1820. Salisbury Estate.
A warm May day. Today is my wife's birthday. Preparations for the celebration have been going on for a whole week. Guests will arrive even from London. Although we live in the small town of Rochdale, our family is known in the highest circles of England.
The wedding of Lord Salisberry and his beautiful bride Elizabeth Stanhope was a grand event, which was compared to the wedding of a king and queen. We are not lovers of luxury, but in order to divert suspicion from ourselves, we try to be in the thick of things.
Wolves usually prefer to live away from cities, villages and various settlements, but I and my true mate have chosen a different way of living, more human. This gives us the opportunity to live our own lives. Hunters do not look for werewolves among the nobility.
I am a young alpha. Ten years have passed since the death of my father and mother, and since then I have become a leader by right of inheritance. Strangely, my wolf half did not manifest itself at the age of eighteen, like in others.
My parents were sure that nature had deprived their son of the blood of the beast, which meant that a werewolf would be born in the next generation. To be honest, I did not want to. But having witnessed the death of my relatives, the wolf broke out.
Pain, uncontrollable rage, and anger woke him up. No full moon, just turned. The only explanation is my unwillingness to accept my second nature, it did not give free rein to the beast, and he slept, waiting for his hour. So he turned for the first time at twenty-five.
The desire to live a normal life has not disappeared to this day. My wife and I want a full-fledged family. We want to grow old and see children grow up, and not like I had. I grew up in a family in which one day the father and mother began to look younger than their son. We looked more like friends. It drove me crazy. I don't want this for my children.
Elizabeth was luckier. She grew up in a normal family and, knowing all the delights of parental attention and care, supported my desire to give up immortality. Our desire to be like people was not very well received in the pack, but I do not intend to change my decision. I will be the leader until I find a worthy replacement.
Ethan is my beta. He can take the place of the alpha, but according to wolf laws, first along the line of kinship. If we have a son or daughter who does not turn into wolves, then my friend will take my place.
My beautiful she-wolf has been diligently preparing for the celebration all these days. The number of guests arriving from the capital requires that the estate looks its best. The little lady of such a huge house brought comfort and warmth into the cold walls with her appearance.
The inexperienced and insecure alpha next to her matured, became stronger. Power no longer embarrasses, but on the contrary, made him more adult. The boy disappeared, and a young man came to replace him. And only in the presence of his beloved wife, this man becomes gentle and caring. She is the meaning of my life.
Today is not only Elizabeth's birthday, but also a full moon, a night that will disappear with the dawn and take our immortality with it. Soon we will be able to breathe deeply. We will be happy in our little family world.
I went downstairs to look around the house, to check if everything was ready. The huge living room would become a ballroom for one evening. Decorations of fresh flowers, which the servants and his wife had collected on our territory, create a spring mood.
The tables are covered with snow-white tablecloths, also with a floral pattern. The magnificent chandeliers are polished to a shine. I am inside, and it feels like I am in a clearing in the forest, the smells are extraordinary.
Elizabeth flew into the room. The lush dress does not prevent her from moving quickly and gracefully at the same time. The green color of the fabric emphasizes her fiery red hair. Her big eyes look reproachfully. It looks like I'm going to get it now. My heart started pounding like crazy, not from fear, but from the fact that she was approaching.
My senses instantly intensify in her presence. I feel full, as if all positive emotions are simultaneously absorbing my heart. This lunar creature is my soul. We are one. Without her, there is no me, without me, there is no her.
That is why we made such a decision, there was no rush, but rumors appeared that hunters were scurrying around England in search of evil spirits. The grandeur of the holiday is a distraction. Too many packs have been exterminated in recent years precisely because of their desire to live in solitude.
Someone might think that he was a coward, but yesterday my wife told me about her pregnancy. I am immensely happy. I can't risk her and the child. If there were any doubts before, there are none now. The fact that we are accepting old age does not mean that we are leaving the pack. Until I hand over power, I will be with them. No one knows that my wife is pregnant. We will announce it today.
"Dear Lord Salisbury, where have you been all morning?" graceful white fingers touched my face.
"Lady Elizabeth, knowing your husband, you are well aware that I hate fuss. And it has reigned in the house for a whole week." He smiled guiltily.
She frowned, which made me want to laugh. Whenever I see her angry, I can't help it, my wife is so sweet. But she is only cute on the outside, and she is a real red beast. Not a single wolf from her stay couldn't overcome her, except for Ethan. My friend looks younger than me, but in fact, he is much older. Everything I can do, he can do too. My right hand, my reflection.