23.5 - Luna Queen

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23.5 - Luna Queen

Sativa
Sighing on the sofa, I glance at the pink clock that hung above Nathan's head. It was two fifty-five. Excellent, we have spent more than five hours searching for a dress.

Dropping my head into my hands, I slowly sip my iced tea, my eyes following Nathan as he abruptly rose from his position on the chair. He walked out of the boutique as I stared after him in confusion, I turned to Sven who hadn't noticed as he kept nodding his head to his music. Glancing at where Ella, Zayn and Natalya had wandered off to, I decide that it would be safe enough to follow my brother as see to his issue.

I am too damn curious for my own good.

Stepping out of the boutique, I immediately delight and relish in the warm Californian air, compared to the harsh Russian weather, it was a welcome back as I wandered down the street, looking for my brother. Coming across a bend, I turn to see Nathan pacing up and down beside a bunch of metal dustbins. Pressing my front against the wall, I stare at Nathan, straining my ears to capture his words. Thanks to my new skills that come along with being marked, I was able to hear him without much a regular strain on my part.

I stretched on my tiptoes, peering at him and earning a few weird stares from the humans. Rolling my eyes, I am surprised at the set of words that comes out of my brother's mouth next.

"Keegan," he stopped pacing. His back now faced me. "I give you the rest of the week to figure out what you intend to do about our mating. I cannot live in my lies for much longer for it will not be much farther down until Natalya and Sativa begin to suspect us."

Suspect 'us' doing what?

Did he mean the Keegan that I knew?

Maybe it's a different one.

What if it isn't?

My breath hitches as I retract myself from the walk. I had heard enough. Briskly walking back into the boutique, I am faced with a slightly worried Ella and her helpers.

Sven still listening to music - was it really a good idea to bring him along?

"Are you alright? You look a little pale." Zayn remarked.

"I'm fine," I lied.

I could tell that none of them believed me, but I was glad that they decided to drop the issue as we scour through countless more dresses. Until finally, Zayn, Ella and Natalya's smiles told me all that I needed to know about the final dress.

"She's beautiful." Ella gushed as she wiped her nonexistent tears.

"Isn't she?" Natalya smiled.

"Hells yeah," Zayn nodded as she walked over to me.

I stared down at myself.

After scouring through what had to be hundreds of dresses, I had stopped bothering to check the mirror before I came out to face the judges. Zayn slowly pushed me until my eyes met with a large mirror.

And I what I saw took my breath away.

It was a black dress this time; and perhaps, that was what I enjoyed the most.

Simple, the material hugged my chest, but flowed in a perfect flair as it reached my hips. No outdrawing or outstanding designs, not too short or long. Not too causal and not too formal.

It was perfect.

Ella urged me some plain, black Louis Vuitton heels and a simple gold cross and a matching belt to finish my look. After a good thirty minutes of insisting that I pay with my nonexistent money, I finally relented and let them pay. Mentally vowing that I would pay them back for their action.

The drive to the hairdressers was similar.

But now, it Nathan and Sven fighting over Coldplay and Maroon 5. He seemed unfazed by his earlier conversation on the phone that I had pushed out of my mind. Now, the thoughts came racing back.

How did he know about Keegan?

Well, that was explainable - he was a respected Warrior and was expected to socialize with other high-ranking members of other Packs.

But even that still left a lot of unanswered questions.

What did he mean by 'mating bond'?

Did Natalya know?

Could Keegan be his second mate after all?

My thoughts are cut short as we arrive at the hairdressers. Zayn nervously eyes her watch.

"We are running out of time, Natalya."

Natalya only nods as if she were on some sort of spy mission as she pushes me down into one of the tall, red, retro-styled chairs.

A curvy, caramel-skin woman walked towards us.

Her eyes were a deep brown and held kindness. She had on leather pants and a Regular Show shirt with a nude Mordecai and Rigby. Her boots reached her knees, and her wrists clanged noisily with her numerous bracelets.

"Hi there. I'm Evie," she stared into my eyes through the mirror; her accent a heavy Texan one. "What can I do you for?"

"She needs a haircut - stat."

"What kind?" Evie looked remotely bored.

"Surprise us," Zayn sang.

After washing, shampooing and blowdrying, I am shoved back into the chair.

I am turned away from the mirror as little snips of my hair fell around my covered shoulders. I try not to be worried and trust Evie, but the more strands of blonde hair that fell in my lap, the more anxious I became.

After a long fifteen minutes, Evie swiveled my chair around to face the mirror. I widened my eyes. My hair wasn't considerably shorter, but you could easily notice the change. My blonde hair, which I now noticed was beginning to turn darker, was cut just above the middle of my back. It was curled, but not too much as to fall around my shoulders in thick, yet soft, waves.

Thanking Evie with a smile and a paycheck, Natalya, Zayn and I were on our way back to the Pack house.

"Can't you drive any faster?" Natalya complained as she stared at her watch. "We don't have much time left."

"I didn't ask you to overstay your beauty session," Nathan retorted, yet there was amusement in his eyes.

"Be lucky," Zayn snapped before pouting. "We didn't even get to go to the spa!"

Thank you, Lord!

"Doesn't mean we can't go another day." Zayn added as she noticed my expression.

Dammit!

"Just step on it!"

"No," I protested. I felt slightly nauseous. I am pretty sure we were doing well over seventy-five.

Arriving back in the Pack house, Natalya and Zayn jostled me back into my room to get ready. Thrusting me into the shower, I am pulled here and there until I am back in my beautiful dress. Zayn does my makeup as Natalya leaves to get ready as well.

In a matter of minutes, Zayn is done with my makeup as I observed the unfamiliar female staring back at me.

My eyes were smoky, the black accentuating my oddly-colored eyes. I had on a thin sheet of concealer, paired with blood, red lipstick. My hair was curled in an elegant bun on the top of my head. But, my dress was by far the greatest one.

Zayn too leaves to get ready as well.

I smiled as I perched on the edge of the bed. The nerves coming back as I sighed.

You will be fine, I consoled myself. Take deep, steady breathes.

I take in a breath, what if I trip on the stage?

I let it out, that won't happen.

I take in a breath, what if I vomit on stage?

I let it out, that won't happen.

I take in a breath, what if they all reject me?

I let it out, that won't happen.

I take in a breath, what if Romanov changes his mind?

I let it out, that might happen.

I frown, stop breathing!

I place a cool hand unto my head. Giving myself a small prep-talk before a knock brings me out of my daze.

It's Karl.

"You ready?"

I sigh as I stand, "Even if I wasn't; would it matter?"

He chuckles as he scans my appearance, "You look stunning, Luna."

"As do you, Beta Karl."

It was true, he was dressed in a simple suit and his dark hair was pressed back giving him a formal look.

He grins and takes my hand as he leads me downstairs and out of the Pack house. I follow him, wondering where the ceremony was going to take place. We reached a large clearing, littered with every single Pack member in the North-West pack. That was when my breathes halted down.

There weren't any prominent decorations, but the clearing looked magical. There are fireflies buzzing around - however, they weren't irritating - they only added to the beauty of the night. Paper lanterns were strung across the trees, and long tables piled with food were placed around the clearing that held hundreds.

I looked straight ahead, on a small, wooden podium, there stood Alpha Ivanovich.
My breathing literally halted as I took in his appearance. He was dressed in an immaculate suit, the cuffed and fitted material accentuating his raw power and masculinity. If not for Karl's firm grip on my waist, I was have collapsed a while ago due to the intensity of stares faced by the Pack members. I was thankful for some encouraging stares, mostly from Zayn, Natalya and Nathan who seemed calm.

Romanov's eyes were pitch black as he took in my appearance.

I climbed unto the podium as I stood opposite from Romanov. The raw intensity from his stare had me looking down at the floor.

"Look up," he commanded. The sparks that came from his using his index finger to push my head up was unfathomable to me. "We are of the same position."

I look up, lost in those dangerous, green pools.

"Today, April third." He turned briefly to his Pack. "I announce not only a new member of the Pack, but a new leader for you all."

Loud cheers resonated through the clearing, but soon died down as we were all impatient to get this done. Their clear hostility towards me in the beginning very different to their smiles and respect.

"As tradition holds, she will repeat the necessary vows," he continues. "Sativa-Vienna Carter, do you accept this Pack with your entire self?"

I stared at him, "Yes, Alpha."

"Do you swear to never break your ties with this Pack - to never betray nor bring any form of harm to anyone of us in this Pack?"

I nod. "Yes, Alpha."

"Do you fully commit yourself to me and this Pack?" Romanov asked me.

"Yes, Alpha."

"Do you accept your role and responsibility of a Luna?"

"Yes, Alpha."

"Most importantly," he went on, his tone huskier. "Do you swear to be a true Luna Queen? To fight by my side and remain faithful to me?"

"I do, Alpha."

"Good," he noted, before taking my hand in his.

He sliced my wrist gently, before slicing mine and joining our blood in union.

The cheers were deafening but soon died down as they awaited the final clearance of their new Luna Queen.

"Members of the North-West Pack," Romanov's gorgeous smile blew me away. "I present to you all, your Luna." He then stared beyond them and into the darkness of the forest. "All to the Lycanthrope Community, I present to you your very Luna Queen."

I cracked a smile as power surged through me. The claps and cheers a million miles away as Romanov softly joined his lips to mine.

I winced as the onslaught of thoughts came to me, and as Romanov carefully led me off the stage, he had to hand his phone over to Karl to take care of it. The sleek technology hadn't stop ringing since Romanov presented me as Luna Queen. No doubt the hundreds of Alphas waiting to congratulate him and I.

You see, my convention of becoming a Luna Queen must have resonated through the Lycanthrope Community all at once.

They all knew.

"What's happening?" I ask Romanov as a million and one thoughts fill my mind.

He looked apologetic, "Now you have become Luna - you can hear all the thoughts of every werewolf."

"All?" I squeak.

She's beautiful.

We are so very lucky.

I hope I can meet her.

Didn't she kill her parents or something?

Maybe Alpha Ivanovich will change now he has her as a mate.

He doesn't have me! I simply agreed to being Luna Queen, nothing else; right?

I wince, "How do I stop it?"

"Exactly how you stop the thoughts of your inner-Wolf," he answered gently.

I close my eyes and imagine a wall separating me from the outside world, and sure enough, things went silent.

"Thanks," I sigh tiredly.

"You're tired," Romanov noticed as he looked at me with slight concern.

"I'm fine, I don't want to ruin your night; but I think I'll just retire for the night." I inform him, not quite prepared for what he proceeds to me say next.

"I'll come with."

"No, it's really fine. I don't want to ruin your night."

"I will not take no for an answer," he protested, taking my hand and leading me away from the excited crowd. "You will get to meet most of them tomorrow."

I nod.

I don't protest as he takes me in his arms. Honestly, I really wasn't going to accept him. But now, I am too tired to do anything else. God, I am always so tired. I wish I could have stayed and socialized myself with the Pack. It's the least that I can do after their acceptation.

"Don't blame yourself," Romanov seemed to hear my thoughts. "You had a long day; and you are a Luna now, so we all understand your fatigue."

I barely nod as my eyes drift shut. I reopen then again as I am place on a cold counter. Prying my eyes open, I meet them with the tiled interior of his bathroom. I am faintly aware that he handed me his black boxer shorts, and a large white shirt for pajamas. They engulfed my frame as I used the mouthwash that sat on his sink's counter, blearily rinsing my mouth and washing my face as I walk back into his bedroom.

It was too dark to make out the features of his room, but he was already in bed, shirtless, if I may add.

He growls lustfully as he takes in my appearance, "I like you in my clothes."

His eyes were an onyx black.

In an instant, he trapped me against the wall as he peppered kisses up and down the side of my neck.

Refraining from moaning, I push him away. "You said you would try, remember?"

He nods sheepishly, before returning to his position on the large bed. Slipping into the warmth of his bed, I take in a deep breath, allowing myself to be surrounded by his scent.

"Romanov, why the hell am I in your clothes, your bed and in damn room?"

"I have already explained this to you," he sighed harshly, his arms reaching out to pull me too his chest. I struggle - just to say I did, before snuggling into the warmth and protection that he offered. "The Pack needs to think we are a united front. So that they don't think you and I are weak."

"Oh," I sigh contentedly. "That makes some sense."

"Yes, it does." His accent had been MIA for a while now, and I kind of missed it.

"I miss your accent," I say.

I don't know if I am in my right senses, or it is the Luna Queen Power getting into my blood, but I faintly hear his chuckle at my words and I blush deeply.

"You looked most beautiful tonight. Goodnight, my Sativa." He nuzzles his head into my neck as I moan when his lips connect with his mark. I smile at the thickness of the Russian accent that filled into those eight words.

"Goodnight, Romanov."

And I swear, deep in my heart, that somewhere up above, my parents were down smiling at us. I would never forget to avenge their death, for it was very necessary.

I didn't even know yet what my Luna Queen powers could and couldn't do. I mean, I was technically mated to the Alpha now.

Mated? Were we mated?

Are Romanov and I a normal mated couple?

Were we boyfriend/girlfriend?

I didn't know.

But now, right now, I was just fine where we were.

Even though I wasn't quite sure where 'where' was.

-

Luna Queen (2015)
© Victoria Leslie Khan

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