Rebirth of the Luna Queen

CHAPTER THREE

~CAMERON ~

I FELT IT. When the lady placed her hand in mine, I felt a tiny jolt run up my arm, and my beast purred in approval.

I glanced at Lady Flora as we walked down the wooden stairs. Just as her name said, she was as beautiful as a flower, and her scent was invading my senses. She was not our fated mate, but perhaps this choice was a good one.

The party was in full swing now. I was pleased to see that my men heeded my caution and were only drinking in small quantities.

I caught the eye of my Beta, Duncan, and gave him a small, almost unnoticeable nod. He nudged the Gamma, Lachlan, and they both stood up as I approached. The rest of my men eased off the ale for some seconds as I made my way to the Alpha of North England. He was very merry, laughing with two large goblets of ale in his hands.

I could not help but wonder why a man was so happy to see his daughter leave his pack. There was a gnawing feeling at the back of my mind, but I ignored it.

"Ah, Alpha Cameron," he said when he finally noticed me. He did not bother to stand up in respect. "Is everything alright?" His eyes flickered down to stare at Flora's hand still clasped in mine.

I nodded and turned around to look at my men. "This is my mate now," I said in a loud voice. "Yer new Luna."

They all stood up and went down on one knee in reverence.

"She's a real sight to look at, Cameron," Duncan said to me through the mindlink. "Right, Lachlan?"

My Gamma only snorted, but I was slightly pleased that my men approved of Flora.

"So it is settled then, Alpha Cameron? The girl goes with you." Alpha Aldwin said hastily. The relief was very obvious in his voice.

"We will begin the journey back to my pack at dusk," I said, giving my men another nod, and they began dispersing to prepare the horses. I looked at Flora and said to her, "Go and pack your things. We leave before sundown."

Her grip tightened for a fraction of a second before she removed her hand from mine. My beast mourned the loss of contact.

"I don't have anything to pack," she said, looking up the stairs. "I want to leave everything behind."

"Nonsense!" Alpha Aldwin said in a strong voice. "You cannot leave just like that... and you cannot straddle the horses with the men. Why don't you go upstairs and wait? When they are done, they'll call you..."

That sounded like a good idea, but I could sense the apprehension in my mate. She did not want to go upstairs.

I looked at Lachlan. The mountain of a man was standing a few feet away from us. He was a quiet man, only spoke when he had something worth saying, and all my warriors listened. That was why I made him my Gamma even though he did not have elder blood. "Go with her," I mindlinked to him. "I will tell ye when we are done."

He nodded without saying anything.

I took Flora's hand again and said, "My Gamma will go with you and keep you company..."

Alpha Aldwin's eyes widened as he took in the physique of Lachlan. He swallowed and said, "But is that really necessary? Nothing can happen to her here... she has been living here for the past eighteen years without any incident. Why would—"

"Go with her, Lachlan," I said, cutting off the alpha. I held Flora's gaze for some seconds before I nodded at her and released her. She seemed more at ease as Lachlan followed her up. "If you would excuse me, Alpha Aldwin." I walked away.

"Check each horse for any discomfort," I said to Duncan through the mindlink. "It was a tough ride down here, but it will be even worse goin' back. I dinnae want any horse breakin' down mid-journey."

Duncan nodded in attention. "We are doing that already." His eyes went past my shoulder and he said, "The man looked quite happy to trade his daughter off for some silver and peace... but now he looks angry at something."

I turned around to look at Alpha Aldwin, and my eyes locked with his Luna, Edwig. Her eyes were filled with a different type of anger and insanity too.

"I cannae wait to leave this place," I muttered. "My wolf has been on alert since we stepped foot here."

Duncan chuckled. "They wouldnae dare do anything."

I breathed out slowly. They would not dare, I said to myself.

*****

THE FAMILIAR SIGHTS of my mountains came into view just as the sun was about to set. Darkness was not a problem for us werewolves, but our horses could not see in the night.

"We should make the pack before total nightfall," Duncan said from behind me.

I nodded. We should. As the moon rose, I glanced at Flora. She was exhausted. I could see it in the slump of her shoulders, but she didn't complain. She kept her chin high and her eyes forward.

She was not sitting astride on her horse but was seated sideways, like most noble ladies unaccustomed to riding. "We are almost there, but if you want us to take a break now, we can. We will camp out here for the night and get to the pack by sunrise."

She seemed to consider it, but with a grimace on her face, she shook her head. "I am fine."

"You've never ridden a horse before." It was more of a statement than a question.

She shook her head. "Not like this. But I'm learning."

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked her.

She met my eyes. "Would it have changed anything?"

"You could get in the carriage behind," I suggested again.

She shook her head, even firmer. "No."

I smiled inwardly. She was stronger than she looked. As we journeyed, I tried to make sense of why her father would want her gone. Was she weak? I wondered.

I could sense something more to her, but I was not sure what it was.

She did not carry the scent of a werewolf, but at the same time, she did not scent like a human.

So what was it?

"We should think of expandin' our territory," Lachlan said. His first words since he returned with Flora and began the journey. "These lands are unclaimed."

"Except by rogues," Duncan replied. "It would upset them."

"They are rogues," Lachlan simply said.

"I will think of it," I said. "Expandin' the territory might be seen as an act of aggression and encroachment to the closest pack." I looked at Flora.

"My father might see it as a call to war," she said.

"The lady is smarter than you, Lachlan," Duncan jabbed, and Lachlan simply snorted.

I smiled in the falling darkness, and my smile even widened when I saw the lit torches that welcomed us into my pack.

As we entered, I felt my beast stir. "Mate," it growled. "Claim her."

I pushed it down. "Not yet. She's exhausted. And not ready."

"She will never be ready," it snarled. "And you will lose her." I suppressed the beast inside my head, and its growl almost escaped my lips.

"We are here," I said softly to Flora. "It might no' be as modern as your pack, with a castle near the sea and rich air, but we make it work."

"I never liked the sea," she replied, gripping the rein of the horse tighter.

"Welcome back, Alpha!" The greetings rang out as we entered the pack. "Welcome back, Luna." Little children and women littered the street, waving as we rode past.

"They don't even know me," she said.

"They do," I muttered. "You are their Luna Queen."

She looked around, wide-eyed, as we made our way to the pack castle.

"Take care of the horses," I said to the men as we dismounted in front of the castle. "They have been through a lot today."

"Yes, Alpha."

I cradled the head of my horse gently before walking into the castle, closely followed by Flora, Duncan, and Lachlan and a handful of the warriors.

"Welcome back, Alpha," the sweet motherly figure of Bonnie, the head housekeeper, said as soon as I walked in. "Welcome home, Luna." She said to Flora, bowing deeply.

"This is Bonnie," I said. "She will take care of you and make sure you are well rested."

"Come, Lady," Bonnie said. As she was being led away, Flora turned around to look at me briefly before leaving.

"You are taken by her," Duncan said when we entered my study.

"She is my mate," I replied, accepting the goblet of ale that Lachlan handed to me.

Duncan stroked his chin. He gazed at the map on the large table in the middle of the room. The map held the location of packs, those we were in alliance with, and those we had enmity with. "So what now?"* He asked. *"Do I mark North England as an ally?"

Lachlan nodded, moving a piece on the map. "They are allies. By the mate bond."

"Is there a mate bond?" Duncan asked in a serious voice, looking at me.

When we touched, I felt something. Was that qualified to be a mate bond?

Unlike fated mate bonds, when the mate was chosen, what I felt was most likely a lustful attraction. After all, Flora was a very beautiful lady.

"So if we make England an ally," Duncan traced a finger along the map, "we have to be careful. The South England packs willnae like it."

Lachlan grunted. "They dinnae have to like it."

"But..."

I drained the last of my ale and stood up. "This is not the night to discuss politics. I am tired, and so should you two. Go and have some rest."

"Will ye be restin' tonight?" Duncan asked me with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

I snorted and walked out of the study. As I headed to my chambers, I could not help but think of his last sentence. This was my mating night. I should be with Flora.

Had Bonnie taken her to my chambers?

I sighed. In as much as I would love to, I am too tired for anything, and she would be sore from riding for many hours.

There's time. We have a lot of time, and there is no need to rush anything.

I opened my door and immediately saw a silhouette sprawled on my bed. My first thought was: Flora.

"What is this I hear about you going to North England to get a mate?!"

I groaned inwardly. Not Flora.

"Isobel."