57 hours earlier,
Lucette sat with the alpha in the car. The silence titled their half an hour journey. The car stopped, and they got out of the car. Lucette sucked in a deep breath and rubbed her chest. She could feel the food she ate, rising to her throat.
Hopefully, the journey was short, so she didn't throw up in the car. After gaining her composure, she gazed at the huge and empty space. Her brows lowered.
"Where are we?" she asked. The place they were in was a deserted ground. She thought they would go to the airport.
When she heard that she would travel by plane, her excitement rose but now there was no plane.
"They're coming to take us in a few minutes," he said, then typed in his phone. She wanted to ask but he received a call.
Lucette leaned on the car and waited while the alpha talked on his phone. As time passed by, she yawned. In a daze, she heard a sound coming from above. She looked at the sky and a flying machine ascended a few miles beside them.
Is this the plane? But it is smaller than what I saw on Hannah's phone.
A small door was opened and a man in a black suit got off, the alpha went to him and exchanged some words. Then he looked at her and told her to come closer.
Lucette blinked and walked over carrying her suitcases. As she stood beside the alpha, the man in black, "Luna Lucette, nice meeting you," he said, and then carried her suitcases inside.
"Let's go," Orson said, "What's the matter?" he asked when she didn't move.
Her lips trembled as she opened her mouth. "It is so small."
How can someone travel inside this small space?
"It's safe to transport. Come," he said, stretching his hand. Lucette looked around then she held his hand, going in.
She followed the alpha and sat beside him. Her eyes darted around. The inside was small, beside the seats, there was a narrow path. The flying machine started to move and Lucette's stomach knotted. Clutching her leg, her heart pounded.
"Do you know where the place we're going to?" the alpha asked. Lucette looked at him and she shook her head.
"The werewolves' king's palace is at the Plumeria Continent, it will take about five hours to reach there," he said.
Lucette widened her eyes. "So the king lives on another continent? Isn't it too hard to rule like this?"
'How can one rule when he is far away from his people? And his people accept it?'
"The king is the rightful ruler for all the werewolves but every pack has an alpha responsible for it. As long as the alphas' loyalty will be to the kingdom only, he won't intervene in the packs' matters. But there are rules we need to follow."
Lucette raised a brow. "What if the alphas treated their packs awfully?"
"They can't. There are rules we have to follow. And there will be a meeting two times a year to discuss the situation of all the packs and to solve the problems. Besides, there will be many check-ups in case one of the alphas trampled with the reports," the alpha explained thoroughly.
Lucette blinked her eyes and hummed. The alpha explained like a civilized person. What he told her brought her out of her anxiousness.
"Why are we going in this flying machine instead of the plane?" she asked, causing the alpha to laugh. Lucette pursed her lips.
"Flying machine?" he said, between his laughs. "It's called a helicopter, not a flying machine," he managed to say after a long session of laughing.
Lucette turned her head in the opposite direction displeased by the alpha's behavior. Her face turned red from anger.
Did she say something wrong? No!
"Sorry mister, who knows everything, it was a slip of my tongue," she remarked, embarking 'who knows everything.'
The alpha coughed. "The fl— I mean the helicopter is owned by my grandfather. I used to go whenever I had time."
The journey continued in silence. Lucette stirred in her sleep. When she looked up, the alpha's head dropped on her shoulder. She didn't dare to move.
She peeked at him. His eyelashes were long and he looked peaceful when sleeping. Because of his closeness, Lucette could feel his heartbeats.
Thinking about the day when she fed on the alpha. Her tummy growled and her throat parched.
She could feel her fang stinging. Lucette closed her eyes and took deep breaths one after another till her eyelashes dropped slowly, drifting into sleep.
There was still time before dawn before they arrived at the king's palace. The car took them inside as the black gate opened. On the road's way lined adjacent trees that looked like a wall protecting the castle.
As the car stopped, she got off and gazed at the enormous palace with awe. The towering building was both taller and vaster than the packhouse.
"Alpha, Luna, welcome to the palace," a man hurried to them, greeting them. Two servants followed behind greeted them, took their luggage and entered. "The supreme Alpha is resting. I will lead you to your room."
"There is no need," the alpha said, getting in without looking back.
Lucette frowned and smiled awkwardly. 'What's wrong with him? He was okay before sleeping, so how did he change his behaviour?' she thought. After following the man inside, she widened her eyes to the beautiful interior design of the place. It was simple yet elegant. It made you feel that every piece of furniture was made to be put in the right place.
She arrived at the room on the fifth floor and went in. The alpha was typing something on his phone. Lucette gulped and tiptoed in.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I was led to this room," she answered. The alpha frowned and went out. Lucette heaved a sigh of relief listening to the closed door.
After resting for a while, she got up, arranged her clothes and freshened up. She frowned, looking at the dress she chose to impress the queen in the laundry basket.
As she finished wearing a simple white dress and sandals, the maid notified her that the breakfast was ready. She let her curly short hair loose and followed the maid to the fourth floor.
A long table greeted her as she set her foot inside the dining room. No one was sitting so she looked at the maid who showed her the seat.
A minute later, a silhouette came into her view. The short heels the woman wore rang every time she took a step. The woman's green eyes looked sharp and gentle. Her long blonde hair was loose. She was clad in a red long dress that showed her lean and tall figure. Beside the woman, walked the king.
Lucette rose from her seat and gulped. Knowing the woman's identity with a glance and the intense stares she sent her made her heart pound.
"Lucette, come," the king said, waving her hand. Clutching her robe, she walked slowly.
As she stepped closer, the king hugged her shoulder and shoved her in front of the queen. "Let me introduce you to each other. This is my wife and Orson's grandmother, Luna Aida," he introduced.
Lucette looked at the seemingly displeased woman and smiled. "This is Lucette. Our grandson's mate," he added, looking at his wife.
"Hello," Lucette mustered her courage and said. Her voice came into a hushed tone.
The queen nodded. Her face was expressionless. "Where is Orson?" she asked, looking at the king and then at her.
Lucette did not know what to say. He got out hours ago and he didn't return to the chamber.
"I am here," the alpha said, coming closer.
The queen who was serious a while ago turned gentle as she caressed Orson's cheeks. "Why did you not visit us in a long time?"
"I had work. And I talked to you every night."
"No, you didn't call me the night before yesterday."
The two had a warm welcome. The king detached his wife from Orson and they all sat to have breakfast.
Throughout the meal, Lucette didn't dare to eat so much. She didn't know how to use a fork and a knife while eating. And she had to leave a good first impression on the queen.
"You didn't like the food. You barely touched anything on your plate," the queen remarked, raising a brow. Her words drew the attention of the king and Orson who looked at her.
Lucette fisted her hand under the table. "No, no. I don't have much appetite for such a food," she answered.
The meal ended peacefully. Lucette returned to her room and lay on her bed, feeling drained.
The door to her door was knocked. A maid entered. "The queen is requesting you to meet her," she informed.
Lucette went to the greenery corner in the palace, as she couldn't go out. Seeing the queen from afar, her heart tightened.
It was clear that the queen disliked me.
She sat opposite the queen at the round table. Pots of flowers and plants were hung on the wall. The maid served tea and snacks.
The queen sipped her tea while looking at her. Lucette gazed at the vapour coming from her mug, she slowly picked it up. She felt a piercing gaze emitting towards her.
"You didn't need to hide your lack of table etiquette," the queen said, making her heart drop.
"I – I," she said, the words slipping from her mind.
What I can say? I know nothing as I was a maid!
"I know your situation so there is no need to tell me anything. However, this can be changed later. The weight, of what a Luna carries, is far above dreams and imagination. There was no easy thing in life. You should work hard to succeed, trying with your might to achieve what the others failed to do. A Luna isn't just a word. It's a responsibility. Think about what I said to you. I will meet you later after you decide on what you shall do," she said, stood up and left.
Lucette lowered her head. Her tears were fighting to come out.
The queen was more likely what the pack needed and I was nowhere near her.