Chapter 6 The portrait

Soren

I sat upon my throne while the elders crowded around my table like pests.

I knew why they were here, why they had decided to summon this meeting at this hour and as my gaze swept over each of their faces, I noticed one seat empty.

Their voices echoed through the chamber, a swarm of buzzing nonsense, until I lifted my right hand.

Silence fell at once. All eyes turned toward me.

“Why is Evan not here?” I asked.

They exchanged glances among themselves before Elder Desmond rose, clearing his throat nervously.

“He… did leave a message that he could not attend. He said he has a guest, Alpha King Soren,” he replied with a stiff bow.

I hummed, though irritation simmered beneath the calm. Why would Evan, of all people—the only elder I tolerate, not be present?

Just then, the doors opened and Ina walked in.

Her steps slowed as every elder turned in her direction. She wore a cream gown, one that did nothing to conceal the fullness of her breasts. Her hair was styled perfectly, like she came with one purpose and one alone, to seduce me.

She bowed deeply, a slow smile curving her lips.

“Alpha King,” she greeted.

One of my hands rested beneath my chin, elbow planted lazily on the throne’s arm as I looked her over without a hint of interest.

“And to what,” I drawled, “do I owe this presence?”

Elder Desmond stood again.

“I had called her here, Alpha King,” he said, glancing around as the others nodded, giving him silent permission to continue. “We have all come to a conclusion. To plead with you to take Ina here as your mate… and our Luna Queen.”

He didn’t dare look me in the eyes as he spoke.

Ina’s smile only broadened.

“Hmm,” I said, and the elders grew silent at once, all of them watching, waiting for whatever would fall from my lips. But Elder Desmond was not yet finished.

“We have waited for centuries, Alpha King. At least grant us this that we seek.”

Immediately they all rose to their feet.

“Grant us this that we seek,” they echoed in unison.

To be sincere, even I am weary. Tired of waiting for a mate who refuses to come. But I know, deep within me, that I will never feel anything for Ina. Still, if the goddess has chosen to punish me by withholding my mate, then I might as well do whatever I choose.

So I stood, and they all bowed low in submission.

I walked toward Ina; she met my gaze boldly, like the seductress she is.

“In two days’ time,” I said, turning to face the elders, “as you all know, will be my seven hundred and sixtieth birthday. Then shall I announce, before all the packs that will be gathered, that Ina here”—I pointed at her—“will be your Luna Queen.”

Cheers erupted through the chamber. Ina let out a squeal of excitement. She nearly leapt toward me, but I halted her with a single raised hand.

It still did not wipe the triumphant smile from her face as she turned to the elders. She had finally gotten what she wanted.

Honestly, I simply wished to retire to my chamber and rest and that was exactly what I did next.

Verona

I did not even know when sleep claimed me there at the door, where I had sat for what felt like hours, until I felt a wet tongue dragging across my face. When I opened my eyes, it was Katara trying to wake me.

“Oh,” I breathed as I jolted upright, sitting fully. “I ate and you didn’t,” I murmured quietly, scooping her into my arms as I stood.

I walked to my bag, where I had kept her food, and set her down to eat. As she devoured it hungrily, I yawned sitting down on the bed, stretching my stiff limbs. My eyes roamed the room then, and a thought crossed my mind—if what Evan had said was true, then this must have been my Nana’s room.

I rose from the bed and wandered slowly, touching nothing, only glancing. But the thoughts wouldn’t leave me.

Why would she keep all this from me?

Why would she never speak a word of it?

And Evan… the way he said he would explain my parents later… there was something serious there. Something heavy.

Just then, something caught my eye, a red cloth draped over something tall, perhaps a painting.

I hesitated. I knew I should not be touching things recklessly… but curiosity is a wicked thing. It pressed against my chest, urging my hand forward until at last I reached for the cloth and pulled it away.

I froze.

It was a painting, no, a portrait—of a man with hair of pure gold, tied neatly behind him. He stood tall, hand resting upon a carved chair. On that chair sat a young woman, her skin pale, her face beautiful and serene, her lips red as blood. Her hair was tied back in a style centuries old.

It looked like something straight out of the 1800s.

And I knew, immediately—who she was.

Those eyes… eyes I had known all my life until the day she died.

It was Nana.

I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand. They were not lying after all.

Werewolves… those creatures exist. And I… I am one of them?

This was all new, all terrifying, all impossible.

“I see you’ve realized,” a voice said behind me.

I spun so quickly my heart jumped and found Obed standing there… in his seven-year-old body.

“How did you get in here?” I demanded.

He let out a sigh. “You were clearly told I’m a wizard,” he snapped.

“Well then stop coming to my room uninvited. You said I should call you when I need you and I didn’t,” I snapped back.

He clicked his tongue in irritation. “Children,” he muttered, shaking his head—even though he looked very much like one right now.

“That is your Nana, as you call her, Dolores, the former duchess of this house,” he said, chin lifted a little with pride.

“Then… may I ask a question?” I asked, and he nodded. “I know Evan is ancient, as you explained, and that is why he still looks young when he is not. But why was my Nana different?” I asked, and he released a quiet sigh.

“Werewolves do not age as humans do. And your Nana… she lived over two hundred years.”

My eyes widened, and I blinked rapidly as I turned back to the portrait.

“So… when she grew old—” I began, but he cut me off.

“When she grew old and died, she had simply reached the end of her lifespan,” he said, and I nodded slowly. I felt as though everything I thought I knew had crumbled.

“Why didn’t she tell me?” I asked in a pained voice. The only person I had ever trusted had kept something so enormous from me.

“To protect you,” he said simply.

I stared at him, taken aback. “What? Protect me?” I asked, pointing to myself, and he nodded without hesitation.

“It will be hard for you to process now, but please… understand us. When you are ready, we shall tell you all you need to know.” His tone was calm, ancient, too old for the small body he wore.

I nodded, though my mind was a whirl of fragments and confusion.

“Oh—and for now, do not go looking for Evan,” he added. “He looks miserable.”

Of course he would. Now that I had seen the two of them together in that painting, how dignified he once looked, how beautiful she was, losing her must have broken him apart.

But one thought would not leave me, no matter how I tried to wave it away:

If he loved her so dearly…if she was his wife…

Why had he never come to see us? Not even once?

“I shall take my leave now. I only wished to check on you,” he said, and as he began to turn away, I stopped him.

“Wait,” I called, and he paused, facing me again. With those small puffy cheeks and that round face, he looked… adorable. Should I even say it? He looked too adorable for someone claiming to be over a hundred years old.

“But why do you always turn into a child?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. His little face twisted.

“That is none of your business,” he barked, but something in me refused to let it go. I rested my hand under my chin.

“Or… is it your kink?” I asked, teasing him.

He raised a brow—and then, to my utter surprise, burst into laughter. A real, carefree laugh. He closed his eyes, mouth wide open, laughing like he had forgotten the world.

For a moment, I wanted to squeeze him. Hug him. Something.

But no. This was an old man. An ancient old man. What was I thinking?

“You truly are amusing,” he said at last, still shaking with leftover laughter. “But mind your own business.”

Even as he said it with a scolding tone, he still looked so cute… I felt like I could eat him whole.