Page 43 of Losing My Siren Luna
I sipped hot tea by the large bay window in that chair that had been calling to me since I first stepped into the room. The fire was brought back to life by the same maid that brought my tea, warming the room while I watched the sun rise up in the sky over the sea and send the ocean into a glittering array of vibrant colors.
I was a little disarmed having woken up in Lachlan's.... well, really Killian’s arms, but the rest of my morning was relaxing and comfortable.
Cherum and Mimi came once the sun was awake, and encouraged me to open all the birthday presents given to me by Lachlan, as well as our wedding presents. There were so many gorgeous items of clothes, accessories, shoes, purses, books, stationary, trinkets and even expensive-looking candies that I was overwhelmed.
I had never received so many extravagant gifts. I’ve never received any extravagant gifts. I’m amazed that he took the time to prepare all this for me.
“See. He’s different. Everything is different,”Val kept telling me.
It is different. I can’t help but to hope now that my life won’t be so miserable here for the next two years.
Mimi and a few other maids helped me to dress in one of my new dresses. I asked for something simple, and Mimi truly tried to find the plainest one, which was no easy feat. All the dresses were extravagantly designed. She did find a simple green dress that would have to do.
Cherum stayed in my room waiting for me as the maids helped to bathe me and get me ready for the day in the ensuite.
I never had this before. I would bathe once a week with Mimi in the bathhouse that's for the staff, and no one besides Mimi would help to get me ready in the mornings, except the morning of my wedding when my uncle insisted on dolling me up.
My hair was brushed until it shined, then braided down my back. They tried to do more with it, but I asked them not to. If Lachlan and I were to be playing with children in the orphanage today, I wouldn’t want to worry about ruining whatever elaborate hairstyle they painstakingly came up with.
Once ready for the day, Cherum and Mimi accompanied me to the dining hall.
Nervousness ate away at me. I had never been allowed in here before. I didn’t know what to expect. As we drew near, the sounds and voices of the many pack members who ate there were carried out into the stone hallways, and I deeply dreaded going in.
This was never my pack before in my first life. All these people hated me, if they ever noticed me at all.
I was the unwanted bride forced upon their alpha, trying to ruin his chances at finding his fated mate and for them to have their true luna, as far as they were concerned.
Mimi urged me along, and when I tried to use the excuse of already being full from the snacks I was given this morning before their arrival, Cherum rather rudely told me that I shouldn’t be missing any meals. Mimi reiterated this, telling me that she could see my ribs when helping me to dress, so I reluctantly gave in and went into the dining hall.
I was expecting scoffs and scorn, but was welcomed with quite the opposite.
Everyone wanted to greet me, it seemed, and they were all very warm and friendly. Every table I passed resounded with “Good morning, Luna”s or “Luna, hello”.
Mimi sat me down at the center table, excusing herself, even when I tried to get her to stay. She insisted on going back to tidy my room with the maid that was assigned to be her assistant, Gemma.
Cherum ended up calling a kitchen server over, directing him to prepare a spread to be delivered to my room for Mimi and Gemma to eat while they worked. He told me that he planned on taking me around the castle grounds after breakfast anyway, and they would have plenty of time to eat and work at a leisurely pace before my return.
Cherum scared me in my first life. He, being the delta and protector of the Luna, thought of me as an imposter, I believe. He never spoke to me, but he would glare at me when I was present. Now, he is going above and beyond to make me at ease, with his warm smile and gentle gestures.
Warriors that serve under Cherum came to sit with us soon after our meals were served. They are known as the Luna’s guard. I had never met them before, as I was not allowed to act like even a member of the pack, let alone the Luna.
I was nervous when they first sat with us, feeling that cold panic creeping up my back and making me feel like I was choking, but my necklace started to pulse beneath my dress, sending out soothing waves throughout my body that helped to tamper down the distressing feeling rising in me.
After a few minutes, I saw I had nothing to fear from any of these men.
They all seemed eager and excited to meet me, making me feel guilty, as I still wasn’t sure I wanted to stay, even though Val wanted to. She liked Killian greatly, and wholeheartedly believed that this was a different timeline we were taken back to. Like it was an alternate universe where we were accepted into our new pack, Lachlan wasn’t a total monster, even without feeling the mate bond, and we could finally be at peace, at least until our 20th birthday.
I’m still not convinced. There are many differences, but there are also many similarities. Lachlan is still obviously a womanizer. He invited prostitutes to our wedding reception. He even had one with him outside his bedchamber after the reception until I showed up.
It's going to take more than presents and a night’s sleep to convince me that he is a different man.
“Luna, try this,” one of the men, Percy, handed me a large mug filled with a milky coffee.
“Don’t give her that. The Alpha will have a fit if he sees her drinking alcohol this early in the morning,” Maurice nudges his shoulder.
“The lass is just an adult as of yesterday,” Cherum chuckles, brushing crumbs from the toast out of his beard. “I doubt she has tasted alcohol stronger than wine before.”
“So I shouldn’t drink it? Is it that strong?” I asked him, taking the mug and sniffing its contents. I smelt the faint sharpness of alcohol, but not stronger than a glass of wine.
