8

GEMMA

I didn't want to meet her anymore. I didn't want this magnificent woman to see me. She was one of the people who ruined my life.

I took a step back, ready to turn and leave but she looked in our direction and beamed, "George."

But her eyes found mine and her smile grew even bigger. "Gemma!" She called.

I was surprised. I knew that the Alpha King must have told his mother about me. But for her to recognize and get my name on the first try? It was shocking.

The Luna Queen stood to her feet. "Come, come." She said. The other maid who had been waiting helped her take off her garden gloves.

"Come on," George prodded.

We walked towards her. When we reached, she grabbed my hand gently in hers. Again I was surprised. What was she about to do?

She searched my face, the small smile on her face not going away. "You're beautiful." She let out.

Now, I was completely taken aback. My skin was not the smoothest and I was sure that years of hard work had made me look older than my twenty-two years.

But this beautiful woman thought I was beautiful, was this a joke?

"Thank you," she said before letting go of me and walking to the circular pavilion in the middle of the garden.

I looked at George a little confused but he only chuckled and followed after her. I followed behind him.

The Luna Queen took a seat and another appeared out of nowhere carrying a tray. She arranged the sweets and biscuits on the concrete table in front of us and placed the tea kettle down.

"Have a seat." She offered. "Care for some tea?"

I shook my head but she still poured tea into three cups. There was one thing that I knew and it was that you don't reject something from people higher up than you, much less royalty.

I took the cup and sipped. I couldn't hide my surprise at how good it tasted.

The Luna Queen seemed proud. "It's something I mixed. No one else has this kind of tea anywhere else."

"It's really good," I admitted putting the cup down.

"Have some biscuits," she gently put a saucer of biscuits in front of me.

I took one hesitantly. Taking a small bite, I chewed slowly. Why was this woman being so nice to me? This family was cruel and wicked.

I couldn't trust them. They were all trying to trick me with this nice act. I won't fall for it.

"Where are you from, Gemma?" The Luna Queen suddenly asked.

I swallowed quickly. "White Wales Wolf Pack. I was a slave working for Madam Margaret." I explained.

The Queen shook her. "Not where you came from. Where are you from?" She asked.

The question made me pause. I glared at her even though I didn't want to. She was slightly surprised but she didn't react.

"I don't want to talk about it," I said, looking away from her and looking at the cup of tea. "I'm sorry."

I apologized because I remembered how responding to Madam Margaret like that had caused me to be flogged or punished. I didn't want a repeat of itself.

"It's fine," she smiled warmly. "You're in a better place now."

How I wanted to tell her that this was also hell. Being in the same place, eating with the same people who had ruined my life, and being able to do nothing. There was no greater torment.

I said nothing to her but I felt her stare at me for a while.

"You asked for me, Your Majesty," George reminded her.

"Ah, yes, I wanted to discuss a few things with you. Now that Gemma is here, we need to secure Nate's authority." She explained and glanced at me. "Before he lets that dark side of him make decisions."

I decided that I was not interested in listening to them talk about my mate. So, I excused myself and began to walk around.

The garden was huge and I wondered if the Queen took care of it on her own. But, that was impossible. I'm sure she had numerous workers to do that.

I wandered around for a while until I was out of the garden. I didn't know my way back so, I just kept walking.

I heard grunts and shuffling, and I froze. I listened carefully and I was sure that a fight was going on.

I turned the corner and there was Nate, parrying off three men. They were coming at him with such speed and strength. And maybe the intent to kill.

I watched in wonder. The guards at the corner weren't doing anything, just watching. Who watches people try to kill their Alpha King?

"What's going on?" I asked loudly.

I see Nate look at me for a second, a little bit surprised but he quickly focused on his fight.

He was skilled and he was moving with a grace and elegance that I could only imagine. He seemed to be holding the men off.

"Aren't you going to help him?" I asked again.

The guards glanced at each other a little confused. That's when Nate knocked one of the men to the ground and pointed a knife at the other two’s throats.

"That would be all." He said. They straightened and bowed, walking away. Nate looked at me.

They were just training. That was how the Alpha King trained.

I blushed, embarrassed. I had thought it was a real fight. I've embarrassed myself. Oh gods.

Quickly, I turned on my heels about to flee when Nate appeared in front of me.

He was shirtless and being this close to a half-naked man was causing my cheeks to heat.

"Why are you leaving so soon?" He asked. His voice was low and silky. He didn't even sound like he was out of breath from all that fighting.

I tried not to look at him but there was something both sad and scary about his blue-grey eyes.

"The Luna Queen is waiting," I said the first thing that came to mind.

"My mother? I'm sure she wouldn't mind my mate spending some time with me." He was too close.

"Let me go," I said, trying to sound menacing. Why was I so affected by him? It had to be the mate bond.

"Were you worried about me?"

"Of course not. Why would I be? I saw what you could do." I answered quickly.

"You should see the things we could do at night together," he whispered into my ear.