A Connection
OPAL
"Oh, that's all so terrible, Opal," Aunt Janice says to me through the phone. "I feel so sorry for everyone around you. Losing a parent...I remember what it was like losing first my mother, then my father. It was one of the hardest moments of my life. Bruce is lucky to have you by his side. And, speaking of which..."
I blush. "Yeah. We didn't think that things would turn out the way they did for us."
"But are you happy, Opal?"
"Yes. Very happy. Aunt Janice? I think I love him."
She celebrates over the phone and my heart feels all warm and fuzzy. It's amazing knowing that I have at least one member in my family who gives a crap about me. Dad has disappointed me more than words can describe. I don't recognize him anymore.
And this affair with the Old Luna doesn't sit well with me at all.
"I'm so happy for you, my girl! You know that I've always wanted what's best for you, right?"
"Yes. Of course, I do."
"And that you can count on me for anything?"
I can't help but smile at her words. "Of course. I know. And I appreciate you so much."
"Have you spoken to your father recently?"
This time, I hesitate to answer her. I have this sudden urge to tell her about my father's affair with the Old Luna, but something stops me. I don't know if it's because my father basically commanded me to stay quiet and keep this to myself. Or maybe it's something else. Maybe I don't want to share it with her because it truly has nothing to do with me.
I don't know.
The point is that I keep that whole situation to myself. Deep down, it feels wrong to do so, but wouldn't it be worse to spread something that doesn't have anything to do with me?
"Yes."
"And how was it?"
"The same."
Aunt Janice sighs, then says, "I'm so sorry, Opal. I really wish I could've done more for you."
"You do more than enough for me and I'll always be grateful for your presence in my life. Always."
"Take it easy on me, now. Don't break my heart!"
I can't help but smile at her words. "Oh, Opal. You're my favorite person in the world. I miss seeing you every day. I wish we could be as close as we used to be."
"I do, too."
We talk a bit more, and then she hangs up. Gwen calls me directly after her, and we decide to meet up instead of catching up over the phone. It would be so much easier to talk to her in a room where we can be alone and won't be interrupted.
As I head downstairs to talk to Bruce about going to see my friend, I ask myself what he'll say. I know that things are complicated now and after what he told me about this upcoming possible war, I know we have to be more cautious than ever.
But how cautious exactly?
Bruce isn't happy when I ask him. I can see the displeasure written all over his face. I put my hands together and say, "Please. I haven't seen her in a long time, and I'm sure I'll be alright."
He narrows his eyes, then sighs and drops his head. "I can't say no to you for the life of me. Okay. You can go. I'll send several guards with you and we'll try to keep everything under the grid."
"Thank you," I say before walking up to him and sitting on his lap. His arms go around me and we stare at each other for a few breathless seconds. My gaze slides down to his lips. His does the same.
"Where will you meet her?"
"Her place. I think it's the safest place."
"Good." His hand travels under my shirt and settles right over my belly. The warmth of his skin makes me shiver. "When you get back, I want to be alone with you. No interruptions."
I can't hide the smile that tugs at the corners of my mouth. "Okay."
We share on brief but passionate kiss before I head upstairs to get ready. I change into a long navy blue dress and tie my hair away from my face, and by the time I get downstairs, everything is ready.
Bruce stands by the entrance and watches me drive away. I stare at him until he's out of sight, feeling a tenderness deep inside of me that can't be explained, just felt. We went from arguing constantly to...this. When he's not around me, I miss him. I'm thinking about him even now.
By the goddess. Is this love? It sure feels like it.
When I reach Gwen's place, seeing her distracts me from my thoughts of Bruce completely. We embrace at the door while the guards position themselves around the perimeter, and then we head inside her place, hand-in-hand.
"How've you been?" she asks as soon as we're alone.
I sigh. "I don't know, Gwen. There's a mess in my head that...I can't sort through it. So much has been happening and I just feel lost all the time. Let's sit here. I want to tell you something."
"What is it?"
Our hands are clasped tightly together. "I wanted to talk to you about what you told me last time. Do you remember?"
"The rogues."
I nod. "I know that you're going to keep this a secret. And anyway, you probably know more than me. I'm married to the Alpha King, and yet, it seems I'm the last to know everything."
Gwen looks at me intently as I try to gather my thoughts to tell her about the rogue war that's about to hit the city. She listens attentively to what I know, and I take note of how she doesn't look shocked at all.
She knew about this.
"How much do you know?" I conclude. "How did your parents know?"
Gwen sighs. "It's complicated. I don't understand much of it myself. I just know what they told me and it wasn't the full story. We never had time to...oh, Opal. I don't even know if it's true. I sit here in this house, all alone, wondering if I'm going crazy or something."
"No, don't say that," I plead.
She sniffles and fights back her tears. Seeing her this way breaks my heart. "My parents knew about this rogue war because they knew what happened to the Alpha King. They knew how he'd been shot. War was declared shortly after that but it seems the whole world knows nothing about it."
My heart is beating way faster. "But how did they know?"
"The owners of the hotel where he was shot," she explains. "They're a couple. People we've known forever. They knew my parents. They also told them something else—something more serious. But they're not sure of whether it's real or not. Or if they believe it or not."
"What is it?"
Gwen takes a deep breath before saying, "Opal, I need you to take care of yourself. I don't..."
She cuts herself off and wait for her to continue. When she doesn't, I ask, "You know something?"
"No. I told you, my parents didn't know if it was true or not."
"Just tell me. Come on, don't leave me like this."
Again, she sighs before saying, "They said that...the Alpha Prince was allegedly going to marry a woman that would help him solve all this."
I arch a brow. "What? Really?"
She nods.
"How?"
"I don't know. They heard him tell his lover this. So, they don't know. It could even be the other brother, and not Bruce Danforth."
I think about this for a long time. I could ask Bruce, but I don't want to implicate Gwen in any way.
"I thought it would have something to do with you," she tells me.
"Me? No—I don't see how."
"I don't either."
Hours later, I'm still thinking about this and trying to connect the dots. How could my marriage to Bruce have helped solve this war? I don't see how, so I dismiss the idea immediately.