Megan flushed down the remaining strips in the toilet and rinsed her face with ice cold water from the tap.
She didn’t want to leave any evidence behind that she had been crying. In the mirror, however, her face still looked pink and puffy and she still felt the lingering nausea.Was this how pregnancy was like?After getting back in bed to try sneak in some more hours of sleep, Rosetta and Brianna entered the room.“Good morning, Luna!” They said, a bit too loud for Megan’s ears but she answered them nonetheless.Perhaps she was just cranky this morning. She was determined to look and act as normal as possible.Despite the fact that she abruptly made up her mind to leave the East after her divorce, she wasn’t sure how to break the news to either ladies that she would be leaving.She didn’t have a clear plan so she couldn’t ask them to come along, she couldn’t.Megan let them draw her a bath and she sat at her vanity as Brianna picWhat?”Megan asked, turning to look at Rhode. Clearly she heard wrong.“Marry me, my queen.” Rhode said again, holding her eyes.This was not the time nor the place he planned on proposing yet somehow he felt compelled to at this very moment.“Why?” Megan was finally able to ask.“Why what?”“Why would you want to marry me? What’s in it for you?” “Do I have to have some ulterior motive? Can I not just want to marry a beautiful woman?”“Who is broken goods.” Megan added, getting up.“You’re not broken goods, Megan. You’re the best of only your kind.”“You flatter me but I’m afraid your words fall on deaf ears. I could never marry you.”Rhode’s heart sunk to his belly.“Why?”“Because I can’t.”“That’s not an answer, my queen.”“That is enough, Rhode Wales. I will act as though this night never happened. I appreciate your help these past few nights but I will handle my situation a
Megan was suspicious of his answer but decided not to press any further.She still felt extremely embarrassed that he had seen her at her most vulnerable moments.She cleared her throat rather loudly, “I see. I suppose I should thank you.”“I apologize if you feel embarrassed. I did lie to you.”“That and we were basically courting through text. Quite the scandal.” Megan laughed in a fit to reduce how awkward she suddenly felt around Rhode.“I would like transparency. Considering you’re going to be my queen.”“I didn’t say yes.”“You’re right, you didn’t. I’m being optimistic.”Truth was, she didn’t have a reason to refuse him. If anything, he just offered her what she had been silently wishing for the past three months.She wanted someone to save her and she communicated those feelings to Mason.She obviously didn’t expect that her Kingdom’s greatest rival was the cub she had been confiding in and here he was off
A year ago in the Western Empire, now the Western Kingdom.“With all due respect, your highness, all you have done is travel, travel and travel some more! We are yet to see the spoils of all your journeys!” Lord Randolph said.“That and the fact that you remain unmarried! How do you plan on ruling with a spouse?!” Marquise Highborn said.“My daughter, Mirabel, has been waiting for you to formally ask for her hand!” Said Duke Fulher.Rhode sat on his oddly soft chair while all the members of the court hauled questions at him.He had assumed the position of ruler of their clan after his family’s untimely demise.The only piece of his family left behind was Mirabel Fulher, his late brother’s widow. It was Michael supposed to be getting the ear full, not him. Rhode was on his many adventures far South when he got the news of the disease that was spreading in the palace. He brushed it off, believing they had enough resources to employ the
Rhode and Wales sat on his center table for what felt like hours plotting his infiltration of the great East.“I heard that it is the Luna who is responsible for their strong presence in the world right now.” Brian said.“How so?”“The Luna, Megan Brighton trained for the position since she was just five years old!”“So did most women who were betrothed from a young age.” Rhode replied, unsure of what Brian was getting at.“You don’t understand, Rhode. The reason the former Luna of the Jared clan picked Megan Brighton and not her niece was because Megan was an incredibly bright child!”“She was five and was reading and writing exceptionally! Acing everyone in her class and even her seniors! Word is, the Eastern empire transitioned into a kingdom so smoothly because of her.”“So Richardson is just a figurehead.” Rhode said.“A dumb one, at that! Some of my men in the East reported that Richardson and Aspen Bridget, Megan’s child
Rhode remembered watching her retreat. She walked so light on her steps you could hardly hear her foot steps. Her scent was caught up in his nose. He had had enough of the castle for the day.When the coast looked clear enough, he returned back to the hole he used to get into the garden. He headed right back to him and Brian’s rendezvous point.“Rhode?!” Brian asked, shocked that he was back so early. Rhode transformed back to his human form and wore his trouser and his tunic.“That was really fast. Did something happen?!”Rhode shook his head. Brian would definitely have a field day if he said the reason he returned so early was because he was stunned by the Luna’s beauty.Brian had put so much emphasis on her brains and genius and didn’t once mention how beautiful she was. In a captivating way that felt good.What shook Rhode was the fact that he was never moved by women in particular. So much so that the rumor among members of his council was that he secretly liked men. Rhode never
Chapter 23The rest of the week went by quickly. Megan and Rhode didn’t see much of themselves that week. Megan was busy finishing up what was left of her duties and Luna. Rhode was communicating with his clan who were on his neck about returning and marrying Mirabel Fulher.Megan still had not told Brianna or Rosetta about her plans to marry Rhode Wales and leave the East. The only people who knew she was leaving were her parents and brother who were in great support despite what people would surely think and say.Megan was sitting in her greenhouse for the last time. It had been years of her life pouring into her kingdom, her people, her husband.It was all taken from her and by the man she loved the most. She hated that she never had a choice in the matter.She would’ve done anything for Richardson. Anything. Her dream of a happily ever after now felt like a fool’s dream.She was grateful for Rhode Wales and he picked her interest a lot, however, he wasn’t the one she had spent her
Megan and Richardson got married in the summer, some five years ago. As soon as they got married they were thrusted into a world of political and kingdom duties, something they trained for, yes but their extensive classes did not compare to the weight of their new lives. The young couple felt the heat to say the least. Young Richardson speed-walked through the halls, heading for his usual stop, Megan’s office. It was a place he retreated to quite often, and by often; everyday. The young king and new alpha found solace in the arms of his wife and Luna, Megan.Though trained for his position since his birth, the sudden death of his father the king and former alpha of his pack threw him head first into a tub of responsibilities he only knew of in theory. Megan, however, handled it like a natural. She blended right into her new position and took the bull by it’s horn, shocking her subordinates and members of the court.None of the past lunas were ever involved in official duties, all the
Megan snapped out of her thoughts when she heard a knock on her door. The three women snapped their heads towards the door. "Who could it be?" Brianna asked. No one knocked on the queen's door except Richardson and he didn't wait before he entered. Could it be? Megan got up and hurried for the door yanking it open to reveal Aspen leaning on the door frame. "Hi!" Aspen said in a very fake high pitched voice. Megan heard her ladies gasping rather dramatically behind her, "what do you want, Aspen?" Megan asked her ex bestfriend, patience already thin. Aspen smiled, "Did you hear? I'm now in a room quite close to yours! Does it not bring back fond memories?" a sour taste formed in Megan's mouth but she ignored it. Megan gave her a small smile, "of course. I'm sure our play room is still standing back at my family house." Her response visibly shocked Aspen. Aspen was never good at hiding her emotions unlike Megan who had every reason to lash out, show her justified rage and anger. H
Megan stretched awake as she felt the bright rays of sunlight hit her face from behind her closed lashes.Groaning, she opened her eyes, shocked to see Rosetta and Briana already awake and in her room talking in hushed tones.This had never happened before, no one rose earlier than the queen, but she guessed came with a lot of limitations, and for a moment she was unsure how to proceed. They seemed busy.“Oh my, my lady you are awake!” A shrill voice shook Megan from her thoughts and she looked up to see Rosetta running towards her with bright eyes.“Good morning my lady.” Brianna greeted with a softer tone and an even softer smile.“This is the first time the sun has woken before me.” Megan laughed lightly, as she stood up and allowed Rosetta to drape a silk robe over her.“For a moment I was unsure on how to act.” Megan grinned, and the smile was similar to a school girl's grin which was something her ladies had never seen before, and they looked at each other in delight.“You are s
Aspen frowned as she stared at the man in front of her, Duke Elric, he claimed to be. She was suspicious, but given his ranking as a Duke she was reluctant to storm out. He was higher than she was and probably could ever be if she had tricked the gullible Richardson and played the homewrecker by ruining her friend's marriage.Knowing this, she sat back down with heaving breaths as her eyes narrowed with distrust and barely restrained anger.“My my, you seem to be fighting with yourself not to strangle me.” The strange man laughed, and Aspen clenched her hands. What she hated the most was being made fun of and it seemed like this gentleman was hellbent on doing that.“My Lord, I'm currently very busy and I would like to be left alone.” Aspen reiterated stiffly, hoping that was enough to get him to leave. But to her surprise and dismay, his cunning blues hardened as he glared down at her.“Did you just dismiss me?” He asked with clenched teeth and Aspen felt herself wilt. He was dangero
“It’s delicious.” Megan said as she took her first bite out of the deliciously roasted venison.“It’s lamb.” Rhode said as he took a bite out of it.The two enjoyed a quiet lunch. Apparently, it was a rule that the king could not eat alone under any circumstance. There needed to be servers with a physician present in case there is a risk of food poisoning.Another thing that was very different from the East.After dinner, the couple walked back to Megan’s chambers. She didn’t show it but she was very glad that she didn’t have to continue with her little charade of being unemotional.She did it for years in the East but the thought of doing it again stressed her. She was grateful that she could be herself, whatever that meant and wasn’t quite ready to take on the role of the stoic queen.She didn’t show it but she was glad Rhode didn’t leave her to her thoughts and assumptions though he was late and she had already jumped into a million and one conclusions.When they entered her room,
Megan froze as he walked towards her, pulling her towards him. His hand rested gently above her waist and his other hand, supporting her neck. She was frozen in shock, at a loss for words. “I’m sorry.” Megan could not ignore the pounding of her heart. It felt like anyone within hearing distance could hear, she was sure Rhode heard it. She stuttered, and she never stuttered, “I don’t understand…, my king.” That did it. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Megan. Don’t do that with me, not you. I’m not my king to you.” Rhode paused. “I’m Rhode. Just Rhode.” Rhode held her eyes, his deep purple eyes boring a hole into her eyes. She had never been in a stare down before but she was clearly losing. Megan kept quiet, unsure of what to say in response. She was not upset at him for anything he did or did not do but she did have a resolve until just now. And Megan never broke her resolve but a deep purple pair of eyes staring into her soul was making her reconsider her decisions. “Is it somethin
“Never, my lady…”“We would never think of such a thing.” Mary said to Mirabel, eyes filled with worry.Where was this suddenly coming from?Mirabel smiled, “I see. Let us go.”Mary and Lily both looked at themselves before following behind Mirabel. She was acting strangely but they knew to not ask questions. It was not their place to.In her room, Megan was actually surprised at the fact that she shed no tears despite the fact that she felt her heart physically shatter.Perhaps she cried out all her tears in the East.‘I did cry a lot.’ She thought to herself.
Mirabel? Who was this woman? Was he not going to introduce Megan? She stood beside Rhode while he and this unknown woman who looked very known to Rhode engaged in a staring competition with Rhode and he with her.Was this tension she felt?“My king.” The unknown woman curtsied and walked past her and Rhode.“Let us go.” Rhode said to her. Megan was greatly confused but masked her emotions. Was he not going to tell her who the lady was? Mirable, was it? She thought she heard him call her that.He continued pointing out different places to her but if she was being honest with herself, she heard nothing that he said.In fact, she was beginning to get pretty upset. She wasn’t asking for his entire history, she just wished he would tell her about people she would eventually see.Like that girl back at the inn and now this, Mirabel.She didn’t look like a nobody. She was dressed like a lady and had ladies with her.Did she live in the palace? She must since she was in the west quarters.M
Megan turned a very bright shade of red, “what?” She blurted out, flushed. He was flirting way more than usual lately.Rhode chuckled. He admitted to himself that he did things intentionally so he could see Megan turn a bright shade of pink. He loved watching the stoic Megan Brighton getting all flustered.“You always tease me.” She said, plopping down on her bed, pouting.“I’m not teasing, my queen. I did miss you.” Rhode said, taking a seat at her vanity, where he had sat earlier.“I know I’ve asked this before but, how are you? Do you like it here? Do you like your room?” He paused, “Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?”Megan smiled. He really was mindful of her.“You don’t have to worry so much about me, Rhode.” “I am very comfortable.” Megan paused, “Although, I can’t determine how things will be after the wedding.”“That is true. Nonetheless, I’m sure they would love you.” Rhode said, very sure.“They?” Megan asked, unsure of who he was referring to.“Your
Rhode never opened the letter because he had no plans on ever getting married and thought that the letter would be filled with advice he was never going to have any use for. However, after he decided on his mission to the East all those months ago, he started to think that maybe he would have use for the letter after all.His plan did involve wooing Megan Brighton but a part of him did not believe he would be able to pull it off. She was married to her mate after all.Who would have thought?He broke the seal and opened the letter, met face to face with his brother’s nostalgic handwriting.He had often gone back to reread the other letters, which were helpful tips on how to be king, not that he took most of the advice. He and Michael had different ways of doing everything. It was the thought that Michael put into writing them, despite how ill he must have been that warmed his heart.Michael knew that Rhode would find the box.I’m writing this last because knowing you, you would probab
Brianna did her best to hide the surprise she was sure was evident on her face, “sir Brian.” “Hello my lady, do you have a moment?” Brian asked her. She looked into the room to see Rosetta raising two thumbs to her, giving her the go ahead. “Okay.” Brianna breathed, closing the door behind her. The two walked down the hall and took a left turn down to the palace grounds. “I wanted to see you,” Brian started, “It troubled me that it seemed like we left on a bad foot earlier today.” “Oh.” Brianna said softly. She did not think he noticed. “Yes, I meant it when I said I would like us to be friends. I hate having misunderstandings.” Friends. That was the only word that rang in Brianna’s ears. Were they friends? “I understand Sir Brian. I did feel someway seeing you flinch at me but I now realize that you probably do not like it when people touch you. I should have asked before reaching for you.” Brianna said simply. For some reason she felt really flushed despite the fact that th