Thirty minutes later, Nina was sitting in the field of lilies, her hands folded across her chest and her pinky finger caught between her teeth. After a few moments, she had to admit to herself that she really did need the fresh air.

A guard stood quietly by her side, holding an umbrella above her head to shield her from the sun, while Moreen stood on her other side, carefully pouring tea into a delicate cup.

Nina stared blankly into the bed of flowers. This was not supposed to be happening. She was Annalise—the strongest witch to ever live! How on earth was she reacting this way to a man?

Nina cursed under her breath. Was she ovulating? Was that it?

She shut her eyes tightly as the vivid memory of him lifting her effortlessly off the ground and placing her on the table rushed back to her. She dragged a ragged breath into her lungs, trying desperately to steady herself.

Get it together.

She had just been caught off guard, that was all. There was absolutely nothing more to it. Reassuring herself with a firm nod, she picked up the cup of tea and downed it in one single gulp.

Feelings ruined things. They made people weak, and she could not afford to be weak. There was a reason she had cursed his kind in the first place, and until she uncovered exactly what that reason was, they remained her worst enemies.

She closed her eyes again, forcibly pushing the damning thoughts down, and focused all her attention on the cool breeze.

Just then, a guard walked up and bowed respectfully. "Luna."

Nina’s eyes snapped open.

"The Matriarch requests your presence."

Nina remained quiet for a beat before nodding. "Let’s go in," she said, standing up and turning back toward the house.

The Matriarch’s dressing room was nothing like Nina had pictured. It was massive—an entire room of its own. Nina lingered by the door for a few seconds, her eyes sweeping over rows upon rows of dresses and shoes arranged in immaculate order. Servants were moving back and forth, still putting things in their proper places.

The Matriarch was speaking with Lady Gina when she finally noticed her.

"Child." The Matriarch smiled warmly, holding out her hand. "Come. How are you feeling now?"

"Much better," Nina said, walking into the room to meet her. "Thank you."

"Yes, you do look better." The Matriarch studied her face briefly, her smile bright. "I always knew there was something different about you."

Nina stood awkwardly as the older woman assessed her from head to toe. Glancing at the servants, the Matriarch waved her hand dismissively, and they quickly filed out, shutting the heavy doors behind them.

"Come," the Matriarch said, walking over to a long couch in the center of the room. She sat down and tapped the empty cushion beside her. Nina walked over and sat down, still feeling completely out of place.

The Matriarch’s piercing gaze remained fixed on her. Nina shifted uncomfortably, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"We didn’t conduct the fertility procedures initially because of... well, the chaotic circumstances of the case."

Nina’s eyes flew wide in shock, her mouth falling half-open.

The Matriarch tilted her head, her gaze dropping significantly to Nina’s stomach. "You don’t look like you will have any issues carrying a child."

Nina swallowed hard, but the massive knot in her throat refused to budge. She glanced over at Lady Gina, who was standing like a sentinel by the Matriarch’s side, her expression fixed into an unreadable mask.

"Do you have any issues with your monthly visitor?"

Nina felt a sudden, fierce heat creep up her cheeks. She shook her head quickly. "No, I don’t."

The Matriarch smiled approvingly. "Very good. We won’t have troubles in that area, although we do need to look into how to get you to conceive in the first place..."

Nina suddenly choked on her own breath, coughing into her hand. A servant nearby quickly stepped forward to hand her a glass of water.

"But first, tomorrow is your Luna coronation," the Matriarch continued, turning her attention back toward the clothing racks. "The whole pack will be present, and every single eye will be on you." She glanced over her shoulder. "You must look absolutely perfect."

The Matriarch clapped her hands once, and servants began rolling in rack after rack of diverse dresses. Other servants followed closely behind, carrying trays of designer shoes and glittering jewelry.

"Help the Luna try them on," the Matriarch instructed, pointing toward a raised wooden platform.

By evening, Nina had completely lost count of the dresses she had tried on; it was somewhere well past fifty.

She stood on the platform with her arms held slightly out to the sides while Lady Gina circled her for what felt like the hundredth time. Lady Gina’s head was tilted and her lips were pressed into a thin line as she maintained a non-stop, back-and-forth debate with the Matriarch. Neither of them seemed capable of coming to an agreement.

The blue was far too cold. The green was lovely, but the neckline fell dangerously low. The cream washed out her complexion entirely. The burgundy was close, but the waist clenched a bit too tight.

Nina fixed her eyes on a single, boring crack in the wall and simply checked out of reality.

"This one," Lady Gina announced suddenly.

Nina blinked, looking down at herself.

Gold. The fabric fell in clean, elegant lines to the floor, catching the warm candlelight and holding it beautifully. Even Nina had to admit it was gorgeous. The heels they had given her added a commanding three inches to her height, and Lady Gina finally—finally—looked satisfied. The Matriarch was practically beaming.

"Good," the Matriarch said. "That is the one. Do you like it?" she asked Nina.

Nina stared at the dress in the mirror and gave a muted nod. Well, it wasn’t as if she really had a say in the matter anyway.

The Matriarch smiled brightly, exhaling a long breath she had been holding. "Clear out the rest," she instructed, and the servants immediately began gathering the remaining clothes and shoes.

After changing back into her normal clothes, Nina bowed politely. "If that is all, I will be taking my leave now."

"No, child, that is not all," the Matriarch countered, pointing firmly to the spot beside her on the couch. "Come, sit."

Nina raised her eyes. There was more?

Forcing a pleasant smile over her face, Nina sat back down, a splitting headache already beginning to throb behind her temples. A servant brought over fresh tea, and the Matriarch picked up her cup, taking a slow sip. She regarded Nina with a patient, unhurried look.

"I heard the Alpha let you stay in his quarters?"

"Yes." Nina looked down at her own tea, swirling it gently. "I was terrified of getting hurt again, so he allowed me to stay there for the time being."

The Matriarch said nothing initially. Her expression didn’t change, but a knowing smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She set her teacup down with a soft click.

"Has the Alpha..." the older woman drawled.

Nina stared at her, waiting for her to finish the sentence.

The Matriarch turned to the room and waved her hand again. The remaining servants cleared out instantly, and Lady Gina shut the heavy doors firmly behind them before returning to her post.

The Matriarch cleared her throat. Nina’s gaze wandered nervously; she had a terrifyingly accurate idea of exactly where this conversation was heading.

The Matriarch leaned in. "Has the Alpha... and you, done it?"

Nina’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. "What? No! We are not..."

The Matriarch frowned, interrupting her. "You are not what?"

Nina’s lashes fluttered in sheer panic, a fierce heat rushing up her neck and staining her cheeks. "We are not... there yet," Nina gulped out.

Why on earth did she say that? Was she secretly itching to get there?

"Why not?" the Matriarch questioned, her brows drawing together. "Did you not stay together in Hades? And when you fell over the cliff, what have you two been doing all this time?"

Nina’s mouth hung open in disbelief. "It’s... it’s not like that..."

"You must seduce your husband," the Matriarch commanded, cutting her off flatly. She placed a heavy, significant hand over Nina’s stomach. "You need to bear him an heir."

Nina cleared her throat roughly, her mind racing. It seemed everyone in this pack house had their own twisted agenda.

The Matriarch eyed her with sudden suspicion. "Or do you simply not know how to do it?"

Nina’s eyes grew so wide they felt as though they might pop right out of her head. "What?!"