The Moon's Decree

Luna woke to moonlight streaming through unfamiliar windows and the ghost of Alexander's nightmare lingering in her chest. The mate bond thrummed with his distress, pulling her from sleep into the pre-dawn darkness.

She found him in his study, slumped over paperwork with his tie undone and his hair a mess. Empty coffee cups littered the desk. When he looked up, his eyes were haunted.

"Did I wake you?" His voice was rough with exhaustion.

"The moon did," Luna lied, but they both knew better. After two weeks of sharing emotions, they were learning each other's tells. She perched on the edge of his desk, close enough that their shoulders touched. "Want to talk about it?"

Alexander's laugh was hollow. "Not particularly." But his hand found hers, fingers intertwining with the easy familiarity they'd developed. "The full moon's tomorrow."

Luna's stomach clenched. She'd been trying not to think about it. The first full moon after a mate bond was... intense. Even humans knew to stay inside on those nights, when newly bonded pairs were at their most volatile.

"I won't hurt you," he said quickly, catching her anxiety through their link.

"I know that." Luna squeezed his fingers. "I'm more worried about making a fool of myself in front of the entire pack. First full moon as queen and all that."

He tensed. "About that..."

"Alexander." Luna's voice held a warning note. "What did you do?"

"I may have... cancelled the traditional run." He wouldn't meet her eyes. "The pack can celebrate without us. We'll do our own private run in the north woods."

Relief flooded through Luna so strongly that Alexander actually laughed. "That obvious?"

"You've been stress-baking with Mrs. Chen every night this week." He tugged her closer until she slid off the desk and into his lap. "The kitchen staff is running out of places to put cookies."

Luna settled against him, letting his warmth chase away the pre-dawn chill. "Your mother will be furious."

"My mother's always furious lately." His chin rested on her shoulder. "She'll get over it. Eventually. Probably."

"Liar."

"Terrible habit of mine." His arms tightened around her waist. "Speaking of terrible habits, we need to talk about Lord Bennett."

Luna groaned. "Do we have to?"

"He filed a formal complaint about the new staff wages proposal." Alexander's voice vibrated against her back. "Said it was, and I quote, 'inappropriate for an untrained queen to meddle in established policy.'"

"Untrained," Luna repeated flatly. "I worked here for three years. I know exactly how much overtime the kitchen staff puts in without compensation. I know which guards pick up extra shifts to help their kids through college. I know—"

"I know." Alexander pressed a kiss to her shoulder, and Luna felt his pride warm through their bond. "That's why I approved the proposal this morning."

Luna twisted to face him. "You what?"

"Signed off on it about an hour ago." His smile was tired but genuine. "Lord Bennett can take his complaints and shove them up his—"

Luna kissed him. It wasn't their first kiss – that had happened three days ago, when she'd fallen asleep during a budget meeting and he'd looked at her with such fond exasperation that she couldn't help herself. But this was different. This was moonlight and gratitude and something deeper neither of them was ready to name.

When they broke apart, Alexander's eyes were glowing faintly gold. The wolf was close to the surface with the full moon approaching. "Luna..."

A knock interrupted whatever he'd been about to say. Victoria entered without waiting for a response, because of course she did.

"Your Majesty, the... oh." She didn't even blink at finding Luna in Alexander's lap. "Good, you're both here. We have a situation."

Luna tried to stand, but Alexander's arms tightened. "Unless the palace is literally on fire—"

"Your father's here," Victoria said to Luna, and the bottom dropped out of her stomach.

Luna had been avoiding her family's calls for two weeks, letting them go to voicemail, sending brief texts about being busy with royal duties. She wasn't ready. Wasn't prepared to face her father's disappointment or her brothers' judgment.

Alexander must have felt her panic because he was already moving, helping her up and keeping her steady when her knees threatened to buckle.

"Where?" His voice had gone dangerous and soft.

"Main reception." Victoria's eyes were sympathetic. "He's demanding to see her. Says he has concerns about her... fitness for the role."

The growl that rumbled through Alexander's chest was pure predator. Luna touched his arm, feeling him vibrate with tension.

"I have to see him," she said quietly. "He's still my father."

"Then we'll see him together." Alexander's eyes were more gold than brown now.

Luna smoothed her wrinkled dress, suddenly grateful she'd fallen asleep in yesterday's clothes rather than her usual oversized t-shirt. "How do I look?"

"Like a queen," Victoria said firmly, already pulling makeup from her seemingly bottomless pockets. "Give me two minutes with your face."

Alexander paced while Victoria worked, his agitation bleeding through their bond until Luna felt dizzy with it. When Victoria finally stepped back, Luna caught her reflection in a window – she looked pale but composed, steel hiding under silk.

"Ready?" Alexander's hand found hers.

Luna thought about the scared girl who'd spilled wine on his shirt two weeks ago. She wasn't that girl anymore. Maybe she never really had been.

"Ready," she said, and felt the truth of it in her bones.

Whatever came next, they would face it together. Under the same moon that had chosen them, for better or worse, until death did them part.

The mate bond hummed between them, strong and sure as moonlight, as they walked hand in hand to meet her father.