C6

Eloise Hollowmere POV

"Rowan does not care if I live or die," I say, putting my fork down. "He did not even try to send a mind-link or a message bird. That wolf is dead to me now."

"You are smart to leave him," Lucan says, watching me with dark eyes.

"I want a completely new start," I say, looking at his handsome face. "I am just a human girl, but I feel a strong pull toward you."

"Alpha Lord, the things you wanted are inside the sleeping chamber now," the pack steward says, bowing his head very low.

"Go rest," Lucan says to the steward.

"Are you ready?" Lucan asks me, standing up from the table.

"Yes," I say, but my hands start to shake because I feel very nervous.

I follow him into the big royal bedroom. The floor is covered in soft white fur and sweet moon-flowers. The bed is huge and wide.

"I will go wash the dirt from my skin first," Lucan says, looking at my big body with kind eyes. "Get ready. I want you to be the lady of the Ashcroft pack with no fear, but I will not force you to do anything tonight."

"Wait," I say, reaching out fast to grab the edge of his grey shirt.

"What is it, Eloise?" Lucan asks, turning his big body around.

"I know you will not make me sad," I say, throwing my arms right around his big neck.

"You are very beautiful tonight," Lucan says, his voice getting deep and warm. "But I do not want to rush you when your heart is still sore from that bad pack."

"Did I do something wrong?" I ask, my voice small because I am scared he does not want a plus-size human.

"No," Lucan says fast.

"Then why are we stopping?" I ask.

"We have plenty of time," Lucan says, lifting me off my feet with his big, strong arms. He places me gently on the big furs. "We do it or we do not do it, you are still my wife."

"Why are you so good to a human like me?" I laugh, my face getting very red as he kisses my cheek.

"This is our fate," Lucan says, his golden eyes glowing in the dark room. "The Moon Goddess put us together. You belong to the Alpha King now."

"I like being here with you," I whisper, hiding my face against his warm chest.

"Sleep now, my little queen," Lucan says, pulling the heavy blanket over my shoulders. "Tomorrow, the whole territory will know your name."

"The big pack sponsors are making huge trouble for Rowan now," Selene Moonwhisper laughs over the phone line. "The Silverhowl Bard Guild is losing all its power fast. Meredith had to stop all her song recordings today. You won the first fight, Eloise!"

"I am happy to hear that," I say, sitting at the big table.

"What about the song part?" I ask, because I want to know if Trial Elder Ronan picked a wolf yet.

"They did not choose anyone yet," Selene says.

"You must hide now, Selene," I say, holding my phone tight. "Rowan is very mad. He will hunt you down."

"Do not worry about me," Selene says.

"If you need my pack warriors, just tell me," Lucan says from across the table. He moves his wolf ears and looks at me.

"I will," I say, nodding my head with a big smile.

"I must go to the Alpha Dominion Hall for a big council meeting now," Lucan says, standing up. "Keep your body safe."

"You too," I say, watching him walk out.

I look at the sun. It is time for me to go to the guild hall. I want to make Rowan feel even worse today.

I walk straight into the front doors of the Silverhowl Performance Hall. I wear a simple blue shirt, and my hair is tied up high. I look very strong as I walk right into Rowan's big room.

"Eloise!" his wolf scribe yells, dropping her papers.

"You still dare to show your face here?" Rowan roars, jumping out of his chair. "Look at what you did to my pack territory!"

He slams a hot news scroll onto the stone table. It shows Meredith's face with big angry words about her buying songs.

"We spent too much pack gold on Meredith!" Rowan screams. "If her name stays dirty, our guild will lose everything!"

"Rowan, what are you talking about?" I ask, blinking my eyes like a small pup. "I do not understand."

"Selene came here and threw memory stones at me!" Rowan barks, his eyes turning wild and red. "You are pretending to be stupid! Why did you attack Meredith and my pack?"

I look at him. I remember how he always shields Meredith from danger. He never cared about a fat human like me.

"We are supposed to go to the Bond Hall soon," I say, making my voice sound sad and fake. "Why would I hurt your guild? That does not help me."

"Fine!" Rowan gasps, trying to calm his wild breath. "Where did you run to after you took off that mask? I searched the whole forest for you!"

"I was running away from the angry bards," I say, coughing a little bit. "If I came straight to your den, the bards would know you helped me hide the fake song."

"Is that true?" Rowan asks, staring at me like he wants to bite my neck. "Your human tricks put me in a huge mess!"