Page 99 of Losing My Siren Luna
It was a fun day. I didn’t expect that. I didn’t think I could have this much fun playing with children. I visit the orphanages when I can, and do things like read to the kids and help the older ones decide what to do with their lives. Many of the warriors and guards in the castle are from the orphanages. The boys that do not wish to fight or risk their lives usually end up working on fishing boats or ships. We started an apprenticeship program as well for those wanting to go into different trades. We have a partnership with many bakers, the blacksmith school in town, the tailor shops, and even a few of the doctors and clinics throughout the land have been open to taking in some of the older children to train to be nurses and medical students.
I try to take care of the orphans as much as I can, but I rarely just play with them like we did today. Playing with little Westley, having him so eager to soak up all the love and attention we would give him gave me a satisfaction I had never felt before. It makes me hopeful to one day feel this way with our own children.
I would likely get jealous that Lira was doting on our child more than she was me, then take our child from her to selfishly distract them. I would end up being so enraptured in the love and adoration of our most perfect child, because they would be perfect. So perfect, just like their mother. I would get so infatuated with the amazing and perfect life Lira and I created together that my jealousness would fade away. My love would only grow for both our child and the woman who birthed them.
I hope one day Lira will love me, and want the same future that I want with her. That was all I could hope for as we rode back to the packhouse upon my horse, Lira tucked between my arms, leaning back against my chest marveling at the ocean as we rode along the shore.
That night, we took a walk in my mother’s garden again, only this time, I had the staff set up dinner for us there, so we could eat while watching the sun set, undisturbed by everyone else, including her overprotective Delta. Cherum is no longer my Delta and one of my commanders. He is entirely Lira’s protector, the shadow and comfort of his Luna, and I wouldn’t have it any other way…..except when I want to be the one who does all that for her. I’m tempted to have us eat alone in the garden every night to monopolize even more of my wife’s time.
I had a thick fur blanket resting on the back of Lira’s chair, so we could enjoy our meal for as long as we wanted, despite the cold. I would have been fine sitting beside her and holding her through the evening, but it would have made eating difficult. I would have gladly gone hungry to provide her with my body heat, but she might have found that uncomfortable. Her joy and comfort were my top priority, and the fur blanket sufficed.
Lira and I talked until it was near bedtime, Niomi coming to hunt my wife down to prepare her for bed. It was the most relaxing, enjoyable meal I think I have ever had. She was smiling and laughing the entire time, sharing stories of her mother, who she loved dearly. I told her about my parents as well. I know both of them would have loved her if they were alive today.
After Lira was ready for bed, I let Killian come forth and brush her hair like we do every night. He and Val playfully teased each other, and Killian even managed to sneak a few kisses of his own without Lira having another panic attack like she did the first time he and Val tried kissing. Being able to admit that we were mates and talking through a lot of our issues was a game changer for Lira. She is so open to the bond that she’s letting my touch soothe her while awake, not just when she is asleep.
We continued talking as we laid beside each other in bed, her head resting on my arm while I gently and tenderly stroked my fingers through her long hair. She is the most gorgeous woman imaginable, and I want to fall asleep watching her and talking to her like that every night. Eventually, her eyes fluttered shut, but I continued to just stare at her for at least another hour before I pulled her against my chest and let the beating of her heart lull me to sleep.
It was truly a fantastic day. I can only hope that it's one of many.
~
Elelira POV
“Are you excited about this weekend?” Yasmin asked me as we sat in the finished dining hall, sipping tea after lunch. The men went back to work to get ready for some festival happening this weekend. Lachlan and Nilo have been consumed with preparations for it all week, but today Lachlan asked for my guard and Cherum to accompany him too. Cedric, Yasmin and I were left behind with a stern request from Cherum to not leave the castle under any circumstances. He's a worry wart.
“I haven’t been to a festival before,” I wrung my hands in my lap. “Shouldn’t I be helping too if I’m the Luna now?”
“Psh, no,” Cedric grins, tracing his finger along the grain of the table. “Just relax. You shouldn’t have to do anything when that ape you married is the one who came up with this idea, even if you are Luna.”
It still feels weird to say it out loud. Being accepted by Luna and being treated like Lachlan’s mate is such a weird concept for me.
I like it.
I’m starting to like Lachlan a little more each and every day. I feel like I can trust him. I trust his feelings for me. It’s helping me to get over some of the trauma of my past with him, and I truly look forward to each day now, and what possibilities it could bring.
That also makes me nervous, though; having new possibilities.
I don’t know what is going to happen. This festival wasn’t something that happened in my first life. I don’t even know what it’s for. This is also about the time my Uncle first sent someone to check on me, seeing if I was with child yet.
The man didn’t check me in a very pleasant way either. Lachlan didn’t care before, not even making an appearance to welcome the guy, but I wonder how he would react now when some rough, shady warrior doctor from my uncle’s pack showed up and demanded to check to see if I was pregnant by giving me an exam.
What if the man shows up during the festival and causes problems for the brothel women again? I don’t think he came alone every time he showed up before. I’m sure what happened to Yasmin might happen again to a different woman if Lachlan isn't going to the brothels like he was in my first life. Maybe I should have Yasmin warn Lady Vera. Or maybe I should do it myself.
“Hey Yasmin. Do you still go to see Lady Vera or the women at the brothel at all?”
She quirked her lips to the side. “I’ve had a few of the girls invite me to eat with them or visit. Percy always tries to tag along, though, so I rarely go. He gets in trouble enough by skipping duties to be with me.”
“He does,” I laughed. “Ever since you got your mate mark, he can’t stay away from you for long.”
“I know,” Yasmin blushes. “Speaking of mate marks, I see you still don’t have one. Have you guys really not mated yet?”
Now it’s my turn to be embarrassed. “You know we haven’t,” I grumbled.
She asks me almost every morning now, along with Mimi and Gemma. They thought Lachlan was just being considerate of me being so young at first, thinking he was just trying to ease me into being ready for that kind of intimacy. Now they are coming up with different theories as to why we haven’t consummated our marriage and marked each other.
Gemma thought maybe one of us was mated to someone else, or that Lachlan accidentally marked one of his conquests and we were waiting for the next full moon so he could mark me and reject the other bond.
If you have already marked someone, or even found your fated mate who is still living and want to mark another without an accepted rejection, you have to wait until the next full moon to do it. The power of the moon at its fullest gives our Lycan side the ability to take a chosen mate and override fate, or claim your fated mate in the instance that you already took a chosen one before meeting your fated but want to do away with that bond to form your fated one.
