Chapter Six

Megan was taking a walk in the garden when she sighted rustling in a bush.

“Maybe it’s my cub.” She thought to herself.

“Brianna, Rosetta, you both can stay here.” She said and lifted up her thick skirt.

She jogged over to the bush and squatted down. She peered open the branches with her hands and she saw the little cub.

“Hi, you.” She moved to grab him when she noticed something like a scroll attached to a collar she hadn’t seen before.

Did the cub have an owner all this while?

She removed the scroll and opened it to reveal a small note.

“Your kingdom is indeed beautiful ” The note read. Megan got up and scanned the area.

She didn’t know who the note could’ve been from but the thought of it made her giddy inside.

Someone wrote her a secret note and she wanted to meet this stranger but she didn’t know how.

“Thank you. Does he have a name? If you’re a guest in the castle, you could join me for tea this afternoon.”

Perhaps if she had tea this noon the stranger would come around. It had been a while since she had such excitement in the castle.

She used to come up with an excuse to go visit Aspen at other packs whenever she got bored but she couldn’t do that anymore.

She approached her ladies and said, “think we can squeeze in tea at the greenhouse this noon?”

The two ladies looked at eachother, confused. Megan knew she needed not ask for her wish to be granted but they played along.

“Of course, Luna.” Rosetta said.

The three ladies entered into the castle and Megan changed into more comfortable attire to begin her daily duties.

At Rhode’s quarters, Rhode had just returned from his little mission in the garden.

Brian said, “I’m finding it hard to believe you can be a model emperor, Rhode Wales, much less a king”

“Why’s that?” He transformed immediately, naked. He always lost his clothes whenever he was in cub form.

Brian ignored his question.

“But I’m more concerned that you would get used to transforming into a cub and forget how to be a normal sized wolf.”

Rhode chuckled.

“We hardly need to transform to our wolf form Brian, the world is evolving. We’re becoming more civilized so to say.” He retorted back.

Brian sighed, “how was your mission? Though I’m not sure what you hope to accomplish with that vague note.”

“She mentioned tea. We can join her.” Rhode said.

“But she won’t know that you’re the one that sent the note.”

“She doesn’t need to, we just need to keep me in her mind and in her line of vision.” Rhode started.

“Have her thinking why I was there, why I always show up to places only she knew about.”

“I understand Rhode but we have just a month. Your plan is a little slow don’t you think?”

Brian was right. His plan needed time to execute but he also knew Megan. Despite all Richardson was putting her through she never once said she hated him.

Him coming upfront will most likely scare Megan away, something he couldn’t afford.

“Let’s hope it pans out.” Brian said.

Noon came around and Megan was at the green house sipping her tea.

“What am I doing?” She asked herself. She was having tea because some secret person asked her for tea.

“This whole drama has made me bonkers.” She said to herself.

Brianna and Rosetta weren’t sure what was happening, they looked at each other and then at Megan.

At that moment, Brianna sighted Rhode and Brian.

“Oh, your highness! It’s the visitors from the West.” She said.

Both men approached the greenhouse and bowed.

“My queen.” Rhode said

“Oh, fair afternoon.” Megan said, “have time to join me for tea gentlemen?” She offered. She didn’t want it to look like she lacked manners or worse, was a loner drinking tea alone.

“Thank you Luna but I have matters in town.” Brian said.

“And you, Emperor Rhode?” She asked.

Rhode gave a small smile, “I’d be delighted.”

Brian left the greenhouse and Rhode took a seat opposite Megan.

“I know it’s only your first day but how do you like your visit thus far?” Megan asked, trying to spark conversation.

“Wonderful. Your kingdom is very rich.”

“We’re not quite a kingdom yet, but thank you. Your words are kind.” Megan blushed.

Rhode had been looking at her since he took a seat. She wasn’t comfortable being stared at like that so she avoided eye contact.

“And you, Luna. How are you doing?” Megan was taken aback.

No one ever asked her how she was doing. If they did, it was pertaining to her duties as Luna and queen but with the way Rhode asked it seemed like he cared about her wellbeing.

“I am well, and you? It must’ve been quite the journey for you.”

“It was well worth it. I am well also.” Rhode said.

The couple spent the rest of the hour talking about possible relations and collaborations both clans could have in the foreseeable future.

“This was lovely, Luna. I wouldn’t be opposed to doing this again.”

“Likewise, thank you for keeping me company.”

“Always a pleasure, my queen.” Rhode got up and took Megan’s hand. He kissed it lightly, taking note of her floral scent. Roses and honey , she smelt like roses and honey.

“Sweet.” He thought to himself.

Rhode walked out of the greenhouse and Megan watched his back as he retreated.

“Your highness, you’re red.” Rosetta said.

“More like pink.” Brianna said.

Megan slapped her cheeks. What was wrong with her?! Why did mere interactions with Rhode have such electrifying effects on her?

“Let us go.” She said, as they left the greenhouse she thought about how she didn’t see the person who sent her the note.

Or could it be Rhode Wales? She shook off the thought.

There was no way the emperor of the West and the alpha of the Wales clan wrote her a shady note.