14

DAWSON'S POV

It all seemed like some implausible dream, that she would be here on my bed branding our bodies giving our skin a golden hue which made her skin more arousing than it normally was.

It came as a surprise when I heard her voice in my room the night before which woke me from my slumber. She had previously never been inside my chambers talk more of my bed so I was understandably astonished and pleased even though I had no idea what she wanted at the time or even what she was here for .

It wasn't until I began to notice the subtle telltale sign that the visit might be more than it seemed that I began to attempt to woo her into my bed, though she needed little persuasion, she practically dragged me to lie with her.

The only thing that felt a bit off was the whiff of alcohol perceived upon her mouth and the taste of wine on her lips, but I brushed it off as just a little drink she had had before bed, Where was the harm?

I caressed the soft smooth sort skin enjoying the tactile feel of my touch against her flesh.

I smiled with pleasure.

"Good morning" I breathed drawing her into myself and snuggling her neck.

"How is my Luna today" I asked enjoy the sight of her face as she struggled to wake, her face quivering from the effort of opening her eyelids to the morning sun.

But finally she did open them, sitting up she rubbed her hands over her eyes, her hair a tangled mess, going every which way spreading like a Halo over her head. It was truly endearing and then sight tugged at my heart strings.

She opened her eyes finally and there was a beat in which all she did was look at me her face expressionless, before taking a super fast survey of the room as she swiveled her head pretty violently as she looked all around making a little gasping noise as she did so.

"Did we ummm, did we….."? she asked looking at me with a Stark terrified face her jaw open in disbelief.

The question caught me off guard I will admit so I sputtered like a fish.

"What do tou m e– uh I y'u , um I d do ridicu– fuc- I do u– understand*.

I said as I struggled to string any semblance of a coherent sentence, incredulity and astonishment keeping me successfully off balance.

Her voice gradually became cold "I asked you a question" she said.

And something about the way she said it made my heart plummet and I mustered the will power to answer with equal amounts of a freezing tone.

"What question"? I said my face and tone of voice as stern as I could make it. "You have not yet asked me anything".

"Well let me elaborate for your easy understanding" she said as she slid off from the bed, naked her body a vision of perfect feminine beauty, with her carved hips and full breasts, her nipples red and rosy.

"Did you have sex with me while I was drunk 'alpha' Dawson" she said enunciating the word 'alpha' with increasing levels of sarcasm as she had probably meant it to be mocking and disrespectful.

I laughed the idea incredulous; that I would have sex with her just while she was drunk, implying that I was some sort of lecher who lay in wait for a vulnerable moment of hers just for the chance to get her in to my bed. Ha! As if I had nothing better to do with my time. Honestly I felt hurt and wounded as the very idea that I would take advantage of her or any woman was abhorrent to me and more than bruised my ego.

"There is no reason to lie about being intoxicated just so you can pretend like last night did not happen dear" I said a smirk playing across my face, thinking she was still playing hard to get.

"Besides there was nothing about you yesterday that suggested to me that you were drunk" I said still smirking.

Her lip quivered and in silence she picked up her silk night slip, putting it back on before running her hand through her hair trying in vain to force the tangled up mess to conform to some semblance of order.

It was her silence that let me know that she might actually be serious, well that and the single year that trickled from her left eye, a single crystalline of liquid that marked a wet trail upon her face and cheeks. As she began to pass the bed, I was filled with a sense of urgency and fear.

"I'm so sorry" I said reaching for her "it never occur–" and then she exploded.

"Do not touch me"!! She said while raining blows and expletives upon me faster I could process.

"We have not spoken to each other In weeks since your sham Union*! She screamed as she pounded her fists into my chest. "And yet somehow, you think I would just crawl back in to your wretched arns just like that without any form of apology or sign of change"! She said sobbing a little this time. "You are still fucking Joyce for crying out loud"! She said as she stopped hitting me sobbing out loud bracing herself up against the wall for support while I just stood there in shock.

"I was drunk and you dis not notice or did not frankly care" she said pain in her voice " You have gotten your wish I suppose" she said we've finally had sex just like you always wanted" she said as she rubbed away the tears on her face. "Congratulations" she said as she stormed out in nothing short of duty while my mouth was agape like a complete idiot.

I slumped backwards into bed as I was unsteady from the sheer weight of bewilderment and surprise I felt as I reeled from the event that had just taken place.

I had not had an inkling that she was drunk, my conscience was clear on that ind, I would never have slept with her if I had known. I knew she had had something to drink but with a regular supply of wine in the castle, extremely surplus such that it was almost a necessary accompanyment with food as natural as water, I did not find it uncommon that I smelled wine on her breath.

I put my face in my hands groaning audibly from it all

"She must hate me so fucking much" I said my heart performing jumping jacks in my chest..

There was a knock on the door . Immediately I comported my appearance and straightened my face, I had no idea who it was so I had to project an image of complete stoicism and immovable strength.

"Enter" I said and the door opened to admit an Elder of my council a man of about 3 0 something years of age. Archibald by name.

"My Lord alpha the council is ready and seated and waits for your arrival" he said "I was sent to inform you as we waited at your pleasure*.

For a moment my mind went blank before re starting it self again. I had a council meeting today to discuss preparations for the upcoming feast of moons but it was to be early in the afternoon.

"Our meeting is by 1 o'clock Archie" I said as I signalled my for a servant.

"It is a full thirty minutes past your majesty " said Archie "and knowing your proclivity for beginning early at the dot the council members were concerned".

"The council need not waste their thoughts on me" I said from the bathtub from behind a screen at the far side of the room as my man servant scrubbed my back vigorously.

*I merely attended to important matters of state" I said, still traumatized about sleeping with my drunk mate.

"Of course my Lord" said Archie

A few minutes passed as I readied myself for the meeting, putting on event appropriate clothes and cshoes which projected wealth and power as these were men of the richest and most influential echelons of werewolf society and I needed to constantly convey a sense of power and strength to them to maintain their resoect.

"I am ready now Archie" I said once my boots were fully laced and I headed for the door.

"Yes my liege" he said as he bowed low and opened the door letting me walk through before he did after which he shut it.

The feast of moons was a ceremonial need night of feasting and frivolity. It was an age old tradition that celebrated the inauguration of the Luna. It was an ode to the office and position of Luna.

Some part of me wondered what the hell was the point of there was ever one to begin with. Carla had shown disdain over being Luna right from the on set , she had repeatedly called our union a joke and a sham. We had not even yet slept together as mates until today so naturally she was not pregnant with our heir, so what was the whole point of the feast if the one for whom it was being thrown did not care for it.

I and Archie both reached the double doors leading to the throne room at the same time and I stretched out my arms and threw it open revealing the huge long table in the middle of the room just a little ways before the throne itself and seated at the table in order of prominence and position within the council, sat the Elders , who all stood upon my arrival anyway.

Two seats however were empty , Elder Archibald's seat and mine. A seat at the head of the table reserved for me.

I and Elder Both took our respective places at the table and as I sat down, I gestured for them all to do the same.

"You may sit my Lords" I said "I would like for us to begin the reports as to the preparations for the upcoming feast" I commanded. " As we all know , this a memorable and momentous occasion, or at least it will be if all our efforts are unified abd cohesive towards this end free from unnecessary roadblocks" I said as murmurings of approval and assent were shared round the table accompanied by even a few nodded heads.

"Elder Bernard" I said as I turned to my left just one seat away from me. "You may begin, I would like to know how much is being allocated towards this expense and how the money is being spent"

"Of course my Lord" said the aged man in his characteristic Boomie voice. He hoisted up some parchment and heavy looking books he had apparently been keeping by the side of his chair all these while as I had not seen anything of the kind during my entrance.

Producing a monocle from the folds of his robe, he sorted from among the large sheafs of parchment before finally arriving on the exact one he wanted. His knobbly hands shaking from the effort,he picked it up and cleared his throat before reading.

"My Lord about 70,000 gold marks have been withdrawn from the pack treasury for the purpose of the feast and the expenses undertaken utilizing these withdrawn funds are as follows" he said as he adjusted his monocle before droning on.

I completely zoned out as I had absolutely zero interest in listening to elder Bernard go on and on about budget deficits and surpluses and going rates, quantities and waste.

My mind instead re visited the fiasco of this morning going over every detail, as I searched for what I could have done differently to de escalate the situation.

I did not even have a clue how it became my fault, she had accused me of still sleeping with Joyce, I did not understand her in the slightest. She rejected me over and over again yet complained that I sought solace in the arms of another.

I had resolved to keep my distance from her yet she showed up to my room and afterwards claimed I took advantage of her? It was a cruel joke I thought to myself .

Forcing my thoughts away from Carla as they were becoming too painful, I fought to refocus my mind , time for introspection would come later. Elder Bernard was speaking.