Sorry, but You're Not My Groom

Mabel’s POV… 

I was in the best of moods as I ran my usual morning routine of breakfast and supervising the pack gardens. I must have gotten up from the good side of the bed today, as I couldn’t help but smile and wave generously at anyone who passed by me, even the servants. 

They didn’t mind that their Luna behaved differently today, as everyone knew what was going on and the reason for my excitement. It was because my mate, my husband, and the Alpha of this glorious pack, the Lunar Fangs, no other than Alpha Cillian De’ Luca, popularly known as the love of my life would be coming home today. 

It’s been three torturous months of having to do without him. Cillian had been away on a very important assignment that involved touring wolf packs all over the world with some close allies. Beta Theo accompanied him, but being the Luna, I had to stay back and keep the pack running amongst other things. It was the hardest decision to make for the good of the pack. 

After leaving the gardens, I headed to the kitchen to prepare for Cillian’s arrival. I wanted to make him his favorite dish and anticipate the night ahead. How I missed his big strong arms, I missed his touch, I missed the comfort he brought with his presence. I missed the scent of my arousal whenever I came underneath him. I missed… 

“Good day Luna.” The pack’s head chef, Linda, interrupted my thoughts as I lingered by the door side of the great kitchen. 

I blinked, “oh, sorry. Was I that obvious?” 

Linda smiled. “Obvious, or not. It’s allowed, Luna Mabel. We too have missed Alpha Cillian so dearly. We are happy that the goddess will bring him back today, safe and successful.” 

“Praise the goddess for keeping him safe for all of us.” 

“Praises,” she answered. “So what brings you to the kitchen, Luna Mabel? Was the breakfast insufficient?” 

I shook my head. “No, of course, I ate my stomach full. I only came here to give special orders that the Alpha’s favorite dish be prepared to welcome him.” 

“Oh, don’t worry, Luna. We are on that already. The whole kitchen has been buzzing with preparations. We also cooked extra, as I heard he would be bringing some guests.” 

“Make sure everyone eats to their fill. You know how Cillian likes his rice and soup. I want him to eat well so he can have enough strength for toni…” I cut off my words as soon as I realized where they were heading. 

Linda chuckled lightly, clearly understanding what was going on in my mind. “Do not worry, Luna. There will be plenty to eat and drink.” 

After I left the kitchen, I went to the court. Since Cillian mentioned he would be bringing some guests along with him, it was only necessary that their place of gathering should be prepared and top-notch. 

The Alpha and Luna throne stood gallantly facing the center of the court, and there were groups of chairs lined up after the space. A few servants were already cleaning up, mopping, dusting and clearing what needs to be cleared. Same as the kitchen, they didn’t wait for my order before they began to prepare my husband’s welcoming.

Everyone in this pack loved Cillian so dearly, and that was because he was a good Alpha, not just a good Alpha, but a good husband to me, in fact the best. He loved me for who I am. Remembering our past, he didn’t care about my status or background or whatever wolf rank I came from. All he wanted was me, and fast forward to now, the only thing I wish for is to give him a child that would continue his legacy. Hopefully, the goddess answers me one day. 

I supervised the court cleaning while reminiscing in my thoughts. The servants left when they were done, but I remained, walking around the empty hall, still in awe of how this came to be. I was once a nobody, I never believed that wishes or dreams came true, but now I believe the goddess does have ways of changing fate. If someone had told me years ago that I’d one day be the Luna of the Lunar Fangs, I’d have thought they were crazy. Our wedding was the talk of all the neighboring packs, and now five years later, despite not having children yet, our love still waxes strong. 

A guard entered the court then, taking my focus. 

He bowed. “Here to inform you that the Alpha has arrived, Milady.” 

I screamed inwardly, not bothering to respond to the guard as I forgot any form of royalty composure I’d been taught and raced to the entrance of the pack house. Truly, he’d returned, as there I met Cillian’s convoy parked in front of the house. 

Prominent pack house wolves had gathered behind me to welcome the Alpha, but I didn’t wait for him to come to us. I rushed to his car the moment he stepped out, throwing myself all over him and kissing him like I needed his mouth to breathe. It felt like decades being away from him. Kissing him so publicly might have seemed inappropriate, but I didn’t care what the other wolves surrounding us thought. All that mattered to me then was that Cillian, my Cillian had come back to me. 

My joy was short-lived when I noticed that Cillian didn’t respond to my kiss the way he usually does. He ended the kiss almost immediately. Is it because he was shy? No, I don’t believe that, because I know him very well, but perhaps there’s another reason. I noticed his countenance was far from excitement. He wore a long frown on his face, and he didn’t sound like his normal self as he greeted me. 

“Hi Mabel. How have you been?” 

“Is anything the matter, Cillian?” I asked with a concerned brow, ignoring his question. 

Just then, someone else came out from the car behind him. A younger lady with a protruding belly. From her small frame, she seemed like a few weeks pregnant. What bothered me was that this lady sat in the position I usually take when Cillian and I travel by car. No one, not even the beta, not even his sister Megan, sits beside Cillian in his car; no one else except me. So who was this lady and why did she seem so special to Cillian? 

Cillian didn’t respond to my question. He only had his head down as he passed by everyone, heading inside to the court. I followed him, wondering what the hell was going on. Upon entering the court, he stood in the middle, and then I came in next, along with the pregnant lady and a guard. 

“Close the doors. Make sure no one else enters, and you too, stay out until I say so,” Cillian directed at the guard who bowed and left to carry out his order. 

Cillian was trying to be conservative about the situation, and I was already becoming suspicious, praying greatly in my heart that it isn’t what I think it is. 

Now that only I, Cillian and the pregnant lady were alone in the court, he seemed a little more relaxed and comfortable to speak. 

I broke the silence. 

“Can I know what the hell is going on, Cillian? Who is this lady and why is she  here? Why did she sit with you in the car?” 

I couldn’t help my curiosity as let out the questions all at once, but I sure as hell knew I deserved an explanation.

Cillian took a deep breath, not knowing where to start. He avoided my eyes as he let out the most heart-wrenching words I’d ever heard in my life. 

“I am sorry, Mabel. I never ever meant to hurt you, but this…” he directed at the pregnant lady. “This is Princess Caitlin Thomas, and she is carrying my child.” 

The world around me, or rather, my head, started spinning fast then. I dropped to the ground, unable to stand on my feet any longer. I couldn’t think of anything else as I tried to leave the court. I managed to get up. I could be anywhere else but in the same room with these two. 

I didn’t reach the door before finally dropping to the ground again. My legs had given way, and the weakness spread to all other parts of my body. I tried to keep my eyes awake, blinking severally, but I couldn’t. As I closed my eyes, a shrewd pain cut through my heart, and I tried lifing my head, only enough to see my tear drops on the ground. I collapsed again for the final time, and the last sound I heard before finally passing out was that of my concerned husband, the one whom I would have never believed could betray me. 

Guess I was wrong to have believed that fairy tales exist.