His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 43: Public Opinion

How can one little she-wolf hold my attention like so?

To smell another man on her, my beast wanted to make her mine. Claim her. This little, fragile, she-wolf?

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Unlike where we’d had a little tumble in the snow, Eryx carried me through the rest of the courtyards, gardens and palace, where guards and nobles walked by. Whispers emerged about our dishevelled state. Especially Eryx, who proudly carried me naked.

So at ease he was with his own nakedness that nobody seemed to dare speak ill of it. Why would they, anyway? They were all Weres. They shifted to and from a wolf. It was only because of the palace setting that brought about such shame.

It was pointless.

They still whispered about my state, though. Even I, with my normal hearing, could hear their words. They wondered what had happened, and because of Eryx’s lack of clothes, they determined that he had to shift and help me.

Nobody would dare believe we’d almost been humping in the snow because who would want to do that with someone like me? And it would be ridiculous to believe Eryx was so confident and shameless that he’d walk through the palace naked straight after.

It was exactly how Eryx had planned it.

Was this his plan all along? We weren’t really going on a date now, right? I was completely drenched, my hair slightly askew, and why was I letting him carry me?!

My shoulders tensed as I braced myself to scamper out of his arms once we rounded the corner. "Don’t," he warned his eyes straight ahead.

"Where are you taking me?" I hiss back, keeping my voice low so others wouldn’t hear us. Seriously, I should let this plan blow up in his face. He was the reason I looked like this in the first place!

"Back to mine," He states casually.

I look past him to his shadow. Faidon isn’t paying us any mind; he is focused on the crowds, scanning the area for any threats against his Alpha.

"And why would I return with you?" I ask.

Eryx smirks. "We still have a date to go on."

"Excuse me?"

"Did I stutter?" His amused gaze makes me want to poke him in the eye—at least one of them should still be open so I can look upon it. There was nothing wrong with looking. Looking ONLY. I let the violent thought drop along with my frustrating attractiveness towards this man.

"No, but you seem to have lost your mind." That makes two of us.

"Your scent does drive me mad..." He all but purrs into my ear. My body locks up at his closeness, but he continues walking ahead like he didn’t publicly do that.

"I don’t understand his fascination with her," one noble woman remarks to another. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Has he always been so... good-looking?"

"He is from Sun and Fury, but my Goddess, he is a fine specimen of a Were. Look at the size of..."

"Can you get pregnant just by looking? I kind of want his pups..."

I tuned them out as annoyance flared in my chest. I don’t understand why I am irked by their words. It must be merely frustration from hearing them speak ill about me so loudly.

Before, I would walk past and ignore their words, but today, they are especially loud. Without realising it, I’d hidden my face more into Eryx’s chest, his large shoulders able to hide it more. If he wasn’t carrying me, would I face them?

My heart pounded at the idea. Years of torment worked its magic, but what happened between me and Deyanira the other day seems to have left an impression on me. Why was I so willing to allow it to happen?

"Do they always speak ill of you?" Eryx’s hands clutch tighter on me. I glance up and note his pupils dilating and the green marvellously glowing. It reminded me that in his wolf form, he did not bear the same amber eyes as other Weres.

Was that a Southern thing? I have yet to see his men in their wolf form and cannot compare. For some reason, though, my gut tells me it is an Eryx thing. Anyone can tell, even without his intimidating, muscular form, that he is a powerful Alpha. Every step he takes commands attention and makes others shrink back—mostly those that are weak.

"Lia?" Eryx growls.

I blink. "Oh, erm... Yes? I did tell you this. Did you not see what happened at the masquerade?"

"I did, and you put them in their place." Eryx frowns. "You granted them mercy."

So that was how he saw it.

"I did not expect this," he says quietly as we round the corner.

"No," I sigh, closing my eyes, allowing myself to relax into the warmth of his arms, the pine and cloves wrapping around me deliciously, comforting me. I might as well use his body for warmth while forced into his arms for this act. "What kingdom would treat their Princess like this..."

"I thought you and your brother were close? Or is that a ruse, too?" Eryx questions. Unlike last night, he does not sound arrogant, assuming my answer already; he is genuinely curious.

Strange. Was my heat still affecting him? Somehow, I had it under control right now. It almost seemed to purr in Eryx’s arms.

"We are," I state. "We do not share the same mother, but neither of us wanted to become enemies."

"If that is the case, then why does this behaviour towards you still exist?" Eryx glances down, and then the guards at the end of the hall open the doors, and we are once again outside in the cold.

I pause, my lips parting with my answer. "Deyanira controls high society-"

"I did not ask about the Queen Mother." Eryx stopped outside the guest pavilion. It was a luxurious court held for those of the highest ranks, envoys and the like who stayed for long periods. Only a few have ever stayed there.

"The King holds authority above all else." He looks down at me. "He has full control over the court and holds more power than the Queen Mother. Why does he not step in?"

Defensive about my brother, I say in a strained tone, "Alaric is a busy man. He rarely comes to dinners and is mostly cooped up in his study or out with the pack. He does not know what happens-"

"Then he is not a good King," Eryx interrupts with a hiss. "A King knows what goes on under his own roof."

The guards at the gilded doors shift on their feet, eyes glued on him like they want to murder him. It was understandable; he had just insulted their King. I glare at him, confounded by his words.

"You know nothing," I whisper.

"Perhaps." He strides forward, and the once murderous guards shrink a little under his hard stare and open the doors for him.

They were under strict orders from Alaric not to act out no matter what he said. His words will return to him, though, and what he says will cut him up. I know it will.

"You forget that I will one day become King. Our lessons will be the same."

My mind flashed back to the rumours I was told about the Southern Alpha Prince. He had been 8th in line to the throne and killed his siblings to become the Alpha Heir. I doubt our lessons were the same.