Chapter 13: On the Edge

Samantha's POV

Some women and I were signing as we watched the king's caravan leaving the royal castle. It was Maddox and his men heading off on that seven-pack trip he said he needed to make.

Tori hugged me from the side, giving me emotional support. "Don't worry so much, he'll be back. You probably won't even notice he's gone." She had noticed my distressed look.

"Thank you, darling, but there's no way I won't miss my mate," I gave a sheepish little laugh. Then she, the others, and I walked back to the castle.

"The important thing is that you love each other and you'll be able to continue your honeymoon as soon as he gets back," she teased, making a joke. She knew that the last few days between the king and me hadn't been monotonous at all.

"Promise me, promise me," I said, sitting down in front of the mirror, and she started brushing my hair. "But do you think he loves me...?" I asked, even though I wanted to avoid this conversation, but my unease was stronger. Was I imagining things, or were people having the same impressions as me...?

“Why do you doubt him, lady? Do you think he doesn’t love you?” Tori asked, I felt her hand tense slightly as she brushed my hair.

“Don’t get me wrong, Tori. It’s been incredible with him, that’s precisely why I’m afraid I’m moving too fast in this feelings thing.” It was difficult to find the right words.

“You’re not wrong to want to understand the things you’re getting yourself into,” she said affectionately. “King Maddox announced to everyone that he’s going to marry you, you’ll be Queen Luna of seven packs, not to mention you’re his soother and mate on top of that. It’s really a very fine line between convenience and love.”

“Even if he doesn’t love me now, I can respect that. I can give it time. But will he love me someday?” I was so insecure.

“That’s because you’re in love with him, isn’t it?” Tori was smiling at me in her reflection in the mirror.

I sighed deeply. “Like never before. Not even with my first partner, with whom I was for years, I did not love him the way I love Maddox.” I confessed, my heart aching. “That’s why I’m so anxious, you know.”

“Oh, ma’am. You just need to get to know him better. You can tell he doesn’t have much free time for you, the king of this whole place, but with time you’ll understand him better. And if you want my opinion, I do think he’s crazy about you, I can see it in the way he looks at you,” she smiled.

“You think so…?”

“Uh-huh? I think you two are perfect for each other, a couple planned by the moon goddess herself,” she smiled enthusiastically, and her enthusiasm was contagious.

I looked in the mirror now with positive thoughts. I had nothing to fear; I should stop worrying so much and live this wonderful experience I was having, and things would gradually resolve themselves, day by day. That's how the goddess wanted it.

It was then that Ysabella entered the room carrying a chessboard. “I thought our dear lady might be very sad about the king's trip, that's why I came to bring entertainment,” she smiled excitedly, pointing to the chessboard.

“Ugh, just because she's the best chess player in this whole Castle,” Tori explained, making me shake my head.

“That's true, but I'll let Lady Samantha win today,” Ysabella bragged.

“Uh, how complacent,” I joked, rolling my eyes, exchanging laughs with them.

So we sat down at the game table and played chess while Tori bothered us and distracted us with gossip and nonsense.

“Wow, but that dress Lady Laurel wore yesterday at the Gamma Kael mating ceremony was simply ridiculous,” Tori gossiped. “How could you dress like a lettuce on the most important day of your son’s friend’s life? You should have seen Emrich wanting to bury his head in the ground from sheer embarrassment.”

Ysabella laughed. “Poor Emrich. Come here, he could come cry his sorrows on my shoulder,” she gestured with a wide, air-hugging smile.

“Goddess, you’re hopeless,” Tori laughed at her.

“Oh, um…” I stammered, remembering the conversation I had with Maddox about his Beta.

“What’s wrong, Lady Samantha? Is it something you need?” Tori was worried.

“No, I’m okay. It’s just…” I looked at Ysabella with a sigh. “I think you should forget about Beta Emrich, Ysa.”

Disappointment flooded her face. “Forget about him?”

“It seems he already has someone,” I said.

“He has a mate? But I’ve been near him, there’s no other scent coming from him.”

“Ysa’s right, Lady Samantha. Emrich doesn’t have a mate,” Tori agreed.

I was a little lost at that moment. Why would Maddox have said Emrich was committed to me if he didn't have any mate? Then I remembered his words. “Anyone else among your girls who are desperate for my boys?”

Had he said that simply to sabotage me? I looked at Ysabella, her face bathed in sadness. “A mate doesn't always mean everything. So, before I get myself into trouble, you'd better stay away from him.” My voice came out a little harsh, though I didn't want to be mean.

Ysabella recoiled as if she'd been hit. She got up from the game table and left my room quickly, a sob stuck in her throat.

Tori looked at me but quickly lowered her head, clearly disagreeing. Well, neither did I.