Page 72 of The Barren Luna

I just looked at my mate for guidance.

“No idea? Should we even have one?”

“Oh, please do, I love celebrating love!” Lizzie said dreamily, and my brother just rolled his eyes playfully.

“Is that why you were so stressed while planning ours?”

“It is very different when you’re the one organizing it and when you’re just there as a guest,” she said slyly, and Regina laughed.

“Oh, I see how it is. You want me to suffer for your entertainment!”

“It’s the least you can do as my sister-in-law!”

“If you’re looking to party, Liz, you can organize something for our new pack members when they arrive,” I said and they all turned to me. “Oh, did I not mention this before? We’re getting five new pack members, three adults, and two pups.”

“Who?” Regina asked quietly, but I could feel her voice vibrating with held-back joy.

“Lucy, Calum, Liam, Nora and Declan. You can be officially introduced to our pack together with your friends,” I told her in a low voice.

“Oh, David,” she put her hand over her mouth and burst out crying.

“What have you done to her!” my mother yelled at me and I raised my arms in surrender.

“I gave her good news! I haven’t done anything!”

“No, no, it’s good, I’m happy,” Gina said, wiping her eyes. “Some of my friends will be moving here and I got emotional.”

“It’s okay, darling, let it out,” Mom said, patting her back gently, and my heart skipped a beat at the affectionate gesture. I knew that my mate could only benefit from that type of support in her life.

After everyone was gone, we were relaxing and drinking tea in the library, and my mind kept going back to Elizabeth’s question.

“Would you want to have a mating ceremony?” I asked Gina.

“Not really. But I’d understand if we had to have one.”

“Because of the pack, you mean?” I asked and she nodded. “Don’t worry about that, if you don’t care, I don’t care. My mark is on your neck - that’s all I care about.”

“You'd tell me if you cared, right?”

“I would,” I confirmed. “But you’ll quickly see that I'm a truly uncomplicated male who doesn’t need much to be happy. I’m not really one for public ceremonies and functions.”

“How unusual for a king,” she said with a half-smile.

“Remember how I told you that I would also work on becoming the right mate for you?” I looked at her and she nodded for me to continue. “Would you love me less if I weren’t king?”

She burst out laughing and it was the last thing I’d expected her to do.

“Oh, David. If possible, I’d love you more! Where are these questions coming from?”

“I really had time to think about things while I was in Spruce Mountain. About us, our future, my late father, and many other things that got swept under the rug because there was always so much to do after he died. And I realized that I was heading for a lifetime of professional frustration if I had to deal with this work all the time. I’m an Alpha and a warrior, I am no diplomat and no judge.”

“So what are you saying?”

“I was thinking of abdicating the throne, so to speak, and appointing John as the King. I’d bring it up at the next Alpha summit, and if they don’t agree, they can simply choose another one from among themselves to rule, it works out fine for me either way. Though I would prefer it to be John, since he is perfect for the role.”

“I agree,” Regina said. “You’re really serious about this?”

“I am.”

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