Chapter 64
#Chapter 64 – Lydia Gate Crashes
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When we arrive at the edge of the forest where the ceremony is set to begin, I’m wearing a shimmering
pearl-colored dress, which looks as if it’s been spun from pure moonlight. Its straps are so thin it
doesn’t seem like they should be strong enough to hold up the flowing fabric, which plunges between
my breasts, hugs my waist and then cascades out into a wide skirt with a graceful train. It’spletely
inappropriate for the cold weather, but a cape of plush ck furs billows down my back and Sinir’s
cozy heat is warming my left side. My shoulders are heavy with the weight of his arm, and I feel
thankful the rough forest terrain made wearing high heels impossible.
1
We move through the crowds of reporters and admirers, pausing for photos and handshakes but not
answering any questions. The press coverage from the moon bathing ritual was truly phenomenal,
almost fawning in its analysis, and the crowds are getting bigger every day. Everyone seems to want to
glimpse us for themselves, and I’m beginning to feel more like a museum attraction than a person.
It’s hard to keep myself grounded when everyone around me is staring, jumping up and down yelling
my name. This is business as usual for Sinir, but I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it. I also don’t know
if I want my child subjected to all this attention. “It won’t always be like this, right?” I ask, cradling my
tiny baby bump as we move past the crowds. “Surely it’s just the festival and how new our rtionship
is.
“Things will calm down.” Sinir agrees, his keen eyes not missing the way I try to shield our pup with
my hands. “They’ll be excited about the baby too, but they’ll keep their distance. They know how
protective new parents are, and as invasive as we can be about adult rtionships, children are
considered off limits.”
“Good.” I breathe, still frowning. “I don’t like it, but I’ll endure it as long as they leave the baby alone.”
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“After the campaign is over we can pull you out of the spotlight.” Sinir offers, “you’ll be a new mother,
it would be perfectly reasonable for your public presence to be diminished.” Just then the wind shifts,
and Sinir scents the air, his muscles suddenly going very tense.
Right on cue, a snide voice sounds on our left, and a figure in white emerges from behind a tree. “What
kind of Luna looks for excuses to get out of doing her job?” I don’t need to look to recognize the
speaker her tone ispletely altered from when she helped me in the bathroom, but there’s no
mistaking the nasal timbre of Lydia’s voice.
Before I can even begin to process her words or get a good look at her, Sinir pushes my body
behind his, taking up a defensive stance between me and his ex-wife. “Are you really so desperate to
force yourself in where you’re not wanted, that you’ve been reduced to skulking around like a fox,
Lydia?” A murmur moves through the gathered shifters, and I suspect calling a wolf a fox is something
of an insult. Though 1, as someone who has always liked foxes, can’t help but feel a bit offended on
their behalf.
“It certainly took you long enough to sense me.” Sheins, sounding more than a little bitter. “Are
you really so preupied with your little pet that your wolf can’t keep track of his surroundings?”
I’m trying to move back around in front of Sinir, but he holds me fast, his arm reaching behind his
body to lock me against him in an iron grip. I feel a little growl bubble up in my chest, only to be
reduced to a trembling mess when he growls back, leaving no room for argument. “I guess that goes to
show how little you mean to my wolf these days.” Sinir counters smoothly. “He doesn’t even notice
you when you’re right in front of him.”
I’m trying to peek around Sinir’s burly arm, but I can only catch a sh of Lydia’s outraged
expression before her venomous tongue is back at it, “Well you might not want me here, Sinir, but as
the only she-wolf who bears your mark, it’s my right to begin the hunt with you.”
my
My slow brain scrambles to catch up, and I gradually understand that she’s trying to take ce in the
ceremony. She thinks that I don’t have the right to participate because Sinir and I haven’t fully been
mated, and suddenly I feel outraged myself. How dare she try to take our ce? How dare she try to
take Sinir from us? The little voice in my head is in a full on rage, and any logic I might have used to
calm it like the fact that Sinir isn’t ours in the first ce, so it’s impossible for him to be taken – goes
there be than this miracle? I don’t need Dominic’s mark to know I belong to him
and I’m willing to wait for it until we can do it right, in a manner befitting a King and Queen.” I dere,
notching my chin up.
Lydia’s expression flickered when I mentioned the pup, and again I felt a rush of sympathy for the other
woman, but her eyes hardened and zed when I called myself a queen. The shifters around us are
whispering and muttering among themselves, many ring at Lydia and grinning at me. I know I’ve
done well when Sinir presses his body flush to mine, his hands. circling my waist from behind to help
me cradle our pup. A satisfied purr rumbles in his chest as his lips move against my ear, “the baby likes
it when Mommy’s fierce.” He shares, and my heart flip flops over hearing myself called Mommy for the
first time. “And so do I.” He praises. Feeling a rush of confidence and an inexplicable knowing that I’m
close to the kill, I continue, “And we both know that there are many more ways to im a mate than
with a bite.” I say with a sultry grin, sliding one hand up and around the back of Sinir’s neck,
encouraging his affection. I’ve never done anything so brazen in my life, except perhaps the other night
at the bonfire… or in that dam ned dream. At the same time, it feelspletely right that we should be
fighting this battle together, and showing off our attraction for all to see.
Lydia takes one furious step towards me, and Sinir emits a snarl so vicious that everyone around us
cowers, Lydia included. I’m the only one able to withstand the force of his Alpha authority, which works
well for our purposes. Since no one knows I’m human, they’ll all a*sume I’m truly Sinir’s equal in
spirit if not brute strength.
Lydia shudders and whimpers before turning tail and fleeing in the opposite direction. For some reason,
I feel the strangest urge to chase after her, but Sinir is holding me too tightly. “Not so fast feisty
pants, we have more important things to do than chase after bitter exes.” I have to crane my neck to
look up at him, but his face is full of pride and anticipation as he announces. “It’s time.”