Chapter 19: Might Marry One By The Next Full Moon
"Good work, Virgo."
Virgo smiled, standing just beside Lynsandra’s desk in her study at the mansion. "I am glad the negotiations were concluded to your satisfaction. However, Luna, why haven’t you left the mansion?"
Lynsandra’s pen paused, then resumed as she chose not to answer.
"I heard what happened during the launch—how you put people in their place," he continued, walking toward the window and peering outside. "Everyone has been sending gifts to the Royal Pack’s castle to make amends for their discourtesy."
He paused and glanced back at her. "Luna, don’t you think it’s time to show yourself in public, to avoid such scenarios?"
"And then what, Virgo?" she replied without sparing him a glance. "I’ll show myself, and everywhere I go, people will follow me and turn it into a spectacle. I might avoid situations like that, but accidental deaths would skyrocket in Lunareth if it happened."
A shallow chuckle escaped Virgo as he understood her meaning. Lynsandra didn’t have much patience, and she disliked many things—one of them being followed. She often said it felt suffocating.
So when she said accidental deaths, she meant incidents that were anything but accidental.
Virgo nodded and wisely dropped the subject.
"Is it safe to assume Cassian Clark will be the first to leave the harem?" he mused, turning his gaze back to the window, only to narrow his eyes when he spotted a car entering the mansion’s gates.
Tilting his head, amusement flickered in his eyes. "Or perhaps not. Luna, your little harem member is back."
Once again, Lynsandra stopped working. This time, she turned toward Virgo.
"He still came back after all that?" she scoffed, amusement glinting in her eyes. "That’s unexpected."
She had assumed that after the launch, Cassian would withdraw from the harem. She had shown him exactly where he stood in the harem, and if he had even a shred of self-preservation, he would have left.
No one was stopping him. There was no rule stating that a harem member couldn’t leave.
On top of that, she believed Victor would have convinced his younger brother to step away. Victor adored Cassian, and he knew that if Lynsandra was the Luna of the Royal Pack, Cassian was anything but safe.
Is he really that desperate to have his brother tied to the Royal Pack? Even with Alphas like August and Elias in the harem?
Lynsandra leaned back, brows arching slightly as she thought about it.
"Shall I summon him?" Virgo asked gently, breaking the silence. "Or should I wait until he appears at your door?"
"Don’t bother with him, Virgo." She shot him a cold side glance. "If you’re done here, carry out my orders. I doubt you have time to idle around engaging in small talk."
He chuckled as he stepped closer to her desk. "Luna, small talk with you is something I always look forward to."
She didn’t respond, simply propping her elbow on the armrest.
"I’ll check the headquarters first," he said. "But Luna, when are you returning to the office? It’s been two days since the launch."
"I was supposed to be on a business trip until the next full moon," Lynsandra shrugged. "But since I returned early, I plan to stay at the mansion and spend more time with my future Alphas. Who knows? I might even marry one by the next full moon."
Surprise flickered briefly across Virgo’s face before his lips curved into a smile. "I see." He bowed his head slightly. "Then I’ll ensure there’s nothing else for you to worry about."
With that, Virgo left almost soundlessly. At the door, he glanced back and offered her a brief smile before closing it.
The moment the door clicked shut, Lynsandra released a deep breath.
Virgo knew about the curse. It wasn’t a secret that Lynsandra had no fated mate. Everyone knew, because of the prophecy, even before she was born. And when she came of age, it was confirmed: while others revealed their fated bonds beneath the moonlight, her finger bore no crimson thread.
What Virgo didn’t know was the truth about her wolf and her body.
He didn’t know that every time she used her power, she paid for it with her life.
She couldn’t tell him. Not because she didn’t trust him, but because she knew that once she did, he would be like everyone else, forcing her to bear a pup not just for the throne, but for survival.
"Until the next full moon," she murmured, her gaze falling to her palm resting on the armrest.
Her fingers slowly spread before curling into a fist.
"I have to decide before the next full moon," she whispered. "And I can’t afford a mistake."
She had fought this curse for as long as she could, sacrificing years of her life to undo her past foolishness. But she could feel it now that her body was breaking down from within.
She hadn’t planned to bear a pup yet... but there were other ways to ease the burden. With the right Alpha, of course.
Her eyelids lowered, jaw tightening despite her composed expression.
[A marriage of convenience may not be what you desire, but once you mate with an Alpha, the lunar goddess may yet bless your union. Love may come after.]
Suddenly, her wolf chose to speak now.
"Are you that desperate and in heat?" Lynsandra scoffed, leaning back with her head tilted slightly upward, eyes closed. "I know what you’re implying. But love? Love is foolish. I learned that the hard way."
She opened her eyes slowly, staring at the ceiling. "I simply don’t want to humiliate myself by choosing the wrong one."
Her wolf fell silent again, retreating as always.
Lynsandra was still lost in thought when a knock echoed at the door. Before she could answer, it burst open.
"Lizzie~!"
Her shoulders jolted, expression stiffening as Cassian appeared with arms full of flowers and gifts.
"Lizzie, I’m back~!" he beamed. "Did you miss me?"
[Not even a little.]
For once, Lynsandra and her wolf agreed on something.
Yeah. Not even for a second.
