The Widowed Luna

One moment I was across the room, legs crossed, reclined on my seat, hands over my thumping and a burning argument raging in the house while I hummed, trying to calm myself down. “ He has the right to take as many wives as he wishes. You should be grateful you still have your place as Luna.” Everytime Mason leaves, she makes me a public spectacle. Maids staring, whispering, gossiping. “ No child! You're not a monument he should rise and stare at. He needs children. You have given him none.” I inhaled deeply. Not because of what she's saying but because I have felt the moonblessed bond snap. Something has happened to Mason. “ Tell me, who needs a barren Luna. Your fat body occupies the space ten children should.” I didn't stir, but my ears tilted at every shuffling feet, and ruffle. “ See how daft she is?” She said to no one in particular. That is when I jumped to my feet, and snapped towards the door. I have heard the horses neigh. There should be two or more of them. I darted to the door, multiple feet's hurrying after me. And there it was. Four horses. One carriage, but no Mason. “ I suppose you have a delivery. Go, check what Mason has thoughtlessly sent over to help you cover more spaces without children.” She was right about one thing. It was a delivery. And it is Mason himself. They brought him down, and set his coffin on the rock before the mansion. Two men on each side of the coffin. “ We are sorry…” A muffled gasp echoed behind me. Murmurs quickly spread. Someone mentioned it could be my brother. My heart thrummed, every second I spent away from the coffin making my breath run out. I have seen two scenarios like this since I became Luna. In both cases, Mason received the dead with me by his side. He sympathized with the bereaved, showed support for their siblings and reassured the family they have the packs support with them. He said he and I will always be there for them. Today, I receive him. I shifted my gaze to my mother-in-law and met a whimper. She cupped her mouth and shook her head. “ No. No. No. That can't be true.” I heard her say on repeat, shaking vehemently like it could dislodge something from her head. She rushed my way, her legs almost giving way before she arrived. My heart fell. And her knees soon followed. But I didn't reach out to her. I stared blankly at her. Reality had begun to sink in. Everyone could feel it in that thread deep inside us that he governed. The alpha is dead. “ Open it.” “ My Luna… I think it's best you don't.” The Beta approached carefully. “ Open it.” I repeated, composed. “ Will it change anything? You had him killed and left no son for me.” My mother-in-law wailed. I shut my ears to her cries and looked at the beta, calm in a way that made him swallow. They did, and I met his body mutilated beyond recognition. I turned, leaving the crowd to wail for the only man who had looked at me and placed a crown on my head although I wasn't the woman he loved. Standing on the balcony, I felt the presence I have long expected. Her steps came stealthily, fearful, almost never resting completely on the floor. “ You're here.” I turned, and met the perfect porcelain skin, heart shaped face and rose bud lips Mason had loved more than life. Compared to me, she was perfect. Tall, slender, and even with her baby bump, she was still a flawless beauty. “ You must have heard.” She nodded and lowered her head. For the first time. That arrogance that had made her shoulders rise in contempt had disappeared. Her right hand flew to her belly. “ Please, I came to beg you to spare my unborn baby and I. You have every reason to get rid of me, but I beg you…” She paused, her voice trembling. “ I'm not surprised you think I would be so petty, seeing that's something you can do.” I closed the space between us, hands clasped. “ Mason set the crown on my head. Not you. With him gone, the responsibility to set his house in order falls to me…” “ Please Luna Shanty…” “ Enough! I will suggest you go back to your room and prepare for your wedding.” Taken aback, she looked at me, stunned. “ Tonight, you will marry the dead, Ada… that is the only way I can ensure the legitimacy of the child you're carrying.” She paused and stared intently at me. “ Marry him… you know what that would mean for you. Do you not?” I chuckled dryly. “ What kind of Luna would I be if I didn't.” I turned back to the balcony, my eyes sweeping the horizon and back to the stretch of the green mountains. Soon it will be covered by snow, and the warmth of Mason's presence will embrace the coldness of a season without him. “ I know what I must do. Maybe he crowned me so I may crown you when the time comes.” “ Shanty…” “ Leave.” I commanded. “ I will like to be alone.” Although my marriage wasn't perfect, Mason respected me. He made me rule with him. Beside him, not behind. He honoured me, and the marked of wolf on my shoulder was the ultimate proof. It is my turn to do the same for him. By midnight, the ceremony was over with a full moon as witness. I transferred my crown to her in the name of the king, and blessed the child, named heir in his father's name. And when it all ended, we prepared for the final farewell. “ What will you do after now?” I hadn't thought of that. There was nothing left for me here. I could leave honourable, or stand the shame that will come. “ Do not worry. I won't stick around to have the pack divided on who to follow. I will leave…isn't that what you have always wanted?” I queried, turning my attention to my mother-in-law. She was quiet. As the final rites came, the torch bearers watched the both of us confused. I, as the wife of his lifetime, but no more Luna, yet dressed like a bride. And the new Luna, Ada, as the wife of the dead. She shifted from her position and motioned towards me. The two torchbearers approached and handed the torches to me. “ One, to light your way. A second to hail your departure.” I mumbled as I stepped closer to his body. I didn't turn. There was nothing to look back to, but my mother-in-law was the first to catch up on my aim. “ No, Shanty. No, my child.” A smile formed on my lips. It's the first time she ever addressed me so. Then I dropped it, climbed the stone way, and laid next to him. “ Not as your Luna, Mason. I am here as the bride you chose. A great cry rent the early dawn, and the moon dimmed her silver lights. I saw the whole pack kneel. The new Luna, and my mother-in-law. I closed my ears, and waited for the fire to tear my skin, and leave my bones burnt beside his. To knit us in death as in life. It never came. At dawn, I rose from the ashes, with the howl of a spirit wolf behind me.