Page 23

"I think..." Orion's voice softened. "I think helping her understand her powers might be the best approach. She's confused and frightened by what's happening to her. I can offer answers."

"Now you're thinking." Chance nodded approvingly.

Orion watched as Seraphina twirled her hair around her finger, a gesture so human, so vulnerable, it almost hurt to witness. His wolf, usually so demanding and possessive, seemed to purr with contentment at the sight.

"I've faced down armies," Orion murmured. "Led packs through famine and war. Built an empire that has stood for centuries." His fingers tightened on the windowsill. "How is it that the thought of talking to one human woman makes me feel like a pup again?"

Chance's grin widened. "That, my friend, is the universe's greatest joke on alphas. The mightier they are, the harder they fall."

Suddenly, Orion caught movement at the dining room's entrance, his sharp eyes instantly recognizing the stooped figure of Bertram making his way into the room. The elder's gnarled hand gripped his ancient walking stick carved from blackthorn wood, the same staff he'd carried for as long as Orion couldremember. Despite his obvious physical frailty, Bertram's eyes remained keen and alert, missing nothing as they swept across the room.

"Perfect timing," Orion muttered to Chance. "Bertram's arrived."

Chance followed his gaze. "Want me to keep your Luna entertained while you two chat?"

"Yes." Orion's voice was suddenly clipped and impatient. His wolf was torn between the need to return to Seraphina's side and the necessity of consulting with his most trusted advisor. "Tell Macie to keep her occupied."

Chance nodded and slipped away toward the women, while Orion strode purposefully toward Bertram. The old wolf's scent—faint notes of sage and weathered parchment—reached him before he'd closed half the distance.

"My King." Bertram inclined his head, the gesture respectful despite its minimal depth—a privilege earned through centuries of loyal service.

Orion clasped the elder's shoulder firmly. "Walk with me."

He guided Bertram to a shadowed alcove far from curious ears, particularly those of a certain green-eyed astronomer. Orion couldn't stop his eyes from darting back to Seraphina though, watching as she laughed again at something Macie had said. His wolf growled with satisfaction at the sound, even as his human side bristled with confusion.

"I see you've found her," Bertram remarked, following Orion's gaze. "She's striking."

"She's human," Orion bit out, turning his attention fully to the elder. "My wolf insists she's my Luna, but I sense no wolf in her. None."

Bertram's weathered face revealed nothing. "And yet your bond calls to her."

"It makes no sense," Orion growled, tugging at his hair. "How can my Luna be a human? She knows nothing of our ways. She thinks I'm insane for saying that I'm a wolf."

A muscle twitched in his jaw as he glanced back at Seraphina. Something primal and possessive twisted in his chest despite his intellectual rejection.

"The stars have strange ways of bringing balance to power," Bertram said, leaning on his walking stick. "You aren't the first alpha royal to face this... situation."

Orion's head snapped back. "What?"

"There have been reports from three other packs. Lunas awakening who appear completely human with no knowledge of our existence." Bertram's voice dropped lower. "The consensus among the elders who've studied this phenomenon is that these women carry dormant wolf bloodlines."

"Dormant?" Orion's brow furrowed.

"Ancient shifter heritage, diluted through generations of human breeding," Bertram explained. "They appear human in every way—until they're claimed by their mates."

Orion's nostrils flared. "Are you suggesting?—"

"The mate mark." Bertram nodded slowly. "Once you've completed the bonding ritual and marked her as yours, her dormant wolf should awaken."

Relief and disbelief warred within Orion's chest. His wolf hummed with satisfaction—their instincts hadn't been wrong after all. But his king's mind recoiled at the implications.

"She's culturally human," Orion said, the words tasting bitter on his tongue. "Four centuries I've ruled, keeping our pack isolated from human interference, their fickle politics, and their shallow, transient values." His lip curled. "And now my queen, the mother of my future heirs, was raised in that world?"

Bertram's eyes narrowed. "Is your distaste for humans greater than your respect for fate, My King?"

"I can't deny the strong pull," Orion admitted grudgingly. "When I'm near her, my wolf claws to get closer. To protect her. To claim her."

"Then perhaps it's time to reconsider some of your... prejudices," Bertram suggested mildly.