Chapter five

Megan woke up earlier than usual to go to the garden. She hoped to see the little cub as she felt better whenever she held him in her arms.

The sun wasn’t out yet and Megan was clear to the guards to not follow her into the garden. In a month’s time she will be divorced. She will no longer be queen or Luna and all she had lived for will be no more. She wasn’t even sure of her status in the castle after the divorce.

“Do I return home?” Megan asked out loud. “The shame might be too much for my family.”

“The former Luna returns home after a failed marriage due to her inability to provide an heir.” Megan laughed sadistically. If someone would have told her that her life would turn out this way at 27 she would have laughed in their face. 

“Where are you, cub?” She asked. “I should’ve named you.” She thought. At Least it would’ve been easier to call out to him.

“Your highness!” She heard a male voice call from behind her.

“I told you I want to be alone.” Megan said and turned around.

“Forgive me your highness, but His Majesty requested your presence and you weren’t in your chambers.” The guard said.

“Why?” She asked. She didn’t think she would have to see him until the day of the divorce.

“I don’t know Luna but word is we got a letter from the Western Empire.” 

Megan walked up the garden and into the castle. She walked past the night guards and up the flight of stairs where Richardson was sitting on his throne.

She bowed to him and took a seat beside him on her throne.

“Taking a walk without your escorts again, Luna.” Richardson said.

“I needed space. You sent for me.” Megan said, looking straight forward.

“I received word late last night. Rhode Wales and some dignitaries from the Western Empire requested a formal visit.” He said

“What for? They just left yesterday.” Megan asked.

“I’m not sure but they’re asking for an extended stay to strengthen our relations. Rejecting their request will be like a declaration of war.”

“There’s no reason to reject them. Right?” Megan asked.

“Something about this puts me off.” Richardson said.

“Emperor Rhode is probably looking to make real relations. Not the false one his father had with us. I think it’s a good thing.” Megan said, remembering the encounter she had with him in the garden.

“You’re probably right.” Richardson said. “I would also like you to use your spare time to show Aspen the ropes, considering how she’d be taking over your official duties.” He added.

“The duties of a queen and Luna cannot be learned in a month and besides, I have no spare hours. Aspen can be trained by the teachers.” Megan said. She felt incredibly insulted that Richardson thought her role could be easily filled in, something that took 17 years of her life to master before she was deemed fit for marriage.

Aspen was going to make hell of the responsibilities and that made Megan strangely happy.

“Why are you being difficult?” Richardson asked. “I thought you had the capacity to understand how important this is. She is carrying your future king!”

“Not if I leave this pack.” Megan thought. She didn’t dare to voice that aloud. There were permissions to leave the pack but only if she had solid arrangements in another pack like remarriage and she did not have that. 

No one would want to marry the former Luna who couldn’t provide an heir.

“If that will be all your majesty, I need to get ready for the day.” Megan said and stood up, bowing to Richardson and she left the throne room.

In her quarters, Megan sat down in front of her big vanity where Rosetta was setting up her hair. She had to dress up again to welcome Rhode Wales.

“Rhode Wales, such a mystery.” Megan thought to herself. Their interaction in the garden kept replaying in her mind. Due to the fact that she had been betrothed to the future alpha of her clan, she never experienced the male gaze outside of Richardson. 

She never had any man call her beautiful, except dignitaries who only said so because it was customary. Something about the way Rhode looked at her and called her beautiful did not feel forced or rehearsed and that made her feel giddy inside.

Brianna and Rosetta tied her corset and she was ready to go see the Wales'. 

“Your highness! Breakfast?!” Brianna shouted.

“It's breakfast, silly.” Megan said informally, surprising Brianna and Rosetta who turned to look at themselves. The queen almost never spoke informally to them, especially lately that she had been more quiet and seemingly depressed due to the status of her marriage.

“Oh.” Brianna said. They were welcoming the Wales’ with a breakfast buffet and for the first time in a while Megan anticipated something.

Rhode and his entourage arrived in the Eastern kingdom in the early hours of the morning. His entourage was a deflection, his true purpose of his visit was to get close to Megan and offer her a ticket out of her pack.

“Have you thought this through?” Brian asked Rhode as they stepped out of the carriage.

“As much as I could.” He responded.

“Then have you thought about how Luna is never alone? Like ever? How do you plan to meet her one on one?” Brian asked as they began walking.

“I don’t have to.” He replied. “Megan has two close aides, her ladies in waiting. If I can meet her when she’s alone with them I’m sure she can ask them to step aside.” 

“Not with you. Richardson will never let you sit alone with his wife.” Brian said. Rhode didn’t respond because he was right.

However, Rhode had other plans. He knew Megan frequented the garden after breakfast every morning to check for him in his cub form, and he knew she came with her ladies in waiting. That was enough for now.

Richardson and Megan stood at the top of the stairs, customary to welcome guests who were rulers of other clans.

Rhode and Brian approached them, not taking his eyes off Megan. She was dressed in a deep red dress in Victorian fashion with gold lace along her bust line. She held her hands together in front of her and their eyes met.

“Uncomfortable clothing.” Rhode called it but Megan looked breathtaking in her dress. He held her eyes as he approached her and her husband. 

Luna had siren eyes with black pupils which captivated him, her thin nose and eyebrows framed her eyes perfectly.

“Presenting, Empire and alpha of the Western Empire, Rhode Wales and his prime minister, Brian Cartridge.” The announcer said.

Rhode bowed to Richardson and kissed Megan’s hand which shot electricity down her back. Megan had never felt anything like it before.

The four of them sat at the long dining table. Megan sat beside Richardson,  Rhode and Brian at the other end.

The four of them discussed future relations.

“Perhaps you could send some international students to our empire, we have an exceptional school for magic wielders.” Brian proposed.

“That sounds good. What do you think, Luna?” Richardson asked Megan. 

“I think that’s a great idea. It gives our people a chance to mix, not limiting our relationship to only among ourselves. I can handle that personally.” She responded.

“Oh yes. My queen has a bias for education amongst other things.” Richardson said which irked Megan. She didn’t need his fake compliments just because they were in the presence of the Wales’.

“Magnificent. We will be in touch. I look forward to my time here, your majesty, your highness.”  Brian said.

“We share the same sentiments.” Megan said.

The breakfast ended and Rhode and his entourage were led to the guest quarters. 

Richardson and Megan were left alone in the dining hall. Megan moved to leave the hall when Richardson said, “you look beautiful, today.” Something he used to say to her every time he saw her when they were growing up.

It used to make Megan smile. However she had not heard that in a long time and hearing it now angered her.

“If that will be all. Your majesty.” She bowed down and left him in the dining hall.

Rosetta and Brianna were waiting outside for her.

“I have your parasol ready, my queen.” Brianna said.

“Thank you, Brianna.” Megan said. She needed air.

She was getting increasingly sick of how she had to pretend that all was okay when in a month all she had ever known and worked for would be snatched from her.

She was going to make Richardson pay, but how?