Chapter 123

Olivia POV

I had been back at the Palace, sleeping at night with Elroy’s hand on my belly and his breathing a soothing lyric accompanying my sleep, for three days before word came that Mother would be arriving with Iris and Orlando the next afternoon. Leon had traveled to the keep the day after my arrival and would be coming with them.

I had been making arrangements in the meantime for the ceremony that would formally return power to Alpha Claudia and allow her to bless my union with Elroy. Once word had gotten out about the event, every Pack Alpha and Beta, councilmember, diplomat, and elder (along with their families) had let it be known they expected an invitation, and by the time things were in place we had a full-blown state banquet on our hands.

Sam had taken it upon himself to help Jordan fully outfit herself in a position of household power as my personal assistant, and I reaped the more than ample rewards of his efforts as she set up a suite of rooms for my mother and her attendants. We settled on an apartment with many windows that overlooked the eastern garden where her canna lilies were growing, and soon everything was fresh linens and spotless furniture.

Together, we set up a seating chart for the ceremony, oversaw the exchange of hosting gifts, and planned the menu. When I wasn’t watching, Jordan also dealt with the egos of the musicians and other artists who would be entertaining the guests and somehow found the time to design another gown for me.

The day my mother was to arrive, Jordan watched as two of my lady’s maids helped me into the exquisite creation I was certain several seamstresses had spent the night perfecting. It was a dark but soft green, the perfect color for a wolf nurturing life inside her. The empire waist and vertical folds both accommodated and set off my belly, and the hemline was set just to the floor for my flat shoes.

Next, I waited while they did up my hair, cosmetics, and jewelry. By the time they were done, I looked great and felt like an enchantress.

Jordan laughed when I told her my thoughts. “You look like the Luna of Lunaris,” she said.

“The dress is perfect. Thank you.” I looked at her in gratitude but couldn’t help biting my lip.

“Luna?” she asked, looking concerned.

“You’re so very talented,” I said. “Don’t you want to set yourself up in your own shop? You’d be famous in a year.”

She shook her head. “I’d rather be here serving my Luna.”

“If that ever changes, please, let me know immediately.”

She nodded. “I don’t see it changing, but I will. I promise.”

There was a knock on the door to the Lily Room.

“Come in!” I called.

Elroy, looking magnificent in his formal white robes, walked in holding a box. “I thought I would—” he started. But then he just stood there.

“Is something wrong?” I asked, alarmed and looking down at myself. Did he not like that I was showing off my stomach?

But when I looked back up, he was staring at me with the softest smile I had ever seen on his face.

“You’re magnificent,” he said, and I felt warm from my ears to my toes. Then he made a little frown. “But yes, there is something wrong.”

From his tone, I knew he wasn’t being serious, and I found myself looking at the little box in his hands.

“Your necklace is lovely,” he said, nodding at one of my maids. “But I think this might be better.”

The maid took my necklace off, and Elroy opened the box. Inside was a large emerald set inside a nest of gold in the shape of a lily.

The sight of it—and my pregnancy hormones—almost made me cry. I looked at him and leaned forward to kiss his lips. A little thrill went through me at the taste of him.

“It’s perfect,” I whispered.

The same maid put it around my neck, and I spent a little more time than I should have admiring it in the mirror.

When I said I was ready to go, Elroy offered me his arm, which was more than a ceremonial gesture considering how my center of gravity had shifted. I smiled back at Jordan and admonished her to change into her own gown for the ceremony before reminding the maids I had saved room for them on the balustrade so they could watch.

Outside, I had seen to the decorations for the Palace courtyard with flowers, streamers, and lanterns that glowed gold even in the bright sunlight. It had rained early that morning, and everything felt fresh and clean, which I knew my mother, the clean freak, would appreciate.

Elroy and I took our places at the gate and awaited Alpha Claudia’s carriage. Around us was an absolute mob of people. The Alphas of Ravencrest and Eclipse stood not far away, both of them looking imperious. Around them were their own assistants and commanders, and for a moment the theatre of it all threatened to make me laugh.

I thought about Ravencrest and Denis. Did they know Denis had confessed their collaboration? Had Denis been truthful when he spoke about it? Elroy and I were still trying to figure out the best way to proceed with them, and yet here we were showing a united front to the Pack.

The carriage came into the courtyard, horse hooves clop-clopping merrily, and I stopped brooding over Ravencrest to appreciate the miracle of having my mother awake and with us.

A great cheer went up as Mother stepped from the carriage. She was looking even better than the last time I had seen her, though not yet quite the strong, powerful woman of my memories, though perhaps my youth had colored my impressions of her.

She certainly walked with all dignity and bearing toward us as Acting-Alpha Leon and then Apothecary Iris followed, carrying a small black pouch. The carriage guard saluted Elroy and me before taking their positions with the Palace Guard around the walls of the courtyard.

“Alpha Claudia,” Elroy said as she came to a stop in front of us.

“Alpha Elroy,” she said nodding at him and then at me. I saw her glance at my necklace. “Luna Olivia.”

“Mother,” I said, making it clear to the assembly that was primarily how I saw her. I didn’t want anyone thinking our bond was weak or something that could be exploited.

“Acting-Alpha Leon,” Elroy said next, and the wolf stepped forward and bowed slightly. “I relieve you of your position and thank you for your service to Moonshadow Pack.”

“I am relieved to be so, Alpha Elroy,” he said, and somehow I knew he had wanted to say “I’m relieved to be relieved” but didn’t dare. I hid a smile.

Elroy looked at Mother. “Claudia, Alpha of Moonshadow Pack, welcome to my household.

“I am honored to be here,” she said before turning to Iris, who handed her the pouch. She turned back to us, opened the little bag, and fluttered rose petals at our feet. “And I am honored to bless the union of my daughter, Luna Olivia, and her husband, Elroy, Alpha of Lunaris.”

There was more general cheering as Mother and I embraced and kissed each other’s cheeks. Elroy embraced her as well, though more formally. She put her hands on his shoulders and looked at him squarely.

“Take good care of my daughter,” she told him.

“Upon my life,” he told her, and I felt in that moment loved and protected as never before.

Please, Goddess, I prayed, elated and fearful all at once. Let this feeling last.