The Hidden Luna Queen

Chapter 89

"I.... have no idea what I'm doing," I admitted with a helpless laugh.

She gave me a small smile, putting down her own project and scooting ever so closer to me. "You see, you take the colored strings you want, and then you tie a knot at the top here," she said, pointing at the end of my batch of strings and watching as I followed her instructions. "Make sure it's nice and tight. Now, you weave them together, like this-

She picked up her strings and demonstrated for me. "This," she said, holding one string, "crosses over this one. And this one over here crosses over this one. And you continue the motions until you get to the end."

I watched her work before turning my attention back to my own. There were a lot of steps to remember, but it all sounded so simple when she put it like that.

"Okay... I think I got it." I smiled up at her. "Thank you...?"

"I'm Clara."

"Maeve," I offered.

"I don't believe I recognize you. Are you mated to a soldier?"

"I'm engaged. We're still waiting to be mated," I said, avoiding any specifics, since it wasn't of any particular importance here.

Another girl-young with curly, dark hair and a cream, floral dress-leaned in. "I hope you're ready for what's to come," she muttered before returning to her drawing. "Being mated to a soldier is no easy task, especially with what they've been saying on the news about this war."

Instantly, the memory of that talk I'd had with Xaden some days ago sprung to mind. He'd tried so hard to hide the truth from me, but I could see it in his eyes... just how much he dreaded the thought of what could happen.

Of what could be close to becoming our reality.

I twirled the strings around my fingers. "It's scary," I admitted. "Not knowing if they'll be okay or not."

"Tell me about it," the curly-haired girl mumbled, her pencil slowly coming to a stop. "I worry every night might be our last. If we really do go to war, I'm afraid I'll never see my Noah again."

An older woman at our table shushed her. "Don't jinx things, Eloise," she scolded, prompting said girl to quickly snap her mouth shut. "You should have faith in our great monarch and his army. No matter what happens, they will take care of everything."

"There's nothing wrong with being afraid," I insisted, pulling the attention of the table back to me. "That's what makes us all... normal."

The woman stared at me curiously before trimming the leaves off a rose stem. "Why on earth is that? That certainly wouldn't do me any good with my husband on the alpha council."

I smiled ruefully. Little did she know my future mate was her superior.

"I don't want to hide my burdens behind him," I admitted, filled with thoughts of Xaden as I continued to weave my bracelet. "I want to share his. I want him to know he's not alone-that I'm his partner in this, through and through. After all," I continued, glancing up at the ladies around my table, "isn't that what makes us Lunas? Not by hiding behind our mate, but by standing beside him?"Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

To my surprise, the rest of the table was stunned silent.

I blinked. Had I said something wrong...?

But then Clara spoke up. "You have a wonderful way of looking at things, Maeve."

Eloise agreed with a bright, curious smile.

Even the seasoned Luna had nothing to counter. "It sounds like this fiancé of yours is quite the lucky wolf. Does he share your sentiments?"

Shyly, I opened up to the table, and this was one of the rare times I felt like I could fit in with a group of strangers. Maybe... just maybe... I could do this Luna Princess thing.