Chapter 38: The Choise

Lunchtime had already passed when I decided to leave my room. I was still shaken by Eldric's revelations and felt guilty for pressuring him. But I also had my own concerns. I had my fears.

I walked through the garden, trying to distance myself from everyone, but Eldric saw me and called me to join the group with the other contenders.

"Feeling better?" He spoke, and I nodded.

"It's strange for her to be sick all the time. She must not be a strong she-wolf to bear pups." I took a deep breath to avoid responding to that provocation and saw Eldric's eyes focus on Ember, who was now smiling at him as if she had remembered something very important.

"It's an honor to know that you're concerned about the children I'll have with the king." I said, provoking her.

"Only in your dreams, darling." Little did she know I already have two, strong and healthy ones.

"I'm still here, ladies." Eldric called our attention, and I felt embarrassed. "Since you're talking about children, have you thought of any names for this future heir?"

"No, of course not, that's the king's duty." Freya replied quickly, and Eldric simply agreed.

"Oryon and Syrius." I blurted out and put my hand over my mouth. It had been so long since I had spoken their names out loud.

"Oryon and Syrius..." Eldric repeated, and the two candidates looked at him, waiting for him to scold me for not letting the Alpha choose the names. "I like it." He smiled at me and turned to observe what a servant was doing in his garden.

"Thank you for choosing the names of my future children." Ember huffed irritably and passed me in large strides, getting close to Eldric.

"You really think highly of yourself, don't you? Always wanting to be the center of attention." Freya glared at me. "I'll help you with that." She pushed me into a mud puddle. I fell sitting and soiled my entire dress, but I remained upright so the mud wouldn't reach my hair.

"You... you..."

"Oops, my bad..." She spoke in an innocent tone while Eldric came to me. However, I stood up on my own and pushed him away when he tried to help me.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I'll retire." I stormed off, stomping my feet and huffing, while the two laughed behind my back.

I arrived at my room, and Chant was already behind me. Rumors spread quickly, and soon my maid was helping me remove the dress.

"I hate those two." She said angrily, and I laughed at her expression.

"That's all they want. For me to retaliate and stoop down to their level, but that won't happen." I said, devising a plan in my mind to stay away from their wickedness. It wouldn't be the first time I had to do that.

"What do you plan to do?" Chant picked up the green dress I had worn yesterday from the chest. My range of clothes was scarce. "The others are being washed, Miss." I smiled and agreed.

"No problem, Chant. A dress doesn't define me." She left so that I could take off my undergarments and put on the clean ones I had set aside.

When she returned, I was already dressed and ready for another afternoon in the library, until the evening brought me face to face with those two snakes.

By the end of the day, Eldric arrived at the library and came straight to me. I stood up to greet him, expecting him to say something about me not defending myself or getting angry for provoking the two.

"I'm so sorry." He hugged me tightly and kissed the top of my head. "You shouldn't have gone through that." I was glad he understood it wasn't my fault.

"Thank you. It's a competition, and they're using whatever weapons they have." He stepped back and looked into my eyes.

"And that's why I decided..." He stepped back, looking at me, and knelt in front of me. "Will you be my Luna, Rachel?" He held a small brass ring between his fingers. My eyes turned into two pools of water. I started crying and sobbing, kneeling in front of him and hugging him. "No one will ever do anything against you again. You'll never be alone again."

"I accept, Your Majesty. Of course, I accept." He lifted me and held me in his arms, spinning me around in the library.

"We can get married today if you want, or wait for your family. You decide." We stepped back, and he kissed me with passion, sealing everything we had been feeling for days.

"Today, now. I don't need anyone else, only you." He smiled satisfactorily and held my hands, leading me towards his meeting room.

"Connor?" He called the adviser, who came running towards us.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The man looked at our connected hands and smiled.

"Go fetch the priest now. I need him to bless our union."

"Right away." He stepped back, and Eldric turned to me.

"Don't you want to call your uncles?" I adjusted my posture.

"No, I don't want to." He looked at me differently, but he didn't question it. "And where are the other contenders?" I found it strange that there was such calmness.

"They left as soon as I heard them laughing at you," I was surprised by this revelation. "At that moment, I knew there would never be another person."

"I don't even know what to say." I said, giving him a kiss on his chest.

"You already said it. You said yes to me." He hugged me again and kissed me even more passionately.

The priest arrived a few moments later, and my anxiety increased even more. I wasn't dressed in my best dress. Nor surrounded by the people I loved, but at that moment, I felt like the most special person in the world. And now, there was very little left for my happiness to be complete.