Lilienne
The welcoming banquet is a bustle of cheerful laughter and the never-ending clinking of liquor glasses. The hall is filled with music and loud conversations. Someone is telling a rather fascinating story about catching a doe––I can tell it's interesting by the genuine reactions it invokes in its listeners.
But I am not interested in that.
If anything, I am baffled. Everyone is eating, drinking, and laughing as if nothing has happened.
Am I the only one being bothered by the fact that my husband of eight years, Alpha King Kaelen, has brought another woman to this palace?
"So, where did your servants take her?" I suddenly hear myself asking as I hide my lips behind the full wine glass.
Kaelen winces for a split second before assuming his stoic expression––he didn't like my question, and I didn't like the quick frown he managed to erase so quickly.
"This is a celebration, Lily," my husband replies rather coldly, and I grip the leg of my glass so hard that it almost breaks. "Can I avoid the grilling while I am actually trying to have a good time?"
"Don't be silly," I insist, struggling to remain calm. Good time? I think he already had plenty. "You can't brush something like this off. The whole royal palace now knows that you brought another woman in, some even say she is your fated mate. We have to talk about it. Now."
I am not looking at him anymore, but even his sigh manages to stir my composure and raise my blood pressure above the levels I prefer.
"There is nothing to talk about. She is a woman with whom I felt a mating bond, so I had to bring her here. She is a runaway rogue. That's all you need to know about her."
I don't know why, but the more Kaelen talks, the more offended I feel.
Angry, defensive, hostile. Even if she is his fated mate, why does he have to be so mean about it?
"Go rest," I suddenly hear him say as his big, tanned hand pushes away my unfinished glass. "You are clearly overstimulated and stressed. There is no use in talking about this until I know what we are talking about."
I press my lips into a tight line, my pride boiling inside my head, ready to explode. Sure, I get it. This is his way of telling me that if I don't stop, I will regret it.
Even though I know that I definitely will, no matter what.
***
"Lily!" Melanie, my beta and my best friend since childhood, almost bursts through my bedroom door, rushing toward me with a deep frown between her brows. "I just came back, and what is it that I hear the moment I enter the palace? He brought what?!"
I hold back a snicker that threatens to erupt upon hearing her call that woman a "what", while Debby, on the other hand, has zero control over her quiet giggle.
Melanie is fuming; her bright, short, curly red hair now resembles the tongues of dancing flames, bouncing up and down as she stomps in my direction, her hands fisted at her sides.
I love her. She is a bit too emotional to be my personal guard, but she is loyal, supportive and protective. And that is exactly what you want from a friend.
Especially in need.
"Have you seen her?" Melanie asks, her brows furrowing even more as she takes a seat beside me on my bed.
"No," I shake my head. "Kaelen got angry the moment I mentioned her and asked me to leave the hall if I insisted on continuing talking about her."
"What?!" My friend fumes again, and I can swear that even her eyes are burning now. Although faintly, I can sense her wolf rising to the surface, and it takes her a few deep inhales to calm it down.
"Is this some kind of a stupid joke?" She bares her teeth and clenches her fists again. "I've never taken Kaelen for a clown!"
I sigh, though I also feel a little relieved at Melanie's reaction. She doesn't care that Kaelen is her king; her top priority has always been my peace of mind. "I don't know what's going on... I tried to ask Beta Fred as well, but he refused to tell me anything. It doesn't look like I'll be able to find out anything before Kaelen himself explains the situation to me."
"Unbelievable!" Melanie springs to her feet, her fangs now visible from behind her pouty lips. "Even Fred is playing defense now?! I'm going to kick his ass, I swear! No, I'll rip his nuts out this time! What a fucking tool!"
"Mel," I frown a little, though her protectiveness warms my heart. In truth, I'd love for her to do something about this because I definitely can't.
Though I am the Royal Luna, born of alpha blood, I don't have the same standing as my husband does. And it's all because of my wolf.
Or rather... the absence of one.
Only the closest people of the royal circle know about this, but even that is enough to visibly weaken my position. I am the alpha female with a suppressed wolf. And because of that, I can't even give my husband an heir.
I can be the most perfect wife, the most perfect Luna, or the best fucking queen in the entire world. But if I can't shift or give birth to a child... All of that barely means anything.
This is why Kaelen can treat me like I am below him. And this is why his people are allowed to do the same.
If Melanie causes any trouble to my husband's people, I won't be able to protect her. Even if she is close to the queen, she is not safe when that very queen is just a convenient placeholder.
"You've just come back from a long trip to your former pack," I finally continue after a needlessly long pause. "Get some rest. I will handle this myself."
"But, Lily––"
"Enough," I play my Luna card and offer her a stern, commanding look. "This is an order."
"Yes, Your Majesty," she finally relents, bows her head, and leaves the room.
A surprisingly long sigh escapes my lips as if I've been holding my breath this entire time. Debby, who has been quiet this whole time, exhales too, and walks up to me, offering me a glass of water and a light but reassuring smile.
"I'm sorry, Luna," she whispers, and I fake a smile back.
"It's alright. I don't think there is anything to worry about."
It's a lie, but right now, I want to believe it.
"Of course there isn't!" Debby nods enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with determination. "A rogue? What kind of a joke is it? Even if she's his fated mate, the Royal Council will never allow her to replace you! Never! You are the true Luna! You are the queen!"
My lips press together in a tight line, my eyes sliding away because I can't look at Debby anymore. She is not wrong, of course. Royal Alphas have been having mistresses all the time; it's nothing new and is definitely not a big deal.
She can never become queen because the Wolf Council will never allow a mere rogue stand next to their king.
And yet... why am I feeling so nervous?