The Hidden Luna Queen 2

This was it.

Today was my first-official-day with Xaden's mother, Luna Queen Leonora. To say I was nervous was the understatement of the century. Not only did I hope this first impression would go significantly smoother than that of the meeting with the Alpha King for the sake of my relationship with Xaden, but I needed this for myself, too.

I never knew my birth mother.

And the only mother figure I had in my life loathed my very existence.

If it was within the realm of possibility, I wanted more than anything for her to like me. Xaden seemed fairly confident that things would go well between us, but I could not be certain. Past experiences had taught me that anything could happen. That was why I found myself standing just beyond the door of the Luna Queen's parlor, stalling for time and shaking at the knees. My hand hovered nervously, poised to knock on the door to be let inside. Please... I begged internally, please let her be kind, at the very least...

Sighing heavily, I took the giant leap forward and knocked on the door until I heard that soft, gentle voice grant me entry.

Slowly, I pushed open the door and stepped inside. Sitting patiently at a round glass table by the far window, underneath a golden chandelier and amid beautiful hanging vines of ivy, Luna Queen Leonora waited for me to approach with a smile. I straightened myself up. This was really happening.

There was no turning back now.

"Good morning, Maeve," she greeted kindly, getting to her feet and holding her hand out to me expectantly, maintaining strong eye contact. Like a true Luna, commanding respect from the room. "I trust you had no issues on the way here?"

My gaze darted nervously around the room as I shook her hand. "N-No, it was-"

"Hold on for a moment, dear."

I blinked. "I'm... sorry?"

She planted both hands on top of my own. "Whenever someone comes up to greet you," she murmured seriously, and I found myself listening to every word, "always look them in the eye. No matter what they hear or are told, this moment will always be their first impression of you. Don't ever show them how vulnerable you are... because they will think you are someone to take advantage of."

My mouth parted in shock. "I never thought of it like that..." I admitted.

The corners of her lips upturned. "That is why we are doing this. I promised you I would help you find confidence, and that is what we'll do."

And thus began the next three hours of my life. Luna Queen Leonora was remarkably patient the whole time, explaining to me the intricacies of first impressions and how to greet someone, whether they are acquaintances or someone I was only just meeting. And I clung to every word, every breath as if my very future depended on it.

By the time the clock struck noon, which came by surprisingly fast, we spent the last few minutes just chatting. And somehow, we ventured towards the topic of yesterday's meeting with the king.

The queen took a sip of her tea. "When is the mating ceremony, my dear?"

Oh. She didn't know about the details. "We... decided to wait with it."

"Wait?" she repeated with a creased brow. She must have assumed it would be held as soon as possible. "Was that my husband's idea?"

"Y-Yes... but Xaden and I agreed that it was probably for the best."

"That's not because of your pregnancy, is it?"

My body jolted with shock. "H-How did-?"

"My dear," she murmured, her hazel eyes creasing with warmth, "I have carried many children. I know the maternal body better than most. I could tell from the moment I saw you that you carried yourself the way only an expecting mother would."

I gulped, knowing I had no choice but to tell her the truth. After all the kindness she'd shown me that morning, I couldn't lie to her. Cautiously, I rested a hand on my growing bump. "Yes, that's why..." I confessed, "s-so we decided to wait until after the baby was born to hold the ceremony." She regarded me long and carefully. "As long as that's what you want. Then I completely understand."

We didn't speak more about the mating ceremony after that. With the lesson over, we thought it best to call it a day and began to clear away our used teaware.

Unconsciously, I allowed a small yawn to slip past my lips. I probably should have gotten more sleep last night, but Xaden's renewed vigor was impossible to deny and was... completely and utterly contagious. I couldn't say no and, honestly, I did not want to. The abrupt yawn, unfortunately, did not escape the queen's laser-focused attention. "Did you not sleep well last night?"

My face heated up with a mortified blush. Perhaps sleeping with her son the night before our first-ever bonding session as mother and daughter-in-law had not been one of my brightest ideas. "I-I'm sorry, Your Majesty.." I stammered. "It's nothing to worry about." I... really needed to learn how to be more discrete.

She eyed me curiously, clearly not believing a single word I said. "There is no need to be shy, my dear," she said, organizing the teacups neatly together. "I understand well enough what happens between a man and a woman behind closed doors."