The Hidden Luna Queen 2

I opened my mouth to speak but was interrupted by Henry.

"My sources say he has been spotted in different parts of the capital with a mystery girl," he revealed, as casual as can be, though I could see the mirth hidden in his eyes. "No one knows who she is or where she came from. Of course, I only bring this up because I worry about you, Xaden." He meant to make it sound like a scandal. Anything to undermine my name in the race.

"A dalliance, Xaden?" my father bellowed. "At such a crucial time?"

"No, Father-"

"You are twenty-three years old! It's time you start acting like it. I'd hoped you'd marry a neighboring princess, or-"

"She is no ordinary girl or dalliance-she is going to become my Luna," I spat, stunning my father into silence with my declaration. "I planned to introduce her to the rest of the family. I only wanted to make her feel at ease before doing so." Henry smirked. "Yes, I'm sure you made her feel very... very comfortable in your care."

I slammed my hands on the table. "Don't talk about her like that!"

"Oh, don't like that, do you?" he teased. "Then you really should avoid the sorts of things these people are calling her."

Furious, I prepared to retaliate, but Father spoke up. "Who is this girl, Xaden?" he asked, his features straightening into something unreadable, a warning that I should consider treading carefully. "Is she at least from a respectable pack?" That was all he cared about.

If I were to mention that she came from Moonstone-a second-class clan in our large kingdom-or that she was illegitimate, he would likely have an aneurysm on the spot. Henry's own wife, Isabelle, hailed from one of the largest and most renowned packs, Dawnguard Pride, and he believed it to be a perfect match for an Alpha prince.

I didn't care about any of that. I didn't want a renowned or prestigious Luna.

I wanted Maeve.

"She's a daughter of Moonstone's Alpha," I ultimately responded,

ignoring when my father opened his mouth to protest. "But that does not change what I said. She will be my Luna, whether you approve or not."

"What if I ordered you to stop seeing her?" Father challenged, making me freeze. "What if I ordered you, as your king, to marry someone else?"

"You would regret that in every possible way," I muttered, low and serious. The tension was palpable-thick and so unbearable that a million knives could cut into it and it still would not break. No one, not even my father, would tear her away from me. He raised an eyebrow, daring me to continue. "Oh? And why is that?"

I stared at him, stone-faced. The truth was going to come out sooner or later. "Because she's carrying my baby."

Father's jaw dropped the moment those words left my mouth. A flurry of emotions ran across his face, from shock to confusion to rage. After a delayed pause, he slammed his hands on the table and abruptly stood up. "A child out of wedlock?!" he roared. "What on earth were you thinking?!"

"You're having a baby...?" Lucas murmured, shocked.

Even Henry looked taken aback by the news, unsure how to react.

Frankly, this was going pretty much exactly as I imagined it would. Though, perhaps with a little less blows to the head.

Father continued to rant. "This unknown girl carries the future of the crown! I demand to meet her for myself-immediately!"

I sighed. There was no point in fighting him on that front. Their meeting was inevitable. "Very well," I relented, getting out of my seat. “I will-"

"Sit down," Father demanded, and I stopped in my tracks, confused." You're not going anywhere."

"I was going to-"

"I will not allow you to leave so you can coach her with ways to win my favor," he spat. "If I am to meet her, I want to meet her as she is, without any influence from you. That shouldn't be a problem, is it?"

I clenched my jaw. "Of course not."

Swiftly, I summoned a nervous Prime Beta Burke to my side. "Contact Maggie. Maeve is to be brought to the palace immediately, I muttered." Not a moment is to be wasted."

He nodded. "Yes, sire," he said, preparing to leave, but I stopped him once more.

I leaned in close, indicating that what I had to say next would stay only between us. "I need someone to make sure Maeve arrives without issue," I murmured urgently. "Please, find and inform my young sister Charlotte. She is the only one who can help."