The following morning after the three of us had finished our usual morning routine in silence, we all headed down for breakfast.
No one had yet mentioned everything that had been revealed the night before. But we all knew that discussion was coming.
There was an overall feeling of excitement that hit us as we entered the dining room, tonight was the annual Luna festival that everyone had been looking forward to after all. There was lots of barely contained excitement and energy present in the members of the pack, particularly the younger members.
After doing the usual morning greetings and loading our plates with all the food available at the morning buffet Grace lead Detsy and I to a spare small table in the corner. It was only meant to seat two people but we didn't mind sharing the small tabletop as it meant that no one would be interrupting us by sitting down.
"So I have a few questions about last night." Grace said through the mind link at the same time as she innocently chewed a piece of crispy bacon.
"Me to." Detsy added, also through the mind link. It was safer than trying to discuss this out loud after all.
"What would you like to know my dears?" Aurora replied to my mates.
Grace went first. "I have two questions. The first question is that if all of the werewolves are bound to actual wolves from a different dimension, then why haven't our wolves told us?"
"That's actually really easy to answer." Aurora said. "You're wolves don't inform you that they're living beings instead of voices in your head because they aren't aware of the bond themselves. To them the werewolves here are just voices in their heads."
"Ok then," Grace seemed satisfied with the answer. "My second question is that if you need two souls from different planes of existence to create a werewolf, how have the Royals been occasionally creating new werewolves for the past 5,000 years?"
"To create a new werewolf is actually one of the most difficult abilities Eva and I possess. In order to achieve a successful bond Eva has to manage the soul on this side whereas I have to find a willing soul to be bonded in the other dimension. Then we need to work to bring them together and bond them." Aurora explained. "As complicated as that is, there is also lots of rules that govern what can and can't be safely done. Playing with a person's soul can be extremely dangerous if you don't know what you're doing after all."
"Ok that makes sense." Grace said as she shoveled more food into her mouth while she spoke to Aurora through the mind link. "What sort of rules exist for this process? It seems to me that no one would want to refuse the benefits that comes with being bonded to a wolf."
"You are right Grace. However in order for this process to work, both parties need to cooperate with us. Which means explaining to them exactly what's happening. All sired werewolves that have ever been created know the truth of the werewolf origins." Aurora said to Grace as she gave me a mental nudge to hurry up and finish the sausages so we could get to the bacon.
"As for the rules, they're there to keep people safe. For example we cannot bond someone that wouldn't have had their first shift. If you try and force the connection when both the minds aren't ready for it, it will destroy the mind and soul of the individual in the dimension where the bond is being formed. The force of this will split the remaining individuals soul in half as the body with the destroyed soul attempts to stay alive by filling itself with a soul. The result is a person who is alive, but not truly there. Imagine someone that had half of their brain suddenly stop working. It's not a pretty picture." Aurora and I shuddered at the very thought of someone having to go through that. Grace and Detsy looked horrified.
"The final rule that we have to worry about is never break a soul bond of someone that has had their first shift. To break a connection that strong would send both the human and the wolf insane. They would never recover from the trauma done to their minds and souls." Aurora finish as I couldn't stop myself trying to imagine what that would be like in horror.
"You're not kidding when you said that it was dangerous." Detsy said. "But if Eva and yourself are the only ones with this power and it can't be taken by another, then why has the truth of the werewolves been hidden from everyone?"
"Cybella and her previous pack agreed to keep the secret from everyone because they believed that there are many individuals from both dimensions that would try and use this knowledge for their own selfish purposes." Aurora explained to a very attentive Detsy.
"If everyone knew of what Eva and I really are and what we can actually do, then we would have people everywhere trying to manipulate us. Or could you imagine if someone took an army in search of a break in the dimensional wall and found one? The army of humans would come to conquer the new lands and would be met with territorial and highly honorable dragons that would defend their lands. I don't know which side would win, but I do know that there would be a lot of death for everyone involved. Which is why we keep it a secret." Aurora finished.
Detsy was nodding as she sorted through this new information but didn't ask any new questions. Grace was still eating her massive amount of food and I'd finally gotten to the bacon, much to Aurora's delight.
We were all pulled out of our silent conversation as someone called for me. "Eva."
I turned around to see a very pale Saffron heading over to us. A quick inspection told me that she'd lost weight and the normally bubbly girl was moving as if she had no energy. Saffron was definitely sick.
"Saffron." I shouted back with a grin before jumping up and meeting her half way. I threw her into a hug as I greeted my best friend.
"I haven't seen you since the first time I shifted." I stated. "Are you ok? You don't look very well."
"I'm not well at all." Saffron admitted as she slightly leaned on my arm to help her keep balance. "Would you mind if we went over to Detsy and Grace so I can sit down?"
I didn't even hesitate as I picked her up bridal style and walked back to the table I was sharing with my mates. Despite Saffron not having any energy, she giggled like a little girl the whole way.
Once I'd put Saffron down in the chair I went to sit on Grace's lap. The table was too small to accommodate another chair, a fact that I was very thankful for right now.
"How are you feeling Saffron?" Detsy asked from her position across the table from Grace and I.
"I've definitely felt better." Saffron admitted. "But I'm sure it will pass in time. It's one of the perks of being human." Saffron said with heavy sarcasm lacing her voice.
"Would you mind if I have the rest of your crispy pig meat?" Saffron asked me as she eyed the remaining bacon on my plate and Aurora huffed in my mind. I had to remind Aurora that it was no trouble to go and get more, but our friend was sick.
"What did you call the bacon?" Detsy asked Saffron as she reached out and took the bacon with her bare hands.
"Crispy pig meat, just like everyone else." Saffron said before starting on her bacon strips.
Detsy's brow furrowed in concern and Grace's face suddenly became serious as she studied Saffron.
"She's forgetting words." A familiar voice said as he made his way to our table and his mate.
"She seems to be confusing words in her mind. For example bacon is crispy pig meat, doorway is hole and shoes are foot cloth." Derrick explained as he looked at his mate with worry. "The doctor thinks that it's being caused by a slight swelling in her brain and has put her on anti inflammatory medication, but we're going to the hospital tomorrow to get a cat scan done to be sure."
"Saffron smells different." Aurora observed quietly to me.
"She smells the same as she always has to me. Except that she's been sweating a lot and smells slightly sick." I replied to Aurora.
"There is a slight smell underneath all that." Aurora explained. "I'm not sure what it is, but it doesn't smell good. I hope those doctors figure out what's wrong with her tomorrow and heal her quickly." Aurora said.
I mentally nodded at Aurora to show that I completely agreed with her before turning back into the conversation that had stopped.
"So where have you been since my last shift?" I asked as the silence around us started to turn heavy.
"I've been restricted to my room and bed." Saffron said as she shot an annoyed look at Derrick.
"You're sick, I just want to help you get better." Derrick defended to his mate.
"I think that was the right thing to do." Detsy came to Derrick's defense. "If Grace or Eva ever became sick like that I know I wouldn't let them out of bed if I could help it."
"So are you up and about because of the festival?" Grace asked as she leaned forward into my back and slid her arms around my waist while I still sat on her lap.
"That and because Beverly should be arriving at lunch." Saffron said while she started to search the remaining two plates for any left over bacon. Derrick quickly understood what Saffron was looking for and left for the buffet table to get more bacon.
"Aside from being one of my two best friends, Beverly will also be the only unmated human present tonight. I don't want to leave her alone with so many drunken werewolves around." Saffron finished.
Grace chuckled while she was holding me. "You're as loyal as any werewolf and will make a great Luna, Saffron."
"Thank you." Saffron said as a genuine smile spread over her pale face. That smile only got wider as Derrick got back with a plate containing lots and lots of bacon.
"I can't wait to see Beverly again." I admitted. "I haven't seen her since we went to the tree house, but she's fun to be around. She also really wants to meet you two." I said as I looked at my mates.
"If she's going to be hanging around you then she's sure to meet us." Grace said with a smile.
"Besides," Detsy continued. "We're curious to meet the people you count as friends. They must be decent people as I highly doubt you'd trust someone who meant you harm Eva."
I smiled at Detsy because of the complete faith my mates had for me.
"Don't worry, Beverly's energy is infectious." Saffron said between mouthfuls. "Although she really wants a werewolf mate so it's highly likely that she won't stay in one area to long and move around in hopes of making her dream come true. I also haven't told her about you shifting Eva, or the fact that you're Grace and Detsy's mate. I thought it would be a nice surprise for her."
"Well I wish her the best of luck." Grace said with an amused smile. "Although the chances of her finding a werewolf mate aren't high, they're not 0% either."
Derrick had the far away look in his eyes that sometimes happened when werewolves were using the mind link to communicate.
"Saffron and I are going to go and get ready to pick Beverly up and bring her back to the pack house." Derrick informed us. "After your breakfast is finish my father has asked that the three of you go and see him in his study."
Grace nodded her reply as the two mates said their goodbyes to us and headed out to the elevator.
"Shall we get going then?" Detsy said with happiness and excitement for the evening to come entering her voice. She even had a spring in her step as Grace and I got up and followed her.
As we started to climb the stairs Detsy began to hum and the spring in her step got even bigger. Grace suddenly had a mischievous glint in her eye and quickly but quietly covered the two step difference between them.
Grace suddenly caught Detsy and swung her back slightly, causing Detsy to squeal in delight like a little girl. Grace put and end to the noise with a short mischievous kiss before helping Detsy to regain her balance and walking on like nothing had happened. I couldn't help but giggle at the antics of my mates.
We finally arrived at Alpha Leyton's office and before we could even knock the voice of King Tom told us to enter.
There were three people in the room besides ourselves. King Tom and Queen Cynthia were present as well as Alpha Leyton.
You could feel the happiness radiate off King Tom as he turned and saw the three of us. Once again I wondered how his face didn't split in half from all the smiling.
"Ah girls," he started. "We need to figure out what we're going to do with Eva tonight."
I looked at him completely confused while Grace put her hand over her forehead in a 'shit I forgot' manner. Detsy just looked amused.
"What is he talking about?" I asked Grace after no one spoke for a few seconds.
"Your the newest werewolf Princess and I'm absolutely sure that word of you being mated to Detsy and I has spread like wildfire. This also means that every werewolf and probably most humans you meet will end up swarming you all the time." Grace said, shuddering as she remembered past encounters. "Dad wants us to think of a plan to let you go unnoticed, otherwise you'll be stuck talking to a bunch of boring old Alpha's for the rest of the night like the four of us." Grace said while pointing to Detsy, Queen Cynthia, King Tom and herself.
"That would be a really awful way to spend your first ever Luna celebration." Queen Cynthia added.
"So I was thinking." Tom said.
"Did it hurt?" Detsy instantly shot back with a grin while Tom replied with a face that was halfway between a grimace and evil laughter.
"No it didn't genius." Tom replied in a bantering tone. "Unfortunately Eva must be present when we greet the Alpha's of the packs that are coming here to celebrate the Luna festival with us. If we left her out of the welcoming party it would be seen as a grave insult."
"So I was thinking of having you meet and welcome the Alpha's in your wolf form Eva. Afterwards you can shift back and no one except us and the Roaring Hills pack would be any wiser of your identity." Tom finished.
"That's actually, quite brilliant." Grace admitted slowly with a lock of amazement on her face.
"Why thank you." Tom replied with a small bow. "I have a good idea once in a while. I am a king after all."
Grace Detsy and I all tried to contain our laughter but failed. Even Cynthia was struggling to keep her face passive as the edges of her lips tried to raise.
"No one in your pack would betray her identify right?" Tom said to Alpha Leyton, suddenly getting serious.
"I can guarantee that no one will." Alpha Leyton confirmed. "Everyone here loves Eva to bits. But just in case any of them get any ideas, I'll address the pack before everyone else arrives. I'll casually remind them that if they reveal Eva's status as princess, then they will be thrown in the freezing cold lake at night randomly. Alpha's orders."
For some reason all I could imagine was a screaming Kaitlyn getting thrown into the cold water for months on end. Having the festival spoiled for me might be worth it if I get to watch that happen.
"Well if that's all settled then the three of us are going to see how the Shallow Rivers pack is settling in. There's also a young boy there that would murder us if we didn't go see him." Grace said before chuckling.
"Ok." Cynthia said. "Just remember to be back here and ready to receive the incoming packs by 3 pm."
"We'll be ready." Grace promised as she almost pushed Detsy and myself out the door. Once you gave Grace permission to leave, she really didn't waste time getting out.
"This is going to be a big night." I thought to myself in excitement as the three of us made our way to the ground floor of the pack house. We then exited the building and headed to the new home of the Shallow Rivers pack.