We spent our whole afternoon eating some variety of sweets before we settled on the nearby brook and stayed at the nearest tree. My feet were soaked in the water while lying in the grass.
Claude remained standing while his eyes were focused on the bridge that was connected to the next district, the Southside. I wasn’t sure what was fascinating about it but maybe he was thinking of a new project for the kingdom.
I stared at the sky while raising and waving my hand. Then I clutched something thinking it was a sword bathed with wolfsbane.
“I want to go to the war,” I said out of nowhere. I just want some bloodshed killing some rogues who dare to defy and ruin the order of the kingdom.
Especially Magnius Lothim. I am itching to kill him for having my soldiers killed.
I looked beside me, seeing Claude towering over me. There was a grim expression on his face.
“Did you just utter that so you want me to choose you to rule the new brigade?” he asked in a dangerous tone.
“No, of course not.” Sighing, I removed my feet from the water and decided to stand up. I even removed the dirt from my back and faced him. “I was trained to assassinate and kill the ones who became a threat to our kingdom, Alpha King Claudian. I was trained to prepare for the war, especially the rogue war between our kingdom and Magnius Lothim. I think it is normal to think I want to have some bloodshed between the rogues and me. Like what I said before, I am more capable in the battlegrounds rather than staying and waiting for the information from our intel.” I squatted and dipped my finger to the water, drawing circles. “I thought that becoming a General would be more interesting than being a Commander. I couldn’t even have a chance to train some soldiers because for the whole day, I was facing lots of paperwork set by my secretary.” I twitched my lips into a thin line. “Of course, you wouldn’t understand me, Your Majesty. I know that you are stronger than me. I already attested your skills which is much more skilled than mine.”
I remember my fight with him when he hurt one of my comrades. He was better than me. He could have killed me if I wasn’t a trained soldier. But good thing, I could still think of ways to outsmart him.
“Because I was trained ever since I reached three years old.”
I looked at him, wide-eyed. Three years old? “My adoptive father, I mean my previous Alpha trained me when I was ten years old together with Alpha Storm.” I blinked. “That’s heavy-duty for you.”
“As a Crown Prince before, you are indeed correct.” He also squatted and settled beside me. He dipped his hand into the water and started swirling his hand. “Studying the history of the Waevalon Kingdom, the economics, understanding how to shift to werewolves and etiquette were my things way back. Although Father and Mother let me do the things I wanted, I still bear the responsibility to be the Alpha King someday. And here I am. I am fulfilling my duty.”
That surprised me a little. The Claude I knew in the past never opened some trivial matters in his life. What he always did was make his personal affairs a mystery to me then teased me with all his might until I exploded in annoyance.
“That is one of a hell difficult.” I couldn’t even say something to console him because I wasn’t in his shoes.
He shrugged. “I’m getting used to it.” Then he sighed. “I’m afraid my father is going to do some drastic moves for me.”
“Grand Alpha? What drastic moves?”
Claude glanced at me before he set his eyes to the reflection of himself to the water. “I have to get married as soon as possible and have a Luna Queen by my side who can help me with the affairs of the kingdom.” That stiffened me. He turned at me. “If things were a bit different and you accepted me from the past, you would have become my Luna Queen, Rachelle.”
“H-Huh?” It was like dynamite that stunned me on the ground.
What did he say?
I could have become his Luna Queen?
“That’s…” I looked away. “I don’t know what to say.” My heart was pounding so fast. Luna Queen? I have never imagined becoming a Luna Queen… I never even imagined having a mate who was an Alpha King. “That’s ridiculous…” I laughed dryly.
“Father didn’t know that you were my mate.”
I took a deep breath and nodded. “I-I can see that.” The way Grand Alpha spoke to me, asking me if I ever found my mate was enough for me that he didn’t know that Claude and I were once a mate then reconnected again.
“Ever since you came here to the palace and become a private, he had been doting on you.”
“I know that. He treated me like his daughter.” I smiled at how kind Grand Alpha was and accepted me as the first female werewolf soldier to the military. “He was like a father to me.”
Claude splashed some water in his direction. “Have I already told you that my Father always mentioned you to me? That-”
I chuckled and nodded, looking at him. “He was match-making for us. I know that. I heard so much about you as well even though I didn’t know what you look like.”
Chuckling, Claude nodded. “He keeps saying, ‘Son, you should meet her. Son, try to see if Rachelle is your mate’ such things like that.” He shook his head. “My Father is hilarious.”
I laughed and agreed with him. “You are hilarious as well, Your Majesty.” I started sprinkling some water on his face which made him step back and splash me with some water on me.
Claude also laughed with me which was like music to my ears. I had a great time seeing the different behaviors he had. It never failed to amuse me.
We started splashing with each other some water from the brook like children. We even dared to chase at each other. I circled the tree when Claude tried to chase me around.
I grinned and stuck my tongue out when he couldn’t manage to chase me. “I can’t believe you can’t catch me, Claude,” I challenged him.
“You are underestimating me too much, Rachelle. You might be able to choke your words later,” Claude said with a smirk. Like he had the confidence to catch me while we were both circling the tree.
I tried to trick him that I would go to the left and instead I went to the right but Claude was quick to catch up. He easily caught me in my arms. We both fell back to the grass while we were facing each other in a side-by-side manner, laughing to our heart’s content.
Our laughter started to die gradually when we both realized how close our faces were to each other. I slowly inhaled his male scent as well as his male cologne. It penetrated my nostrils and it made me want to smell him more.
From staring directly into his eyes, I lowered down my gaze checking every inch of his face. But my eyes glued mostly to his beautiful hazel eyes. How could they be so sparkly and beautiful at the same time?
I irked a little when Claude gently grazed my cheek with his knuckles that sent tingles down my spine. The way he stared intently at me was already enough to make me curled up like a kitten.
I shivered when his thumb traced my lower lip. I caught my breath and slowly exhaled. I suddenly felt something awakened inside me. The jolt of electricity from his touch was sending my sleeping system to an awakening state.
I involuntarily closed my eyes, feeling his tingly touch to my whole being as my heart was pounding so heavily. This kind of intimacy and sensuality was bringing me to some heights.
I slowly opened my eyes and was surprised when my hand was already on his jaw. My wolf did that and that wasn’t even me after all!
“Rachelle,” he called. His sensual voice was hypnotizing me. “Rachelle,” Claude called again, whispering my name.
“Claude…” I couldn’t help calling his name.
I wanted to touch him. I wanted to caress his face…
‘Kiss him,’ my wolf whispered to me, which almost released a loud gasp.
Claude exhaled and stared into my eyes. “Be my Luna Queen.”
I furrowed my eyebrows as I couldn’t comprehend what he said. His eyes were too distracting for me to focus on his words.
“What?” I said mindlessly and tried to focus.
“Be my Luna Queen,” he repeated. “You’re the only woman I wanted to be my Luna Queen…”
Luna Queen? His Luna Queen?
That was a big responsibility! I didn’t even accept him as my mate yet he was asking me to be his what? Luna Queen? That would tie me up from my freedom!
I hadn’t even know who I was yet! I still have few clues about who I was.
I couldn’t accept him yet…
That snapped me back. Gasping in surprise, I immediately distanced myself and got up. I took out my pocket watch while my hands were fidgeting. “W-We should head back to the plaza,” I said and laughed nervously.
I was about to stand up when Claude stopped me in my hand. The moment I turned to him, I already regretted it. His eyes registered pain and sadness on them. That also pained me seeing those negative expressions.
“Father will tie me up to a marriage soon,” he said, which made my eyes widened every time he mentioned that. “I need a Luna Queen to help me run the kingdom and will also bear my pups.” His tone was designed like he was having difficulties. “All he knew was that my mate rejected me. That there is no way the broken bond will be healed. He didn’t even know that my bond to you had been reconnected. If I tell him, he will force you to marry me, Rachelle.” He gripped my hand tightly. “I don’t want that to happen. I want you to marry me that isn’t against your will.” He sighed in exasperation. “But I also don’t want to get married to someone else even though I already have a mate.”
I shook my head. “I can’t, Claude. I can’t bear a very heavy responsibility… I can’t be your Luna Queen…” I removed my hand from his. “All I want is to be in the front lines. And I don’t just sit around and relax.” I bit my lower lip, feeling my eyes getting misty. “Y-You can have a marriage with someone.”
“What?” He looked at me in disbelief. “Are you insane?!” he said angrily.
I glared at him. “I came here to have fun, Your Majesty. If you are here to ruin my day off, then I suggest you should leave now and I will go to the plaza alone,” I said coldly even though my heart was in pain right now.
‘Idiot, Rachelle! You are such an idiot!’ I heard my wolf screaming at me. She was so mad at me right now she chose to cut off our mind link.
“No.” I turned at him the moment I was done fixing my leather boots covered with wooden patterns. “I am coming with you to the plaza.” Claude stood up with a cold and stern expression. “We will go and see the plaza together. That is an order from your Alpha King, Rachelle Simon.”
My jaw dropped from his order. The conviction in his tone was making me submissive to his orders. He is an Alpha. I should follow him.
And it is a must.