“Your Majesty, you have made it very clear that you will end my life once I bear your heir. Do you not worry that I might run away?” it was not a question he had been anticipating and I saw the shock that clouded his face.
I was pleased I had been able to discomfit him.
“Run away?” The tone of his voice told me that he had never considered that a possibility.
“I have people watching you always. You cannot run away from me. If you try to do so, I will find you and make sure you regret having the idea in the first place. I intend to grant you death without pain but if you begin to have funny ideas I assure you that I will make your last moments miserable and very painful. I will ensure also that your death stretches days so you can feel every second of your life seeping away from your body,” there was such a force in his tone that it frightened me. He meant every word that he had said and that was all the more reason I had to leave this place as soon as I could.
“Do you understand a word that I have said?” asked Alpha Dagen.
“Yes, your Majesty,” came my response.
“The modiste will be here tomorrow and whatever you need to be prepared for the dinner will be granted to you. Look your best and be on your best behavior. The Council of Elders must believe that you are well taken care of,” said Alpha Dagen before he left my room.
The next morning was a flurry of activities for me. Ruth made a special bath for me in the morning with so many sweet-smelling soaps. Then I met with the modiste and together we finally settled on the dress that I would wear. When it was time for me to get dressed, a maid who was skilled in makeup came to touch up my face and style my hair.
By the time I looked in the mirror, I saw a different woman. A woman who was worthy of the title of Queen.
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Dagen's POV
“I do not see your Luna,” commented Elder Davis when he was seated at the dining table. He was the most outspoken of the Elders and always said his mind without mincing his words. I respected him and followed his advice on almost everything except when it came to the issue of my mate.
“She will be here soon, I had wanted to discuss certain things before she joins us,” came my response.
“We will discuss nothing of importance until she is here. Your neglect of her has not escaped us, Alpha Dagen,” replied Elder Davis.
“Is there a reason for this? After all Alpha Raphael flaunts his harem of women and the Council of Elders have said nothing,” mentioned Lord Edvin. I was grateful he had brought up the double standard of the Elders. Unlike Alpha Raphael, I did not have a harem. I had only one woman.
“The position of Alpha Raphael’s Luna in his court is very clear. Even her position in his bed is clear. If she requests him to visit her chamber he will honor her call. The rumor is that you treat your Luna as some sex slave. You neglect her needs and go to her only when it pleases you,” remarked Elder Walker.
“Is that not how it should be? A man should decide how to treat his women,” Lord Felix said. I smiled, I was happy to see my men have my back in front of the Elders even though they argued with me behind closed doors.
“A Luna is quite different. She is not a regular woman. She must be treated with respect; with reverence. It is why her womb alone can open the womb of the king’s concubines. If the Alpha cannot get his Luna pregnant, he can get no one else pregnant,” said Elder Davis, seriousness ringing in his tone.
“Then why is my Luna someone from the streets? She has no nobility, no elegance, no…” but the image in front of me turned my words to lies.
At that very moment, the doors opened and Regina walked in.
It was as though an angel had walked into the room; the kind of angel that was capable of seduction. Her dusty rose dress and lips brought to life her snow-white skin. Her hair was tied up in a beautiful bun that made her soft facial features prominent. Her green eyes were highlighted by the honey streaks on her dress. The dress she wore highlighted every curve on her body and the sleeveless dress revealed her beautiful yet delicate shoulders.
“You’re staring,” Kane prompted me and I averted my gaze at once.
“Honorable men, I believe you have met my Luna although you have not been introduced. This is Luna Regina, Regina, meet Elders Davis and Walker. This is Lord Felix, head warrior of the pack and I know you have made the acquaintance of Lord Edvin Foxe, my Beta,” I gave the lengthy introduction.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintances, I am Luna Regina,” said Regina with a smile I knew won the favor of the Elders at once.
“It is a pleasure indeed, Luna Regina. I apologize on behalf of the Council of Elders for not giving you a proper welcome to the pack,” said Elder Davis and I rolled my eyes. It was not their duty to welcome her to the pack as they did not belong to any particular pack.
“It is no problem. Now that I have made your acquaintances I hope that I shall see you more often,” said Regina.
Dinner was served and we all began to eat. I was distracted however because I was expecting Regina to make a mistake, any mistake that will prove to the Elders that she was not refined enough to be seen with me in public.