Chapter 10

(Sienna’s POV)

An aide pulls Arthur away to handle a diplomatic emergency that, honestly, probably could have been sorted out with a simple email. I stand near the exit, sipping my champagne, taking this quiet moment alone to breathe.

My wolf whispers in my mind. “You’re doing well, Sienna. Thank you for doing all this. For saving my life.”

My eyes widen. She’s weak, but I haven’t heard her actually speak in what feels like forever. I blink repeatedly, trying to make the tears stinging the corners of my eyes dry up.

So much has happened, and this is too much…too fast.

“I’m relieved to hear your voice again,” I tell her.

“I’m weak, Sienna, alive, but barely. I’m not out of the woods by far, but being close to our mate is healing. Thank you for letting him in.”

“You need to know, he’s not our mate. But we have an agreement. He will save your life in exchange for three years of service to him as his Luna.”

“You’ll feel differently after we mate with him,” she tells me.

Realizing she’s serious, I hold back my chuckle. “I won’t lie to you,” I tell her. “There will be no sexual relationship. But, per the contract, he will mark me, and that should be enough.”

My chest deflates at my own words as I physically feel her retreat in my mind. Silent again, but present. Weak, but alive.

Suddenly, a young man with a condescending tone that could give Arthur a run for his money pulls me out of my thoughts.

“Sienna Hale, I presume,” he says, meeting my gaze.

He looks like a younger, shorter version of Arthur. Tall, dark, handsome, and entitled.

“May I help you?” I ask, attempting to match his snobbish energy.

He reaches out to shake my hand. “I’m Arthur’s cousin, Daniel.”

I politely shake his hand and reciprocate. “A pleasure to meet you.”

He cocks his head…clearly studying my features. The pause is awkward as he clearly takes stock of me.

I hold a deadpan stare as to seem unbothered.

After far too long, he says. “Forgive me. You just…well, you are not his type.”

“Have you and Arthur discussed his type before?” I ask sarcastically.

He chuckles. “Arthur doesn’t usually go for girls with as many…how to say this politely…curves. Not to mention you are clearly nothing like…”

He stops mid-sentence.

Heat swells in my chest at the insult. I take a slow, deep breath before responding. “Healthy. You mean in the past, Arthur preferred malnourished, damsels in distress types?”

His face flushes.

I struck a nerve…good.

He takes a domineering step toward me, looking down at me from a full head taller. His eyes are fixed and cold.

“You aren’t good enough for him,” he says simply. “Furthermore, you are nothing like Char…”

I cock my head waiting for him to finish his sentence. “I’m nothing like who?” I ask.

Arthur suddenly appears out of nowhere, just in time to halt this interaction. “Aw, Daniel. I see you’ve met my fiancé. You aren’t flirting now, are you?” he asks with feigned incredulity.

Playing along, Daniel acts as if he hadn't just come up to me unprovoked and hurled insults. Daniel chuckles. “No, no, of course not. I was simply explaining to your lovely date the intricacies of political life and the strain that our positions, especially yours, put on close relationships.” He breaks eye contact with Arthur to look me straight in the face. “Weak relationships break under far less pressure than that of the crown, Milady.”

Arthur straightens his posture, expression cold like ice. “I see, cousin. While I appreciate your concern, I must warn you that in the future…”

Before he can finish his sentence, I interrupt. “Daniel, I believe in my relationship with Arthur. And it is mine and his alone to see out, how we please. And, I won’t be swayed, or puppeteered for that matter, by outsiders.”

Arthur smiles at Daniel with a nod as he leads me back into the crowd. I recognize many of the leaders and their Lunas from our briefing in the car. It’s a lot of fake smiles and small talk throughout the evening.

I reach for my wolf. Her depression is palpable, but she is alive…she is still improving.

This is all for her... and my son, Owen... All this struggle will be worth it in the end. Improvement is still progress, even if it’s just baby steps.

(Arthur’s POV)

I’m bored listening to politician after politician lobbying under the guise of doing it for their people, when all they really want is power and money.

Proud of myself for not restraining myself from rolling my eyes and stifling yawns as Alpha Thomas discusses a bill to raise taxes, I notice Sienna is no longer standing alone. Daniel.

Enhanced hearing enables me to pay attention to both conversations, though I’m far more interested in what Daniel is saying to Sienna. Her eyes tell me she feels cornered. But her body language suggests confidence.

I smile at her retort to his body shaming. Her curves are desirable, nothing to be ashamed of. I hear him hinting at Charlotte and decided now is the time to end their interaction.

I suggest to Thomas that he submit his legislative inquiries through the proper channels, and they will be heard, then politely excuse myself from the conversation.

I successfully stop Daniel before he mentions her name. I realize that, short of keeping Charlotte’s name out of Daniel’s mouth, Sienna doesn’t need me to rescue her. My presence isn’t truly needed since Sienna has control over the situation without me.

Sienna and I eat our meal in relative silence. I can’t help but notice the open slit of her down drapes over her crossed legs. My eyes linger longer than they should at the constricted, taut muscles in her thigh and calf.

Initially, I was aggravated that she changed her dress from the one I previously chosen for her. Clearly, she knew what she was doing when she chose it.

I ask her to dance and am happy when she nods in acceptance. She lets me lead her out to the dance floor by the hand.

I decide to put on a show by twirling her as we head to the center of the floor. I dip her again, this time quickly, then lift her up, pressing our bodies together so we can move as one.

My right hand holds her left, and her right arm wraps around my neck as my left arm holds her tightly at the waist.

Lowering my head to her ear, I notice the pulse at her carotid, savor her ocean-meets-lavender scent, and resist the urge to touch my lips to her neck.

I whisper. “You know, I was irritated that you changed clothes earlier this evening.” I grin against her ear.

Her smile is audible in response. “Your attention from the car to the present suggests that you got over your irritation, Alpha Arthur.”

“Indeed, you may choose your own clothes movie forward,” I tell her.

“Glad you came to that conclusion on your own,” she says.

“Yes,” I murmur. “By the way, Sienna, “The way you handle yourself is the reason I chose you. My Luna must be strong enough to defend the Royal Pack’s interests.”

Her breath catches audibly in surprise at my compliment.

Feeling every eye in the room on us, before Sienna decides to pull away, I twirl her out to the crowd to show her off. In my Alpha voice, I say, “I’d like to present to you all my fiancé and your future Luna! This is Sienna Hale and with all of you as witnesses we are delighted to publicly announce our engagement!”

I pull her back, facing her, with both arms wrapped around her waist and crash my lips to hers.

They are soft as expected. She opens her mouth, allowing my tongue entry without hesitation or reservation.