Luna Lucky

15

Will gulped, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously, before he began speaking. His voice was softer now, almost hesitant.

“Because,” he said, “you aren’t being pushed into this title. Unlike me—I was born into this world, into this role. I had no choice. And I won’t allow my burden to become yours.”

His words came faster, tumbling out as though he’d been holding them in for too long. “I stayed with you in your world because I knew you were suffering. You still are, Lucky. And I don’t want to be the added chaos in your life. I didn’t want to pile more onto the things you’re already trying to overcome.”

He paused, his eyes searching mine, his expression pained. “But you left me no choice. I had to return to my title to protect you—not just from my enemies but from the ones I’ve learned are after you, from your world.”

His final words struck me like a bolt of lightning. My past. He knew something about my past.

My reaction was immediate, instinctive. Fear bubbled to the surface, gripping me in its cold hands. I took a small step back, my heart hammering in my chest as my mind raced. What did he know? How much did he know? And how could he know anything at all about the life I’d left behind?

“Will,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “What do you mean? What… what do you know?”

His face softened at my reaction, but the tension in his shoulders remained. He reached out, his hand hovering near mine as though afraid I’d flinch away. “Lucky,” he began, his tone gentle but firm, “I didn’t mean to scare you. But there are things—people—from your world that I’ve discovered. Threats. Ones that I can’t let anywhere near you.”

I stared at him, my breath coming in short, shallow bursts. My past was a locked door I hadn’t wanted anyone to open, and yet here he was, standing on the other side of it.

I couldn’t stay silent. Panic surged in my chest as I blurted out the question, my voice trembling. “Who?”

Will held me tightly, his arms a fortress against the fear spiraling inside me. His hand moved to my hair, gently brushing it in soothing strokes. His touch anchored me, even as my mind raced.

“She’s searching for you as we speak,” he said softly, his voice low but edged with fury. “An old, nasty woman who uses children to get what she wants. She was fooled by a usual client—someone who preferred you, Lucky.” His tone darkened, dripping with venom. “I know enough about her to want to rip her throat out, along with every one of her disgusting followers.”

His embrace warmed me, wrapping me in a cocoon of safety. The way he held me, his strength and anger directed at someone who had caused me pain, gave me the courage to speak.

“Lola,” I whispered, the name tasting bitter on my tongue. “She’s after me, and I don’t want anything to do with her, Will. Please don’t let her drag me back to the past I’m trying so desperately to escape.” My voice cracked as I admitted, “She found me, and I thought… I thought that if I did her job, I’d be free for a while. That I could leave—move to another country and disappear.”

Will stiffened. His arms fell from around me as he stepped back, putting distance between us. His body language shifted, his shock written clearly in the way his shoulders tensed and his eyes widened. The loving warmth he had shown moments ago gave way to something else—something raw and hurt.

“You wanted to leave me?” His voice was quiet, but the weight of his words was crushing. “To the point of leaving the States? Why? Did I ever… Did I do something to hurt you so much that you felt you needed to leave?”

The pain in his voice pierced me like a dagger. His annoyance simmered just beneath the surface, but it was the heartbreak in his expression that cut the deepest.

I shook my head furiously, my voice rising in desperation as I tried to salvage the fragile thread of our relationship.

“No, Will! I wasn’t trying to leave you—I was trying to run to protect us. At least back when I didn’t know about any of this. I was trying to preserve the memories we had together. I never wanted to leave you, but when everything was revealed to me—meeting your wife, or at least one of them—it shocked me. It pained me.” I paused, my voice trembling with raw honesty. “It’s the truth, Will. The honest truth.”

I stared at him, my eyes pleading for him to hold me again, to close the distance he’d put between us. His expression softened slightly, and he took a step forward.

“Who was the Princess that met you?” he asked, his voice steady but laced with curiosity.

The question caught me off guard, but I answered quickly, not wanting to hesitate. “In all honesty? She was stunning. When I first saw her in the shop, her light brown hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders. Her piercing blue eyes scanned the room like she owned it. She had this… presence about her. Her elegant outfit—a tailored coat over a form-fitting dress—stood out sharply against the casual shop. She made me feel like I was an insect in her way, something she needed to crush or dismiss entirely.”

Each word brought the memory of that woman back to life in my mind, sharper and more vivid with every detail. My stomach twisted as I thought of the other two wives. What were they like? Were they even worse?

Before I could dwell on it, Will surprised me with his response.

“Baby, don’t trust your mind to paint her as someone she’s not,” he said softly, taking my hands in his. His touch was grounding as he continued, “That’s the first Princess—Annalise. She’s a cruel, dictating woman who despises anyone beneath her title.”

He chuckled, but there was a biting edge to it, one that sent a shiver down my spine. “I hope you choose to be my Queen.”

His words caught me off guard, and I raised an eyebrow, unsure of what he meant. His smile widened at my reaction, a mix of amusement and cunning glinting in his eyes.

“Because,” he said, his tone shifting to something darker, “if you agree to be my Queen, she’ll finally give me a reason to declare treason and take over her kingdom.”

The weight of his statement hit me hard, and I instinctively leaned my head back, trying to process what he was saying.

Will held his expression steady, his confidence unwavering as he snaked his hand gently around to my back. His touch sent a shiver through me, but I couldn’t pull my eyes away from him, curiosity etched into my gaze as I tried to process his recent words.

Sensing my unease, he spoke softly, his voice a soothing balm against the tension in the air.

“Baby, what I just said—that was purely as a King. I have no reason to be nice to any of them, especially when they’ve never lifted a finger to help me rule all four lands.” His eyes softened, his tone dipping into something warmer, more intimate. “Lucky, my anger is never directed at you. It never will be. And I need you to accept that as soon as possible because you aren’t them. You’re my mate. My Lucky mate.”

His words sank deep into me, washing over the fear and doubt that had been clawing at my mind. The tension in my shoulders melted away as I moved closer, finally wrapping my arms around him in a hug that felt like home.

He held me tightly, his warmth enveloping me, chasing away the lingering shadows of doubt. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt safe. Truly safe.

Nodding against his chest, I whispered, “Okay, Will. I’ll try.”

It wasn’t just a promise to him—it was a promise to myself. As long as he wanted me, as long as he was willing to protect me, I could face anything.