Chapter 95: Now, Shall We?
"Luna... Luna."
Nina stirred in her sleep as the soft voice pulled her back from her dreams.
Something warm brushed against her shoulder, followed by another gentle pat.
"Luna."
Her eyes fluttered open. She blinked a few times before her gaze settled on Moreen, who stood beside the bed with an eager smile on her face.
Nina frowned sleepily.
"What?"
"It’s time for Bonfire Night," Moreen said, unable to hide the excitement in her voice. "Everyone is waiting for you."
Nina’s brows drew together.
She turned her head toward the window.
Darkness had settled over the pack house. The last traces of daylight were gone, replaced by a moonlit sky. Faint voices drifted in through the window, mingled with laughter, music, and the occasional burst of cheering.
She had slept well into the night.
Nina let out a quiet breath as she pushed herself upright, running a hand through her hair to shake off the last of her drowsiness.
"What is that?" she asked, glancing back at Moreen.
"Bonfire Night." Moreen clasped her hands behind her back. "Everyone in the pack house comes together after sunset. We play games, eat, dance..." She grinned. "It’s the happiest night of the month."
Nina slipped out of bed and crossed the room.
She stopped by the window and looked down into the courtyard.
A great bonfire blazed in the middle of the open space, its flames casting a warm glow across the castle grounds. Long wooden tables had been set out around it, covered with platters of roasted meat, bread, fruit, and large jugs of ale.
Children darted through the crowd, laughing as they chased one another between the adults. A group of young warriors had already gathered in an open circle while others watched, shouting playful taunts that earned just as many laughs.
Somewhere near the fire, someone was beating a drum, the steady rhythm carrying through the courtyard as more pack members clapped along.
The entire pack house seemed alive.
Nina rested one hand against the window frame, watching them for another moment.
"What about the Alpha?" she asked.
Moreen’s smile softened.
She shook her head.
"He never joins."
Nina nodded slowly. She wasn’t surprised.
She gave the courtyard one last glance before turning away from the window.
A small smile tugged at her lips.
"Let’s go."
Moreen brightened immediately.
"I knew you’d want to come."
"Of course! Why would I miss any chance of having fun?" she asked, a soft laugh leaving her lips.
Nina walked ahead as they made their way downstairs. The music grew louder with every step, and the smell of burning wood and roasted meat grew stronger as they approached the courtyard.
The moment Nina stepped outside, the laughter faded.
The conversations stopped one after another until an almost complete silence settled over the gathering.
Every eye turned toward her.
One by one, the pack members rose to their feet.
"Luna."
Nina stopped in her tracks.
For a brief second, she simply looked at the dozens of faces staring back at her. Then she smiled and shook her head.
"No, please." She lifted a hand, motioning for them to sit. "Don’t stop because of me."
No one moved.
She laughed softly.
"I mean it. I’ve come to join the fun, not ruin it."
A few hesitant smiles appeared around the courtyard as the wolves exchanged glances with one another, waiting to see who would be the first to sit.
An older woman sat down first, and then the others followed, the tension dissolving almost as quickly as it had formed. Within moments, the courtyard was alive again with laughter and conversation.
"That’s better," Nina said.
Moreen grinned beside her.
"I knew everyone would be happy you came," she said. "The Alpha never joins. If the Luna is here, at least they won’t feel alone."
Nina turned to look at her, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"Those are some wise words from you," she said with a laugh.
Moreen scratched the back of her head.
"The servants talk about it sometimes—that the Alpha keeps to himself. Only the people who serve him have seen his face."
Nina blinked once, clearing her throat.
Only if she knew the rumors outside these walls.
A broad-shouldered warrior stepped forward, a thick rope slung over one shoulder.
"Luna!" he called. "You’ll have to choose a side."
Nina blinked.
"A side?"
"The tug-of-war."
She looked past him and noticed the long rope stretched across an open patch of ground. A line had been drawn through the dirt, and two teams were already gathering at either end.
Someone from the opposite side immediately protested.
"No, no. She belongs on our team."
"Yours already has six!"
"Because you’re all giants!"
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
Nina couldn’t help smiling.
"I didn’t realize this was so serious."
"It is," one of the women replied with mock solemnity. "Bragging rights until next Bonfire Night."
"Then I’d better choose carefully."
She looked from one team to the other, pretending to consider her options before pointing to the smaller group.
"I’ll even the odds."
A cheer erupted from her new teammates.
Someone placed the rough rope into her hands.
"Dig your heels in," one of the warriors advised.
"And don’t let go," another added.
Nina laughed.
"I’ll try."
The two teams took their positions.
"Ready!"
Everyone tightened their grip.
"Pull!"
The rope snapped taut.
Nina planted her feet against the ground and pulled with all the strength she could manage. The rope burned against her palms as both teams lurched back and forth, neither willing to give an inch.
"Pull!"
"Don’t let them win!"
"Luna, lean back!"
She burst into laughter despite herself, nearly losing her footing before recovering and throwing all her weight backward.
For a brief moment, her team gained ground.
The crowd roared.
Then the opposing team gave one mighty tug.
Nina squealed as she stumbled forward with everyone else, collapsing into a heap of laughing bodies.
The courtyard exploded with cheers.
Someone offered her a hand.
"You fought well, Luna."
"I don’t feel like I did."
"You stayed on your feet longer than he did."
She looked over to find one of the warriors sprawled flat on his back, groaning dramatically while everyone laughed at him.
Nina laughed so hard her sides began to ache.
"I’ll take that as a victory, then."
They played a few more rounds, everyone leaving their small circles to join the crowd.
The gathering had been lively before, but now it seemed even more energetic.
"Luna, can you throw axes?" one of the lycans asked as he stepped forward with a long axe.
She smiled.
"No, but I’ll learn from the game."
The crowd erupted in cheers as they led her to the wooden targets positioned up front.
The lycan showed her how to grip the handle before stepping back.
"Now throw."
Nina inhaled and swung.
The axe spun once before dropping embarrassingly short of the target.
The crowd groaned dramatically.
"Oh!"
"So close!"
Nina covered her face with one hand, laughing. The tension that had been building in her chest all day had completely eased.
She hadn’t realized how badly she needed this until now.
She eagerly picked up another axe.
This time, she steadied herself, adjusted her grip, and threw again.
The blade struck the outer edge of the target with a dull thunk before sliding free and dropping to the ground.
A loud cheer erupted anyway.
"It hit!"
"It counts!"
"It absolutely counts!"
Nina shook her head, laughing.
"You people are far too generous."
"No, you did well," the lycans chorused.
Nina laughed as she turned around, her eyes settling on the long table lined with kegs of wine.
"Are there no drinking games?" she asked.
"There are, but..." the lycan who had been holding the axe began, his eyes shifting over her shoulder to the men gathered behind her.
"Only the adults drink," he said.
Nina took a closer look at him. He looked to be in his teens.
She laughed and patted him on the head.
"Good. You can go continue the games with the others while I drink with the adults."
She turned to the lycans behind her.
The men were staring at her in bewilderment, as though they didn’t even know where to look or what to say to her, their mouths hanging open.
A grin stretched across her lips.
"Shall we?"