The Luna is a Royal Guardsman

The Stipulations

“I assure you I am not a chauvinist. However, a well-run pack has roles that everyone has to play. My Luna needs to be able to give me heirs,” Alpha Meyers retorts.

I watch in amusement how much that vein is throbbing right now. I began to wonder if werewolves can have aneurysms. If he does, his healing should keep the damage to a minimum. Unless he’s too “advanced in his years” to heal properly. I smirk to myself at the thought.

“That’s good because I don’t want to have kids. If I agree to this mating, I will not have an emotional or physical relationship with you. If you want heirs, you can go impregnate one of your mistresses. I won’t raise the child, but I won’t abuse or neglect it either,” I respond stubbornly. I wonder if he’ll keel over with this. I raise my eyebrows when he looks intrigued and puts his chin on his knuckles to take a good look at me.

“And why don’t you want kids? Every she-wolf I’ve met goes on and on about having babies and raising a huge family. “ his curiosity evident in his voice.

“Well, my loyalty lies with the Crown, my Alpha and Luna, and my pack. In that order. I don’t want to be so physically impaired that I can’t fulfill my duties as a Royal Guardsman. Especially since I am specially assigned to the Crowned Prince.” I say truthfully, but I’m not about to reveal the whole truth. “No offense, Becca.”

“None taken, Addie. Motherhood shouldn’t be forced upon people who do not want it.” Becca said quietly.I see that she came out of the shock induced by Alpha Meyers’s and my banter. I took a peek at Chris, and he was petrified in mortification. I had to bite my tongue not to giggle at him.

“Well, how about this. We try a few attempts at artificial insemination for the first few years,” He said thoughtfully.

“I guess you really don't know how to listen. Also, you can try, but it’s not going to work. If you feel the need to waste your money, turkey basting my lady bits in a futile attempt to get me to bear an heir, go right on ahead,” I reply. And then the vein starts pulsing again. Oopsies.

Alpha Meyer closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He changes the subject, trying to calm down. “I’m assuming you don’t care about your fated mate? I certainly do.”

“Oh, that won’t be a problem. My first mate died a long time ago, and my second chance mate rejected me the moment he saw me. There won’t be a fated mate to whisk me away to my happily ever after. I made peace with that a long time ago,” I say matter-of-factly. I really didn’t care if other people knew about my history. Curiously enough, I see Alpha Meyer's face change to one of pity.

“I’m so sorry about your losses,” he says sincerely. I shrug, being used to this reaction. “But what if I meet my fated one?”

“Then I will either step down as Luna, or you can keep her as your mistress. Whatever is best for the pack,” I say. “And I only really planned to be mated for 5 years, anyway, if I agree with this.”

“What! Why?” he demanded.

“As I said before, my loyalties lie first with the Crown above all else. I honestly can’t see myself fulfilling my Luna duties while fulfilling my duties as a Royal Guardsman. If I agree, I would have to hire assistants to handle the bulk of Luna duties since I would be away at the Palace more often than in the pack. It’s not sustainable, and the pack would suffer in the long term. It would be best if I establish some effective policies and then step down to make way for the true Luna so that your pack wouldn’t be dependent on having that seat filled by an absent Luna,” I told him. I really didn’t think I would get here, but it needed to be said. I would be a horrible Luna.

“5 years,” Alpha Meyers murmured. He sat back in his chair deep in thought. “Well, you give me a lot to think about. How about I contact you in a week and possibly draw up a contract that’ll satisfy us both.”

“I think that will be acceptable. Please contact me through my Alpha,” I said.

“Well, then I will head out; Alpha duties are calling,” he announced. He and his entourage stood up and walked around to our side of the table. Chris, Becca, and I all stood up as well. He took a good, hard look into my eyes, and I wasn’t quite sure what I was seeing in those chartreuse orbs. Maybe disgust and admiration at the same time. It was confusing to say the least.

“Goodbye, Alpha Meyers,” I said to him as I stuck out my hand for a shake. He looked at it for a second before he gave it a hardy shake. I was surprised because most males try to be delicate when handling females. It honestly was refreshing to receive a good handshake.

“Yes, have a safe trip,” said Becca

“We will speak soon,” said Chris.

Alpha Meyers turned and left through the door of the conference room.His entourage followed quickly behind him.I braced myself for what I knew would happen next.

Are you crazy!” screeched Becca as soon as Alpha Meyers was out of earshot. “What the hell was that, and why are you dressed like that?”

“Hey, sweetie. Calm down,” said Chris gently as he wrapped his arms around Becca. “It’s not good for the babies.”

Oof, big mistake. Do not tell a hormonal pregnant she-wolf to calm down. I watched as her face transformed into something that will haunt me in my nightmares. Chris will be in the dog house tonight.

“Calm down! Don’t tell me to calm down!” she screamed. She ripped his arms off her and turned around. Chris wisely clamped his mouth shut, which made me choke down a laugh. “This could’ve gone so badly! What if Alpha Meyers was insulted so badly that he started a pack war? What if they don’t get mated and the Crown becomes so infuriated that they have everyone in this pack executed! What if the Oracle curses us for ignoring the Goddess’s will!”

“Hey! I’m sorry, but I have no desire to be a Luna. I'd rather have the Oracle match me with an Omega; that way I can focus on my Royal Guard duties. I’m pretty sure with my track record, the Goddess will understand if I don’t get mated now,” I shouted back, which made me the target of her anger again. “And don’t worry about the Crown. It was more a request than a command to meet with Alpha Meyers. Given our family history with them, I would have to commit a great act of treason before they order any harm to our pack. Besides, I’m adopted. Chris can just disown me if the Crown ever gets that peeved at my actions.”

“I would never throw you away. I don’t care if we are not related by blood; you are my little sister, and I would die for you,” swore Chris. Which somehow made Becca calm down two levels.

“Dude, no. You’re the Alpha of this pack. The pack comes first. Die for them, not me,” I said. “Besides, the two little ones in Becca’s tummy will need their dad to learn how to be great leaders.”

“Aw, you do love me!” said Chris. I duck as he tries to hug me. We were way too old for this.

“How is a doofball like you able to actually lead a pack?” I asked sarcastically. I shook my head while smiling at my silly older brother.

Becca grumbles while smiling at our antics. She then points at the Napoleonic blue and red dress uniform of the Royal Guard on my body and says, “You could’ve put on a nice dress or something more suitable.”

“Hey, this was a formal meeting of two leaders. I needed to represent the Crown. My dress uniform is proper military attire. I even wore the fancy cape,” I said sternly as I flipped my cape with a flourish. “Besides, why would I want to lie to a mate prospect about how not at all feminine I am? He needs to see me and my priorities from the get-go.”

“Also, did you really have to say 'basting your lady bits'? Also, having kids might not be bad for you. Why are you so against it?” Becca says, exasperated.

“You know why, Becca,” I simply reply. “It's not like I'm physically able. Besides, can you imagine me hunting down the Crown Prince every time he gives his guards the slip while full-term pregnant? He’s already too hard to bring back to the castle as it is.”

My phone rings, and I sigh deeply as I recognize the number. “Speak of the devil,” I swiped the phone to accept the call. “Krause, did he get away again?”