Luna Lucky

William POV

Seeing my mate torn between learning and trying to be brave was tearing me apart. Knowing I couldn’t always be by her side to hold her hand through the changes she would face was killing me from within. Hearing her soft hiccups as she cried made it even harder to pull away. I wanted to stay, to comfort her, but I knew the dangers that could bring.

Many don’t know that if Lucky’s past were discovered, her record could disqualify her from becoming Queen and reduce her to a Royal Consort—something I could never accept. No one could ever love me the way my Lucky does.

Why she had been forced to do those degrading jobs was simple: fear and manipulation. She didn’t know who I truly was, and neither did those who used her. To them, I was just a homeless man who’d gotten lucky with a woman like her.

The joke’s on them. Because when I get my hands on every one of those disgraceful abusers, I’ll rip their hearts out.

There was so much to do, and I knew I had to plan everything carefully. Thankfully, General Thorn knew how to work with what was in his hands. His comments about Lucky through our mind link today were nothing but praise for her. He saw how she grounds me, the bond she doesn’t even know we share already has me wrapped around her little finger.

As I cleaned her nose, I spoke even softer, my voice full of warmth for the woman who brought luck and light into my life.

“Lucky, I hope you know that after meeting the staff tomorrow, we’ll have our date. But I’ll need you to start doing a few things from then on, alright?”

She nodded, knowing I was serious. I raised my index finger, and she blinked rapidly, the way she always did when she focused. It was adorable, and my desire to kiss her grew stronger with every little action.

“One,” I began, “you cannot tell anyone about your past. If you do, your title as Queen will be in jeopardy and could be taken away. I’d rather be the one to tell you this now than let you find out the hard way.” I sighed heavily before continuing. “If the Princesses discover your past, they could declare war against one another. The one who comes out on top would claim the title of Queen, and you’d be reduced to Royal Consort. In other words, a surrogate.”

Her horrified expression told me she understood. I quickly moved on to the next point, raising my second finger.

“Two, never accept anything from anyone without me present. Any gifts or packages must be held at the front of the castle and checked by General Thorn.”

Raising my third finger, I softened my tone. “Three, you are Queen as long as you stay quiet about your past. You hold power over the servants and even the Princesses. The only person you’re equal to is my mother, but even then, you don’t answer to anyone but me. Am I clear, my firefly?”

She nodded again, but I could see she wanted to speak. Time was running short, and if I didn’t kiss her before I left, I might go insane.

“But what if you’re busy?” she asked hesitantly. “What can I do then?”

I smiled at her concern and replied honestly. “Then you come to your estate. Lock everything until I come to you.” I paused, taking out something I’d been holding on to for her. “And one last thing before I lose my mind.”

I handed her a small object. “Because I know you’d prefer to learn things on your own, this is the master key to the castle. It’s the only one, and it’s yours. Use it to your advantage. I keep no secrets from you.”

She took the key and slipped off her heel, carefully tucking it inside. Watching her handle it with such care made me proud of her. She was trying, and that meant everything to me.

Unable to hold back any longer, I placed my hand on the back of her neck and kissed her ferociously, with a desire so strong it nearly consumed me. It was almost enough to make me forget the restraint I needed to maintain.

Holding back wasn’t easy, especially knowing I’d lost my virginity to that ungrateful Princess. Feeling Lucky return my kiss only drew me closer. But as usual, her hands went to her chest and lower abdomen.

Her actions made me stop. I couldn’t ignore my curiosity any longer. “Why do you place your hands on your chest and lower abdomen, Lucky? Every time we kiss, you do that.”

Her expression shifted, shame and fear clouding her features. My instincts screamed to prepare for something that would break my heart.

“Will,” she began hesitantly, “I was always told that my virginity was my most important essence, and when I lost it, I’d be ready to have babies. I never wanted to lose it because it meant I’d be married off to the highest bidder.”

Her voice broke, and with it, my heart shattered. Hearing the manipulation and fear she had endured made my blood boil. Holding back a growl was nearly impossible, but I couldn’t scare her. Not again.

Instead, I pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her as if I could protect her from every pain she’d ever felt. Tomorrow, I’d tell her what I’d been holding back for too long. Tomorrow, I’d make sure she knew just how much she meant to me.

The entire evening would be like a fairytale.

I knew she would be the happiest woman alive with the plans I had nearly finalized. But Weston wasn’t making things easier. He wasn’t supportive of my decision to accept Lucky as my mate. His constant mind links, filled with suggestions to reject her, were becoming unbearable. I had to block him out entirely.

In his mind, losing my human mate would be a victory—a way to secure a stronger alliance. He believed Lucky’s vulnerability and her need for my constant protection made her a liability. But what Weston didn’t understand was the treasure I held right here in my hands.

The faint sound of the maid’s footsteps approaching reached me, snapping me back to the present. I stood abruptly, extending my hand to Lucky. As she placed her smaller hand in mine, I looked at her, knowing the weight of the question I was about to ask.

“Lucky,” I said, my voice steady, “I need an answer to one question: when do you want to become a werewolf?”

Her eyes widened at the question, her surprise clear. But I could see her mind working through it, thinking about the answer.

I knew the sooner she agreed to the transformation, the better. Becoming a werewolf would accelerate everything. She would be crowned Queen immediately after the introductions, wearing my mark as a seal of her fate. But that could only happen once she was no longer human.

I waited patiently, my heart racing with anticipation. This decision would determine everything for both of us. Before the doors opened, Lucky finally spoke, her voice steady, her expression determined.

“If that means staying by your side, then as soon as possible. I don’t want to be too far behind.”

Her words struck something deep within me, filling me with both pride and a fierce protectiveness. She was ready—or at least she thought she was.

The doors opened then, revealing the maid who had been assigned to serve my mate. The woman stood with her hands neatly clasped in front of her, her expression calm but curious.

I didn’t move, my focus fixed on Lucky. I was waiting, watching, to see if she would truly take my words seriously, if she understood what this meant for her future—and for us.

Lucky took a heavy breath, her shoulders rising and falling as if she were bracing herself for something monumental. Her eyes flicked to mine, searching for reassurance. And I gave a small smile and nodded.