Lucy’s POV
My first day in Moonstruck Pack went exceedingly well. When night came, we were all shown to our respective rooms to close off the day. Initially, I had been assigned my own separate chambers, but Shaun seemed to think that I might get stolen away by some unknown entity, and smuggled himself into my room.
“Can’t you stay away from me for just one night, Shaun?” I asked, on the verge of laughter as he acted like one sneaking in, looking over his shoulder as he closed the door to the room.
Confident that we were now alone, he stood to his full height. Even in the dark, I could feel his contented smile as it fell on me.
“Why should I stay away from my bride-to-be?” he said, slowly walking over to the bed, where I lay.
“Because courtesy demands it. It’s considered bad practice for a couple to spend the night together before they are wed.”
“Hm?” He was on the bed now, gently pressing it down with his weight. I made space for him by moving out of the way, but remained close enough for our bodies to touch when he rested comfortably.
“You’re too far,” he said, and wrapped an arm over my waist and pulled me to him.
I rolled my eyes with a smile. “You’re like a child.”
“Say what you want while you can, princess, you’ll eat your words very soon,” he replied, before pressing his lips to mine.
–
The next morning came, and like the Luna of Moonstruck had already informed us, it was Scott’s time to meet the woman who had been selected for him. He didn’t seem to be very excited with the prospect, but as he usually did, his lips remained sealed.
Seth kept making fun of him, but somehow it was obvious that it was just a way to keep his own anxiety at bay. It surprised me how these men had been completely subdued after their aunt had told them about her plans for them. They didn’t protest, didn’t object, and just accepted it with open arms. It showed me more and more that they had indeed spent so much time with her, and had come to see her as an integral part of their lives.
As a mother.
Scott and I had been summoned for another meeting, but I was a bit curious about how this woman would be, so I stalled a little in the room where we had met up with the Luna the day before, taking little bites of my food until I could pretend no longer.
At last, she stepped into the room, flashing bright teeth with a smile that would have blinded you if you stared too much.
As soon as she entered, the Luna walked up to her and embraced her, before turning around to introduce her to us. “Nephews, this is Anabella Fang, the only daughter of my Beta.”
Anabella walked over to us, taking our hands in quick handshakes. “It’s so great to finally meet you all. I’ve heard so much about you,” she said enthusiastically.
She was very beautiful, and I could see why she had been selected as a potential mate for Scott, but I could only hope that beauty was not all that she possessed.
Shaun and I walked out of the room just as Annabella went to meet Scott, and internally, I wished her the best.
The Luna led us to another room, and I used the opportunity to take in the beauty of the Moonstruck Palace. Not all packs were lucky enough to have a palace-like Bloodbath-but those that did usually put in a lot of resources into constructing the place. The Palaces usually functioned as an elaborate pack house where family members, and workers of the Alpha and Luna of the pack lived.
I didn’t get the full story about Mrs. King, but from the way Shaun spoke about her family carefully, I deduced that her husband had likely passed away, leaving her as the only one in charge of the pack.
After walking down a series of halls, we finally reached an outdoor spot with shade and well-groomed growth of various exotic flowers. It appeared to be a garden, but it looked like it had been made for people to sit down and have conversations.
“Please, take a seat,” the Luna said, settling down in one of the benches across from us. Today, she wore a scarlet dress that contrasted perfectly with her fair skin and hair. Her clothing statements never seemed to lack beauty.
“I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you yesterday, but I wanted you to get some rest before we faced the real issue at hand,” she started, leaning forward slightly. “I believe you’ve heard about the recent rogue sightings at the borders?”
Shaun nodded, his countenance becoming serious. “Yes. I sent some scouts a few days before to assess the area. They came back with nothing.”
“That’s to be expected.”
“Why?”
“The rogues aren’t the typical mindless ones that we’ve always heard about. Their attacks have been well coordinated, and a few days back, two of my men returned from their scouting injured, but, thankfully, alive.”
“What did they find?”
“That’s where trouble begins. They weren’t able to get good looks at the rogues. In their words, ‘they moved like shadows and attacked quicker than vipers.”
“Indeed, that is strange. Are we sure that these are rogues we’re talking about?” Shaun asked for clarification.
“What else could we be dealing with? Demons? Asides humans, we sre the only creatures capable of such,” said the woman, her eyes momentarily flashing with worry. “I don’t like this one bit. And the fact that this is happening not too long after your uncle came out of his hiding.”
“Do you think he could be connected to all this?”
She shook her head. “I can’t say at this point, but there are too many coincidences for me to just ignore. Something serious and dangerous is brewing, Shaun, and the faster we get to the bottom of it, the better for us. All of us.”
Just then, a tall woman dressed in combat leather stepped into the area. She bowed on making eye contact with the Luna, crossing an arm over her heart. “My Luna,” she greeted before raising her head. There was an urgency in her behaviour that immediately changed the atmosphere of the room.
“Adrianne. What is it? What have you found?” asked the Luna, rising to her feet.
“There has been another attack at the borders, Luna. Three were killed.”