Emily runs her hand through my hair and sighs. โI made a beautiful braid for you today, Elena. It is finally your Luna Queen Ceremony!โโI am terrified!โ I manage between my chattering teeth. My clammy hands light at the idea of the ceremony, but my stomach hits the floor when I glance outside. Every single king, wife and beta are waiting outside the castle in golden seats for me.โYou can do it! I have seen you cover your husband in a red orb three times!โโOnly last night!โ I shut my lips tight to not throw up. My stomach lurches back and forth like a ship lost at sea.Sighing into my shaking hands, I wish I could be anywhere else.Suddenly, warm arms hug me from behind and keep me steady. King Harvey rests his head on my shoulder and says nothing.In the body-length mirror in front of me, I ignore my ugly face and the rest of my flaws. Instead, I stare at King Harvey. His impeccable brown hair is combed to the side, as if we are headed to church, and the morning sun drips down his
โWhere are you taking me, King Harvey?โ I ask as he picks me up over his shoulder and runs off into the forest. โI believe we should rest in our cottage, Elena. Do you mind? Close your eyes, Elena. It will be a very fast blur.โ โNo, letโs go!โ King Harvey picks up the pace and I feel him running faster. When he places me down on the ground, I open my eyes and feel stable. It has been a few hours since the luna ceremony, and King Harvey snuck me away from the after party. โYou kidnapped me away from the party.โ King Harvey chuckles lovingly. โYou look exhausted, Elena. Please, letโs take a nap together.โ โYou havenโt been resting well, King Harvey.โ I run my hand down his chest and he catches my hand to kiss it sweetly. โI have worried about you, my mate. I believed in you, but I could feel your fears.โ โOh, I am sorry!โ King Harvey picks me up and carries me across the threshold of our cottage, then lays me down in bed. He lies in bed beside me and holds me to his chest. โI
King Harvey shows me his sketch pad and I find myself mystified by a simple golden crown he has drawn for me. It is a thin crown, with a beautiful howling wolf in the center with ruby eyes. King Harvey smiles broadly as I stare at it.โIt is beautiful! King Harvey, did you get taught to draw?โโIt helps with werewolf abilities, Elena. Every werewolf in power understands how to draw.โI nod. โIt seems you will have to give me drawing lessons, King Harvey. I havenโt drawn seriously since before my momโฆโKing Harvey gently pushes his collection of colored pencils to me. โPick a color, Elena,โ he urges warmly.Picking a nice soft red that borders on the color of pink, I rim the eyes of the wolf. King Harvey openly stares at me, sweetly humming as I continue to color.โYou did such a wonderful job, King Harvey. I donโt want to mess up your work.โโThat is impossible, Elena.โ King Harvey peers over my shoulder and studies his drawing. My nerves jump when his gaze is longer than usual. I hop
King Harvey and I return to the castle in a simple blur because King Harvey would like to check up on what is happening in the castle. He carries our duffle bags on his back and drops them at the foot of our bed. โI smell my parentsโ scent, Elena.โ King Harvey says softly as he begins to pick through our bag. He dumps our dirty clothing in the hamper, and I begin to put away his colored pencils and art pad in the side desk by our bed. โKing Harvey, do you think this would be a nice visit?โ โYou have shown yourself as a Luna Queen, and you have had your official crowning. As such, there should be no issue, Elena.โ King Harveyโs words are firm yet kind. I nod when he looks up at me and hope he is right. King Harvey suddenly stands at his full height and draws in an obvious deep breath. King Harvey straightens his back and forces a smile on his face. He is mentally preparing for a bit of a mess. Rushing to his side, I take a seat on the edge of the bed and hold his hand tight. โIt
โYou are free to marry Emily, Beta Tom, after you get your work squared away. I can do without you for about two weeks.โ King Harvey says as he flips through a thick book of wedding cake recipes. โThank you, King Harvey.โ Beta Tom bows slightly as he flips through the same wedding book I did. Emily is sitting beside me on a red velvet sofa as we look for wedding dresses for her. Emily is a simple woman and wishes to marry as I did. In the church first, then a mating ceremony. The only difference is that only King Harvey and I will be at her mating ceremony to make sure it happens. It doesnโt have to be every royal werewolf and I am glad for that. โRemember Momโs wedding dress? Those lace sleeves and helm? I want that.โ Emily says as she keeps flipping through the book. โThat will be very beautiful. And lingerie?โ I purposely ask and look at Beta Tom, who turns as red as the couch we are sitting on. Good, that means he has some morals about him. King Harvey flashes me a fang-fill
Three days pass of more planning for Emilyโs wedding as King Harvey trains the betas. King Harvey has final test for the betas, and then after, he would like me to ask the betas what they think of me.I have spent the whole morning fretting, my hands lightly shaking as I hope I can go through five betas with full power and get real answers for King Harvey. My ability to be a lie detector also helps the kingdom. I need to master this.I need to, for my sake too, to stay safe.All morning I have heard King Harvey battling the betas in hand-to-hand combat, to test their strength and endurance. The sounds make my heart rattle, they are ferocious warriors. I wish I could go hand to hand with a werewolf. It seems less terrifying than my luna powers failing me here and me looking like a fool, holding hands with a werewolf beta that is certainly not my dear husband.โElena.โ King Harvey appears at my doorway and smiles, shirtless and sweaty.โAre you hungry?โ I question, rushing to him and ta
Awakening from a long passionate night with my husband to Emily laughing loudly outside my front door makes me smile. Slowly, I sit up and feel King Harveyโs warm hand on my lower stomach. โSleep, my mate.โ King Harveyโs voice is still worn with sleep. His lower register makes me shiver, but when Emily continues, I want to throw open the door. โStay in bed, King Harvey. I need to see why she is happy.โ King Harvey chuckles. โYou believe she will not tell you?โ โYes, she willโฆ you are correct, it is best we rest.โ My eyes drift shut again when King Harvey holds me close. By midafternoon, King Harvey and I are awake and are strolling around the exterior of the castle. King Harvey tells me about the trees and how he used to climb them as a child, with a sweet smile on his face. I wonder what our future will hold for us. โHarvey.โ King Harveyโs mother calls from behind us. Instantly, King Harvey sheathes his sword again and we turn to his mother. โHello.โ We both greet his mother
King Harvey quietly takes a seat beside me in his office as I stare at the treaty I am writing up. I have been sitting with it all day, oscillating between feeling as if my words will fall on deaf ears, and pure joy that humans will finally have a voice. Will both sides listen to me? King Harvey interlocks his fingers with mine. โElena, you are doing wonderful. Please, do not stress.โ โWhat if they do not listen?โ King Harvey tilts his head to the side. โPlenty will not, but once it is law, they have no choice but to follow. Many will, and those that donโt will be punished. It is nothing new, Elena.โ โYes, I know laws are important, but if there is a massive pushโฆโ My husband brushes the hair out of my face with a gentle and steady hand. โThey will not defy me.โ โKing Harvey!โ Beta Tom exclaims as he runs through the double doors. โThe King of the North is here to see you!โ Automatically, Beta Tom turns to the left and bows as the King of the North and his wife walk into our o
A few months have passed since the planning of our orphanage. I have named it Hildaโs Home, after my mother. I have placed a portrait of her that Harvey painted for me for our first wedding anniversary at the front door, and this is my home as much as it is the children that reside here.Emily splits her time working with me, between being a mother to her two boys and working at the orphanage as a doctor. Beta Tom works as her assistant and bodyguard. Harvey and I do our best to split our duties evenly, but he is here as often as I am.As long as phone is available, he can do his kingly duties here as well.The King of the North died in disgrace four and a half years ago, succumbing to his illness and the wound sustained from Harvey and me. No one attended his funeral, not even his wife. The people he left next in line have no issue with us, or us with them, so it has been a peaceful life.โLuna Queenie?โ I hear a small little girl ask as she looks up at me.She is about three, named
The King of the North has not made a sound for months after his attack and we are all grateful. King Harvey remains at my side, loyal as always, but more silent. โElena.โ King Harvey starts as I look over the blueprint for an a new building. Should it be a school, a hospital? A shelter from wars and storms? In these past months, Emily has married Beta Tom and swiftly got pregnant. I am still waiting for my symptoms of pregnancy. There are none. I think I know what he wants to tell me. โHarveyโฆ I am not with child.โ โNo, Elena. Not yet.โ King Harvey bows his head and turns away to face the window. When I see tears roll down his face, I leap at him, holding him tightly to my chest. His hand dig into my back desperately. โWhy a false positive?โ I ask, trying not to weep openly. Tears roll down my face too. โYour luna abilities are so strong, Elena. It seemed and smelled like you were, and I believed it, until now. Doris pointed out that you would be showing by now, for sureโฆโ K
It has been a couple of weeks since King Harvey told me I was pregnant. I feel better, but my luna powers are starting to light my hands when I am asleep. No one knows what it means. Emily is all over me, asking if I am having nightmares or pain. There is nothing bothering me physically. Emotionally, I am very stressed by the thought of being a mother. I am just worried.Nervous, very, very nervous.โKing Harvey.โ I call for my husband in the dark, wondering where he is. His side of the bed is empty.The front door cracks open slowly, and an orange light bathes my husband from behind. King Harvey shuts the light behind him and walks back to bed silently. He presses a napkin in my hand, and this is when I feel two pieces of toast with butter in my hand.I canโt help but laugh out loud at the innocence of his act.โYou were saying you were hungry in your sleep, Elena.โ King Harvey says between crunches of his own toast. โWould you rather have a sandwich?โโThank you, King Harvey. You ar
Two weeks pass by as I train harder. I can create a shield with no effort, but I canโt hold it for very long. That will come with time. I have had to pause my training because I have been feeling weak these past few days. I know I am running a fever. King Harvey checked my temperature and Emily checked me. I wonder where I got it from. Opening my eyes aches the rest of my body, I have been in and out of sleep for the past hour. โElena.โ King Harvey whispers to me at my right side of the bed. I see him kneeling at my side and I try to sit up. When I groan, he pops up and slips to his side of the bed and helps me sit up, wrapping a warm arm around my shoulders. โAre you well, Elena?โ King Harvey asks as he readjusts so I can rest my head on a pillow he props behind my head and against the headboard. โI feel very weak.โ I say to the best of my ability. It hurts to speak. King Harvey says nothing as he lights his hand with a soft red flame, he places the healing flame on my forehea
King Harvey cradles me lovingly to his chest in our bed, and winces when his knuckles brush my face. โOw,โ he grimaces. โThat stupid ice shield! I had no idea he would do that!โ โHow did you break it anyway?โ I ask, lifting my hand to press it above his and heal his wounds lightly. I can handle scrapes and that is about it. King Harvey smiles down at me. โI am so thankful you are my mateโฆ and naked.โ โKing Harvey.โ I address my husband firmly. โHow did you break the barrier?โ โForce.โ โAh, so I canโt do that.โ King Harvey understands my question and his brown eyes widen. โOh, you believe it was werewolf abilities?โ โYes.โ โNo, it was my strength. But with your luna abilities I am sure you can highlight your hands and fight. Not that I want you in any form of close combat, Elena.โ King Harvey takes my hands and kisses them sweetly, then presses a kiss to my cheek. โI am so glad you were not harmed.โ โYou wanted to kill himโฆโ โWhat husband in love wouldnโt?โ King Harvey voil
King Harvey quietly takes a seat beside me in his office as I stare at the treaty I am writing up. I have been sitting with it all day, oscillating between feeling as if my words will fall on deaf ears, and pure joy that humans will finally have a voice. Will both sides listen to me? King Harvey interlocks his fingers with mine. โElena, you are doing wonderful. Please, do not stress.โ โWhat if they do not listen?โ King Harvey tilts his head to the side. โPlenty will not, but once it is law, they have no choice but to follow. Many will, and those that donโt will be punished. It is nothing new, Elena.โ โYes, I know laws are important, but if there is a massive pushโฆโ My husband brushes the hair out of my face with a gentle and steady hand. โThey will not defy me.โ โKing Harvey!โ Beta Tom exclaims as he runs through the double doors. โThe King of the North is here to see you!โ Automatically, Beta Tom turns to the left and bows as the King of the North and his wife walk into our o
Awakening from a long passionate night with my husband to Emily laughing loudly outside my front door makes me smile. Slowly, I sit up and feel King Harveyโs warm hand on my lower stomach. โSleep, my mate.โ King Harveyโs voice is still worn with sleep. His lower register makes me shiver, but when Emily continues, I want to throw open the door. โStay in bed, King Harvey. I need to see why she is happy.โ King Harvey chuckles. โYou believe she will not tell you?โ โYes, she willโฆ you are correct, it is best we rest.โ My eyes drift shut again when King Harvey holds me close. By midafternoon, King Harvey and I are awake and are strolling around the exterior of the castle. King Harvey tells me about the trees and how he used to climb them as a child, with a sweet smile on his face. I wonder what our future will hold for us. โHarvey.โ King Harveyโs mother calls from behind us. Instantly, King Harvey sheathes his sword again and we turn to his mother. โHello.โ We both greet his mother
Three days pass of more planning for Emilyโs wedding as King Harvey trains the betas. King Harvey has final test for the betas, and then after, he would like me to ask the betas what they think of me.I have spent the whole morning fretting, my hands lightly shaking as I hope I can go through five betas with full power and get real answers for King Harvey. My ability to be a lie detector also helps the kingdom. I need to master this.I need to, for my sake too, to stay safe.All morning I have heard King Harvey battling the betas in hand-to-hand combat, to test their strength and endurance. The sounds make my heart rattle, they are ferocious warriors. I wish I could go hand to hand with a werewolf. It seems less terrifying than my luna powers failing me here and me looking like a fool, holding hands with a werewolf beta that is certainly not my dear husband.โElena.โ King Harvey appears at my doorway and smiles, shirtless and sweaty.โAre you hungry?โ I question, rushing to him and ta
โYou are free to marry Emily, Beta Tom, after you get your work squared away. I can do without you for about two weeks.โ King Harvey says as he flips through a thick book of wedding cake recipes. โThank you, King Harvey.โ Beta Tom bows slightly as he flips through the same wedding book I did. Emily is sitting beside me on a red velvet sofa as we look for wedding dresses for her. Emily is a simple woman and wishes to marry as I did. In the church first, then a mating ceremony. The only difference is that only King Harvey and I will be at her mating ceremony to make sure it happens. It doesnโt have to be every royal werewolf and I am glad for that. โRemember Momโs wedding dress? Those lace sleeves and helm? I want that.โ Emily says as she keeps flipping through the book. โThat will be very beautiful. And lingerie?โ I purposely ask and look at Beta Tom, who turns as red as the couch we are sitting on. Good, that means he has some morals about him. King Harvey flashes me a fang-fill