Dead Luna
Chapter 86

Leo's POV

We stroll into the breakfast room casually, and everyone there begins cheering and clapping, congratulating us on the very successful mating ball, and that we are both finally marked after so many years. I see even Prince William, whom I had never met in person before, is also sporting a brand new mate mark on his neck. Most probably put there by the cute little blonde sitting in his lap and apparently feeding him his breakfast. Amelia tells me through the mind link that she is Sophia, sister of Alpha Phillip Blackwater of Gifford Pinchot pack. The King and Queen Luna are also present, obviously having made up as they are giving each other loving looks, while sitting in the chairs that ought to have been ours. But now is not the time or place to make a fuss over the Kings pathetic power play. It wouldn't be worth it, and I don't wish to have it spoil my appetite for breakfast. Amelia and I both grab plates and I pile mine high with hash brown potatoes, scrambled eggs, ham and bacon. Meanwhile Amelia grabs a bagel with cream cheese and lox to which she adds some capers and red onion, a cup of yogurt, and some fresh cut up peaches.

I see the King pull his mate into his lap, and motions me over to sit next to him. My Beta, who had been sitting next to Juliette moves discreetly down one chair, making room for both of us next to the king. His wife Priya had already finished her breakfast, as I saw her leaving the room with their two daughters as Amelia and I entered the room a few minutes ago.

"So, young pup," the King begins, apparently wishing to offend me as much as he can get away with before I punch him in his smug face. "About that blood oath I gave you last night. You cannot back out of that deal since you shook on it."

"Well, sir, why do you suppose I would want to renege on it?" I ask, reasonably. "Other than the fact that I was given absolutely no choice in the matter, and I'm probably unaware of the finer details. But more importantly, what I really want to know is why exactly you made that oath at all? You didn't have to. The blood transfusion would have probably done the job well enough."

"Ah, but the Moon Goddess was threatening my heirs, the house of Worthing. Not the house of Hart." The King explains. "Even if you and I both died last night, your heirs would still be safe because I swore you in as my son in law as well as my heir, and therefore my bloodline will continue, through Amelia, to be on the throne even if the Worthing name is no more."

"My heirs?" I ask, confused. "I don't have any heirs. This isn't making any sense."

"You will in about 9 months time." The King says confidently. "I could sense it last night just before the mating ball when she was filled with the essence of the moon goddess. Amelia is pregnant with at least 2 pups. Possibly more. And you will replace the cost of my Royal blood running through your veins is going to be rather high."

Hmm. I could tell her scent changed a little, but I thought it was because I marked her, so she was smelling like my mate.

"The fact that you lived and turned into a lycan is even better." The King continues, and I don't have long to wonder what glorious reason he has now to wish for my continued existence on earth after he had nearly succeeded in his attempt to kill me. "Because now any pups you sire will potentially be full blooded lycans, or very nearly. The strongest of which we will select as heir to the throne, and you can designate one of the others as the future alpha of this pack."

Amelia and I give each other a significant look.

"Father," Amelia says, and I can tell she isn't exactly on board with the Kings vision of the future for her as-of-yet non existent brood of pups. She very calmly and sweetly says the next words, and I want to cheer. "Currently there is no actual confirmation that I am expecting. And even if there were, I would rather not discuss these matters during breakfast, in a public area, where it might be considered unseemly of me to tell you what a load of crap I think this all is."

"Noted." The King says, not completely ignoring the rude words of his daughter. He turns back to me. "I understand that Jackson Ames is scheduled to head to Winter Moon today, along with his new mate. Who will be your replacement gamma?"

I have a sinking feeling about this. Desiree was leaving soon for Cannon Beach with her mate Ashley. I had thought perhaps Danika would be a good replacement, but now she will be leaving with Jackson. I would ask Derrick to let Jackson extend his stay here longer, but he now has a Luna to protect. I'm running low on options, since I don't know all of my pack members yet, and quite a few of them will either be transferring in or out now in the next few weeks now that the mating ball is complete.

"I'm not certain of that, sir." I tell him, and before I can come up with any better ideas, he is volunteering Glen to stay for a few days while he appoints someone "appropriate" to take over for Jackson. Apparently he feels that only a Lycan Gamma can properly protect and care for a Lycan Princess Luna.

I've only been a lycan myself for less than 12 hours, and already I'm feeling stifled from it. The king is planning out my life and the lives of my mate and unborn heirs like they are his lives to command. And while I suppose in a way it is, I still feel like he is overstepping quite a bit.

I notice most wolves unnecessary to the kings plans eventually left the room, except for the clean up crew who ignore the ongoing proceedings, while the king goes over future plans for training me in my duties. Apparently he will expect my presence in the capital for one week every 3 months, for now, working up to spending as much as half of my time, along with "our" chosen heir, as the years go by and once I've trained the next alpha of Bull Run to take over I will transition to living in the capital full time. I see Raghu nodding his head in agreement with that. Well, I must say I'm glad someone thinks this is all reasonable.

After well more than an hour has passed, Amelia excuses the two of us, claiming that we have an important task that must be attended to.

"Certainly," the King agrees, and I sigh in relief. "We will continue this meeting after lunch."

I groan internally at that, but am glad for the temporary reprieve. I'm hoping Amelia and I will at least get a little alone time before then. But it turns out we really do have important matters waiting. We need to make sure all the guests staying on our territory have departed. In particular, the group of still unmated wolves heading to Gifford Pinchot must be organized, and the cleanup of the party must be overseen.

I'm glad I have a Luna as capable as Amelia to help me with all that needs to be done around here, even if I'd rather spend all day in bed with her making all those blasted heirs Alexander keeps harping on about.

A few hours later as we head in to lunch, I ask Amelia the question that was knocking about in the back of my brain. "Could he right, though? Are you already pregnant? It was only a few hours ago, really. So how could you possibly have been pregnant before the mating ball last night night?"

"You don't remember yesterday morning, in the hospital bed?" Amelia asks sharply.

"When you called me cowboy?" I gasp, not having believed it had been real at the time. "I thought it was nothing more than a beautiful dream. I dream about you so often, and I know I had a fever by then. I really didn't know what was real or what I had only imagined at that point."

"Oh, it was real all right." Amelia, informs me with a kiss. "Ambrosia is keeping a sharp look out, and it's still too early to be absolutely certain of anything, but she says at least one fertilized egg has implanted already from yesterday morning. And there is a possibility of as many as 4 more courtesy of Frank and Ambrosia's late night amorous activities."

I need to sit down at that news, and take a couple deep breaths. Then I steeled myself in readiness for the next so called meeting with the King, where he pretty much dictated what I would be doing as his heir for every minute of the rest of my life.