Chapter 62

As we lay in bed, I let my mind wander for a moment. Never did I believe I would be in bed, naked with a werewolf king, let alone being married to a man that would kill and die for me truthfully. In this moment of peace and glory of my orb, my heart beats powerfully in my chest. I have gone from maid to married in no time.

I do love King Harvey.

I understand him wanting to protect me.

Cradling my husband’s sleeping head to my bare chest and seeing the soft silver glares of his scars from war, my heart sinks to the soles of my feet.

“I am sorry you went to war, King Harvey. I am sorry I fought you. You must be so scared. It is hard to picture a man like you as scared…”

King Harvey looks up at me and smiles, his fangs poke my chest. “I am thankful you understand. And allowed me to keep you up an extra hour. Rest. I must teach you werewolf history tomorrow in preparation for the party.”

It takes no convincing. I fall asleep as soon as my eyes close.

King Harvey wakes us up early and places a thick leatherbound history book in my hands. After breakfast, he asks me.

“How much werewolf history do you know?”

“…uh…”

King Harvey sighs, running his hands down his face. “Elena…”

“Recall that I dropped out of school to take care of my sister by being a literal maid, King Harvey.”

King Harvey nods. “I know, Elena. I just thought you knew something in the least. We will start at the beginning. Werewolves have always roamed the earth and left humans alone, hundreds of years passed until they decided to get involved with humans for their benefit. I took over when I noticed how cruel they are to humans. I had an inkling of an idea that my mate was human because I did not desire any woman thrown at me. I took to war, and it became very clear that my mate was human once I had a vision. After fighting everyone off, it became the law that humans must be treated kindly across the land. I have fought with kings since a-!”

“King Harvey, the beginning of werewolf history begins with you?”

“Ideally, the aspect with humans begins with me because I brought peace. As for the werewolves before me, and the other archaic werewolves killed one another for territory and stayed away from humans because they were of no interest… around the time your mother was…taken… from you is when I launched the war.”

My heart cracks open. “H-had… you a bit sooner…”

“I am so sorry, Elena.” King Harvey reaches out and holds my hand, squeezing it comfortingly. “I wish I could do something about that…”

King Harvey gets up and pulls me to sit in his lap in my chair. I weep softly into his chest for a few minutes, but I know I have no choice here. I pull myself together and shut my eyes.

“Tell me more history, King Harvey.”

“Elena,” he whispers gently. “Are you sure? You are not okay. We can take some time to ease your pain.”

“Luna duties first, King Harvey.” I sniffle.

King Harvey runs his hand through my hair. “Brave as always, Elena. We can talk about it later, okay?”

“Okay.”

King Harvey cracks open the book and begins to read to me about werewolf abilities and the wars that were fought. I pay attention to him to not think of my mother. I must wonder how Emily is and my mind starts to wander over the Fate Party.

“The King of the North is an older man, who fought beside in the war. He eventually betrayed me, and I forgave him because I won the war.”

“Did you ever figure out why he betrayed you?” Peering at the book, I see a man covered head to toe in white plush fur, complete with white hair and undeniable blue eyes. His masculine face is covered by slightly chubby cheeks.

I wonder how old this photo is.

“No.” King Harvey turns the page. “The King of the South.” King Harvey points at a tall man in red and dark green armor. “He is a quiet man but known to kill all his enemies with a small blade. He respects me because I use a sword and gun, he hates blood. His wife loves to make cookies for the other kings. I fear poison. Do not eat anything any of these kings give you. I never eat. You may copy me, and they will not question it. They see it as a sign of discipline.”

“You don’t trust you peers, do you?” I whisper.

“Would you?” King Harvey asks with ease. “Now, the King of the East is a man always in yellow that never shuts up. He hides his lethality with a fake smile. Stay at my side always, Elena. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Beta Tom enters our room and I see why King Harvey was speaking faster.

“It is time, King Harvey.” Beta Tom says firmly. “Please, come with me.”

King Harvey and I rush through our fears and end up in a red velvet dress and suit. I am thankful it covers my chest and his.

Now, we stand in the same ballroom that Gamma Kevin had us in at the beginning of my story with King Harvey. Exhaling heavily, I clutch onto King Harvey for dear life. King Harvey stares in my eyes and helps me breathe.

“Nothing will harm you, Elena.” King Harvey whispers to me, then kisses me passionately on the lips in front of everyone.

The whole roaring party dies at our kiss, and I freeze. King Harvey pulls away with a grin.

“Uh…” I breathe.

He laughs. “I love my wife, what can I say?!” He addresses the overflowing ballroom of kings, their wives, and their Betas.

Everything swirls and I lean on King Harvey to breathe.

“It is so nice to be loved, isn’t it? Werewolf husbands are very loving.” The King of the East’s wife says. Her yellow flowing dress gives her away. She offers a manicured green taloned hand at me, and I bow my head as I shake her hand. She smiles.

“Y-yes, King Harvey is very, very…excellent.” The words escape me as my fears swallow me.

The King of the East claps King Harvey on the shoulder and grins truly. “Come, come, let us talk of our last war!”

King Harvey remains unmoving beside me, still holding my hand. “Elena would like me to stay with her, this is her first party, we may talk freely in front of my wife.”

“Wife?” The King of the South asks in his traditional colors. “Oh, mate? You use human terms. You had human wedding?”

“Both.” King Harvey replies seriously. “Out of respect.”

“Did it hurt?” The King of the South’s wife asks with wide eyes.

“…a bit.” I whisper as I blush. King Harvey squeezes my hand behind my back.

The men begin to speak in their language before I can stop them, and I turn my back to King Harvey, leaning on him as the wives speak to me.

“This party is for you, Elena!” The King of the South’s wife says. “To welcome you as a future Luna Queen.”

“Really?” I gasp.

“Yes.”

“What do you want to do to help humans?” The King of the East’s wife asks.

“I will make sure they are properly educated how to live with werewolves, respected and maybe have a program so that they will be treated as equals. I want respect.”

“That is an excellent idea!” Both wives say with a smile.

I feel King Harvey’s back relax at their words and I do too. This might be okay.