Lilienne
I can't believe what I'm hearing right now. I was already enough that that woman parades herself so freely in our palace like it already belongs to her, but now, this?
"Luna?" Gale, one of my husband's advisors, calls me, and judging by his worried expression, I can tell that he has been at it for a while already.
Serina is going to stay. That is Kaelen's final decision.
That is what Gale has just told me, and that is what my brain refuses to accept.
"What about the Council?" I ask with a glint of hope in my quiet voice. I don't want to sound like I am ready to surrender, but I can't help it. I was hoping that blow would not land on me, and just as I have been lately, I was wrong again.
"Alpha Kaelen will decide how to go about the Royal Council soon. Since the opposition might be strong, Serina might only stay as his mistress. If His Majesty decides not to divorce you, she can only stay here as his mistress. After all, she is his real mate."
Real Mate.
Somehow, without my realizing it, my hand slides over the skin on the back of my neck, gently tracing the cracked crescent mark left by my husband on our wedding day.
It's the damnest thing––I am betrayed, my heart is filled with ache and sadness, yet my mark doesn't react to this at all.
Sure, it's not really supposed to, but still. Kaelen might have never loved me, but I have. I have given more than just my love to him and the crown. I have given them all of me.
I don't give Gale my reply. Truthfully, I have nothing to say to him. Or to anyone else, for that matter. I spend the rest of the day deep in thought, neglecting my pending duties, and refusing food or drinks.
How many hours have I spent just spacing out in my room? I am not sure, but now that it's night, I finally feel like I can breathe again.
"Your Majesty, are you sure about this?" Debby asks as she hands me one of my long silk robes. "You haven't even eaten anything today! Let me at least bring you some tea with sandwiches!"
I smile at her genuine concern, but still shake my head, refusing her care. I don't feel like eating; if anything, I feel like even the smallest bite of anything will just make my stomach churn.
"I just want to take a walk in the garden," I try to force some reassurance into my tone. "To clear my head before I go to sleep."
"Then, would you like me to call for a guard? Or Beta Melanie?"
I shake my head again. I don't want to face anyone right now. And why would I need a guard anyway? I'm in the royal palace, after all. Just because I can't shift doesn't mean I'm in any kind of danger.
Physically, at least.
"I'll go alone. Don't tell anyone."
My tone sounds more authoritative this time, and Debby cowers, bowing her head in submission.
As I walk through the quiet foliage of the garden, my soul finally feels at peace. I like this place, it was designed specifically for me. And it was a wedding gift from Kaelen.
But I don't want to think about that right now.
The cool night breeze brushes through my loose hair, its pleasant veil sending a wave of relief down my spine. The warm, orange lamplight lights my path while tiny fireflies fly around like tiny stars plucked straight out of the night sky.
It's been a while since I witnessed such a magical sight, but the longer I observe my cozy surroundings, the more depressed I become.
All of this is mine now, but it can easily be taken away from me. I have absolutely no control over it. Over nothing.
My eyes begin to sting with suppressed emotions, and I dab my eyelids with my fingers as if this alone can successfully push away the hot tears that are threatening to roll down my cheeks.
I don't like to be this vulnerable because this is just another weak side of me for everyone to exploit. It's enough that I don't have a wolf or can't get pregnant. I don't need yet another reason for everyone else to disrespect me, even if it's behind my back.
With a heavy sigh, I stop and turn on my heels, prepared to head back, when all of a sudden, a subtle rustling draws my attention to a cluster of rose bushes to my right.
No one is supposed to be here, not at this hour at least. So what can it be? A stray animal?
I close my eyes and try to smell the air. With my dull, human senses, all I get is the powerful bloom of roses and other flowers, along with the potent smell of the freshly watered soil.
Great, how damn helpful was that.
The rustling repeats, and now I am way too curious to stop myself from moving. I take a few quiet steps, pausing breathlessly near one of the bushes and before I can register it, my hands are already pushing the branches aside, my eyes wide with both shock and awe.
A puppy?
I blink twice, but the image does not change. It's not a puppy, but a black wolf cub, and this little creature is already aiming to jump at me.