Chapter two

The next day came around and for the first time since she officially became Luna, she detested getting out of bed. She always looked forward to fulfilling her duties for the day as it gave her a sense of purpose but this particular day all she felt was gloom and anger.

Regardless of how she was feeling, Megan got up from bed and rang for her ladies. Her duties were not going to fulfill themselves. 

She needed to keep busy now more than ever since Aspen was moving to the castle as Richardsons official concubine.

She never thought that he would ever take a concubine.

15 years ago.

Megan was 12 and Richardson was 15. They were lying on the lawn after completing their lessons for the day.

“Do you think you will ever take a concubine?” Megan asked, taking a bite out of her cookie. “The law allows it but what do you think?” She added.

“My dad never took a concubine. The thought of that will simply break my mother’s heart.” He said.

“Plus, I wouldn’t do that to you. One woman is enough for me, thank you.” He said in response. Megan smiled. She was the luckiest girl in the world to be betrothed to such a sensitive young man. She could talk to him about anything without a fear of being shunned.

The present

“It has to be baseless.” One of Megan’s ladies said as she entered the quarters.

“It definitely is.” The other said.

“What is baseless?” Megan asked, grabbing her robe and getting out of bed.

The two ladies looked at each other before one of them said, “There’s news that his majesty brought in a girl in the early hours of this morning.” One of them said.

“A girl?” Megan asked. “No one saw her face?” She added.

“No, your highness. It was very discreet but one of the servants saw this and reported it straight to me.”

“I’ve told you to stop having people snoop around in the castle. If caught you could get in trouble and I won’t be able to save you lady Rosetta.” Megan said.

“Would you please draw me a bath?” Megan asked.

“Of course, Luna.” The other lady said.

“My queen, aren’t you concerned by this rumor?” Lady Rosetta asked. Megan smiled, “Not sure. I’m sure if it concerns me his majesty will tell me.” She lied. She knew exactly who the lady was but decided not to disclose any information to one of her closest aides, Rosetta. She couldn’t bear to be the object of her pity.

Megan took a long bath and got dressed, ready for the day. She moved to the dining hall for breakfast, something she had been having alone for the past year.

Megan sat at the end of the long table and ate her meal quietly when Ronald, a beta and one of the castle’s butlers entered the room.

“There is a ruckus outside the castle, your highness.” Ronald started.

“Are we suddenly short of guards to handle chaos that you’ve come directly to me?” Megan asked, irritated.

“No, your highness. They’re demanding to see you. They are primarily the widows you support Luna.” Ronald said nervously.

“Oh. What is their request? I don’t see them till Friday.” Megan said. She had been supporting the widows in the clan since she assumed her position as Luna and queen and it was one of the projects she took great pride in.

“It’s the news all over town Luna. That his majesty is planning to divorce you because you cannot-” Ronald paused suddenly.

“Cannot what, Ronald?”

“Because you have not provided an heir. The women are concerned because of their status in the clan in the event of that happening.” Ronald said.

“Send them away. I will see them when I normally do, on Friday.” Megan said curtly.

“Okay, your highness.” He said and left the room.

A sour taste formed in Megan’s mouth and she no longer felt like eating.

Megan took a walk to the garden, carrying a bag of peanuts with her. She was hoping to see the little cub whom she had been feeding for the past few months.

Megan got to the garden and took a seat on the pavement, something her ladies hated. She liked to garden and get her hand muddy from the soil. It was something she derived great joy in.

It was what she was doing when she sighted a small cub under one of the bushes two months ago. Feeding the lost wolf cub had become part of her routine. She talked to it about all her concerns and feelings.

“What am I going to do, cub?” She asked, squatting down to its level crying. The cub cocked its head to the side, as though asking her “what?” Megan laughed.

“I don’t suppose you have an answer to my questions. You’re just a baby.” She pinched its cheek.

What Megan didn’t know was that the cub was actually Rhode Wales who had infiltrated the Jared castle two months ago on a mission to gain important information.

He had the power to shrink his wolf size to that of a newborn cub and no one except his best friend Brian knew of this. It was an ability the Wales pack had kept secret from the world all these years.

Rhode’s mission however was sidelined when he was stuck in a bush and rescued by the Jared pack’s Luna, Megan Brighton.

Megan confided in the little cub without knowing his true identity and Rhode got access to information about the Jared empire by just listening to her. However, he wasn’t returning just to gain information anymore, he looked forward to seeing Megan and eating her peanuts everyday and today, the Luna whom everyone feared and respected was crying in front of him.

“Richardson, that bastard.” Rhode thought as he put his paw on Megan, trying to comfort her.

Aspen had been living in the castle for three months now in the quarters designated for the king’s concubine. Megan never thought she’d see the day the room was occupied. She never stepped foot in the area and avoided Aspen like a plague. She also never saw Richardson except for official duties where they had to see dignitaries from other clans together.

That day, representatives from the Wales clan were coming to the castle. The Wales clan and the Jared clan never saw eye to eye. They only kept diplomatic relations at the surface level to prevent any conflict between them.

Megan was getting ready in her chambers when Brianna rushed in.

“Oh! Rhode Wales is a sight to behold!” She said as she fell dramatically on the couch.

“You’re betrothed to be married Brianna.” Megan said.

“Oh but your highness! You should see him!” Brianna gushed.

“I will.” She said with a smile. “As soon as you come help me get this corset fitted.” She added. Brianna rushed to her side to help Rosetta string the corset. 

On days with unofficial duties, a simple dress was enough for Luna. However when they were to host dignitaries from other clans, she was required to dress like royalty, with steel boned corsets and multiple skirts. Megan hated it.

Her hair was rolled up and set in place with pins and she stared at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were sunken and her collar bone stuck out. She was sure that people would attribute her loss of weight to the spreading rumor.

Megan stepped out of the room, Rosetta and Brianna to her left and her right respectively. She met up with Richardson at the base of the steps and they walked up the steps together, Megan a few steps behind him.

As the couple sat on their throne, the heavily bearded man from the Wales clan announced. “Now presenting, the leader and alpha of the Wales clan, Empire Rhode Wales.”

A tall man with tanned skin walked into the room. He had black hair slicked back and was dressed in royal attire. Megan wasn’t aware that Wales also transitioned into an empire. She was too occupied with the affairs of her people.

She noticed his eyes which were an odd shade of deep purple and she had a sharp jawline and a well defined face, as though carved out from a perfect sculpture.

“Your majesty.” Rhode acknowledged Richardson.

“Luna.” He acknowledged Megan. 

That was where she had seen those eyes before. The cub she fed every morning had the same deep purple eyes. Megan could not shake off the resemblance. There was no way the empire of the Wales clan who occupied the Western territories was a little helpless cub in her garden. It was physiologically and physically impossible. Right?