When I arrived in the hall, my mum told me that Sara, the packhouse official caterer, wanted me in the kitchen. I was quite happy to go there and intended to stay there as long as possible to avoid Nick.

I am in the kitchen with the caterer to instruct her and her staff about how the night would go. I want them to know what to do tonight and when. Everything has to follow precise rules when it comes to Alpha's ceremonies.

Sara and her staff are brilliant. I've known her for as far as I remember, as my parents have always trusted her for every event. I've never stopped doing the same since I started taking my mum's role as I was growing up.

Each meeting with other Alphas, every event such as matings or birth - Sara was the official caterer of the Packhouse.

If I wanted to be more accurate, I should say she is the one of the whole pack. Her team and she are undoubtedly the best. That's why I wanted them tonight.

Just like me, Sara likes things to run well during official events. The waiters' suits have to be perfect. Tonight, they will wear dark blue uniforms with just some touch of gray details, so they perfectly fit the atmosphere.

Then, the dishes have to be perfect. The tableware is checked repeatedly, over and over again.

Food has to be cooked perfectly, and elements will be put neatly on the plates before serving.

Perfection is expected, and we jointly and flawlessly rehearse everything.

First, the guests will be welcomed in the dining room. All decorations have been arranged and over-viewed by me.

Each petal of the bouquets has been checked. Silver candles are all put on the perfectly ironed tablecloths. Each element has its defined place. Candles circle the bouquets - the bouquets embody Eli and Julie, the new Alpha and Luna of Blue Lakes Pack. The candles symbolize the wolves, gathering to accept them as the new leaders. Not a threat in this flawless picture.

People will stand in the free space during the first part of the evening. It will also be the dance-floor area after dinner. Servers will go through the crowd with trays. On some, there will be drinks; on others, there will be appetizers.

Then we will have the ceremony. Everybody will face the platform where my father and mother will pass their role to Elijah and Julie.

While the ceremony takes, Sara and her team will have to prepare the entrée, a salmon and avocado salad. It will be served just after that.

Then will come the main course, rosbif with potatoes and some fresh veggies.

Finally, a terrific chocolate cake was required by both Julie and Eli. Both are crazy about chocolate, and it would be a sacrilege for them not to have one tonight.

A part of the waiters will take the empty plates between each course. Meanwhile, the others will serve the new dishes.

As we are finishing our dinner's rehearsal, someone mind-links me.

Liv, can you come to Dad's office? Like right now.

As I hear Eli's voice, I comprehend that something is up. He seems nervous.

Eli is a person full of energy, and he rarely worries. When he sounds like he is today, it means things can be terrible. Except when it concerns Julie.

When it is about his concerns towards Julie, he can be a little bit over-emotional.

I leave Sara and the team in the kitchen and climb the stairs straight to the second floor, where my father's office is. I almost run as I feel Eli's nervousness getting more prominent every second that goes by. I wonder what reason can create such an emotion in my brother.

As I join my dad's office, I understand that something more important than I could imagine is up.

The room is naturally very imposing. The walls are made of dark wood. The old wooden floor is lighter than the walls. All the marks on it show how many meetings took place here, through decades.

Only some red carpets were put in to try to make it cozier. This attempt was vain, but that was a nice try, anyway.

The bookshelves are made with the same dark wood material and are so large that you look like some tiny dwarf beside them.

Even the dark red curtains can create discomfort when you are not used to them.

Because of its look, the office causes you to feel so small and yells at you that you are under the Alpha's mercy.

I've always suspected that my father did that on purpose, so people know that this is no place for arguing.

If my dad is a peaceful wolf, he is still an Alpha and would kill anyone who threatens his people without a blink of an eye. Today, the feeling of nervousness that you can feel in this room is twice heavier than ever before.

The room is filled with dad's best guards and chiefs of security.

His Beta Alan is also here. Alan handles everything when my father is busy - no need to say that it must be important if he is here.

My mum, as the Luna of the pack, stands beside my father. She looks concerned but wears her most comforting smile, as usual.

Eli, Julie, and Eli's best friend and future Beta, Caleb, are also here, and their faces look grave. It is clear that they did not expect what I'm about to be told.

Looking so mature is pretty uncommon for the three of them.

Caleb, particularly as he is always smiling and funny. He is also capable of great wiseness. He is 5'9 with nice, wild brown hair and sweet blue eyes. His aura is majestic but at the same time calming and cheering. He is really something. We've been growing up together, and he is like a second brother to me.

As soon as my dad starts to talk, I'm taken away from my thoughts.

"I just got a call from the King. He is sending some of his men here tonight. Some troubles between packs appeared in the South and West. As we will have a lot of people here these next thirty-six hours, he wants to be sure that no one will disturb the ceremony. He did not give me any other facts. I will keep you informed."

Everybody is quiet as we hear the news.

First, we learn about existing conflicts. We knew that some discussions could get a little bit tense while meetings take place - werewolves can be impulsive. But to reach the conflict line, that's another step. None of us expected the bomb that's just been dropped.

Sometimes I wonder if we live too far away from other conflicting packs and if that leads us to forget about the issues that can exist elsewhere.

Second, some King's men are about to come. I can feel shivers on my skin as Eli becomes more nervous. I am not the only one feeling it as Julie takes his hand to calm him. Having the King's people in here will give a different atmosphere to our party.

There are reasons to get apprehensive.

If some inhabitants in the Capitale are wolves, most of them are lycans. And lycans are more unpredictable than wolves but also bigger, stronger, and more ruthless.

Moreover, they have this capacity to hide their smell and presence... pretty annoying. It can make you feel on the edge of a cliff - one wrong step and you're dead, without a second to acknowledge what is happening to you.

"Olivia, I need you to deal with our guests as the King's men are going to join us in the office to give us some details any time soon."

My father brings me back to reality once again.

I started to think about what they would look like. I have never met one except in the camp, and they hid their aura at that time in order not to traumatize poor weak pups. I have to confess that I am actually inquisitive about them.

Are they really like I have been told about them? If I wish nothing of this dreadful thing happens, a part of me is still eager to have these special guests.

Something is wrong with me - maybe my lack of a wolf starts to turn me nuts.

I nod as I leave the office.

Once I am out and close the door, I understand that my dad really worries as he never calls me Olivia, unless afraid or angry at me. I was absorbed by my thoughts that it had not hit me before.

Now that I think of it, I can easily understand why everyone is acting so unnerving: no lycans have been sent on our land since the great wars...

I go down to the hall with the most beautiful smile I can. It is 4.30 p.m., and most of our guests have already arrived as the party is supposed to start around 7 p.m.

There is no need to alarm the pack members and our guests about tonight and the potential risk that everything turns out of control.

This is only a precaution and probably useless. Everything has to be according to my plan. Absolutely no one is allowed to ruin this night.

I hope the Moon Goddess can hear my prayer.

Turning 20 with a bloodbath would be unpleasant. Not the perfect birthday party, not the perfect Alpha celebration.

Thankfully, the hall and dining room are almost empty when I arrive as people are getting dressed. I can admire the blue and gray decorations and all the flowers. That's beautiful and comforting.

I can almost forget this news. I could almost enjoy the soon-starting party.

I am sure people won't notice the lycans that will be smart enough to hide their presence, I suppose. If they don't, I will have to be assertive and ask them to do so.

I won't let them ruin our work without a word.

I've got a few hours until my appearance for this birthday. And I have to get prepared. Plus, I can enjoy a delightful shower to process the arriving news.

I need to relax because Eli's nervousness makes me so tense. He needs to find a way to calm himself because I can't close our bond, and we can't freak out tonight.

"Sam, I'm gonna take my shower and prepare for tonight. Some guests are on their way to join the Alpha in his office. Can you lead them there when they are here?" I ask with a smile as I turn to Sam.

"Of course, Miss Olivia," Sam answers.

"Sam, just Liv would be fine..."

"I know, Miss Olivia," he says with a friendly smile.

I go upstairs after kissing him on the cheek.

Sam is like family to us. He is not only our butler - he was Eli and I's nanny and confidant when our parents were away when we were younger. His warm hazel eyes have always made me comfortable and feel better when I am sad or when my parents are not here. He could have been my father's second Beta as he has always been blind trusted by my father. One of the most reliable wolves ever.

Yet, he has never agreed to call me Liv, just like everybody else in the Packhouse. But, I don't give up the idea he will, eventually.

I climb the stairs three steps at a time to join my room as fast as possible. The old wooden stairs have never seemed so countless to me.

I get into my room and open the window to breathe fresh air under the warming sun. There is a pleasant scent, like running with the wind to my nose. A wonderful aroma of blooming flowers. It is lulling me. My body chills under such a soothing feeling. Despite the may-be critical situation, I am engulfed by a wave of happiness like I've never been before.

Into the light, bringing the unknown: this is where we come alive.