The King's Luna Is An Ancient Queen

Months later, the kingdom gathered beneath the silver banners of the Black Moon Kingdom. The grand courtyard had been transformed for the royal ceremony. Thousands of wolves and members of every major pack stood beneath the palace steps. Alphas. Betas. Warriors. Nobles. Servants.

The same people who had once whispered about Ross. The same people who had called her defective. The same people who had watched her suffer because they believed she was powerless. Now they stood with their heads bowed.

Ross stood beside Knox at the top of the royal stairs. She wore a long silver gown that shimmered beneath the moonlight. Her pregnancy was visible now, and Knox remained close beside her without ever making her feel trapped.

He had changed. For months, he had proved it. He had listened. He had respected her decisions. He had defended her without speaking over her. He had learned that loving Ross meant allowing her to stand on her own feet.

Knox reached for her hand. Ross looked at him. He squeezed her fingers gently. Then he stepped forward. The entire courtyard went silent. "Before this kingdom," Knox began, "I have something to admit." Ross watched him carefully. "I failed my wife." A murmur moved through the crowd but Knox continued. "I failed her not because she lacked strength, but because I was too blind to recognize it." His voice carried across the courtyard. "For two years, I believed strength had to look like a wolf." Ross's eyes softened. "I believed someone without a wolf was weak." He looked at her. "I was wrong." No one moved. Only Knox turned toward the gathered kingdom. "The greatest mistake of my life was believing that power had only one shape." He looked back at Ross. "I treated the woman who stood beside me as though she were beneath me, when all along she was someone who could have commanded every wolf in this kingdom." Ross's throat tightened. Knox's voice became quieter. "But she never wanted them to kneel." He lifted their joined hands. "She only wanted to be treated like a person." Ross felt tears gather in her eyes. Knox looked directly at her. "I cannot erase what I did." He paused. "But I can spend the rest of my life making sure I never become that man again."

The courtyard remained silent. Then one person lowered himself to one knee. Then another. Soon, the entire courtyard was kneeling. Ross looked over the sea of bowed heads.

Months ago, she had wanted nothing to do with this throne. But look at her, joining hands with her mate to protect the country. She looked at Knox. He wasn't kneeling. He stood beside her. Exactly where she had asked him to be.

Ross squeezed his hand. "I forgive you." Ross continued before he could speak. "Not because I forgot what happened." His expression softened. "And not because it didn't hurt." She looked around the courtyard. "I forgive you because you spent months proving that you had changed." Knox's eyes glistened. "And because I chose to." His breath caught while Ross smiled. "I choose you again."

Knox stared at her. "Are you sure?"

She nodded. "I'm sure."

"Why?"

Ross stepped closer. "Not because I need you." She touched his chest. "Because I want you."

Knox smiled without restraint. He leaned toward her. Ross met him halfway. Their lips were almost touching when—

"Can everyone stop staring at each other?" They froze. Nash stood several feet away with an enormous plate of food in his hands. "Some of us are trying to eat."

Ross burst into laughter. Knox slowly turned toward him. "Nash."

"Yes?"

"Run."

Nash looked around. "From the Alpha King?"

"Yes."

Nash immediately ran. Ross laughed even harder. Knox shook his head. Then he looked at her again. His smile returned. "You really like him."

"He's impossible."

"He is."

"And entertaining."

Knox sighed. "Unfortunately."

Ross leaned against him. For a moment, everything was peaceful.

Then the first howl came. A deep, powerful sound rose from the edge of the kingdom. Another answered. Then another. Within seconds, wolves were howling from every direction. The sound swept across the kingdom like thunder. Everyone looked around in confusion.nRoss slowly lifted her head. The moon above them had become unusually bright. Her breathing stopped. Something moved beneath her skin. The ancient power. Her eyes began to glow again. This time, brighter than moonlight.

Knox felt it immediately. He looked at her. "Ross?"

She didn't answer. She stared at the moon. Every wolf in the kingdom suddenly lowered its head. Even the wolves standing beside their Alphas. Even the warriors' wolves. Every single one.

Ross felt the ancient presence awaken inside her. Something was coming. Something she had never felt before. Knox tightened his grip on her hand.

Ross looked at him. Then she smiled. Her silver eyes shone brighter. She turned toward the kingdom. The wolves remained kneeling. The moon illuminated the Queen standing beside her King. And in a voice only Knox could hear, Ross whispered, "This kingdom has no idea what's coming."

Knox looked at her glowing eyes. Whatever came next… They would face it together.