Page 2 of The Dark War

“Just Raine and Leia having an argument.” I picked up an apple from the table, wincing as I lowered myself into the closest chair.

“Here, let me help you, Luna.” Marcus’s sweaty body glistened as he pulled the chair out, lowering me onto it.

“Thanks, Marcus, but please, call me Clara. I don’t need all that title stuff, all right? If it bothers you that much, do what you do with Kane.” Marcus’s pearly white teeth made a show as he sat on the other side of the table. Marcus always called Kane by his first name when they were alone, but in public, he referred to him as Alpha. It shows a sign of respect, the same way that when my parents come on their frequent visits, even Kane calls them ‘Your Majesty’ in public.

“I can remember the day you didn’t even know what a luna was, and here you are, one of the most famous lunas in all the kingdom and future queen. The little waitress has grown up in just six months.” I sighed heavily, no longer hungry after the one bite of the apple. I placed it on the table, pushing it away.

“Yeah, I sure have,” I said with a hint of sarcasm. Marcus’s smile faded, his hand reaching out to grab mine as it retreated from the tasteless food.

“Hey now, what’s going on, Little Fox?” Pursing my lips, I glanced at Marcus. I envied him as a wolf some days. Sure, he was a beta and had some responsibility, but now I had the weight of the world on my shoulders, it seemed.

I really went from a small quiet life as a waitress to a big new world as a princess. How was I going to bear the weight of it all along with a baby?

A luna, a future queen, a mother, a mate, a healer. I didn’t know how to be any of those things, and I had to be all of them. Where did I draw the line? How would I separate the four? I wanted adventure not so long ago, and I got it all right—along with a whole other set of responsibilities.

“Just a little stressed, is all.” A small smile replaced my pursed, thin-lined lips. Marcus opened his mouth to speak until heavy footsteps led into the room. Kane’s heavy musky scent filled the area before his powerful stance stood at the double-widened doors. The lighted hallway was so bright I could only see the outline of his sweaty body heaving his heavy breaths.

“Hi, Alpha.” I grinned widely as his bare feet hit the granite floor. “How was training?” Kane stepped in, his muscles swollen from working every part of his body, and the dripping of sweat rolling down his sculpted ab muscles had me squeezing my swollen legs.

Come on, baby, get out of me.

“Hello, my love.” Kane bent forward, holding his chest to keep the salty drops from ruining my thin dress. The salt that tainted his lips made me laugh.

“You both are disgusting to watch. Too much love in this room, I’m out.” Marcus chuckled, patting Kane on the shoulder. “I’ve got a date with some twins. Don’t wait up, Kane.” Kane rolled his eyes, pushing my long hair behind my ear. “Luna, try not to stress. Everything will work out.” Marcus walked down the hallway to his quarters.

“He doesn’t listen to me about his private life, but he does a wicked job listening as my beta.” Kane sighed, rubbing his fingers through his wet hair.

“That he does. He’ll be great at running things around here while our pup grows up and when you need some time off.” Kane’s lip curled, kissing my cheek again.

“As long as he protects the pack, I won’t push it, but he of all people should realize, especially after Jasper, he should keep his dick in his pants,” he grumbled.

Taliyah and Jasper had swiftly gone to the Vermillion Kingdom shortly after we arrived in Bergarian. Vermillion as a whole was in shambles, and Taliyah did what she could to reestablish any sort of Court that was left. Mother and Father sent many trained soldiers from their own lot of warriors to help Taliyah as much as they could. A lot of pushback came from the residents that were happy that Darius was gone but were wary of the wolves. We quickly receded as soon as we could so the trust of the Vermillion nation could fall back on Taliyah.

Most of the Court was taken to the dungeons, where they sat awaiting trial. Taliyah wanted to make everything as legal as possible to show that she would have full evidence of anyone that was to be put to death. The steep incline of learning the ways to rule a nation and becoming queen so quickly was one that I did not envy. I couldn’t imagine having to take over from being a slave to being a queen.

Darius didn’t make it easy for her. The treasury was empty; soldiers were few, and the people who obeyed Taliyah’s new laws were starving. The surrounding territories of gnomes and the occasional ogre didn’t help, and her first plan of action was to get proper food brought in. Even if that meant having to breed their own animals for slaughter.

“I couldn’t agree more, but let’s not worry about Marcus.” My eyes turned away from Kane, tired of worrying for everyone else. A sharp pain ran across my abdomen, causing me to grip the table.

“Baby, what’s wrong?!” Kane spoke louder than I was expecting. I rubbed my stomach, sitting back up in the chair.

“Just Braxton Hicks. My body prepping for the baby.” Kane grabbed hold of my hand, kissing my fingers.

“Please tell me, what’s going on?” Kane kneeled on the carpet before me. I smiled, my eyes softening at Kane’s concern.

“Just overwhelmed. I didn’t realize how quickly werewolf pups grow, and I think that has thrown me through a loop.” I fake giggled. Kane’s hand went to my stomach.

“You are not alone in this. Your mother and mine will be here to help. They’ll show us both how to be parents. I know this happened fast, but I believe the gods wanted it this way. Even with your heat, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will become pregnant. We live for so long, but only the gods know the right time for a pup. They know our hearts and if we truly desire and deserve a child at the time of conception. This pup” —Kane’s other hand went to the other side of my belly—“is here for a reason.”

Kissing my stomach, his sweaty hair fell into his face. “I promise, Clara, everything is going to work out.” Kane pulled me from my seat, leading me into the bathroom. Raine and Leia came out laughing hysterically, waving us off, knowing where we were going.

Kane had wanted me to take a bath for the past several months to ease the pains in my muscles, but I remember working in the diner just a year ago, a human woman complaining about not being able to take a bath. “It could cook the baby!” her own mother yelled. Human pregnancies and werewolf pregnancies were different, sure, but that put enough fear in me not to want to even try.

Kane had his own routine with me, and that was to literally shower me with love and affection. At first, I hated it. I hated him seeing my changing body, but Kane continued to amaze me with his words and his hands as he washed every part of me, even the parts I could no longer see.

Kane turned on the shower, as hot as I would allow so I didn’t ‘cook’ my pup, and washed his own body quickly. I stood under the heated waterfall and waited for the steam to take over the shower and hopefully cover up my large rear in the process.

Kane’s gentle hands took the washing primrose oil and rubbed my shoulders down to my lower back. His large hands pushed and kneaded all the sore parts, causing me to groan with relief. “You know where all my aches are.” I hummed while I leaned on the shower wall.

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