CHAPTER 75: Afterglow
Alora’s POV
“Wake up! Wake up!! Wake up!!!” Nyx’s voice echoed in my mind as I turned and stretched on the king-sized bed, my hands instinctively searching for Morgan, as his scent wrapped around me like a cloak. “Where was he”?
I winced at the sun filtering in through the curtain as my eyes adjusted to the room.
When my eyes finally opened, I gasped at who I saw.
Violet was standing beside my bed, arms crossed, her cold brown eyes staring down on me like a ghost.
I blinked, startled. "Violet?"
“You’re finally awake… Luna” she said the last word with an air quote.
My heart thudded in my chest like a drum. It was the first time I've seen her up close since I arrived three days ago.
“What are you doing in my room’? I asked.
“Oh, it's your room now”? She asked, cackling like a maniac.
My hands instinctively grabbed my pendant for comfort.
“Morgan’s room” I corrected, feeling uneasy. “Besides, where is he?" I asked, looking around and hoping he would come save me from the menace staring down at me like a maniac.
“I am not your maid,” she replied, rolling her eyes.
“Do you need something”? I asked, furrowing my brows and wondering what she was doing there and why it was so unfortunate to see her first thing in the morning.
She sat down beside me on the bed. “Look at you looking and acting like a true Luna…so tell me, how was last night? Did he get you screaming his name to the high heavens”? She asked sweetly, eyeing my body.
“Wow, he really left his marks on you” she reached out and was about to touch me when I flinched.
“Lately, he’s been extremely fierce when he is hard and bothered…trust me, I will know” she cackled again.
“What the hell do you mean by that”? I glowered at her. Was she implying Morgan was sleeping with her?
“Do you want me to spell it out for you? Oh! You really think you're special because he let you into his bed and asked you to perform the ritual”?
Lucien’s words flashed across my mind.
“Get out”, I growled the word out.
“This is a really bad look on you Luna…and make sure you cover up properly for tonight’s event. You wouldn’t want the elders to think the new Luna is… a freak…or a whre.” she said, her eyes roaming all over my body, making me conscious.
I felt my face flush with embarrassment and anger mixed up as one.
Nyx growled, and I dug my fingernails into my palms.
I bit the inside of my cheek. “Or you're just jealous I got what you've always dreamed of without lifting a finger.” I said, watching as a look of horror crossed her features.
I pushed her out of the bed and stood up, dragging the duvet to cover my naked body, advancing towards her figure, trying to recover from the sudden action.
“Or maybe all those things you said are untrue, and you're just bitter that i am the one he chose, left his marks on, and you can't handle that” Nyx rolled in my head, cheering me on.
Her eyes turned dark with anger, and she lifted her hands to slap me, but I anticipated it, so I blocked her.
She scoffed “We shall see” and with that, she turned her back and left the room, her last words echoing in my mind.
Immediately she left, I went into the bathroom, the duvet trailing behind me and my face went up in flames at what I saw.
I had hickeys all over my neck and chest. “Oh my God! How the hell am I going to cover this up”?
My hands reached out to touch the one on my neck as memories of last night flooded back in a rush.
I closed my eyes and reveled in the sensations going through my body.
I felt a dull ache on my neck and on my clit as memories of his lips wrapped around me coursed through my body.
“You're awake”, Morgan’s voice filtered to me in my fogged haze.
I gasped and turned around to see him standing in the doorway with some packages in his hands.
“Daydreaming so early in the morning”? He asked, dropping the packages on the floor and walking towards me.
My face went up in flames. “You startled me” I whispered.
“I am sorry” he replied, coming behind me and wrapping his hands around my waist.
Our eyes connected in the mirror and I couldn't look away. “I missed waking up beside you” I murmured, pushing closer to him as his arms wrapped more firmly around my middle before placing a kiss on my cheeks.
“I am so sorry Chula, I had an errand to run”
I turned in his arms, so I was now facing him. “Happy birthday Alpha Morgan”.
His face lit up in a broad smile. “Thank you little wolf” he replied, pressing me closer to him and laying kisses on my neck.
“You’re the best gift I could ever ask for today and I am so glad I found you.”
I felt a tremor go through me as he drew me close, his lips hovering over mine before he locked his lips with mine.
"Little wolf," he breathed in a husky voice. "You have no idea how good you look," he teased, nuzzling my ears, and making me giggle.
“It’s your first outing with me, so I got you something special.”
“Really? I replied as my eyes moved to the shopping bags on the floor.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
“That must be Chloe. She is assigned to take care of you today.”
He placed a kiss on my cheeks before he held my hands, and we went together to open the door.
On seeing us, she bowed her head, and then raised it. “Happy birthday Alpha, and good morning Luna”, Chloe greeted.
“Welcome Chloe…please take care of her, and cover up the marks” he added, his eyes trailing down my hickeys, and his eyes turning to dark blue.
I gulped and squirmed as his eyes traveled down my neck to my exposed chest.
“Yes Alpha” Chloe replied, a blush creeping across her features.
He winked at me, and left the room.
Chloe smiled nervously, taking his place and turning me over.
“Wow, we will need a lot of makeup to cover them up” she muttered to herself in a soft, playful manner.
Chloe was a petite woman, with very pronounced curves, and a very tiny waist. Her dark hair was pulled up in a ponytail. She had a soft voice that drew you in and she had a friendly face.
“Is it that bad”? I asked.
Her eyes widened. “Did I say that out loud”? She asked, placing his hands on her lips.
I smiled at her. “It's fine.”
“I am so sorry, Luna,” she replied, avoiding eye contact and hurrying to the bathroom.
After Chloe had helped me freshen up, she brought out a blush silk gown with a plunging back from one of the shopping bags Morgan had brought in.
She also helped me ease into it and the gown hugged my curves and the low-draped back exposed my skin in a sensual yet graceful manner.
The shoulder straps and upper arms were adorned with beautiful silver applique that shimmered when it caught the light.
The front had a soft cowl neckline, mirroring the drape at the back without being overly revealing, and a silver necklace that glittered in the dim room was placed just above my heart. My hair was pulled up in soft waves with a silver moon pin tucked behind one ear.
“These must have cost a fortune,” I whispered.
“Yes, only the best for Luna” she smiled nervously, her eyes crinkling with excitement.
The dress swept the floor and my skin shimmered subtly against the dim glow of the room.
I took one last glance at myself in the mirror, and for a moment, I didn’t recognize the woman staring back at me.
Chloe stood a few steps back, her hands clasped in awe. “You look… like a goddess. The color brings out your eyes.”
Nyx purred in approval.
My heart fluttered.
“It's time Luna, the Alpha is waiting for you” she smiled, adjusting the tail of my gown.
I lifted my chin, inhaled deeply, and nodded. “Let’s go.”
She opened the door for me and I stepped out slowly, the silk brushing against my legs. The corridor was quiet, but I could already hear the faint hum of voices and music coming from the grand hall below.
Each step I took echoed softly through the corridor, and by the time I reached the top of the staircase leading into the event, a hush had already fallen over the room.
It was as if the air itself paused to catch its breath.
Heads turned towards my direction and conversations stilled.
Every pair of eyes followed me as I descended, one hand gliding lightly along the banister.
I saw them…all of them… Selene, Leo, Jones, Harry, the elders, warriors, pack members. Their gazes followed my every move, but I only looked at one person.
Morgan.
He stood near the center of the room, flanked by Harry and a few pack Alphas.
His eyes locked on me, unblinking, devouring me, and every other voice in the room faded away.
His jaw clenched, chest rising slowly like he was holding back a growl. He took a step forward, then another, as if the distance between us was suddenly unbearable.