Chapter 209

Fiona

“You have a visitor,” Ethan calls from the living room. I pull my shirt over my head and poke my head out of his bedroom. When I don’t see anyone, I look at him. “Ryan just linked me and said Sophie is here,” he explains. I slip my feet into my shoes that are by the door. “Woah, she’s on her way up. You don’t have to go anywhere.”

I wonder if he told Sophie to come up since I’m still a bit wary of going outside. After the run in with Ethan’s mother, the rogues, and the protestors, I just feel like staying in for a bit would be a good idea.

Ethan didn’t disagree, but did say that I shouldn’t let it keep me from having fun, and I think I agree. I don’t want people to think I’m a pushover, and I want to support Ethan. Hiding away won’t accomplish either of those things, so I turn to Ethan and smile.

“I’ll meet her downstairs, and we can hang out in the common area,” I tell him, knowing he’ll relay the message. “Do you want to come?”

“Sorry, I’ve got some work to do. I’ll go to my office and work while you hang out with your friend,” he says, leaning over and kissing the top of my head. I thought he was going to let me go down by myself, but Ethan walks with me until I get to the common room, kisses me again, then heads off down the hallway that leads to his office.

“Fiona!”

“Sophie! Hey!” I throw my arms around her in a hug, not worrying about the way other pack members who are hanging around look at me like I’ve lost my head. “How are you? Are you back for good or just visiting? Did something happen in the company? Why didn’t you tell me I was pregnant when you found out before me?”

She pulls back, grinning. Then, I notice the three girls behind her who are also watching me with wide, shocked eyes.

“Uh, hi.”

“Fiona, I figured you could use some friends and a support system, so I got here as fast as I could,” she explains, and when she sees my inquiring look, adds, “As for the pregnancy, I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”

Shaking my head, I lead her over to the kitchen and begin making tea for all of us. I stockpiled a stash of herbs so I could keep drinking my pregnancy tea. While I make the tea, Sophie introduces her friends.

“These girls grew up with me, and I know you might feel isolated here, so I wanted to introduce them to you,” Sophie says, then pulls a raven-haired girl forward. “This is Laura. She’s twenty-two and a healer in training like me. I met her in primary school when she and her family moved here from another pack. She’s passionate about herbs and books.”

The girl moves forward and bows respectfully, her clear, steady voice catching me off guard, “Welcome, Luna Fiona. I’m glad we finally have a Luna.”

“Thank you,” I tell her, passing her a steaming mug of tea. She accepts gracefully and subtly sniffs the tea.

“Chamomile Flowers, Red Raspberry Leaf, and Peppermint Leaf. This smells delicious. Thank you, Luna.”

Next, Sophie pulls a petite mousy, blonde forward, and when she bows, her glasses almost fall off her face. She pushes them back up and accepts the tea I offer as Sophie introduces her, “This is Claire. She’s a year younger than me. We became friends in high school when one of the guys on the soccer team was picking on her. Turns out they’re mates, and he just wanted her attention. She loves all things to do with the Moon Goddess and hopes to be a shrine attendant.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Luna,” she says, her voice soft and airy.

“And this,” Sophie pulls another girl forward. Her curly red hair falls in her face, but the grin on her face as she pushes it away tells me it happens all the time. “This is Nova. She grew up in the pack like me, but she’s twenty-five, like you. She’s a firecracker and loves putting people in their places. She’s the first female in the Gamma ranks and is quickly beating all the boys.”

I look at Nova and realize she is taller and more muscular than the others. Her hair is long and all over the place, fitting her name.

As I hold a mug out to her, she drops to her knee suddenly and bows her head. It startles me, even as she declares, “Welcome to the Silverclaw Pack. I hope to become the Luna’s main guard soon.”

“Oh.” I glance at Sophie, and she smiles encouragingly. “Well, I… I think having a female guard would be nice.”

Nova beams at me, so I take her hand, pull her up, and give her the tea I made. She accepts and knocks it back, making me wince. It was boiling hot, and she didn’t flinch.

“Now that we’re clear, let’s talk,” Sophie says, moving us to one of the tables. I bring our mugs and sit with them surrounding me. It’s nice, actually.

“How does being a Queen feel?” Nova asks abruptly.

“Um. It’s okay, but yesterday there were protestors calling for me to be de-queen-ified,” I tell them, sipping my tea.

Eyes widen, but Claire speaks up, “The Moon Goddess oversees everything, so if you weren’t fit to be Queen, you wouldn’t be. Being Alpha Ethan’s mate is the Moon Goddess’s will, which means you being Queen must also be her will.”

Her matter of fact tone makes me feel better, especially when they all agree with Claire. I fiddle with the necklace Ethan gave me, remembering the time I saw the Goddess when I first found out Ethan was a wolf.

“Is there a way to talk to her?”

“The Goddess?” Claire asks. The other laugh, probably thinking I’m kidding, but when they see I’m not laughing, they sober up.

“There are shrines where Lycans go to pray, but no one is able to physically speak with the Goddess,” Laura says, patting my hand.

If that were true, then was I really talking to the Goddess that time?

“See, this is why you need a support system. We can help answer questions like these and keep you company now that you live here,” Sophie says with a grin. I smile back, but my mind stays stuck on the idea of talking with the Goddess.

I’d like to ask her some questions.

After a few hours of talking and getting to know the girls, we plan a shopping trip to the Kingdom Center in a few days. I head back up to Ethan’s apartment when they head home, crawling into bed and staring at the ceiling until he joins me.

As I curl into his side, I ask him the same question, “Is there a way to talk to the Moon Goddess?”

His look of shock would make me laugh if I weren’t serious.

“Not that I know of. Some people claim that the Lycans of old days could contact her, but no one has claimed that in a hundred years,” he answers, brushing my bangs out of my face and leaning down to kiss me. “Why? Are you going to complain that your mate left you alone all day?”

I laugh and smack his chest.

“No. I was just curious,” I tell him, laughing some more when he grins like a loon.

Unknown POV

She has to go.

That little human Luna is ruining everything and can’t be allowed to stay. If she stays, my plans will all be for nothing.