Claude and I pulled away after I don’t know how many minutes we had been kissing as soon as I brought him to the veranda for a surprise. We had been making out and I admit it was such a good feeling to be kissed by him.
Claude had the desired look expressed in his eyes while his thumb was gently caressing my cheek. “I enjoyed having rice porridge and lasagna. I didn’t know my lovely mate and wife know how to cook,” he said softly.
I squirmed at his touch and dared to look into his eyes. “I want to do something for you, Claude. You have done so much for me… I just want to do this small gesture to make you feel appreciated.” I kissed his lips again.
Ah… His lips were soft yet plump. It was such a good taste I would get addicted.
Claude drew closer and rubbed his nose with mine. My wolf and I felt melting with that gesture. That kind of gesture was so sweet, it overwhelmed me knowing that Claude knew how to cherish and love me.
Love… I was still shocked at that. I couldn’t believe Claude would say that.
I asked myself. Do I feel the same?
‘Of course, silly. If you don’t love him, why did you let him touch you and mark you?’
That bitch of my wolf was acting out again. But she has a point.
He pulled away. I opened my eyes and saw his softened expression. I got teary-eyed realizing-
“I love you so much,” I confessed back.
“Huh?” Claude’s eyes widened. His jaw even dropped upon hearing my confession.
I didn’t feel embarrassed about it and didn’t dare to even hide my face. Instead, I was looking at his reaction when his face was turning like a red tomato.
I chuckled at his reaction. This man… Why was he so adorable?
“I-Is that true?” Claude asked after a moment of silence. I could even hear his heart beat so fast. It was a beautiful rhythm that with my sensitive ears, I happened to hear them.
Holding his face, I exhaled confidence. “I love you, too, Claude,” I said, finally letting out the feelings I have for him.
His jaw dropped one more time. I chuckled, wanting to cherish this moment he was dumbfounded upon my confession.
I pinched him on his flank which earned him a pain expression from him. He shot me a glare but then, his expression softened before he finally kissed me one more time.
“And I love you more,” he exclaimed happily. Claude hugged me so tight I couldn’t breathe. “At last, you finally reciprocate my feelings… I am falling for my mate more!”
“Claude…” I was chuckling and hugged him back.
My heart was raging so wild I wanted to rip it out of my cage. This feeling… I didn’t know that it was a good feeling. If only I realized this earlier, from the time I found out that Claude was my mate, I would have experienced this good feeling being with my mate.
Rachelle… Self, you were such an asshole back then that you rejected Claude. I should have listened to his explanation back then. But I was too blinded by my emotions as I failed to think rationally.
“Rachelle.”
“Hmm?” I glanced at him as we were heading to the training ground after we changed into different attire.
Claude clasped his hand with mine after we grabbed our rapier swords, going to the field. “I have finished the preparation for your farewell party. Just as you instructed me, the farewell party is a discreet one. I picked the underground amphitheater that is located inside our palace.”
I looked at him, hearing the change of his tone. He didn’t seem happy about the farewell party I asked for him to prepare because I couldn’t handle it due to my busy schedule when I was handling the military officials and soldiers for the upcoming war with Magnius Lothim.
“I appreciate your help, Claude. I really do.” I smiled.
His expression softened. “Only for you, love.” He kissed the back of my hand and smiled.
But his smile didn’t reach his eyes.
Claude and I were sparring partners. Since Claude experienced different training sessions when he was a teenager, he wanted to be the one to train me properly. He was a strict mentor I could say. He wouldn’t allow me to rest until I corrected the posture he wanted me to do.
“Again,” Claude said coldly when he managed to drop my rapier sword.
I was panting heavily and nodded. I took my rapier sword and positioned myself in a fighting stance.
Claude cocked his head from side to side. “Begin.”
I inhaled and exhaled, looking at him with earnest expression. Then I began running towards him, swinging my sword coated with wolfsbane.
Yes, the weapon we had was coated with wolfsbane. Claude said that it might be better if I used the real sword to spar with him and he needed to let me think that I was facing Magnius Lothim.
At the first contact of our sword together, Claude changed his expression into an arrogant one. “Is that your only the best you can have, Rachelle? You are a soldier dove in heavy training yet you are attacking me so meekly.”
I gritted my teeth in annoyance but I ignored him, focusing on hitting him. This was part of my training that he would insult me.
Even though I knew he didn’t mean it and never wanted to do it, I asked him to do it. Because I would never know if Magnius would do the same thing like this. So, I need to focus on keeping my emotions at bay because I knew that if I got insulted, I would start to react irrationally.
“Rachelle, you are being sloppy with your movements. Are you really that capable to lead the brigade? Did I make a wrong choice?”
I squinted my eyes at him and started swinging my sword against him. Claude grinned. However, I could feel his painful emotion because he was insulting me. He knew that I was already enough for the training.
I charged the sword towards him only to be blocked by him. I ducked to the ground while placing the tip of the sword to the ground before I finally attacked him by going sideways. Claude blocked it and attacked me with so much force.
I stepped and attacked again. This time, I hit him on his flank causing him to smirk as he stepped backward by swinging his sword faster than before.
It was a defence for him to keep me at bay because I inflicted pain on him.
I took that as an opportunity to attack him one more time. This time, Claude threw sand into my eyes.
“Damn it!” I cussed and stepped back, closing my eyes tightly but I was still on guard.
I couldn’t say that this was my victory yet since the more a werewolf had closed its sight sense, they would rely on its surroundings and would be warmer than before. I didn’t waste my time and attacked Claude with all of my strength. I even used my foot to kick him on his stomach. I could hear him stepping back from my attack before I heard his footsteps coming towards me.
When I felt like the tip of his sword almost hit my stomach, I made a quick turn to my left and used the hilt of my sword to hit his back.
But I shivered when I hissed in pain when I felt the blade of the sword at my throat pressing in my skin.
“Well done, love.” I inhaled sharply when Claude whispered to my ear and grazed his lips to my earlobe. “Let’s call it for a day.”
I nodded my head. “Okay… But my eyes…”
“Bring me some basin with water for your Luna Queen!” Claude ordered before I felt him going to my front. “My apologies for doing that, Rachelle.” He sighed in distress and kissed my forehead before he made me drop my rapier sword and hug me.
I chuckled softly, still closing my eyes. “It’s alright, Claude. I learned many tricks from you so I need to be vigilant in my surroundings.” I hugged him back.
“And my insults… I really didn’t mean it, I swear my name to the name of the Moon Goddess.”
I could feel that he was feeling bad about it. I chuckled one more time before I raised my head to kiss him on his lips. “I told you. It is alright. Also, I asked you to do this for me. You know my attitude when I am being insulted…”
I felt him nodding as he caressed my hair. “I know… But it pains me…” He sighed again.
As soon as I washed my face to remove the dirt that entered my eyes, we already settled to finalize the plans in the conference room along with the high-ranking officials. That night we were exhausted as well.
I didn’t have an ounce of energy to make love with Claude and so he was, too. He was also feeling agitated with me leaving the royal palace and leading the brigade. So, I really need to make assurance that I am coming back.
I didn’t mind if Claude was being clingy. I knew what he felt so I need to be considerate of his feelings.
“Love, let’s not attend the farewell party this weekend…” Claude said as his voice muffled because he buried his face to my breasts when I had already worn my nightgown.
I caressed his hair using my fingers. “Alright.”
Claude gasped and raised his head, shocked. “A-Are you sure?” I nodded. Claude blinked so many times, unbeknownst what to do.
Chuckling, I pinched his nose. “You have been anxious about me going to the war, Claude. Then, whatever you want, we will do it according to your will.” He stiffened before he looked away.
“Am I that obvious?”
“Yes. Did you not think I wouldn’t notice it?” I asked softly. Claude frowned, sighing softly. “Claude…” He looked at me. “It’s fine. You can tell me everything and be more open to me just what I always do to you. I am your mate, remember?”
“But, love, I don’t want to be a burden… I just felt useless as the Alpha King of the Waevalon Kingdom that I am letting the Luna Queen go to the war instead of me. I felt like a coward… I must be a laughing stock to our whole kingdom…”
I chuckled. “No, you aren’t.” I sighed and cupped his cheeks. “You are not a coward, Claude. I happened to be the General and Luna Queen at the same time. Also, this is our agreement, remember? After all, I am still the chosen General who will lead the brigade before we get married.”
Claude nodded. “I just don’t want you to leave. I felt like half of my soul is going to be taken away once you leave to go to the war.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I want to be a selfish one, Rachelle. But I promised to you that I will let you lead the brigade once we married each other.”
“Your reasons are valid. And I understand you, Claude. Have no fear.” I made him look at me. “I will assure you that I will come back alive and will defeat Magnius Lothim to finish this war. With that, I am ready to bear our pup as soon as it is over.”
He stared at me before his expression softened. He placed his body on top of me, giving his weight to me which I didn’t mind. “I cannot wait to have our pup soon. I will wait for your arrival, Your Majesty, Luna Queen Rachelle.
Before Claude descended his lips to mine, I felt at ease now that I have given him a proper assurance. However, I am forgetting something that I needed to do.
And I don’t know what that was.