’’What?’’ she asked, her eyes wide, her mouth open.

’’No, I... I know...’’

The Matriarch’s eyes lifted. ’’You’ve been unchaste?’’

’’No!’’ Nina shook her head.

’’No, I have not. I just... think I would know what to do when the time is right.’’

She chuckled dryly, nodding.

The Matriarch shook her head. ’’That’s why you’ve stayed together and nothing has happened yet.’’ She smacked her tongue.

’’Gina,’’ she called.

Lady Gina nodded and walked out. The door opened and a servant came in carrying two boxes.

She set them on the table and stepped back.

The Matriarch nodded and she opened the first box.

Nina looked at the contents. Then she looked away. Then she looked back because she wasn’t sure she’d seen correctly.

She had seen correctly.

Silk and lace and very little of either, in colors that left nothing to the imagination and served no practical purpose she could identify. Tiny things. Delicate, devastating, tiny things, folded in tissue paper like they were precious.

Her face went so hot she was surprised the tea didn’t boil.

The second box.

Books. Stacked neatly.

Nina frowned and her eyes fell on the title of the topmost one.

’Seven Nights of Non Stop Mating...’

Nina looked away immediately, blood pooling in her cheeks.

She let out a very small breath, her eyes wandering to everything but the items in front of her.

The Matriarch nodded.

’’These,’’ she said pleasantly, ’’will make things very easy. The Alpha is a man. He cannot hold out forever.’’ She looked at her. ’’Especially with a very beautiful woman beside him.’’

She smiled. ’’Tomorrow is the full moon. A wolf would be unable to resist his mate, so wear these tomorrow night.’’

Nina dragged a breath, a little laugh leaving her lips. ’’I don’t think they are necessary.’’

She laughed.

The Matriarch’s smile died. ’’So I would be expecting news in a week’s time?’’

Nina opened her mouth. Then she swallowed.

’’You’re right, your grace.’’ Her voice came out very small. ’’I have no experience on what to do. I need time to read these books and understand how to serve the Alpha properly.’’

She pulled the boxes toward her.

’’Thank you,’’ she said.

The Matriarch smiled and nodded. ’’You can start practicing tomorrow. The full moon will make things easier for you.’’

Nina smiled faintly.

’’Take these to the Luna’s quarters,’’ the Matriarch instructed a servant, who bowed and carried the boxes out.

Moreen was waiting in the hallway when Nina stepped out, completely exhausted. The Matriarch had proceeded to give lessons on how she was supposed to treat him so he would want to touch her. By the end of the session, Nina’s ears hurt. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

She couldn’t remember a single thing she said, but at least she had nodded throughout.

’’Has the Alpha returned?’’ she asked.

Moreen nodded. ’’He’s having dinner.’’

Her eyes lifted. ’’How long has that been?’’

Moreen thought for a second. ’’Not too long ago. He went straight to eat.’’ She paused. ’’Your dinner is ready. Let me take you there.’’

Nina didn’t move. ’’Where does the Alpha eat?’’

’’He has his own private dining room. He doesn’t eat with anyone, except on special occasions—’’

’’Take me there.’’

Moreen blinked, surprise crossing her face, and then she nodded.

’’Yes, Luna.’’

Moreen led the way to the living quarters and stopped outside a door, taking a step back.

’’It is here, my lady.’’

Nina nodded and put her hand on it.

She pushed it open slightly and put her head through the gap, just far enough to see.

Rodrigo sat at the head of the table, alone, the spread of food in front of him. The room was quiet. When the sound of the door broke the quiet, his eyes lifted.

Nina watched his eyes settle on her, and then his brows creased into a frown.

She pushed the door open and stepped in, closing it behind her.

’’What are you doing?’’

Nina looked at the table. At the empty chairs.

She looked back at him and let her mouth settle into something that was not quite a pout but was close.

’’I cannot eat alone,’’ she said, her eyes staying on him. ’’I want to eat together.’’

Rodrigo’s hand paused on his fork.

He held her gaze for a moment.

’’I don’t eat with anyone,’’ he said flatly.

She had noticed. At Hades Pack he hadn’t eaten at the table either.

She held his gaze briefly and moved her legs forward. His brows creased harder as his gaze followed her.

Nina walked to the table and pulled out the chair beside him and sat down.

Rodrigo watched her, wondering if she was deaf or simply courting death.

’’I can’t eat alone,’’ she said. Her eyes had gone a little soft, a little cloudy at the edges. ’’I promise I won’t make a single sound.’’

Rodrigo’s jaw tensed.

He looked at her. Her mouth had settled into that small pout and he looked at it for one moment before pulling his eyes back up to hers and keeping them there.

’’No.’’

She didn’t leave. Her eyes glanced at the table instead. ’’Please... you didn’t let me come with you, and now you won’t let me eat with you. I don’t have anyone to talk to except you.’’

Rodrigo looked at her for another second. Then he looked back at his plate. Silence filled the hall.

’’Sit over there,’’ he said finally.

He glanced toward the other end of the table. The far end. The very far end.

Nina looked at where he was pointing. Then she looked at him, her eyes wide.

’’You can leave if you don’t—’’

She was on her feet before he finished. She picked up a plate, walked the full length of the table, and sat down at the opposite end with her back straight and her chin up.

’’Thank you,’’ she said, smiling as she reached for the serving dish and began to fill her plate.

Rodrigo’s eyes stayed on her as she filled her plate.

They ate in silence for a long while. Nina’s eyes lifted to him. She hesitated for a moment, then asked,

’’Where did you go?’’

Rodrigo did not look up from his plate.

’’You seem to be very interested in my affairs.’’ He paused and looked at her. ’’Should I be worried?’’

Nina went still in her chair. She held his gaze, her fingers tightening around the fork in her hand.

He was watching her with that suspicious look he’d given her after she survived the eleventh night.

The hall was quiet for a moment, and then she smiled.

’’Why would I not be interested in your affairs?’’ She tilted her head softly, her gaze settling on him. ’’You are my husband.’’

She watched him go stiff across the table. His eyes lost their composure for a second before he looked back at his plate and continued eating.

Nina’s lip curved upward.

She watched him eat quietly, then turned back to her food.

’’I’ll have the Matriarch inform you of your duties as Luna. You must be very bored.’’

Nina looked back at him, her mouth falling open.

Why was this man so difficult?

She cleared her throat and continued eating, biting hard on her food.

’’Your family have been informed,’’ he said after some time. ’’They’ll be here for the coronation tomorrow.’’

Nina’s hand went still around her cutlery.

She was quiet for a long moment, her gaze growing dark, and then she forced a smile.

’’Okay.’’