SWNOVELS : Chapter 18
Fiona
I went to the East Garden and arrived at two on the dot. This was my first time seeing it, which was breathtaking. The day’s heat felt nice. Unfortunately, the palace was cold.
The garden had tall hedges that caused the garden to seem private and isolated. The grass was well manicured, with stone paths that led to majestic fountains in the four corners depicting wolves fighting against each other. In the center was a fountain of a woman I have never seen. She was lovely, with hair to her waist wrapped in a flowing dress.
She reached for something in the distance. The woman looked sad somehow and my heart ached for her. There were tables elegantly placed throughout, littered with teacups, cakes, and pastries. The scent of sugar rode the air.
I descended the steps unsure of how this afternoon was going to go. I saw a few others from etiquette class and gave a polite nod. I wore a short blue cotton summer dress that matched my eyes. My lower abdominal was starting to bulge out a little, so I decided to keep it hidden for now.
I spotted Scarlet in a group of women that looked uninterested in anything happening around them, as if this kind of function was done all too often and they were bored.
I suddenly missed Nina terribly, she was always so good at events like this. She knew so many more of the noble families than me. She was more social and attended all the major pack events.
I wish I had done more, it would make this feel way less awkward. I squared my shoulders, ran a hand over the Dutch braid in my hair hanging over my shoulder and wasted no time wandering around.
I went straight to Scarlet to let her know I was here. Alexander had warned me to be on guard whenever I was around her.
Coming to stand beside Scarlet I waited quietly for an opening into the conversation. As I waited one by one the nobles stopped talking and stared at me. My expression was a mask of indifference. Then, finally, Scarlet turned to see what the others were looking at. I curtsied. “Queen Luna, thank you for having me here today,” I said with a small smile.
“Yes, yes, you are welcome. I like to host tea parties every few months. Changes the routine up,” said Scarlet. The others around her nodded politely. Scarlet took my arm in hers as if we were old friends. I stiffened.
“The West Garden is much lovelier than the East, but we can’t go near the West Wing. Alexander has taken it over and has forbidden any of my staff from going there. Can you believe that?” she said coldly.
The other nobles gasped, “No.”
“Yes.” She smiled, that smile that did not reach those grey eyes. I didn’t make a comment.
“You’re staying in the West Wing are you not Fiona?” she asked.
“Yes, it is lovely and quite safe,” I said to the nobles.
Scarlet let go of my arm and placed a hand over her heart as if shocked. “Why wouldn’t the palace be safe for you my dear?” Then she bobbed her head as if concerned.
“That is a very good question, Queen Luna, why would I not be safe here?” I thought I had nailed her down with her rude comments toward Alexander.
Then she replied, “Alexander does have many brutal soldiers wandering the halls, and women could be at risk for sure.”
I pulled in a small breath not letting her get to me. “Alexander’s men would never do him such dishonor as to hurt a woman. On the contrary, his men are loyal and love him. I have seen it. They would do anything for him.”
Scarlet stepped away from me. “They are not his men. They are the Alpha King’s men. As are all soldiers of King Pack.”
“I do not mean to offend, I was only stating what I have seen. I have been here for a while now and I have not seen the King out working with these men or your son, Lucas. Is that not part of being an Alpha, to lead your soldiers?”
Scarlet’s eyes narrowed at the mention of her son and the lack of leadership with King Pack. However, the nobles in the circle no longer held expressions of boredom. Instead, they were pretty amused with the verbal sparring match between Scarlet and I.
“I have seen what a great Alpha looks like. My grandfather fought and bled with his pack and they would do anything for him. Even put up with my father. A great Alpha is a man that puts his pack first even if it costs him everything. There is no room for selfishness and greed. Alexander will be a true Alpha King. King of all packs, all packs as one.”
A woman with brown hair and green eyes nodded to me and then said, “Yes, Alphas must be strong and unapologetic. They work and bleed for their packs. It is the werewolf way.”
I could see a kindred spirit.
‘You have quite the silver tongue,’ Scarlet flashed me a fake smile. Raising an eyebrow, I knew there was more to what Scarlet was saying.
Sure enough, her next words floated my way, ‘However, I’ve heard that Alexander once publicly expressed his intention to boycott your pack, leaving his own wife and her pack in humiliation. That’s not something a gentleman should do.’
Scarlet expressed sympathy towards me, but her lips were raised in triumph. ‘It seems your relationship isn’t as good as you pretend it to be. Oh, I don’t mean to offend, but how can a woman who can’t capture her husband’s heart become the royal Luna?’
Because I mentioned Scarlet’s son, she was determined to humiliate me in front of everyone, but I remained unfazed. I slightly lifted my head, about to say something, when suddenly a figure cast a shadow over me by a broad chested golden God.
It’s Alexander.
Alexander naturally wrapped his arm around my waist, and I found myself leaning almost entirely against him, a familiar scent filling my nostrils.
‘I seem to have overheard someone questioning my feelings for you?’