442- The Shadow and the Promise
POV Thalyndra Moonclaw:
"Hey," Anton called out. They looked at us.
Two others emerged from the middle of the forest. Younger and absurdly similar to the man beside me. His brothers.
The girl, with crystalline blue eyes with silver around the pupils, had brown hair that fell in soft waves to her shoulders. Her face was delicate, with skin marked by small freckles that sprinkled her nose and cheeks, giving her an almost ethereal appearance. Her body was slender and thin, of average height, perhaps a little shorter than me, but with a posture that made her seem taller than she really was. The light dress she wore accentuated her delicate curves, falling over her body like a second skin, following every subtle curve. She was barefoot, just like her brothers.
The lupine who appeared beside her was like a shadow full of presence. There was something about him that demanded immediate attention, a mixture of danger and seduction. His eyes were such an intense blue that they seemed to vibrate. The silver around his pupils danced, playing with his irises. His dark, disheveled hair gave him an aura of rebellion. His jaw was strong and marked, his nose straight, and his lips full.
He wore a black shirt with the first buttons open. His body was lean but visibly defined. He had a posture that conveyed self-confidence, almost arrogance, but not in an unpleasant way—it was the kind that knew exactly the impact he had when entering a room. Every gesture of his was controlled, almost feline, as if he were always one step away from exploding into action.
They were very similar to Anton, yet at the same time they were different. The three resembled Edric, but they possessed clear traits from their mother.
"You woke up," said the woman I believed to be Lunara. My father used to speak of her and her husband in sporadic conversations. "How do you feel? Did Anton serve you coffee? I'm sorry I wasn't present when you woke up; we're in a rush for today's event."
Anton snorted.
"It's all right, Mother. She's already had her coffee and is ready to experience the pleasures of Eldoria," he said, smiling and winking.
I stiffened, embarrassed. The suggestive way he had spoken did not go unnoticed, at least not by his brother, who let out a mocking little laugh.
The blazing look Lunara shot at her son left me satisfied, even more so when I heard him gulp.
She approached with delicate steps, stopping in front of me, a few meters away.
"You were here when you were just a pup," she murmured, staring at me through her long lashes. "You don't remember me, but I remember you. I'm Lunara Eldoria, Anton's mother. What a beautiful woman you've become, Thalyndra. I'm so sorry about your parents; they were incredible." She seemed sincere in every one of her words.
Lunara possessed a certain delicacy, and the way she looked at me made me feel... welcomed. It was like a warm hug in the form of a gaze. Then she lunged forward and closed her arms around me, squeezing me in a hospitable gesture. I was left without reaction, completely rigid, not expecting that. She pulled away with a smile and went back to staring at me.
"Thank you, Majesty," I thanked her with a hoarse voice. I cleared my throat, trying to compose myself.
Anton's brothers burst into scandalous laughter. He shuddered in a silent laugh beside me. Lunara glared at him, furious. She turned to me, smiling, apologizing.
"I don't know what my funny little pup told you, but just call us by our names, all right?"
I merely gestured with my head, melting with embarrassment and feeling once again an absurd urge to kill Anton.
Edric approached, stopped beside his wife, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Beside her, he seemed even larger.
"Your father was a great friend of mine, one of the most honorable men I had the pleasure of knowing. He contacted me, and as his last request, he made me promise that you would be safe," he announced, the silver in his eyes, just like his sons', dancing in his irises. "He loved you very much, Thalyndra. You were the greatest treasure he had. I know you didn't want to be here, but I am a man of my word, and I will keep the promise I made to William."
Lunara furrowed her brow, sympathetic.
"We want you to feel good here. Eldoria is an incredible place, and I hope you discover that with time, just as I also discovered it." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's quite different from what you're used to, but that doesn't make it any less special. There are no humans; the routine and customs are different."
I licked my lips.
"I don't know how it works, but I can imagine. I read a lot with my father, so I know that each pack has its own culture, depending on how the alpha decides to lead."
Edric nodded.