The Hidden Luna Queen 2

MAEVE POV

"A lunar banquet?" I repeated, eyes widening.

I turned my attention back to the hustling omega servants down below as they hastily gathered the fallen banners and continued to decorate the courtyard. Slowly, the space was beginning to line with ornate fabrics of a beautiful deep mauve, bordered with royal gold, and in the center of each banner rested a bright amber circle, surrounded by a shrinking spiral of smaller, similarly toned circles. Behind the circle was an archer's bow of amber, taut and primed to fire.

In the glow of the late morning sun, still perched on its throne high in the sky, the banners were utterly majestic.

One could only imagine how lovely they might be in the dawning dusk.

I heard soft shuffling behind me as Eric rose to his feet. "Yes, in five days with the emergence of this month's Hunter's Moon."

My mouth parted slightly.

Oh.

"I didn't realize it was happening so soon," I said after a moment.

Lunar banquets were always the social events of the year, hosted by every single pack within the Werewolf Kingdom. Every month, on the night of the full moon, a special banquet was always held in celebration of our lady moon and, as werewolves, it was meant to be one of only twelve times every year that we would be the most in tune with our roots.

With the lycan blood that hummed and thrived within us.

I had never been allowed to attend the ones Father used to hold before for many reasons... and it certainly never helped that my wolf never emerged, either.

This was my first time getting to see one in person.

Well, even if it was still in the process of being prepared.

"Ah, that's right," Eric commented as he stepped closer within view of the window. "This would be your first time attending one in the palace, wouldn't it? Just think of it as one you'd normally hold in your own pack, and you'll be fine."

I blinked in confusion, turning back to look at him. "My own pack...?"

This time, it was Eric's turn to look puzzled.

"You are the daughter of an alpha minister, aren't you?" he asked, cocking his head to the side. "If there's anyone who should be attending one of these banquets, it should be someone like you."

I frowned. "My father never actually let me attend," I admitted. "He was always convinced I'd somehow embarrass him... not that he ever gave me the chance to prove him wrong.

"Oh..."

I could sense the pity in his voice, and it made me feel uncomfortable. I did not like being looked down upon-by anybody, good intentions or not.

"It's fine, honestly," I said quickly, putting forth my best smile. "It's not like I really missed out on anything, right? They happen every month, after all."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it," Eric amended gently. "I guess... I just keep forgetting how much in common we seem to have." His gaze flicked back to the window, where he scanned the busy courtyard. Enjoying the book? Don't forget to visit FindNovel.con for the full experience. You won't find the next complete chapter anywhere else. "I, myself, have never been allowed to attend one either. Though," he added, a small smile peaking at the corners of his lips, "that never kept me from watching from afar." My eyes widened. I'd never had such a privilege. My room in Moonstone was too isolated and my window too out of reach to be able to sneak peeks.

"What are they like?" I asked, full of yearning.

His smile deepened as he proceeded to explain-in fascinating depth-what he knew. The lunar banquets held at the palace were highly exclusive, typically only open to the alphas and their families whose packs resided within the jurisdiction of the capital walls. Not just anyone was allowed to attend, apparently, because it was considered a mighty privilege to be able to witness what was the highlight of the night.

Every month, on the night of the full moon, every blood member of the royal alpha family, as well as any attending-and willing-alpha guests, would begin a sort of sacred hunting excursion in the woods surrounding the kingdom, all in their wolf forms. Whatever prey they returned with was what was served, and thus, beginning the banquet.

The nervous twitch of my mouth was difficult to hide. The rich and influential sure loved their fancy banquets and parties.

And this was to be my life now.

As a-soon-to-be-Luna Princess, I would be expected to join Xaden and the rest of the royal family for certain social events, and likely to even host my own, as the queen and Isabelle did on occasion. The thought made my throat run dry. I had only attended a handful of parties in my entire lifetime, and now... this?

I forced myself to swallow my fears. I couldn't afford to let them hold me back. This was my second-real-chance at life, and I wanted to do the best I could. And, as my gaze searched Eric's, there was a sort of sadness lingering there that sobered me. After all, I was not in a position to complain. Some of us still were forbidden from enjoying such pleasantries.

"It would be nice if you could come," I admitted once he was done. "Goddess knows I could stand to see another familiar face." Eric smiled, seeming to warm up as the minutes ticked by. “Maybe one day."

My heart twisted at the sight, but I had no words of comfort to share. We both knew that so long as his father was in control, any chance of the second prince being able to properly enjoy his life was nothing but wishful thinking. And that was no way to live. No, Eric wouldn't be able to attend the banquet.

But maybe that didn't mean he was completely helpless.

I swallowed. "I want to go down to the courtyard. Will you join me?"

His face twisted with conflicting emotions. "Why do you want to go down there?"

I offered him what I hoped was a reassuring smile. "We were never allowed to attend one of these banquets," I said, feeling unusually daring. "Surely there's no rule that says we can't help with the preparations."

This wasn't just for him.

It was something I wanted to do-to heal my wounded, lonely inner child, doomed to live barred behind walls and separated from the rest of the pack.

A faint light lit up his deep brown eyes before quickly being smothered by apprehension. "I... don't know. If-If my father shows up...

"Then we'll leave," I quickly amended with a small wave of my hands. "It'll be as if we were never there... at least, as far as he's concerned."

His mouth tightened into a firm line. He wanted to do this, I could see it. "Please?"

Eric's gaze flickered to the courtyard below with a thoughtful pause before he eventually heaved out a short sigh, his lips relaxing into a small smile. "Alright." He offered me his arm-a gesture of courteous chivalry. "Until the mad king comes calling." Grinning, I took his arm, and we ventured down to the courtyard. Carefully-in case King Arlan was, by chance, nearby.

The omega in charge was puzzled to see two random helpers who were very clearly not fellow servants, but once he realized we meant to help, he gladly put us to work where needed. "The more hands on deck, the better," he'd said eagerly, before warning us not to break anything.

And with that, we set off to work.

Nothing too menial or laborious, although we did work together to move a couple of those banners-which were just a tad heavier than I'd anticipated, but a feat we managed to complete much to our pleasure-and we helped arrange the different planters and pots scattered around the courtyard. Five minutes turned into ten, and ten minutes quickly turned into thirty. But time almost didn't seem to matter during the half-hour we worked.

It didn't matter that I was becoming sticky with sweat. It didn't matter that I might have gotten a small sunburn. I was doing something that mattered to me... that I'd wanted to do, and, judging by the joyful, relaxed expression on Eric's face, it seemed he agreed with

me.

Capital walls. Not just anyone was allowed to attend, apparently, because it was considered a mighty privilege to be able to witness what was the highlight of the night.

Every month, on the night of the full moon, every blood member of the royal alpha family, as well as any attending-and willing-alpha guests, would begin a sort of sacred hunting excursion in the woods surrounding the kingdom, all in their wolf forms. Whatever prey they returned with was what was served, and thus, beginning the banquet.