His face was one I could recognize but not recall where. The gentle gray eyes held so many emotions as he looked at me. The raise in his eyebrows showed his shock, recognizing me as well.

"Audrey? Is that really you? It's me, J-J."

The memories come flooding back all at once. The boy who would sneak me meals in the dead of night. The boy who would help me with chores when no one was looking. The boy who took a hit for me, instead of letting Jordan break my nose. I can still see the crooked bridge of his nose, from how it never healed properly.

"J-J?"

"It's me shorty. Goodness me! Look at you! You're got away! Heck you are gonna be the Queen! I always knew you were meant for great things!"

Justin envelopes me in one of his famous bear hugs.

"When you left I thought something bad happened. Jordan said you had died! That you were killed because of me. Instead you're here, bossing people around, just like you did when we were kids!"

A small cough causes me to pull away from Justin's embrace and turn back to the girls with a large smile on my face.

"Guys this is Justin! Justin was my best friend at Rapid River. He helped me with chores when he could and snuck me food. He even got his nose broken by stepping in front of a hit meant for me."

The girls all smile and introduce themselves to Justin till a frantic Aella comes running.

I forgot she went to get a spare copy of the seating chart!

That's also the moment a growl sounds from Justin.

"Mate."

We all freeze when we here that single word.

"Sorry guys! The printer decided to turn off mid print!"

Aella keeps running till she also freezes in place. She sniffs the air and her eyes widen as she looks at the man standing next to me.

"Mate."

Aella runs again and into Justin's arms all whilst having the biggest smile on her face.

"Okay while you guys get to know each other, I'm gonna finish getting ready and we will see you at the coronation. Aella, make sure Justin has a seat next to you during the coronation and at the dinner."

Wait I forgot to do something.

"Justin, Aella, Congratulations! I'm super excited for you guys!"

The rest of the girls and I make our way to what used to be the Queen's private chambers, where the beautiful red dress waits for me.

Once I'm in the dress, the girls leave me to get ready themselves. Andria and Adaline are going to come back to 'escort' me to the throne room, considering I've never been there before and the new Queen is usually lead by her mother and father for last words before the ceremony starts. Since I don't have them, I asked for my sister and mother figure to lead me instead.

I look to a clock and see that it's 4:35. Only a little longer and I will have an entire kingdom resting on my shoulders. I will be crowned the official Queen Luna.

Girl we got this! Besides Lucas will be with us the entire time! There is no need to stress.

I know you're right Kenna but just a few months ago I was in a cell wishing for death. I'm still that scared and beaten pup with no one.

That's not true! We have a voice now! We have people who love us and will be with us every step of the way through this journey called life.

Thanks Kenna.

Any time Audrey.

Time slowly ticks by as I countdown the seconds till this life changing event. People will come to me for advice, seek my opinion on many different topics. I'll be in charge of important matters and will have just as much work as Lucas.

4:44.

4:45.

Each passing minute causes my heart to beat faster as I think about what is about to happen.

Before the anxiety can take over I think of Lucas.

His smile.

His laugh.

His eyes.

Him.

Lucas will be with me through all of this and I know I will be able to do everything I am meant to do with him by my side.

A small knock on the door snaps me out of my thoughts as I go to open the door.

Opening the door I see a beautiful Andria with a silver, sapphire, and pink moonstone tiara resting on her head, complementing her beautiful ball gown with a matching necklace laying against her collarbone.

Standing beside her is the person who helped look after me through all my years of torment. The person who got me to the ball where I met Lucas.

Adaline wears a simple emerald green gown with off the shoulder sleeves. Her hair is pulled back from her shoulders in a half up half down with the top of her hair held together in a braid. She has a diamond wreath necklace on that helps balance the simplicity of her gown.

"Oh my goddess. You look amazing Adaline! Sis! You look every bit a princess!"

"Thanks Audrey, I do try every once in a while. But enough about us, we forgot something major concerning your outfit."

"What?"

"Jewelry!"

Oh that makes sense.

"Are you gonna let us in so we can bedazzle you up or..."

"Oh right. Sorry."

Adrian and Adaline walk in with two female warriors behind them, each carrying a box, no doubt holding the different jewelry items.

"First is a necklace. Your dress is red and gold with tiny diamonds encrusted into it. Because your dress is so beautiful and most attention will be on the crown that is soon to be placed on your head, I suggest a simpler necklace."

"There are diamonds on this thing?"

"Yes. The fabric of the dress was laid in diamond dust for three weeks, then had small, micro diamonds woven into the cloth. The gold threading is actually real gold too. I thought you knew that though."

"Nope. Definitely didn't know that."

After going back and forth between necklaces I decided on the simplest necklace brought up, a simple gold chain with a group of diamonds that rest at the top of my chest.

Next were earrings but I just picked the matching set to the necklace.

Deemed ready with three minutes to spare, Andria and Adaline escorted me to the doors of the throne room.

"Are you ready?" Adaline asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be I guess."

"You got this! Lucas will be at the front of your thrones. You will be fine."

I give one last hug to each of them before they leave to take their seats.

Taking a deep breath I nod to the guards at the doors, signalling I'm ready.

With one more quick prayer to the Moon Goddess, the music starts playing, the guest all stand, and the doors open.