Gabriella’s POV
I woke up the following morning, feeling a slight shift within myself, as if my entire being was connected to just one person-Nicklaus. I stretched my hands out to touch him, but the bed was empty. The room was devoid of his presence. Where had he gone so early? Could it be a pack-related matter? I had assumed we would have more time together, like a honeymoon after our marriage. It seemed that wasn’t going to be the case.
I gingerly touched the place on my body where he had bitten me last night. The pain had subsided; it was now just a mate mark. I hurried to the mirror to check if any visible mark remained. It turned out to be a simple mate mark, not as serious as I had initially thought. However, touching it sent waves of desire through my body, reminding me of last night. I quickly pushed those thoughts away. It was a new day and my official first day as the Luna of the Blood Moon Pack. What should I be doing?
“Take a walk around,” Leah’s voice finally broke the silence.
“I think that’s the best idea for now,” I replied.
“Yeah, familiarize yourself with the pack and let them get to know you. It’s simple and I’m sure there won’t be any problems for now. Don’t worry about not being able to shift,” she advised, easing my concerns.
“I’ll follow your advice. I’ll get to know the people and let them get to know me. I’m not proud and I’m approachable, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.”
After I finished bathing, I put on a simple dress and stepped out of the room, only to be surprised by a group of maids waiting for me. “Good morning, Luna,” they all greeted in unison. I smiled and waved back, not quite sure how to respond.
“Oh my goodness, Luna, what are you wearing? You can’t dress like a commoner and step out with your hair not properly styled. You also forgot to wear the rare gem that is a symbol of authority,” the chief maid exclaimed.
“Are those things necessary?” I inquired, considering the hassle of putting on those accessories and walking around in heels. Being a Luna seemed like a much bigger responsibility than just looking after the people.
“Yes, it’s a must. But don’t worry at all. The appropriate dress is here. Let’s go in and get you changed.”
“Okay, after you,” I offered, but she insisted I go first.
I ended up wearing a long red dress with striped heels. The necklace of authority was placed around my neck, and my hair was neatly styled. Once I was ready, I was directed to the garden to have breakfast with the other ladies. It was a task I managed with ease, likely because of my experience having breakfast with other ladies back in the witches’ tribe.
While eating, one of them said, “You look so beautiful, my Luna.”
I smiled and replied, “You all look wonderful too. I hope everyone is enjoying the meal?” I inquired, and they all nodded.
“If anyone isn’t satisfied with the meal, there’s more available,” I added with a smile.
“Our Luna is so kind,” one of them commented.
“She’s kind, but kindness won’t save us when danger strikes. She’s weak; she can’t even shift into our form to defend us if we’re at risk,” another voice spoke out. I stopped eating immediately, and one of the pack members chastised her, “Are you out of your mind? How dare you utter such words about our Luna? Do you want to lose your head? And who are you anyway? I’ve never seen you here before.”
“It’s alright, she was just stating her opinion. But I want you all to understand that I’m willing to sacrifice my life to protect you from danger. Let’s continue our meal with joy, and not let anger steal this happy moment from us,” I said, attempting to maintain a positive atmosphere. Despite the hurtful words, I knew that truth could be painful at times, but it’s something no one can alter, whether in the present, past, or future.
We finished our meal, and I was informed that my training session for learning how to handle a bow and arrow was scheduled next. I was excited to become proficient in this skill.
They presented me with my own special bow and arrow. I was surprised to see a skilled female warrior who excelled in using this weapon. “Good morning, My Luna. I’m Joan, and I’ll be your instructor until you master this weapon,” she greeted me with a smile.
“Thank you very much. Shall we begin?” I asked, and she nodded, saying, “Certainly.” I spent hours under Joan’s guidance, practicing diligently. However, despite my efforts, I struggled to shoot the arrow accurately, missing the target every time. Joan assured me that with time, I would improve. I resolved not to give up until I had mastered this skill, as it would enable me to defend against enemies effectively.
Exhausted from the training, I was in need of rest. However, I was informed that I had to accompany the young members of the pack to the woods to oversee their training as their Luna. Afterward, I could finally take a break. I inquired about Nick’s whereabouts and learned that he would be returning late that day.
I chose to focus on supervising the youngsters when suddenly, we were ambushed in the woods. I attempted to fight off the attackers with my magic, but when they realized this, I was attacked from behind. My mouth was covered with leaves, and I struggled fiercely to free myself. I was determined to protect the younger pack members; I couldn’t bear to see them suffer because of me. Despite my efforts to shift into a wolf, I found it impossible. I couldn’t allow myself to be abducted this way; I felt like I had failed in my duty as a Luna.