Chapter 10

Elena’s POV

Beta guides me through the opulent castle with a steady step quickly. He remains quiet, more concentrated on our footsteps than explaining anything else to me. With an arm wrapped around my shoulders, he maneuvers me around as if I am a broken doll.

My stomach churns but there is nothing I can do about this.

He takes me to a massive double door with a carving of a golden wolf’s head split down the middle of it. I swallow, unaware of what is behind that door.

This whole area is new to me, red plush carpet and shining white marble walls.

“Are you ready, human?”

I look up to him slowly. “For what?”

A proud smile flourishes across his face as he moves to open the doors.

The doors open to a round white tiled room, surrounded by books. There is a massive solid oak desk and a red velvet chair behind that.

King Harvey stands at his oak desk and in a flash, he is in front of me. He offers me a hand. I take it, unsure of what else, what to do and why.

The warmth of his hand envelopes mine and fills my body. I almost lean into him entirely. A very kind smile blooms across his face, but the fangs that pop out of his mouth do not escape me.

King Harvey’s eyes shine with a touch of silver that reminds me of our time together. I blush as he chuckles softly.

“Are you well?” King Harvey asks thoughtfully.

“A little nervous,” I whisper.

King Harvey nods seriously. “I am too, Elena.”

“Why? You are a King!”

“I am.” He confirms sternly. “I have never done this, however. I don’t want to trip on my feet.”

“Trip?”

King Harvey motions that I look down and I see he is wearing boots with metal across the toe and top of them.

“Training.” King Harvey informs, motioning to the golden shotgun on his back. “Silver will harm me… and you, eventually.”

“How will she become the pack’s Luna? This is unacceptable!” A werewolf says from a long hallway that King Harvey guides me to that starts at the far left of the desk.

I look up and see there are several floors to his study, all round and surrounded by spiral wooden banisters.

I am not allowed here, am I?

Stepping closer to King Harvey, I am met by glares from the werewolves that flank us at either side as we walk down the hallway that they line.

“King Harvey.” Beta falls in step with us easily. “Luna is the spiritual symbol of the entire pack. Obviously, humans don’t have wolves, so we don’t know if we can awaken the Fated Power within humans. Perhaps you can think of this again.”

“King Harvey, what is the Fated Power?” I ask without wondering if I am speaking out of turn.

I decided to ask King Harvey rather than Beta, to show that I trust him. Building trust between us both is what we should do. It might keep me alive.

King Harvey looks down at me and squeezes my hand as if to emphasize what he is about to say.

“Fated Power is the ability of a werewolf chosen as a luna to awaken in the marking ceremony. This ceremony is for the Alpha King to verify officially that his mate is his mate. The luna can use her abilities to calm the high emotions of the werewolves in the pack and prevent the werewolves from going crazy with power. The more powerful the werewolf, the stronger her Fated Power."

King Harvey never had let go of my hand; we had been holding hands this whole time.

My heart begins to beat erratically.

"Thank you for explaining, King Harvey.” I say, finding the courage despite my weak knees at what he just said.

I will oversee their emotions. Why would I have all this power? I will be as strong as King Harvey emotionally.

THE KING OF ALL WEREWOLVES.

I wish I could take a seat, instead I pretend to be interested in the wall.

King Harvey untangles his hand from mine, making me turn to face him.

“Beta.” King Harvey commands without breaking eye contact with me. “I need a word with you. Elena, you may take a seat in my study. The rest of the werewolves here are dismissed. Go train.”

All the werewolves walk off with a bow, never even looking at me.

King Harvey guides me to his study and pulls out the red velvet chair for me.

“Please rest. Your wounds make you weak still.”

I blush. “Thank you for caring about me.”

“Thank you for being my mate.” King Harvey replies ardently. “Please, browse my personal library. You must be taught werewolf customs.”

“King Harvey, will you not teach me?”

“I will teach you whatever you desire….” King Harvey’s eyes now are completely silver, and his fangs are about three inches long. “Do not tempt me.” He repeats as he did our night together.

My face reddens even more and unable to keep eye contact with him, I bury my face in my hands. I have forgotten he is in the middle of his heat. I don’t mean to tempt him.

King Harvey laughs boisterously. “You are a lovely human, Elena!”

King Harvey finds me amusing in the least and I think this will keep me on his good side. Maybe I will be safe.

“T-thank you!” I say between my fingers.

I watch as King Harvey’s face changes as he realizes that he has something else to do. Beta is waiting politely to speak to King Harvey.

“I must go speak to Beta. Please busy yourself.”

King Harvey walks back down the hallway and Beta follows. I hear a door closing but I have no idea where the door is.

I get up to look at his books like he asked.

Finding myself staring at the expanse of leather-bound books of all different colors, I have no idea what to do or where to look.

I am only alone for a handful of minutes when King Harvey returns with Beta right behind him.

“Elena.” King Harvey greets me from behind.

I turn to face him and wonder if I must bow. I lower my head slightly and he grins.

“We spoke about you going to get training for the Fated Power. It is elite werewolf training. You, as a Luna will be the glory of the entire pack.”

I freeze under the weight of his words and find myself crumbling to take a seat in his red velvet chair.

Beta and I stare at one another.

King Harvey wants me to be a Luna?!

How am I as a human worthy of that?

I exhale heavily.

I have no energy to worry if this is allowed. King Harvey studies me kindly. Beta nervously nips his lower lip.

“King Harvey.” Beta moves to King Harvey cautiously. “She is human, that will be rough on her.”

“Elena, what do you think?” King Harvey looks me deep in my eyes and I blush hard.

“King Harvey…” I whisper as my fears overtake me.

I don’t know what to think! Could I, do it?

“Would you like to receive the elite training of werewolves before the marking ceremony?”

“Is… there a mistake?” I ask.

“No. Elena, you are my mate so you should be my luna too.” King Harvey says so firmly that I believe him.

King Harvey moves and takes my small hands in his and looks deeply in my eyes.

I look away to breathe and try to stop the blushing on my face. His handsome face is always overwhelming.

I thought I was just a tool to relieve King Harvey’s heat, I didn’t expect him to take me seriously and propose for me to be his pack’s luna.

I would be the first Luna in history. This was unthinkable in the past, no wonder the werewolves were staring at me so intensely.

After a few moments, I take a deep breath.

“I have made up my mind.”