The Hidden Luna Queen 2
Chapter 79

I found it impossible to refuse such a request. With a slow, pensive swallow, I nodded, bracing myself against the tub for whatever I was about to hear.

Xaden pushed his free hand through his hair. "My father..." he trailed off, gathering himself, "I believe I told you before that he believes we should only mate with those he deems worthy of the crown. Well, he thought the best way to secure this would be to arrange meetings on our behalf."

He sighed. "I've been doing this since I was eighteen-meeting with alpha daughters from all comers of the kingdom in the hopes of replaceing a Luna my father would approve of. But as time went on," he continued to explain, “I never found her, and I started to lose all hope. The hopelessness I felt quickly turned into a more... physical need."

I swallowed hard, not wanting to hear this part. But I couldn't ignore the painful pangs I felt in my heart for him. I had no idea he'd felt this way. How lonely it must've been.

"But ever since the night I met you..." he murmured, "there hasn't been anyone else. No more meetings, no one-night stands-I can't fathom even thinking of another woman now when I have you in my life." The heartfelt passion in his voice enraptured me, taking my breath away, and as I felt the backs of my eyes start to prickle, I heard him gulp.

"I... I'm not proud of some of the things I've done, Maeve. I know I'm far from a perfect man, but I would never-" he swore ardently, "do something that could hurt you."

All of a sudden, he swiped his thumb across my cheek, making me realize that I had actually started to cry. "You and our baby are everything I could ever ask for,” he said. “I can't let my past stupidity jeopardize that."

Slowly, he leaned forward, pressing gentle kisses to my left cheek, followed by my right, before settling his lips against mine, kissing me with the most beautiful tenderness that I had no choice but to respond. I sighed against his lips, savoring the feeling of having him so close.

"I wish we could have met all those years ago..." I confessed softly once we'd pulled apart. The thought was one I'd had for a while. "Then we wouldn't have wasted so much time."

Despite the heaviness that lingered in his green eyes, telling me how much he agreed with my sentiment, Xaden managed a small smirk." Eighteen-year-old me was too reckless and dangerous for my own good," he said, gently running his fingers along my bare shoulder and crossing over to my back, tickling me. "You wouldn't have liked me back then, I promise you that."

If all the rumors were any indication, then... yes, that was probably true. Still, part of me wished I could have at least seen what he was like as a teenager with my own eyes. And if what Orenda Gorre had said about us being fated mates was to be believed, then who knows what would have happened back then?

Maybe we could have fallen for each other without us knowing it.

"Probably not out loud," I ultimately agreed with a small, teasing smile peaking at the corners of my lips, "but I still would've been in awe of you. Even so much as a hello from you would have swept me off my hopeless feet."

He cocked his head, gazing at me intently. "I would have rescued you from that horrible place," he vowed. "I wouldn't have let you feel hopeless a moment longer."

I wanted to believe him, but it was hard to. "Fifteen-year-old me was not worthy of anyone's attention," I admitted, trying to ignore the deep frown that settled on his face. "I... don't think you would have noticed me."

"I would have noticed you."

I blushed, biting my lip. "You don't have to say things like that just to make me feel better..."

Xaden shook his head, looking serious. "No. I would've felt it-in here," he said, pressing my wet hand over the spot where his heart was, giving me a palmful of pure muscle. Despite my weak attempts to protest, not wanting to ruin his lovely black shirt with my bathwater, he held my hand firmly in place.

The intimate touch flustered me. Was that what he hoped to accomplish with such a move?

"Please..." I whispered, not trusting my voice as I lowered my eyes, "y- your shirt-"

"Feel what you do to me," he beseeched, the plea in his voice compelling me to listen. I let my hand reluctantly settle flat against his chest where, slowly, his heartbeat made itself known to me. Please visit Jo b nib. c 0 m and search the book title to read the entire book for free. It pounded against his ribcage-strong, unyielding, and passionate, just like him-and it only seemed to intensify when I lifted my gaze back up to meet his.

"This is all because of you," he said, caressing my hand. "Because my heart belongs to you, and you alone."

Swallowing back my reservations, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him in for a kiss despite my bath-soaked body. I melted into him once I felt his arms encircle my bare back, pulling me close.

It hurt to think about his past. It wouldn't be something I could so easily forget. But having him here, showing me just how he felt about me... I couldn't hold it against him anymore.

Not when our present together was so sweet.

THIRD PERSON POV

Four days ago, before the battle on the border...

"You wanted to see me, Father?" Lucas asked, standing a short distance away from Alpha King Arlan's desk.

Admittedly, the summons had come as a little bit of a surprise. It was not too long ago when they'd had their conference regarding Lucas's political platform. His father acknowledged everything fairly well for the most part, disregarding some of the more progressive policies he thought to implement. So, what could possibly be the reason this time?

The scratch of pen against paper came to a stop. "Indeed, I did," King Arlan suddenly remarked. "I received word about something that involves you."

There was a peculiar tone to his father's voice that caught the sharp attention of the fourth prince.

"We finally have an answer from the Vixen Shifters."

Lucas's shoulders dropped ever so slightly, a subtle enough motion that would slip past anyone not paying close attention. The features of his typically youthful, open face settled into something unreadable as he fully processed exactly what had just been said. "Is that so?" he asked quietly.

Fortunately for him, it was something his father failed to notice.

King Arlan nodded. "As of this morning, everything has been confirmed," he said, his eyes glued to the papers on his desk. "Apparently, your brother left quite the impression on that ambassador of theirs, but that's hardly something to linger over, I suppose... considering what it got us."

Lucas swallowed hard. "So... it's done, then?"

"Indeed. In less than two months, Princess Mia of the Vixen Shifters will be here to visit." the king revealed, lifting his gaze to meet that of his son." Congratulations, my son. You will soon become a married man."

If all went according to plan, then it appeared so.

The thought sent Lucas's head spinning, and he was not yet quite convinced that was a good thing. As he left his father's office and wandered aimlessly down the hall, he found himself stuck on those departing words. Marriage... less than two months away...

That was not a lot of time at all. By the time those days were up, his entire life was likely going to change.

As a prince of the Werewolf Kingdom and a proud descendant of his alpha bloodline, he took his title and respective duties very seriously. He was very aware of the privilege someone in his position held and was determined to do what he could to help his subjects Despite having his own substantial reputation, he could never live up to the looming shadows that his impressive older brothers cast. All his life, everyone's eyes were either locked on the accomplishments of Henry or Xaden. They were perfect embodiments of what it meant to be ambitious and fearsome.

They knew what they wanted, and they dared to chase it. Especially Xaden.

For as long as he could remember, he was determined to forge his own path in life, not caring for any feedback or criticisms others had of him or what he did or said. Even as a child, he would do whatever he wanted, whether that meant exploring the woods behind the palace on his own or fighting any fellow alpha boys who so much as looked at him funny. He supposed that was why it didn't come as too much of a surprise when Xaden declared he was having a baby with a secret lover.

He was not the type of man to let something as insignificant as status get in the way of what he wanted.

Meanwhile, here was Lucas, in the precarious situation of having to marry a perfect stranger. An arranged marriage solely for the betterment of his kingdom. Though, it was not as if he had any right to complain about it. After all, it had been his own idea.

The day that Henry exposed Xaden's secret lover to the family, along with the surprising revelation that he was also expecting a child out of wedlock with this unknown woman, came as a wrench in the Alpha King's plans.