Chapter 176 Royal Histories
POV: Luna \[Flashback - Day 4 of the Siege
The fourth night of the siege was cold.
We'd gathered in the courtyard. Built a fire. Tried to maintain morale.
Students needed normalcy. Needed to feel like more than prisoners waiting for attack.
So we sat. Talked. Shared stories.
Selene had been quiet most of the evening. Just watching the flames. Thinking.
"Your Highness," a first-year student said hesitantly. "Can you tell us about your kingdom? What it's like?"
Selene looked up. Surprised. "You want to hear about the Northern Kingdom?"
"If you don't mind. We've never met royalty before. It's kind of fascinating."
"I'm not that fascinating. Just a wolf with a fancy title."
"That's not true," I said. "You're more than your title. But your history is interesting. Your family. Your traditions."
Selene considered. Then nodded. "Okay. What do you want to know?"
"Everything!" the first-year said eagerly.
Selene smiled. "That might take all night. But I can give you highlights."
She settled more comfortably. The firelight casting shadows on her face.
"The Northern Kingdom has existed for over a thousand years. Founded by my ancestors after the Great Pack Wars. Back when wolf territories were still being established."
"What were the Great Pack Wars?" someone asked.
"Exactly what they sound like. Every major pack fighting for territory. For dominance. For survival. Thousands died. The land was soaked in blood."
"That's dark," Nova muttered.
"It was a dark time. But from that darkness came unity. The strongest packs realized fighting each other was pointless. So they formed kingdoms. Territories with defined borders. Rules. Treaties."
"And your family led one of these kingdoms?" I asked.
"Yes. The Moonshadow line. We've ruled the Northern Kingdom since its founding. Through wars. Through plagues. Through political upheaval. We've survived everything."
"Until now," Selene added quietly. "Now we're barely holding on."
"What changed?" Aria asked.
"Everything. The old ways are dying. Pack loyalty means less. Power is distributed differently. And royalty? Royalty is seen as outdated. Unnecessary."
"Do you think it is? Unnecessary?"
"Sometimes. When I'm stuck in political meetings. Listening to ancient advisors argue about traditions that don't matter anymore. Then yes. I think maybe we are obsolete."
"But?" I prompted.
"But other times. When I see how pack hierarchies work. How those without power are treated. How the strong dominate the weak. Then I think maybe royalty serves a purpose. As a check. As protection for those who can't protect themselves."
"That's a lot of responsibility," Sienna said.
"It is. And it's not one I chose. It was chosen for me. Before I was even born."
"Do you resent that?" I asked.
"Sometimes. Most of the time. I watch other wolves. Free to choose their own paths. Their own mates. Their own futures. And I think how lucky they are."
"You can't choose your own mate?" the first-year asked, shocked.
"Not really. Royal matings are political. Arranged. Designed to strengthen alliances. Create stability. My personal feelings don't factor in."
"That's archaic," Lyric said bluntly.
"It's tradition. And tradition is everything in royal circles."
"But what about true mate bonds?" I asked carefully. "Those can't be arranged."
"True mate bonds are rare. One in a thousand, remember? Most royals never find theirs. So we make do with political matches. Chosen bonds. Relationships built on respect and duty instead of love."
"That sounds lonely," Nova said.
"It is. Very lonely." Selene looked at me. "That's why I'm fascinated by your situation."
"My situation?"
"The dual mate bonds. Two true mates. That's even rarer than one. Maybe one in a million."
"I didn't ask for it."
"I know. But you have it. A choice. Between Liam and Aiden. Between two people genuinely connected to you through fate."
"It's not a choice I want to make."
"But at least it's your choice. No one's forcing you. No political advisors telling you which mate strengthens which alliance."
"True," I admitted. "But it's still complicated."
"Everything worth having is complicated."
We sat in silence for a moment. The fire crackling. Students talking quietly around us.
Then Selene asked, "Can I ask you something personal?"
"Sure."
"How do you know? Which mate is right? When you have two options?"
"I don't know if there is a right answer. Liam feels natural. Easy. Like coming home. Aiden feels powerful. Intense. Like destiny demanding attention."
"And Miguel? His essence in your mark?"
"That's different. Miguel was my first love. My anchor. But he's gone now. His essence is just memory. Support. Not a living connection."
"Do you feel guilty? Moving on?"
"Sometimes. But Miguel wouldn't want me stuck. Wouldn't want me choosing loneliness to honor his memory."
"That's healthy. Mature."
"It's survival. I can't live in the past. Not when the present keeps trying to kill me."
Selene laughed. Dark but genuine.
"What about you?" I asked. "Have you ever had feelings for anyone?"
"Once. A guard. Assigned to protect me during a diplomatic mission. We spent weeks together. Got close."
"What happened?"
"My father found out. Sent him away. Told me royalty doesn't fraternize with servants."
"That's cruel."
"That's reality. For people like me."
"Do you ever think about just leaving? Running away? Being free?"
"All the time. But where would I go? I'm recognizable. Tracked. And without royal resources, I'd be vulnerable. An easy target."
"So you're trapped."
"We're all trapped. By circumstances. By expectations. By powers we didn't ask for. You're trapped by your Eclipse bloodline. I'm trapped by my royal one. Different cages. Same feeling."
"That's depressing."
"That's life."
Through the Guardian Bond, I felt her loneliness. Her longing for freedom she'd never have.
"For what it's worth," I said. "You're not alone. Not anymore. You have us. Your pack. Your friends."
"I know. And that means everything." She smiled. "Even if we're all trapped together, at least we're not trapped alone."
"Exactly."
More students joined the conversation. Asking questions. Sharing their own stories.
The fire burned lower. The night grew colder.
But spirits were higher. Morale better.
Sometimes that's all you could ask for. Small moments of normalcy in endless chaos.
Eventually, students started heading to bed. Exhausted from days of vigilance.
Selene and I stayed by the fire. Just us and a few lingering pack members.
"Thank you," Selene said. "For tonight. For letting me just be a person. Not a princess."
"Anytime."
"And Luna? About the dual mate thing?"
"Yeah?"
"Follow your instincts. Not duty. Not expectations. Your instincts. They'll lead you right."
"That's what everyone keeps saying."
"Because it's true."
I was about to respond when I heard footsteps.
Quiet. Careful. Someone trying not to be noticed.
I turned. Saw a figure in the shadows.
Watching us. Listening.
"Who's there?" I called.
The figure stepped into the firelight.
Aiden.
"How long have you been there?" I asked.
"Long enough," he said quietly. "Long enough to hear everything."
Through the mate bond I shared with him, I felt his emotions. Complex. Conflicted. Hurt but understanding.
"Aiden—"
"It's okay. I'm not upset. Just processing."
"Processing what?"
"That I'm the intense one. The destiny one. Not the natural one. Not the easy one."
"That's not what I meant—"
"But it's true. Liam is your home. I'm just the complication. The fate you're stuck with."
"That's not fair."
"Isn't it? You chose him. Before you even knew about me. The mate bond with me was forced. Accidental. Unwanted."
Through the bond, I felt his pain. His sense of being second choice.
"That's not true," I said firmly. "Yes, Liam came first. But that doesn't make you less important. Less valued. The dual mate bond isn't a ranking. It's just complicated."
"Complicated. That's one word for it."
"What do you want me to say? That I'll choose you over Liam? That I'll pretend one mate bond is stronger than the other? I can't do that. Both bonds are real. Both matter. And I'm not going to lie about it."
"I don't want you to lie. I just want to understand where I stand."
"You stand as my mate. My bond. My connection. Same as Liam. Different but equal."
"Then why does it feel like I'm competing? Like I'm constantly proving myself while he's just accepted?"
"Because you're in your own head. Creating competition that doesn't exist."
He was quiet. Processing.
Then Selene spoke up. "If I may offer perspective?"
"Please," Aiden said.
"Dual mate bonds are rare because they're not supposed to be easy. If Luna had one obvious choice, the decision would be simple. But she doesn't. She has two genuine connections. Two real bonds. And that means she has to figure out what she actually wants. Not what fate demands. Not what's convenient. What she truly wants."
"And what if she never figures it out?" Aiden asked.
"Then she lives with both bonds. Honors both connections. There's no rule saying she has to choose. The only rule is honesty. Being honest about what she feels. What she needs. What she can give."
Aiden looked at me. "Is that true? You don't have to choose?"
"I don't know. Maybe? No one talks about dual bonds. There's no manual. No precedent."
"Then we make our own precedent. All three of us. Liam, you, and me. We figure this out together."
"You'd be okay with that?"
"I'd rather share you than lose you."
Through the mate bond, I felt his absolute sincerity.
"Okay," I said. "We figure it out together. No secrets. No competition. Just honesty."
"Deal."
He sat down by the fire. Joined us.
And for a little while, it felt right. Natural. Like maybe this impossible situation could work.
Then reality came crashing back.
Alarms started blaring. Magical signals flaring.
"What is it?" Selene asked.
"The rogues. They're moving. Repositioning."
This was it. The calm before the storm.
Tomorrow would bring battle. Chaos. Possibly death.
But tonight. Tonight we had this. Connection. Understanding. Hope.
And sometimes, that was enough.