23 - Luna Queen

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23 - Luna Queen

Loupe Fiasco, California
USA - North America
The Main Pack Lodgings

Sativa
Blinking my eyes open, I stare up at the ceiling as the birds outside my room tweeted happily; as if there was something excellent to look forward to today.

I disagreed with them.

I sighed as I snuggled further into the bed, reluctant to begin me day as my stomach knotted itself. Today, I am becoming the Luna Queen. Hell, I barely know how to organize my life. Yet, I am being thrusted into the position of accompanying Romanov as his mate and rightfully fitting my place as Luna Queen very respectably.

I briefly wondered what I could do to get myself out of the situation.

"Sativa," Vienna crossed my mind again. Since the marking, it was getting harder and harder for me to block her out of my mind. "You were born to lead."

I remain silent, succumbing to what looks to be motivational prep-talk from my Wolf. I needed one.

"You cannot underestimate yourself any longer. If the Moon Goddess hadn't thought you worthy of such a position, then you wouldn't be mated to an Alpha King." I take in her words as she goes on. "I guess what I am trying to say is that you should give yourself a chance. After the hell we've been through over the past month, it is the least you can do for us."

"What if something goes wrong?" I ask softly. "Or, I mess up as usual?"

"Have faith in yourself."

I sigh harshly, rubbing my tired eyes. "I am weak."

"No, you're not."

"I am too scared of rejection," I admit softly.

"From who?"

"His Pack," I mumble.

"Since when did you care of what other people think about you?"

I shrug.

"Remember," I can feel her grin. "All this is coming from the same girl who trespassed into enemy lines, then blatantly disrespected the Pack members of the Alpha King, then murdered his Beta - and then set the entire Law Hall on fire - in the space of two freaking days."

I can't help a chuckle.

"Sometimes," I let a grin crawl in. "I can't help but be thankful you're here."

"Yeah, me too."

The silence hangs.

"Hey, Sativa?" Vienna gains my attention again.

"Hmm?" I hum in reply.

"Good luck today."

I sigh, "Thanks, Vienna."

"And remember," she added. "If you need anything; anything at all, I am only less than a thought away."

"Vice versa."

With that, she slips away from my mind with perfect timing as a prominent knock sounds at my door.

I barely manage a reply as Zayn and Natalya stick their heads through the door, beaming at me. "Good morning," they both exclaim, making me wince.

They are both way too cheerful for such an early hour of the morning.

"I never said you could come in," I grunt as I pull the blanket higher over my head. "I still want to sleep."

"It's ten in the morning," Zayn sighs as she tugs the blanket away. "Surely you cannot still be sleeping."

"Well, I am." I groan distastefully as the both manage to put the blanket well out of my reach.

"Come on out." Natalya pushes me off the bed. I barely have enough time to gain my footing before she pushes me into the bathroom. Handing me a pile of clothes and smiling.

"We have a very busy day ahead of us," Natalya informs me. "We have to go shopping for your ceremony dress, then go to the spa, and then the hairdressers, and then back to the..."

I groan, cutting her off.

"Do I get a say in all this?" I ask, although already knowing of the answer.

"No," she smirked.

"We give you exactly five minutes," Zayn shouts as I slam the bathroom door and lock it. "Trust me, if you exceed your time limit - we are so coming in there, even if your naked or not!"

I quickly strip down and take one of the shortest in my life. I had no doubt in my mind that Zayn and Natalya would come and get me out after five minutes.

Quickly pulling on my clothes, I throw my hair in a messy bun as I pull open the bathroom door.

"Great," Zayn grinned, taking my hand and leading my out of the familiarity of my room. "Now, breakfast time. Natalya went downstairs to tell someone to prepare something for you; is that all right?"

I nod, "Yes, thanks."

Pushing on one of the buttons on the lift, she pushes me inside and repeats the action as the lift comes to a stop and the doors slide open. I sigh as my eyes come into contact with all the familiar faces and furniture. But, the only difference being that their faces held something other than the dislike when I had first gotten from the Pack.

They now held respect.

A few even bowed their heads as Zayn and I returned their gestures with smiles of our own. All the while happening as Zayn steered me into the thankfully empty cafeteria. Walking me towards the back, she pushes me into the familiarly, massive kitchen and seats me down on a tall stool. Similar to the one Natalya was seated on too.

"Where's Keegan?" I ask.

"Dunno, I think he went home." Zayn answered me.

"Why'd you ask?"

I shrug vaguely, "No real reason. Is he going to be here for the event tonight?"

"Dunno - probably."

"Why'd you ask?" Zayn places her phone down.

I shrug again, "No reason."

The silence is comfortable, until Zayn breaks it.

"Eat quickly, we are already running behind schedule," she urged as she pushed a plate full of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages and hash browns. Stuffing the heavenly-tasting food into my mouth, I push the half-finished food away as my stomach began to protest in its state of limited space.

Zayn and Natalya wasted no time in ushering me into an Escalade. And, I wasn't entirely surprised as a familiar face sat at the driver's seat.

"Nathan," I breathed as his eyes meet mine through the rearview mirror.

He grinned, "Welcome back, Luna. How was your trip?"

"Stressful," I answered truthfully.

"Welcome back, Luna."

An unfamiliar voice congratulated from the passenger's seat. It didn't take me long to recognize him. "Thank you, Sven."

He was the one that showed me to my room after my second trial was announced.

"Wait," I turn to Zayn who sat next to my right with Natalya seated next to my left. "They aren't coming to the boutique with us, right?"

I did not need more of the required amount of an audience to judge what my appearance might be.

Natalya giggled, "Yes and no. Romanov wouldn't let us go anywhere alone. In fact, I am surprised that he permitted only Nathan and Sven. But, the boutique isn't too far away and it's in the territory, so we'll be fine."

The drive was loud. Zayn had insisted that we tune in the radio to All Time Low, yet Natalya was adamant that it remain on Bruno Mars. Nathan, Sven and I shared a look of understanding as the two girls argued loudly. Upon entering the boutique, Zayn hushed about their argument, but Natalya remained mumbling lowly.

"Ah," a short, dark-haired consultant peeped out of the dressing room. "Miss Ivanovich, Mrs Mackerel and Miss..." the woman trailed off, her mocha-colored eyes trained on me.

"Miss Carter," Zayn finished for her.

"Lovely to meet you Miss Carter," she beamed. "You can just call me Ella."

I nod.

"Well ladies," she smiled as she approached us. "What can I do for you today?"

I sniffed lightly, the female was human - and so was Natalya. I had been meaning to ask her why she changed her scent, but I never remembered. I looked around, the boutique itself, Roses & Pink, was disturbing to my sight. The sheer amount of pink was enough to make my head turn. I hoped Natalya or Zayn didn't think that I was wearing any pink. It was a seemingly small and empty place. Nathan and Sven being the only other people, both sat perched on the edge of a bright pink sofa, had their eyes scanning the room with pure disgust.

Me too, guys. Me too.

"Our friend here," Natalya nudged me forward. "Has a very important event sometime this evening. So, we are looking for something formal, but casual as well. We want her boyfriend totally smitten."

I swear I heard a snort and laugh from Sven and Nathan. But before I could investigate, I had to deny.

Shaking my head furiously, my cheeks heated at her accusation, "He's not my..."

"Of course," the lady gushed before I could finish my protest. "Now, come along so we can pick some dresses. You'll have to try them all on so we can be absolutely sure to make the right choice."

I mentally groan.

I let Zayn and Natalya pick out a few dresses before I was shoved into a dressing room, the three girls eagerly awaiting my look.

I pick up the first of seven dresses with the tip of my finger. It was bright pink, fluffy, and short. I gagged as I threw it to the other side. I didn't need to try that shit that some called a dress to know that I'd look completely disgusting in that material called a dress.

Eyeing the second one, I decide that it was a little better as I slipped into it. Cocking my head at my appearance, I sigh distastefully. I was too damn skinny, and it was annoying. The dress was deep blue, though very plain. It longer at the back, and shorter at the front. The chest area of it sticking against my skin, the sweetheart neck line kind of complimenting me.

I slide back the pink curtains of the changing room. Meeting the judgmental stares of the three ladies as I stood there.

"Hmm," Ella was the first to speak. "It's beautiful, but..."

"Too plain?" Zayn interjects.

"Exactly," Natalya agrees.

I frown and look down at myself, "But I like it."

"Honey, it's not about what you like," Natalya pushed me back into the changing room and slid back the curtains. "Try some more."

Discarding the dress, I pick up the third one. It was a white dress. It had a soft cotton material, and the bodice was beautifully engraved with pearls. It was flair, and really gorgeous.

Yet, they disapproved.

Every damn time.

"It's too long."

"Too short."

"Makes her look fat."

"It makes her look malnourished," Zayn added with a casted look.

I glared at them.

"Great, we've run out of dresses!" I huff as I collapse on the chair opposite Nathan, who seemed engrossed in a conversation he had over the phone.

Sven was listening to music with headphones on while reading a fashion magazine. Both seemingly deep in their own rituals to survive the sheer femininity of the place. I couldn't blame them.

"Honey, we never run out of dresses," Ella consoled.

"I've tried them all!"

"Give us a minute more," they all said in unison, before disappearing again.

-

© V.L Khan

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