Tomorrow is the formal enthroning.
I opened up my plans with Matheo and he insisted on coming with me. He said that he handles the dimensional passages and shortcuts to make my travel back home faster. I'm packing the offerings to present to Cormelio. While changing my clothes, I tilt my head, wondering about the purpose of the ribbon on my ankle I've been wearing all this time.
I unknot and stare at it as I try to recall where I got this. Yet as far as I can remember, I use it for communication in my wolf form. I left it inside a drawer. It'll not be useful in the future.
When I open the door, I pause my every motion because of Cados and the werewolves waiting for me outside. This phalanx of Omegas already surrounds my room. Not for good news since they're all preparing their claws. Unfortunately, their tremor and the smell of cold sweat are obvious. Seems like they're compelled to face the monster. "What's going on?"
Cados reaches for my shoulder for a friendly touch while his claws are almost piercing me. "Forgive me, our young Alpha. This is a command from Luna Maia. Please follow us to avoid complications," he instructed. I haven't given them my response when he pulls me by force to follow their march as if I'm under arrest!
I comply politely for them to reduce their nervousness. They are more harmless creatures than me anyhow. And then I ask wryly, "Will you tell me what the order is?"
"Luna Maia wants to keep it confidential."
I extend my lips to pout. The Luna is a fan of surprises. And because this palace has multiple rooms, they led me into a bigger room that has its own dining space and fat bed. The curtain dimmed throughout the room. None of them crosses the threshold except me. Cados closes the door, leaving me alone inside. "Kindly stay there while waiting for the Luna!"
"... Okay?" The sound of footsteps is going farther. But there are two scents of furs remaining outside. I look around again in this soothing room. In front of the furnace is a mini table in the middle of lengthy couches. Steaming teas in the cup are there, a newly served one. Even the fire in the furnace is newly ignited.
I take the seat and sniff the steam of the tea. It's suspicious even though it smells normal. Considering that there's a private bed here for two occupants. I look at it and at the tea. I sip won't kill me and it'll answer my suspicion. The cup is approaching my lips when the door slams. I flinched and the tea spilled on my coat since I've been wary on my own here!
"Hey! How long should I stay here!? This isn't right!" Sherizzah screeches to the same werewolves who took me here. Cados locks the door from the outside immediately.
"Until tomorrow morning!"
"T-That's immoral!" She kicks the innocent door twice whilst lifting the hem of her fancy white dress. I carefully put the cup on the table but it still made a cluttered sound, she'll notice my presence eventually. I think I know now what Luna Maia wants. I don't want to do the same rhapsody with her. Sherizzah is still standing indomitable in front of that door. I remove my coat and she reacts by covering her face with matching turning around.
"Relax. My coat got stained by the tea," I said. I hang the coat on the hand rest, I have white long sleeves left for my upper. "Have some tea here to chill out," I offered. How vicious of me to use her to observe the effects of this tea.
"Teas aren't for chilling out."
"... Right."
She takes the seat on the opposite side, sitting in the manner of a timid and quiet lady. She's uncomfortable. Of course, the last time we talked didn't work nor ended well. After a while of awkward silence, she snatches the other teacup and drinks it all up to the last drop. I suck my lower lip. 'Twas unexpected. "I'm sorry... It's my mother's plot."
"What exactly?"
"She... She's so persistent and even chided me! She's aware of the conflict between us. She wants us to make things up here and..." She turns her gaze at the furnace with her mouth firmly pursed.
"..." I turn my gaze to it, too. "I'm sorry. I wasn't careful with my words—"
"No. I'm the one to blame. I'm too dramatic and overreacting. What you did is being honest."
"That's what you did as well," I said, and I got her gaze. "It's often overwhelming when two honest emotions collide. So, what do you say? Do you think we could fix this?"
"Nothing is broken, in fact. There's nothing to fix. Because firstly, you're trying to be untouched by me."
I twinkle four times. "Pardon?" Suddenly, I noticed her snow-white cheeks turning red. Her eyebrows are connecting while she's throwing that glare at me.
"I told you," she explains, "part of our responsibility now is to care for each other. I am willing to abandon what I love for this duty. But I can't do that wholly if you don't do the same! It's just the two of us here now. At least try to close your perspective with us and consider working this out! The pack will rely on us in the future. If we can't rely on each other, how are we supposed to be the leaders?"
"... Limit my perspective, huh?" I lean my elbows on my knees to exchange glares with her. "Are you sure you can do this?" From the first time I met her, she already pleased my eyes. She's the most beautiful she-wolf in the whole pack. Plenty of males will fight for her to be her Alpha. But as for me, I didn't have to unleash sweat on that. I must be lucky. And she can be a lovely bearer of my posterity.
In addition, I don't just need to learn the Alpha's principles, but—taking Sherizzah's beloved out of the picture—to learn to love my Luna as well. After all, my mate is gone.
She answers, "I can do this for you, for the next Alpha of the pack I adore." The way she talks to me has a sense of respect.
As a result, I dare her. "Show me."
She's grasping her dress and her eyes are still locked on mine. She can't do it but her stringent spirit pushes her. Later on, her hair falls down as she removes the pins. It's a gesture of female wolves that means they're giving in themselves to their lover, a fact I've read in my father's journal. I discovered Sherizzah's hair is soft, thick, and straight down to her waist.
She removes her sandals and walks closer to me with her bare feet. "How shall I... please my Alpha?" Her face is all red now. I wasn't surprised when she stripped her dress in front of me, only her skin-tone underclothes were left. She's more seductive just by standing partially naked in front of me even though she's plumpy. However,
I face down. She turned her back on her beloved, obeying her mother, and surrendering her purity for the sake of their notion. This doesn't make me content. This isn't a wise way to use our intelligence. This is manipulation.
I was pulled back to my gist when she yanked me to the bed! Her nails were marked on my wrist. She pushes me down and I support my back through my elbows. She cages me around her arms and legs, looking at me intently. She smells like sweets in cold weather. Slowly, in suspense, she's leaning her body on me and looking down at my lips.
But then she falters for a second. "You... have a mark on your lip...?"
"What mark?"
"I-It looks like a kiss bite..."
"I bit my lip last time." When I had lunch with Matheo's family, I was chewing the veggies. All the females I've lied with mentioned the same mark. Eventually, I was the first one to succumb at this moment. That's when I take her under me, pin her hands through my intertwining fingers, then smell her neck down to her mound. Maybe... she can fill my emptiness.
I pull her straps away through my fangs. Later, I notice the twitching of her fingers, wincing, shaking, and fast breathing. It turned off my stimulation. Somehow, I'm grateful. I kiss her forehead and rise to sit on the side. She grabs the blanket to cover her naked bosom and raises herself, too.
"A-Alpha, why did you stop?"
"You're too pure. I mean, I know you're not ready for this. I won't force a woman to lie down with me."
"Please don't think that way! You have the right—!"
"No. I may have the right. But you aren't willing. It's yours, not mine, not until we both legally declared to give up each other's bodies which may only happen because of love," I shrug my shoulders, "and there's no love between us."
"I..." Her eyes went teary. She's squirming and shaking. I hate this sight... "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to discourage you! I'm trying but... I promise I'll do better—!"
"Sherizzah, you don't have to be the Luna everyone purports to be."
"..." She's just gawking at me.
"You're a highly educated female wolf for this calling. I can't blame you if you don't change your mind. You shouldn't be doing this because it's an abomination to the sight of the Moon Goddess. I don't want to drag you along with my sin. I have a mate, and it's not you."
"You have a mate!?"
"Well, why not? So, stop enticing me and stop your mother from telling you to entice me."
She points at me. "But you almost...!" She folds her finger in the end. "Fine, it's my fault. I enticed you."
"I'll sleep on the couch tonight. You sleep here—"
"No!" She also slaps the bed. "You will lie down beside me. At least have some respect for my effort of stripping in front of you and all!" Her fuming face both means embarrassment and anger.
"Ah... O-Okay?"
There's space between us although we're lying down in the same bed. My hands are crossed under my nape, her hands are pulling up the blanket to cover her body. She's also the first one to break the silence. We keep our voices low.
"Y'know you're so kind."
"What makes you think that?"
"Because you didn't take advantage of me. Your words are very mind-opening. And you never thought about raising war against the black wolves. The woman you love is lucky to own your affection."
"Don't you want it?"
"Huh? You said you have a mate." She lies down sideward facing me.
"The truth is, other's mating worked out, mine is just so tragic."
"... I'm sorry. Was it because of me?"
"Not at all. We're both separated by timeless distance. There's no way to break it."
"I'm still sorry." Her face expresses guilt and self-blaming. Her humbleness is out of the line. Or, do we have the same person in mind? She has no idea who Rossy is.
"It's pointless to blame yourself. Some mates aren't meant to work out, unfortunately. Humans are interested in mating because they don't have it. They have the choice to marry whom they love. It's not anyone's decision on whom the other should marry, or in some cases, it still happens but is untraditional. And it must be made illegal in the future."
"Really? Humans are so powerful. Uuuh, I wonder what kind of posterity you'll have. Don't you ever think about having pups with me?"
"..." I lie down sideways to face her. "Shall we talk with exactness? Are you, or is there a probability that you'll be interested in me?"
"No. I have someone else I want as my mate."
"Alright, thank goddess."
"Thank what? And you, after you've seen my body, will you be interested in me?"
"What a question but no! I prefer a slim body and a little older than me."
"Are you insulting— Nevermind. Thank goddess." She slaps the pillow twice. "If you don't want me, please reject me formally in the name of the moon."
I wryly gaze at her before I cooperate. "In the name of the Moon Goddess, I, Hessuel, Alpha of the Moon's Order pack, reject you as my mate."
"In the name of the Moon Goddess, I, Sherizzah, accept your rejection." She smiled widely and didn't withhold a friendly hug from me. "Thank you!"
I started the contagious laughter and it took only a few seconds for us to share unfeigned happiness. She's comfortable with me now. I'm glad for the chance to not overlook our conflict.