"Really?" I questioned, my eyes brightening. I tried to stand up and hug her but her hands push on my shoulders forcing me back to my seat. Ellie had always known that she wanted to be a mother and now it had happened. "Maxon scented it yesterday on me, but the last time that we actually, you know, was the morning everything happened and through all the chaos we missed it. Max is telling the other guys now." She's still smiling and I don't think anything could make it go away. "Max also told me that you and Ryder are tyring now as well. No pressure but I'm glad that if it does happen that our kids will grow up together like they did." "Do you think they'll both be boys?" After being told I was more likely to have a boy, I realised that I'd prefer one but I also realised that with his doubts about his parenting, Ryder wanted a girl. "Considering I'm the only girl to be born in to a high rank in over two hundred years, it's likely. That's not what I worry about. My genetics give me a higher chance of being pregnant with twins. The heartbeats are to faint to tell if there's one or two at the moment." She moved to start on my makeup now. "You'll make a great mum of one or twenty kids Ellie." After my makeup was finished Ellie helped me into the dress. She had told me that Jordenian tradition was to wear light colours to funerals and memorials and only the families of those who had lost their lives wore dark colours. The dress covered my back and upper arms with a flowing cape. The detail was amazing and my fingers traced the pattern as Ellie gently placed the ivy leaved crown down onto my head, fixing a few pieces of my hair. *** My eyes concentrated on one of the mates of the warriors that had passed. Her hands shock as she read from the crumpled paper, she was struggling to speak without crying. Ryder had told me to be strong for them but every word that she spoke about her mate wanted me to burst into tears. Ryder and I were sat at the back of the stage on a wide seat the comfortably held the both of us. His hand was in my lap, his thumb gently run over the both of my hands that were wrapped around his. He had a soft look on his face, honouring the wolves that had died. All the women were speaking in Jordenian but I understood most of their words. Ryder sensed that I was close to tears and he turned his head, his breath fanning down my neck. "It's ok," he whispered, his hand squeezing mine. "It's sad they they're gone but they didn't die in vain. We're celebrating all that there were and all the good they did. They never knew you but they wouldn't want you to be upset, they died protecting their kingdom, their kind and you." I had only just held myself together as Ryder stood up to say something, leaving me alone on the seat. The thousand people that were present all took a minute of silence before they all gave howls of respect towards the rising moon. Ryder stood close by my side as he led me to the back of the stage to meet the mates. He paid them his respects and then turned to look at me. I hadn't expected to have a long conversation with all of them. I didn't even care when they seemed to break down to tears and I wrapped an arm around their shoulders, giving them the soothing words that they needed. It was selfish of me to say but I never wanted to be in their position. "That was harder on you than expected." We were alone now. Well partially alone if I didn't count the ten guards that were hanging around us. "I didn't expect to feel like this." My eyes watered but I didn't let the tears fall. "You did very well. I felt the respect from the kingdom rise for you. This is the first time they've been able to see you and you've showed them how perfect of a Luna and a queen you can be." I smiled at his words, tilting my head back so I can press a quick peck to his lips. Ryder smirked at me when he pulled back, his hand moving to take mine and pull me towards the party that had started. The atmosphere was very different to what it was an hour ago. Laughter filled the cool air, encased in a cluster of colourful clothing. They were celebrating life. My eyes followed the swaying material and quickly moving feet before I felt a tug at my arm and my smile dropped. Ryder was still smirking at me as he tried to pull me onto the cobble stoned floor of the towns centre. I couldn't dance, specifically in front of everybody. "Ryder," I shook my head, taking a handful of the soft skirt of the dress, ready to escape his hold. When I turned around to look for help from my guards they just smile at me and shake their heads. Ellie, who was pulled tightly against Maxon in a protective manor, mouths at me to just go for it. Noticing that a number of people around us are watching the interaction with my mate I allow him to pull me towards the centre of the joyful dancers. Ryder's arm winds around my waist, pulling me into him, not caring about the prying eyes. "I don't like this." "Come on baby," he leant down so close to me that only I could hear him. "I'm going to say this to you for a different reason to what I normally do, but just let go." His fingers tickled down my side as my cheeks tinted at his words. My feet were lifted from the ground, Ryder spinning me in a small circle, his lips connecting to mine. My hands moved to cup his neck, holding his lips to mine as applause erupted around us. Ryder lowered me back to my feet, his eyes never leaving mine. The people all spoke at once, speaking the exact same phrase. Ryder's breath fanned over my lips as his forehead rested on mine. "What are they saying?" "With death, comes new life." Our smiles matched as the meaning of the words sunk in. There was already new life in Ellie's stomach and judging by what Ryder had told me, it was a sign that my stomach would hold new life soon, as well.