Page 20 of Losing My Siren Luna (Hidden Cove #1)

It was late morning by the time Nilo and I finished planning the dates for the festival and the major details. I’m going to have him and the secretaries plan the minor details when he returns, but he has done enough to write up a decree, declaring an annual holiday and festival in honor of my mate.

“I hope she likes it,” Killian says nervously, “ She didn’t have much love for this pack in the past.”

He is thinking of the day she rejected us and then rejected the pack and her role as Luna, showing no sorrow or remorse.

“We didn’t give her much reason to.”

“ You’re right,” he sighs, “ I just don’t want her to panic about having all the focus be on her.”

“We will help her adjust,” I told him.

He huffs , “You mean I will help her. She still doesn’t like you. She called me a puppy,” he boasts.

“ Fuck you,” I snarled.

“ Don’t be jealous,” he snorts.

I grumble under my breath, really jealous about Lira being okay with Killian and not with me.

I go back to my old room to bathe and get dressed, still wearing my clothes from the day before. We strip to our underwear while training, so I didn’t see the need to change when I left this morning, but I don’t want Lira to see me all gross and disheveled now.

My room seems massive without a bed. A sudden thought as I looked around the space made me grin, knowing that Lira would love it.

I mind link Meldec, who dismissed the commanders and elite warriors from training, and was now at work, organizing the warriors' schedules and routes for the week, since they will have the added focus of keeping their Luna safe, especially while we are out today.

“ Hey, Mel. Can you organize some of the lower warriors to get a new bed in my old room and help the maids to clear my belongings and move them to Lira’s room?”

“I can, but I thought the Luna didn’t want you to share her room?” He asks, not maliciously like Cherum would or teasingly like Nilo. He was just genuinely curious.

" How do you know that?" I asked.

" Cherum told us. He was pretty upset with you last night."

Fucking Cherum. I'm glad he is taking his role so seriously, but he feels like another obstacle for me now.

“ Things changed,” I muttered.

I don’t want Lira to ever spend a night alone with her night terrors. I would rather Killian be there to hold her and keep her relaxed through the bond she feels every night, and if I tell her who is to be getting my room, I know she will agree.

“ After my belongings are moved out, help Niomi move hers in. I want Lira’s handmaiden to have my old room.”

“Really?” Meldec asked in disbelief, “ Your room is the nicest room in the castle. Wouldn’t it be better to move Luna in with you and give the old maid her room?”

I sighed, “ Lira does not wish to share a space with me that I have shared with someone else.”

“Oh,” he murmurs, “ Okay, Alpha. I’ll get it done today. I have a team ready to start bringing in materials for the new wing you requested too. An architect is being called in tomorrow to start the blueprints.”

“Perfect,” I grin, even though he can’t see me, “ Thank you, Mel.”

“You’re welcome, Alpha,” he says before I cut the link.

I grabbed my most used belongings, as much as I could carry, and started across the hall to Lira’s room. I knock, but she must already be at breakfast. The room is empty, except for the many present boxes opened around the room.

Good. Someone got her to open all her gifts. There were so many things she needed among them, like new sleepwear and slippers. The ones she wore last night were atrocious. I should throw them out for her now that she has better.

I deposit my belongings in the closet and the bathroom, and see her nightdress and old slippers from last night on the settee in the bathroom near the tub.

I lifted both, carrying them out with the intention of throwing them away, when I ran into Niomi and another much younger maid, almost making both of them fall with startled surprise.

“Alpha,” Niomi presses her hand to her chest, “I didn’t expect to see you here. We can come back after you-”

She stops talking, seeing the slippers and nightdress in my hands.

“Alpha, may I ask what you are planning to do with those? I can take those if you intend to take them to be laundered.”

“I intend to throw these in the trash. She has much better to wear now, and I only want my wife in the best.”

Niomi is old, so she probably doesn’t realize how unfashionable and ratty these scraps of cloth are.

“I understand your intentions, Alpha, but if you do that, Ela will be most distressed. Those both belonged to her late mother, and she treasures them greatly,” she tells me, holding her hands out like she wants to take them from my hands to keep them safe.

With her warning, I quickly handed them over, scared of Lira’s anger more than anything else. “I had no idea,” I stammered.

“I didn’t either,” Niomi smiles gently, while cradling the outfit to her chest, “I suggested the same to her last night and she told me. It was an honest mistake, Alpha. Ela will understand.”

Ela. Everyone she is growing close to, she is having them call her Ela.

“Ela,” I tested the name in a whisper.

“Isn’t it a lovely nickname,” Niomi sighs, “She also got that from her late mother. She told me just this morning when I accidentally called her Luna again. She now calls me ‘Mimi’,” she gushes, “She is a kind and loving woman, Alpha. I am so happy to be serving her. Thank you for giving me the opportunity.”

I cringe inwardly. Just yesterday, I was trying to replace Niomi. I’m glad I didn’t and Lira stopped me. Niomi cares deeply for her already.

“If you want to thank me, have your belongings ready to move this afternoon,” I told her, making her face turn into a mask of confusion. “I am having you moved to my old bedroom so you can be at my wife’s beck and call.”

The maid behind her gasps in surprise, and Niomi’s mouth is hanging wide open. I smiled smugly, feeling quite accomplished and knowing I had just earned some points with my mate.

“Thank you for your service to my wife. I hope you continue to be a great help to her and serve her well.”

“Yes, Alpha. Oh, thank you,” she smiled gleefully, doing a little happy dance with the other maid. Niomi looks half her age with how happy she is, which makes me happy in turn. For her and for Lira.

I leave them to their celebrations, feeling quite proud of myself.

“ All you did was give her a room. Everyone else is doing the work,” Killian says, bursting my bubble.

“ Can’t you offer me any praise? You know as well as I that moving Niomi to my old room was an excellent move in getting Lira’s favor.”

“Quit calling her Lira if you really want to get her favor,” he mutters, making me growl.

The dining hall is filled with pack members eating breakfast, many of which are calling out greetings to me as I enter. I don’t pay any mind to anyone other than my wife sitting at the center table, surrounded by Cherum and other warriors, laughing freely with them.

She is wearing one of the dresses I had brought for her. A velvet green one with simple but expensive pure gold buttons and accents. Her hair is braided loosely down her back, exposing her beautiful, slim neck and pale skin.

My momentary fascination is interrupted when I finally notice who is sitting across from her.

Yasmin, the prostitute I used to spend the most time with in my first life.

She is sitting across from Lira, leaning in as they whisper something to one another, then both burst into a fit of giggles while looking at Cherum, making his cheeks blush.

What the hell is she doing here?

~

Elelira POV

I had the most marvelous morning that I can ever remember having before in my life.

Shortly after Lachlan left, a maid scurried into my bedroom with a teapot, some pastries and fruit to snack on until breakfast. I didn't expect Lachlan to follow through.

I thought he just wanted me to stay in my room.

I sipped hot tea by the large bay window in that chair that had been calling to me since I first stepped into the room.

The fire was brought back to life by the same maid that brought my tea, warming the room while I watched the sun rise up in the sky over the sea and send the ocean into a glittering array of vibrant colors.

I was a little disarmed having woken up in Lachlan's.... well, really Killian’s arms, but the rest of my morning was relaxing and comfortable.

Cherum and Mimi came once the sun was awake, and encouraged me to open all the birthday presents given to me by Lachlan, as well as our wedding presents.

There were so many gorgeous items of clothes, accessories, shoes, purses, books, stationary, trinkets and even expensive-looking candies that I was overwhelmed.

I had never received so many extravagant gifts. I’ve never received any extravagant gifts. I’m amazed that he took the time to prepare all this for me.

“ See. He’s different. Everything is different,” Val kept telling me.

It is different. I can’t help but to hope now that my life won’t be so miserable here for the next two years.

Mimi and a few other maids helped me to dress in one of my new dresses. I asked for something simple, and Mimi truly tried to find the plainest one, which was no easy feat. All the dresses were extravagantly designed. She did find a simple green dress that would have to do.

Cherum stayed in my room waiting for me as the maids helped to bathe me and get me ready for the day in the ensuite.

I never had this before. I would bathe once a week with Mimi in the bathhouse that's for the staff, and no one besides Mimi would help to get me ready in the mornings, except the morning of my wedding when my uncle insisted on dolling me up.