Chapter 42: Willa

I was as ready as I was going to be.

The way Ferrin was looking at me helped calm some of my nerves. I did feel beautiful, which was more a testament to Rebekah and Haley, the stylist she had hired. I was surprised when she showed up with the strange woman in tow. But she ended up being a lovely person who made the experience fun.

Rebekah had practically brought a whole wardrobe of formal dresses to choose from. Like many of the others, I was hesitant to try this one because it wouldn’t hide my scars. But Haley said she could cover them easily with some makeup and a strategic hairstyle. So, the moment I put the dress on, they both insisted this was the one.

As I stood at the door to the banquet hall, I was incredibly grateful as I felt more confident. I felt like I looked like I belonged.

Ferrin offered me his arm, leaning over to kiss my temple as I took it. With a deep breath, we took a step forward. I barely registered the sound of our names from somewhere below. We were entering from an upper floor. Rebekah said it was to add drama and it was important that I make an entrance. But it still felt overwhelming.

But as we came to the top of the stairs, Ferrin squeezed my hand, and I felt ready.

There was music playing as we descended the stairs. I knew there were more eyes on me than I had ever experienced before, but I couldn’t even think about that as I tried to tackle the stairs without falling while still looking graceful.

We made it down, and Ferrin led me to the head of the table at the end of the hall. Everyone had stood when we entered the room. Two attendants pulled our chairs out. Before sitting, I looked out at all the faces before me. There was a range of expressions. Some smiling, some scrutinizing, and others were unreadable.

Ferrin started to speak next to me.

“I want to thank you all for coming tonight,” he addressed the crowd. “As you are all aware, you are here to meet my beautiful mate, Willa.”

Applause echoed through the room. When it died down, Ferrin continued.

“I know that she is new to our country and, as all fated mate meetings are, quite sudden. However,” — he looked to me, his eyes locking on mine — “with every moment I spend with her, I am more and more sure that the moon goddess has blessed us with the perfect Luna.”

My heart swelled in my chest at his words and the pure adoration in his eyes.

“So, please, everyone, eat, enjoy. And after the meal, you will all have time to get better acquainted with your new Luna.”

Applause filled the room again as we took our seats. Our guests followed suit. Ferrin leaned over and whispered in my ear.

“They are going to love you,” he said, kissing my cheek.

Dinner went by quicker than I expected. The food was fantastic, as usual. I was introduced to those who were sitting closest to us. Rebekah and Henry were seated on Ferrin’s left, so the seats to my right were filled by some of the higher-ranking nobles.

Ferrin and Rebekah had told me that the nobles would be introduced with their full titles this evening since it was a formal royal event. I would be the only exception, as I wouldn’t technically carry the title of High Luna until after my ceremony. Honestly, I couldn’t care less about what they called me, but Ferrin and the others stressed how important it was to acknowledge the titles of the nobles.

The elderly couple sitting next to me was Duke Alpha Louis Veranatto and his mate Duchess Luna Alexandra. They seemed to be a pleasant couple, although he was a little hard of hearing, and she had a thick foreign accent. There were others that were close enough to make conversation, and while I was careful to repeat the titles and names, it was hard to place any meaning to them.

However, the meal seemed to go well. I didn’t think I offended anyone with my lack of knowledge, and everyone seemed to be regarding me with an open mind, at least. But I knew that evening was just beginning. Once we were done with dinner, we would be moving to another hall where Ferrin and I would mingle with our guests, giving everyone the opportunity to meet me in person.

I tried to glance around the table to see if there was anyone in particular I might have been extra careful around. I, of course, spotted Lady Boucher halfway down the table. She occasionally glanced my way, but for the most part, she spent the meal conversing with her companion — a gentleman with black hair that seemed a little too long, a square jaw, and a terrible scar marring his throat.

A shiver went down my spine. There was something about him that was off-putting. Ferrin leaned into me.

“Are you okay?” he whispered in my ear, brushing his hand down my back.

I smiled at him. “I’m fine. Just taking in all the faces.”

He returned my smile and kissed my hand. Not long after, it was announced that we would be moving to the next room for the cocktails. Everyone stood as Ferrin, and I did, allowing us to leave first. Ferrin guided me to the next room. It was more intimate than the huge banquet hall we had come from, with lower ceilings and seating scattered around. On the far wall, floor-to-ceiling windows opened up to a veranda that was lit up with twinkling string lights.

Ferrin led me to an area at the far end. I had a feeling there was a strategy to the position as we stood close to a dark corner with a couch, a few feet from the veranda, and there was a door just far enough that we could slip out of if necessary.

Ferrin turned to me and took my face in his hand, kissing me firmly.

“I told you they would love you,” he whispered.

“Most of them haven’t met me yet,” I pointed out.

“And yet, they’re still smitten with you.”

“I’ll have to take your word on that,” I said with a smile, knowing he was a bit biased.

As everyone started to file in, there was a number that made a beeline in our direction. We spent the next two hours making introductions and conversation. Most of them were pleasant enough, although I did get the sense from some that their politeness was a pretense, especially since Ferrin hadn’t left my side the entire time.

That was until an attendant came up and whispered something in Ferrin’s ear. He nodded, and the man retreated out of the room.

“I have to go check on something. I won’t be far, and I won’t be long,” he said, kissing me gently on the lips.

Before he left, Shawn suddenly appeared, I hadn’t even realized he was there, and Damen wasn’t far behind him.

“When did you get here?” I asked quietly.

He gave me a cheeky grin. “I’m always close by.”

I shook my head as three women approached me.

They were all older but still seemed lively. They each took turns introducing themselves. Lady Nora was a short middle-aged woman, a little on the plump side, with a sweet round face. Lady Rowenna, on the other hand, was slim and seemed to have a permanent scowl. The third was Lady Petra. She was beautiful, with exotic features and eyes that glittered with mischief.

“So, you were a rogue werewolf when in Avilvale, were you not?” Lady Rowenna asked.

“Yes, that’s correct,” I said with the best smile I could muster. She had been the first person to ask me so abruptly.

“Hmmm,” she hummed as she scrutinized me as if I was under a microscope. “So, you’ve had no formal education? No training or work experience? How do you intend to make up for that now that you will be the High Luna of Whearhal?”

“I’m sure she’s up for the challenge, Rowenna,” Lady Petra said with a wink.

“Pfft,” Lady Rowenna scoffed. “I’ve heard many of the rogues can’t even read. She’ll have a great challenge indeed if that is the case with her.”

I felt Shawn and Damen tense beside me. A low grumble started in Damen’s chest, but I rested a hand on his arm to calm him.

“Actually, Lady Rowenna,” I said, interjecting as if she hadn’t just been talking like I wasn’t right in front of her, “My parents instilled a love of learning in me at a young age. And while a tragic incident did result in my father and I becoming rogues when I was young, I still managed to continue my education. I earned my GED when I was sixteen and have audited several classes from the local college.”

A smile slid across Lady Petra’s face, and her eyes lit up. “That’s fascinating, my dear. How on earth did you manage that? I hear the rogues are not welcome on pack lands, so that must have been difficult.”

Her words held no mockery or insult, only genuine interest.

“There was a human town about forty miles away from where we lived. Their local library allowed me to use the computers there for online courses. Humans don’t care about rogues, and the town sat on the edge of the territory, out of the way of most pack members.”

“I dare say, our Lady Rowenna has misjudged you, Luna Willa,” Lady Petra replied with a grin. “To travel forty miles, which I’m sure was often done on foot, just to finish your education takes a strong and determined wolf indeed.”

“I suppose,” Lady Rowenna said, her nose still upturned as if she had smelled something unpleasant.

“Thank you, Lady Petra,” I replied genuinely.

“So, the story is that His Majesty saved you from rogue hunters,” Lady Nora said excitedly. “Is that true?”

After confirming the story, I began regaling Lady Petra and Lady Nora with the details upon their request. Lady Rowenna moved on, creating a space between the two that had me locking eyes with the man who was sitting next to Lady Boucher at the dinner. He was across the room, but his stare still made a shudder run through me.