Page 44 of Losing My Siren Luna (Hidden Cove #1)

A small, unsure smile appeared on my face. “I believe I can handle myself.” I did in the past. I know how to overcome any misfortune that may befall me in this life. Nothing could be worse than what I suffered at the end of my last one.

“I believe you can too, but you are not alone, princess. Use the tools you are being given when you need them.”

“Are you calling yourself my tool?” I smirked at him, trying to lighten the mood.

He smiles at my teasing, “I will be whatever you need.”

~

Lachlan POV

“Did you reach all the villages in the territory?” I asked my Beta, who was kicking back in a chair in the armory, drinking a beer by the fire and scarfing down leftover stew.

He just got back and I wanted a debrief as soon as possible so I could get back to Lira. The afternoon with her has been so great and I just want to retire for the evening, not having to worry about work again until tomorrow.

“I want to brush her hair,” Killian has been pestering me. He wants to have some kind of contact with our mate too. He was jealous of me holding hands with her all through dinner.

“ Let’s get this done, then we can ask.” I don’t think Lira will mind as long as Killian agrees to not kissing her again.

“Yes, Alpha. Jeez. I did exactly as you asked, and now the whole territory is excited about this festival that we have yet to finish planning.”

“Did you even start planning it?” Meldec asked. “I thought you just had the idea. I didn’t know it was a sure thing.”

“Of course it’s a sure thing,” Cherum pushes his shoulder. “She’s our Luna. It needs to be celebrated that our Alpha has finally found her.”

“Yes, it does,” I grin, “I just want to shout it from the bell tower.”

“Look at you, all smitten,” Cherum chuckles, “Funny how much your attitudes changed after a mere tea party. I think I should get a raise for my excellent tea-making skills.”

I laughed, unable to hide my happiness. “I’m feeling generous enough to almost grant that request.”

They all chuckle. “I thought your marriage was doomed after this morning. I’m glad you overcame the incident so quickly,” Meldec says.

“What incident?” Nilo asked.

“I’ll tell you later,” Cherum sighs. “He’s finally in a decent mood. Let’s not ruin that now.”

No. Let’s not. Shame still fills me each time the image of her frightened face flashes in my head.

That reminds me….

“Hey, Mel. Can you do some research for me? I want to find out how my wife was living in her Uncle’s pack.”

He made a face. “I can try. I think we have a ship setting sail for the West tomorrow. I can get a couple of our agents on board. Why? Do they need to find anything specific?”

Cherum is the one that answers before I can. “The lass must have endured some hardships in her short life. You don’t have panic attacks like that from a one-off incident. She, uh, also mentioned encountering many misfortunes while living there.”

“What kind of misfortunes?” Killian is pushing to the front of my mind with me, listening intently while fury builds inside us, thinking the worst may have happened to our mate.

“She says she still has her virginity. I don’t think assault of that nature was part of her misfortunes, Alpha, so tell Killian to calm his tits. We don’t need two occurrences today, especially right before you head back to be with her.”

Hell, he is right. I close my eyes and take deep breaths, trying to reign in my growing anger. After several breaths, I felt Killian settle enough to safely continue the conversation. I had to remind him repeatedly that Lira was with us now. Nothing would hurt her again.

“What misfortunes?” I asked Cherum again.

“Well,” he eyed me warily, “I think she suffered something similar to Yasmin, but without the final, uh, act, if you know what I mean. Women can be assaulted without penetration. She wouldn’t tell me the details, but she related too well to what Yasmin encountered last night to not have gone through something similar.

I suspect the men who hurt Yasmin were the men from Wayne’s pack too. ”

I growl deeply, wishing I had my people escort the Alpha and his men out of my land after the wedding.

“Yasmin from the brothel? What happened to Yasmin? Why was she with the Luna?” Nilo asked.

“You missed a lot being gone all day,” Meldec tells him.

“I know! Someone needs to tell me what happened. I was thinking of visiting the brothel after leaving here. I guess I can ask Yasmin there if you guys won’t tell me.”

Cherum chuckles, “You won’t be seeing Yasmin there any longer. She has a mate.”

“What?!” Nilo’s eyes went wide. “Who?”

“Percy,” Cherum grins. “He took her as his chosen.”

“What the hell? Anything else happen I should know about? Did you two get mates too?” Nilo asked Meldec and Cherum. Cherum chuckles, and Meldec shifts in his chair like he is uncomfortable. He doesn’t like the attention on himself.

“We have got a merman living with us now,” Cherum tells him, and Meldec lifts his face, looking at Nilo to get his reaction. I’m curious too to see what Nilo will think about a siren living in our presence without knowing that his new Luna is one.

“A siren? Why?” Nilo scrunches his face in displeasure. Meldec looks just as disappointed as I feel at his reaction.

“The Luna, it seems, has a siren Lord protecting her. Her necklace was a wedding gift that called him here from the distress she felt this morning. I don’t fully understand it myself, but the Alpha was aware, so I figured it was just some weird wedding gift the sirens sent to try to form a treaty or start good relations with us or something. ”

“They wish to have good relations, I believe,” I told him. It’s true enough, and the contract won’t allow for me to tell him more.

“Hmm,” Nilo rubs his chin, “Do you wish to have good relations with them, Alpha? I didn’t think you would allow a siren on our land this easily. You don’t trust them.”

I frown, guilt weighing on me again. No, I didn’t trust any race I couldn’t command in our first life, but that was before I saw my own wickedness in the way I treated Lira, my mate.

The way I drove her away, losing her love and trust to my own heinous actions.

I was far more monstrous than any siren I know of.

If I'm to condemn an entire race, I would first have to condemn myself.

I, a noble Alpha Lycan, abused my power and hurt the person I should have been cherishing because of my own pride. I have no room to judge Cedric, or the sirens at all after everything I did.

“I don’t distrust them. I don’t know them, Nilo.

Neither do you. Or any of us, for that matter.

I do know it is wrong to judge an entire race who we have never had dealings with, so I ask that you all keep an open mind.

Treat the siren man with respect. He will be staying with us for quite some time, and serving my wife.

If she deems someone worthy, I will always hold her opinion over all others. ”

Meldec settles back in his chair with a small smile playing on his lips, and Cherum slaps my shoulder, grinning approvingly.

“Wow, Alpha. Married life suits you. You are already acting a bit more tame and it's only been a day.” Nilo is staring at me like he's amazed.

I grin. “She’s an amazing woman. I would be a fool not to change to be the kind of man she deserves.”

“I agree,” Cherum says, “and it’s getting late. I think this groom should go find his bride and walk her back to her room to retire for the night. Maybe enjoy another cup of tea together.”

My smile is so broad it nearly hurts my face, my facial muscles are not used to being used this much. “I think you’re right.” I stood on my feet. “Don’t forget to send some men, Mel. I want to know.”

“I will assign the task right away. Enjoy your evening, Alpha.”

“Oh, I plan to.”

“ Hair time,” Killian is leaping inside my head eagerly.

I chuckled back to him. “ Let’s go ask.”

I know she isn’t ready for anything more than hand holding, but I’ll take anything I can get. Pampering her by brushing her hair before bed sounds amazing to me too.