The Hidden Luna Queen 2

He let out a sigh. "Darling. In case you have forgotten, she poisoned an alpha prince and tried to do away with his child. We have much more pressing matters at hand."

She clenched her fists. "Don't you-"

"Victoria."

Her mate's brisk interruption made her freeze.

All of a sudden, Burton's features straightened with unwavering resolve as he squared up to her. "I believe I have made myself clear on the matter," he uttered, looking as determined as any alpha would when it came to establishing his dominance. "I am not going-" The reiteration made Victoria flinch ever so slightly, though she was unsure if her mate was able to catch the motion.

"-nor will I be going for the foreseeable future. So, do not ask me again."

Her jaw clenched, biting back the urge to argue. She might have been Luna, but she held virtually no power against her Alpha husband. So, she said nothing, instead briskly nodding her assent and turning her back to him.

It was not until he left the room that she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

That's it, then... Victoria thought, her shoulders slumping. He's really given up on Sarah.

The backs of her eyes stung with the urge to cry, but she held it back, letting her sadness melt away and morph into something darker,

something thick and hot and impossible to tame.

None of this would ever have happened if it weren't for Maeve. Her beloved Sarah would still be living with her, her husband would still be spoiling them both with everything they could ever want, and their pack's reputation would have been spotless. Life would be so much better... so much sweeter without that damn girl around.

play in the background. If all they were going to talk about was the impending war, she had no interest.

She only had ears for information that regarded Alpha Prince Xaden.

As she finished securing a gold-chained necklace around her delicate neck, the sound from the broadcast came into focus once more.

"Yes, ma'am, do you have a question?"

"Ah-yes!" the female reporter exclaimed. "Royal Beta Samson, thank you very much for informing us about the delicate state of our kingdom. But while we're all worried about the security of our border, many of our citizens are dying to know-"

Victoria was ready to zone out once more, to just grab her bag and leave, when, all of a sudden...

"-What can you tell us about the rumors surrounding Alpha Prince Xaden and his mystery lover?"

And just like that, it was like the world came to a standstill.

Without wasting another second, Victoria practically hurled herself toward her bed to get a perfect view of her television. An eager grin spread across her made-up face. Visiting Sarah was still her priority... but this- This, she could not miss.

THIRD PERSON POV

If Royal Beta Samson was taken aback by the question, he showed no sign of it.

Years of serving the Alpha King had enabled him to master his mask of stoic neutrality. No matter how wild the reporter's question might have driven viewers, they would not be able to catch the seasoned beta slip up, under any Though, that was not to say he did not get irritated by any bothersome press.

"Are there any questions that pertain to the border report?" he emphasized, ignoring the eager and bold reporter and once again scanning the sea of press in the hopes of receiving a different question to answer.

circumstance.

However, she was steadfast. "Oh, please, Mister Samson! This is no mere teenage gossip-the very legacy of our kingdom is on the line! Everyone wants to know if Prince Xaden has taken a lover amid his campaign for the throne!" "There are no statements to be made at this time about any alleged ' mystery woman," Samson enunciated, sounding almost robotic, yet stern as he spoke. "If no one else has anything different to contribute, then we shall move on with the briefing." But then another reporter rose to his feet. "Royal Beta Samson, why maintain the secrecy surrounding this woman? If she is his Luna, then why will the royal family not make an official announcement?"

It was subtle, but a nerve in Samson's jaw tightened.

The press was especially incessant this time, which was not particularly unusual but was always something even the most seasoned of speakers loathed to deal with.

Meanwhile, Alpha King Arlan and Luna Queen Leonora watched the press conference from the safety and security of their elaborate viewing room inside the palace. As Samson proceeded in his attempts to control the briefing, a vast array of emotions swept across both of their faces.

Leonora, ever the perfect picture of grace and dignity, tried her best to hide her chagrin but was utterly failing. "This is a disaster...” she muttered from behind her hand. Arlan grunted in agreement, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "

Those vultures they call reporters are relentless. But Samson will not falter to the likes of them. He can hold his own and preserve the sanctity of our household all at once." Leonora shook her head. "I'm not worried about him," she admitted. "I'm worried about our son and... and Maeve."

A deep frown settled on his face.

As much as he would have liked to reassure her that their son would not do anything foolish, he knew better. Xaden-however a brilliant force of nature he was-was also capable of being incredibly headstrong and reckless... if his recent private life was any indication.

Arlan needed to check in with the boy. The sooner the better.

And then, by some stroke of luck, the familiar figure of his third son came into view from the far end of the corridor. Xaden appeared to be distracted, however, wiping his face and forehead with a towel as he kept walking.

It seemed he was going to leave without a word.

Without a moment to lose, Arlan rose to his feet. "Xaden-stop right there," he demanded, to which his son came to a reluctant stop.

The twenty-three-year-old was covered from head to toe in a thin layer of sweat-having come from the direction of the palace training room, Arlan realized. As Xaden turned to face the king, dark hair clinging to his wet forehead, his discontent was plain as day. Despite this, he slowly entered the room. "Yes, Father?"

Arlan steadily approached his son, looking stern. "I certainly hope you haven't fallen back on your promise to me."

"... Promise?"

"Yes. About waiting to reveal your mate to the world until after the pup has been born." The Alpha King raised an eyebrow at his son, who- unsurprisingly-was becoming increasingly agitated with every passing second. “Need I remind you of the stakes at hand?” XADEN POV

I couldn't help but glower at Father as he waited expectantly for my

answer.

No-not an answer. That meant I had some sort of say in the matter.

No. He waited for my cooperation. An agreement that I would obey him unconditionally, without protest.

I let out an exasperated, impatient huff of breath, shoving my dark, sweat- soaked hair out of my face. Those words I'd been hearing too much of over the last few days echoed throughout my mind like a broken record.

I was fucking sick of it.

Exactly how many more times would I have to be told to keep her a secret?

During our impromptu tryst at the banquet, I'd been more than ready to mark Maeve in that hallway right then and there. After that show with Nicholas, when he'd decided to be foolish enough and say such things about Maeve-my mate, and the mother of my unborn child-in front of me ... daring to insinuate that I was too weak to claim her for myself, something in me snapped.

That reckless alpha had dared to try to assert himself over me. To take what belonged to me and me alone.

My inner wolf was thrashing about and threatening to break free, enraged and determined to make his mark.

But when Maeve cut me off, admitting her fears aloud for the first time, I gave her my wholehearted attention. I took in every quiver of her voice, every tremble her body made as she confided in me, and my steeled resolve that had been impenetrable mere moments before had crumbled to pieces. I couldn't go through with it anymore... despite how much every fiber of my being yearned to do it.